If you’re expecting a baby in the Augusta area and you’ve started thinking about newborn photos, you might be wondering: how early is too early to book? Can I wait until after baby arrives? Does it really matter?
As a newborn photographer based in Evans, GA serving Augusta, Grovetown, Aiken, and surrounding areas, I get these questions all the time. So let me give you a straight answer — because timing genuinely matters more than most expecting moms realize.
The Short Answer: Book Around 28–32 Weeks Pregnant
I know that might sound early. But here’s why it makes all the difference.
Newborns are most cooperative for those beautiful, sleepy, curled-up poses during the first 5 to 14 days of life. In those early days, babies are still in that womb-like sleepy state — they curl naturally, they settle more easily, and they give us the kind of magical images you’ve seen on Pinterest and Instagram.
After about two weeks, that window closes. Babies become more alert, more easily startled, and much harder to pose. It’s not impossible to photograph a three-week-old — but it’s a very different kind of session, and those dreamy curled poses often aren’t achievable anymore.
That window goes fast. And it doesn’t come back.
Why Booking Early Protects You
When you book around 28–32 weeks, here’s what happens:
- I hold a tentative date around your due date in my calendar
- Once baby arrives, you text or email me and we confirm the exact date
- If you go early or late, we adjust together — no stress
- You don’t have to scramble during those overwhelming first days to find a photographer with availability
That last point matters more than people expect. The first week of your baby’s life is beautiful and chaotic and exhausting all at once. The last thing you want to be doing is frantically searching for a photographer who still has an opening.When you’ve already booked, it’s one less thing on your plate. You just focus on your baby.
| “The families who get the most stunning galleries are almost always the ones who booked before their baby shower.” |
What If I Wait Until After Baby Arrives?
It happens, and I completely understand — life gets busy, pregnancy brain is real, and sometimes booking a photographer just falls to the bottom of the list.
If your baby is already here and you’re reading this in a panic, reach out to me right away. If I have availability in your window, I will absolutely make it work. But I can’t promise a spot will be open, especially during busy seasons like spring and fall when my calendar fills up months in advance.
The honest truth is that waiting is a gamble. And these photos are not something you can recreate later.
How Many Sessions Do I Take Each Month?
I intentionally limit the number of newborn sessions I take each month. This isn’t just a marketing line — it’s how I make sure every single family gets everything I have.
When I’m not overbooked, I’m patient. I’m creative. I’m present. I can wait as long as it takes for baby to settle into a pose instead of watching the clock. That’s the experience every family deserves, and it’s only possible when I’m not spread too thin.
It also means my spots genuinely do fill up. Especially for summer and fall due dates, I often have families on a waitlist. Booking early is the only way to guarantee your date.
A Quick Timeline to Save
- 28–32 weeks pregnant — book your session and hold your due date
- Baby arrives — text or email me, we confirm your exact date
- Day 5–14 of life — your session (this is the sweet spot)
- 24–48 hours after — I begin editing your gallery
- 1–2 weeks later — your finished gallery is delivered
What About Cake Smash and Milestone Sessions?
For cake smash sessions, I recommend reaching out 2–3 months before your baby’s first birthday to make sure we can get the date you want. Popular birthday months like June, July, and December book up quickly.
For milestone sessions, a month or two of lead time is usually enough — but the earlier the better, especially if you have a specific month in mind.
Ready to Check Your Date?
If you have a due date or an upcoming birthday you’re planning around, I’d love to check availability for you. Just send me a message with your due date or birthday month and I’ll get back to you quickly.
I serve families in Evans, Augusta, Grovetown, Aiken, and throughout the CSRA. I’d love to be your photographer.
| 📩 Ready to check your date? Send me a message on Facebook or email me at mollyberryphotography@gmail.com with your due date or birthday month. I’ll get back to you right away! |
While you’re here, you might also love these:
- What to Expect at Your Newborn Session with Molly Berry Photography
- What to Wear to Your Newborn Session in Augusta, GA
— Molly Berry, Molly Berry Photography · Evans, GA
