I’ve written about when you should schedule your newborn photography session before. The short and unsatisfying answer to that is: it varies. (You can read the much more satisfying and informative long answer on that blog post).

This question is different, though. When should you reach out to a Richmond newborn photographer in order to get on their radar, and choose who you’re going to work with?

The short answer is: it varies. (whomp, whomp.)

I’ve had excited women reach out before the pee has dried on the stick. I’ve also had women wait until well after their 20 week anatomy scan before feeling confident enough to contact me for a maternity or newborn session.

I totally understand and empathize with both decisions, and neither is wrong.

I love being trusted with the pregnancy secret at the beginning, for obvious reasons. Trust is precious and I feel honored to be included in that tiny circle of those in the know. I enjoy checking in with you to see how things are going, to sympathize with the morning sickness and sciatica, and get excited with the nesting and the inevitable burst of energy in the second trimester.

However, I’m also too familiar with the pain of losing a pregnancy, and the extra emotions involved in having to tell people about the loss when you were so excited to share the news early on. It can sometimes feel easier to imagine going through that alone. (As an aside, I’d argue that it’s not easier to go through that alone, and if you do/are going through that, please know that so many other women have been there too and are more than willing to talk if you feel like it. Just saying.)

So I get it. Waiting until later to book a newborn photographer can feel safer. And honestly, there’s no real rush to book with me.

I purposely don’t overcrowd my calendar so that I can work with fewer photography clients, so we have time to get to know each other and take our time. The purposely-unrushed nature of working with me means I have more availability as we go, and I like the flexibility that gives us.

I do prefer newborn photo clients reach out before the baby is actually here, because your brain is less full of new baby logistics and we have more time to talk about what you want. But I’d never turn you away just because you forgot to find a newborn photographer earlier.

Since we aren’t trying to pose or contort a sleeping baby in adorable outfits, and are instead simply documenting your family in this current (very tired) stage of life, there’s no deadline for scheduling newborn photos, and we can take a more relaxed path to getting you the photos you want in a way you want to remember them.

So, feel free to include me in your secret at the beginning if you need someone to tell (I’m very good at keeping secrets), or bookmark my newborn photography page and come back when you feel more comfortable. I’m here for you when you’re ready.