Simple Sophistication

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ • Sessions by appointment only

Simple Sophistication

When Is the Best Time to Take Newborn Photos? Scottsdale Newborn Photographer

The Magic Window of Newborn Photography

New parents often wonder, “When is the best time for newborn photos?” In my experience, shooting between days 5 and 14 is ideal. During these magical early days, babies tend to sleep more and curl up in those naturally cozy positions we all adore in newborn portraits. It allows us to capture those sleepy expressions and tender family moments that feel real and enduring.

Newborn baby portrait photography session Sleeping newborn portrait photographed in studio

Why Early is Better

Sleepy and Comfy: Babies sleep deeply and comfortably, leading to natural, peaceful poses.
Natural Curl: Their bodies are still happily tucked from the womb, creating those cherished curled-up images.
Less Movement Sensitivity: Gently repositioning them is easier, allowing for more stress-free posing.

At Gilmore Studios, I’m all about designing relaxed sessions, allowing plenty of time for feeding, soothing, and yes…cuddles!

Newborn baby photography with soft blankets Professional newborn photographer capturing peaceful baby portrait
Baby portrait photography session with natural posing Newborn photography showing baby curled in soft wrap
Baby photography portrait capturing playful birthday moment First birthday portrait photographed by baby photographer

Tips for Parents Planning Newborn Photos

Plan Ahead

Consider scheduling your newborn session while you’re still expecting. I usually reserve sessions based on the due date and adjust once the baby arrives to fit that ideal window.

After your session, many families love heading out for a relaxed meal to celebrate their new arrival. If you’re visiting the Scottsdale area, a few wonderful spots nearby include:

For a relaxed brunch or lunch with beautiful ambiance, try The Henry
https://www.thehenryrestaurant.com

For elevated Italian comfort food perfect for celebrating with family, visit Olive & Ivy
https://www.oliveandivyrestaurant.com

For a casual but delicious option with great patio seating, Postino WineCafe is a local favorite
https://www.postinowinecafe.com

Taking time to enjoy a meal together after your session can make the day feel even more special.

Baby portrait photography with simple neutral styling Professional newborn photography session capturing baby details
Newborn portrait photography with gentle lighting Sleeping baby portrait photographed by newborn photographer

Keep It Simple

Opt for neutral tones and soft textures in outfits and props, making sure your baby’s natural beauty remains the focal point. Timeless, simple styles ensure your photos look beautiful now and for years to come.

If you’re looking for beautiful wardrobe options for moms or siblings before your session, here are a few shops parents love:

For effortless neutral clothing that photographs beautifully, explore Jenni Kayne
https://www.jennikayne.com

For stylish but comfortable pieces for moms and little ones, visit Nordstrom
https://www.nordstrom.com

For adorable children’s outfits and classic family styling, Rylee + Cru is a favorite among photographers
https://ryleeandcru.com

Choosing comfortable, neutral outfits keeps the focus exactly where it belongs on your baby.

Newborn photography capturing peaceful baby moment Baby portrait photography session with cozy blanket
Newborn baby portrait in classic studio photography setup Newborn photographer capturing baby sleeping peacefully
Newborn portrait photography with soft neutral tones Baby photography portrait showing natural newborn pose
Professional newborn portrait photography session Newborn baby photography showing tiny details

Family Involvement

Involving family and older siblings often results in the most heartwarming and memorable images. Picture siblings gently leaning in to marvel at their new brother or sister, those moments tell your unique family story.

For photographers who want to learn more about creating relaxed newborn sessions and building a thriving photography business, resources and mentorship are available through Photographers Roadmap:
https://photographersroadmap.com

Baby portrait photographed during newborn photography session Newborn photographer capturing baby curled in blanket
Newborn photography portrait with simple styling Sleeping baby portrait during professional photography session
Newborn portrait photography capturing early baby days Newborn photography portrait showing peaceful baby expression
Baby portrait photography in soft natural lighting Professional newborn photography portrait of sleeping baby

Why This Matters

Having these early photos is more than just a trend, it’s about preserving a fleeting moment in the life of your family. Whether your little one is snuggled into a cozy basket or nestled in your arms, these images become cherished family treasures, capturing love you’ll want to see again and again.

Newborn baby portrait with simple timeless photography style Newborn photographer capturing delicate baby features
Newborn portrait photography showing baby hands and feet Newborn photography portrait capturing gentle baby pose
Baby portrait session photographed by newborn photographer Newborn photography portrait showing calm sleeping baby

Ready for Your Session?

If you’re expecting and intending to capture those early days, I’d love to help make it happen. At Gilmore Studios, I’m committed to creating warm, comfortable sessions that allow you and your family to feel at ease while we make art together. To book your newborn session, visit my website and let’s create something beautiful you’ll treasure forever.

Baby milestone portrait photography capturing cake smash moment Cake smash portrait photography showing baby enjoying cake
Baby portrait photography celebrating first birthday milestone Professional baby photographer capturing milestone birthday portrait
by Gilmore TeamPosted in Maternity & NewbornTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Meet the Gilmores:

Gilmore Studios serves Orange County, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. We specialize in wedding photography, family portraits, newborn and branding photography. Our studio has been in business since 2002.

Fun Facts:

PLace we call home:

Newport Beach & Queen Creek

Number of kids:

3 boys

Years in business:

Since 2002

As seen in:

Newborn Sessions

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Pick something you love and make that your career. Honestly, that’s kind of what happened.

I never imagined that setting up backdrops, planning themes, making silly noises to get a baby to smile, and celebrating first birthdays would become my job.

