Having your baby photographed at 14 days

These babies were all around 14 days old when they came to the Mabel & Møøse studio for their newborn photoshoots. Two weeks old is a wonderful time to have your baby photographed. They still have that extraordinary newborn quality, soft and curled and brand new, but they are beginning to have awake windows that give you a glimpse of the little person they are becoming.

This baby slept through much of his session, completely settled and at ease. I always think the best way to see a baby's real personality is simply to let them get comfortable in their own way. No pressure, no forcing. Just letting them be exactly as they are.

This is one of those images that sometimes gets the response you cannot see his face. And that is rather the point. There will be plenty of beautiful portraits of his face in the gallery. But when he is grown, will his parents remember the curve of his tiny spine, or the way his soft hairline sat above those perfect little folds at the back of his neck? That is what this photograph is about. Remembering all of it, not just the obvious moments.

Those tiny fingers. So new they have barely uncurled from the position they held inside the womb. Detail photographs like this are some of the most treasured in a gallery. They will not stay this small for long.

This baby was very happy in one of the chunky knits from the studio wardrobe. I am often asked where to shop for newborn outfits before a photoshoot and the honest answer is that there is no need. The last thing you need in those early days is trawling the shops for the perfect outfit. I have a carefully chosen selection of simple neutral pieces in soft whites and creams so there will always be something that feels just right. And if your baby is settled and content in a plain white vest I will always leave well alone. Some of my favourite sessions have been photographed entirely in a simple white bodysuit. Simple, timeless and all about your baby.

After a feed, most babies are ready for a peaceful sleep. I never pose babies into positions that do not feel natural to them. This is simply how he settled, completely content. The best newborn photographs always look exactly like this.

Those awake windows at 14 days are so worth capturing. Wide eyes taking in a world they have only just arrived in. Alert, curious and already completely themselves.

Active sleep is one of my favourite things to photograph too. All those tiny squirms and fleeting expressions. I simply let them move and capture whatever happens. If a baby needs a cuddle or is not quite settling, they go straight back to mum or dad. No rush, no pressure. The photographs will wait.

Sometimes all it takes is the gentlest touch from a parent. He curled his tiny fingers around theirs and held on with surprising determination. We had to gently ease their hands free when the session moved on. He was quite set on staying exactly where he was.

This is just a glimpse of what a newborn session at Mabel & Møøse looks like. Natural, calm and entirely led by your baby. Every session is different because every baby is different, and that is exactly as it should be.

If you would love photographs like these I would love to hear from you.