What If My Newborn Is Awake? | Atlanta Newborn Photographer

One of the questions parents sometimes have before their newborn photography session is whether their baby needs to sleep for the entire session.

The answer is absolutely not.

While those sleepy, curled-up newborn photographs are beautiful, some of my favorite images happen when a baby decides to stay awake for a while. Wide-open eyes, tiny expressions and that unmistakable newborn curiosity can create photographs that are just as special as the sleeping poses.

This little one was perfectly content to look right at the camera for part of the session, and I loved being able to capture his beautiful bright eyes.

Every newborn session is different. After photographing newborns for many years, one thing I can promise parents is that babies do not arrive at the studio with a schedule. Some sleep almost immediately. Others need extra feeding, soothing or snuggling. Some are wide awake and interested in everything happening around them. That is why I never rush a newborn session.

Sessions are planned with plenty of time for feeding, changing, comforting and settling your baby. If your newborn needs a break, we take one. If your baby is awake and happy, we can photograph those moments too.

The goal isn’t to force a baby into a particular photograph. It is to create beautiful images while keeping your baby comfortable and allowing the session to unfold naturally. Parents sometimes worry that an awake baby means we won’t get the photographs they were hoping for.

A peaceful, alert newborn can be photographed in simple wrapped poses, lying comfortably on a blanket, or interacting naturally with Mom and Dad. Those photographs often become favorites because you can already begin to see the baby’s personality.

And quite often, after looking around for a while, babies eventually decide that photography is exhausting and fall asleep anyway.

Planning your Atlanta newborn photography session

Newborn sessions are generally best scheduled during the first couple of weeks after birth, when babies tend to sleep more deeply and naturally curl into newborn poses. But every baby is different, and a successful newborn session isn’t dependent on having a baby who sleeps every minute.

My newborn photography studio serves families throughout the Atlanta area, including Gwinnett County and the surrounding communities. The studio includes wraps, blankets, props and everything needed for the session, so parents can simply arrive and let me take care of the rest.

If you’re expecting a baby and would like to learn more about scheduling an Atlanta newborn photography session, you can view my newborn portfolio and session information