But here we are. 🥹

And after all these years, I still get excited watching a theme come together and seeing a little one’s personality shine once they step into the studio.

Because cake smash sessions aren’t really about the cake.

They’re about celebrating a milestone that only happens once.

And getting to be a small part of that never gets old. 🎂

What’s something you could talk about or do all day and never get tired of?

5 0
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17898074328465018
Pick something you love and make that your career. Honestly, that’s kind of what happened. I never imagined that setting up backdrops, planning themes, making silly noises to get a baby to smile, and celebrating first birthdays would become my job. But here we are. 🥹 And after all these years, I still get excited watching a theme come together and seeing a little one’s personality shine once they step into the studio. Because cake smash sessions aren’t really about the cake. They’re about celebrating a milestone that only happens once. And getting to be a small part of that never gets old. 🎂 What’s something you could talk about or do all day and never get tired of?

Pelican Hill Resort + a gorgeous sunset + incredible food = an evening I didn’t want to end. 🧡 Had the best time covering this event for ABOG (Dallas, TX). The boho vibes were unmatched and decor was beyond. This is what happens when a great group of people gathers in a beautiful place.

9 0
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17872516275617564
Pelican Hill Resort + a gorgeous sunset + incredible food = an evening I didn’t want to end. 🧡 Had the best time covering this event for ABOG (Dallas, TX). The boho vibes were unmatched and decor was beyond. This is what happens when a great group of people gathers in a beautiful place.

This is just me being sarcastic - but some might be a little true. 😂

Top 5 Horror Movies for a Photographer

• can you send the RAW files
• wind. just. wind
• wearing neon orange at sunset
• the tide is too high
• making videos while being a photographer

40 3
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17940025950249372
This is just me being sarcastic - but some might be a little true. 😂 Top 5 Horror Movies for a Photographer • can you send the RAW files • wind. just. wind • wearing neon orange at sunset • the tide is too high • making videos while being a photographer

The question that starts almost every cake smash conversation:

What themes can we do?
Honestly — almost anything.

But here is what I actually recommend.

Choose something they are into right now. Whatever phase they are in at this exact age. The dinosaurs. The rubber ducks. The princesses. The trucks. The thing they carry everywhere and sleep with and talk about constantly.

Because here is what nobody tells you about cake smash sessions: in ten years that photo is going to show you exactly who your child was at this age. Not just what they looked like. Who they were.
That is worth capturing.

We have a full theme library on our website — but if you do not see something that fits your child we will build it custom. No two sessions have to look the same because no two kids are the same.
For this session we planned everything together from the start. Rubber ducky theme. Portraits first. Then family photos. Then cake.
And before we ever talked about the set — we talked about what she wanted to do with the photos.
She chose an album.

Because digitals are beautiful. But an album is something her daughter will open when she is grown and understand immediately.
What theme are you thinking for your little one? Drop it in the comments — I want to see what phase you are in right now.
Newport Beach and Gilbert AZ. Link in bio. #cakesmash #cakesmashphotographer #cakesmashphotography

DM me BIRTHDAY and let’s start planning yours.

10 5
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18065998445409348
The question that starts almost every cake smash conversation: What themes can we do? Honestly — almost anything. But here is what I actually recommend. Choose something they are into right now. Whatever phase they are in at this exact age. The dinosaurs. The rubber ducks. The princesses. The trucks. The thing they carry everywhere and sleep with and talk about constantly. Because here is what nobody tells you about cake smash sessions: in ten years that photo is going to show you exactly who your child was at this age. Not just what they looked like. Who they were. That is worth capturing. We have a full theme library on our website — but if you do not see something that fits your child we will build it custom. No two sessions have to look the same because no two kids are the same. For this session we planned everything together from the start. Rubber ducky theme. Portraits first. Then family photos. Then cake. And before we ever talked about the set — we talked about what she wanted to do with the photos. She chose an album. Because digitals are beautiful. But an album is something her daughter will open when she is grown and understand immediately. What theme are you thinking for your little one? Drop it in the comments — I want to see what phase you are in right now. Newport Beach and Gilbert AZ. Link in bio. #cakesmash #cakesmashphotographer #cakesmashphotography DM me BIRTHDAY and let’s start planning yours.

Photography started as something I loved.

I never picked up a camera thinking it would become a business, support my family, introduce me to thousands of incredible people, or still be part of my life 20+ years later.

But somewhere along the way, a hobby became a career.

Then a business.

Then a huge part of my life. 🤍

I’ve photographed weddings, newborns, seniors, families, birthdays, and milestones for people I’ve known for decades.

And honestly?

The greatest part isn’t the photos.

It’s the people.

The families who come back year after year.
The babies who become seniors.
The clients who become friends.

That’s what keeps me showing up every day.

Do you have a hobby you secretly wish could become your full-time job?

Comment LEARN if you’d like to see how I turned photography into a 20+ year business.

20 5
Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18123683860650152
Photography started as something I loved. I never picked up a camera thinking it would become a business, support my family, introduce me to thousands of incredible people, or still be part of my life 20+ years later. But somewhere along the way, a hobby became a career. Then a business. Then a huge part of my life. 🤍 I’ve photographed weddings, newborns, seniors, families, birthdays, and milestones for people I’ve known for decades. And honestly? The greatest part isn’t the photos. It’s the people. The families who come back year after year. The babies who become seniors. The clients who become friends. That’s what keeps me showing up every day. Do you have a hobby you secretly wish could become your full-time job? Comment LEARN if you’d like to see how I turned photography into a 20+ year business.

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ

Session by appointment only

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