What does newborn photography cost?
Newborn photography is a session in roughly the first two weeks after birth, while your baby still sleeps deeply and curls up. In the Netherlands it usually takes place at home and lasts two to three hours, because feeding and settling set the pace. It starts from €300. The final quote depends on the photographer, duration, location, date and whether siblings are included.
Newborn photography captures the first days: the curled-up sleep, the tiny hands, the parents' first weeks with the baby. Babies change fast, so it is planned differently from other family sessions, with a flexible date and plenty of time.
In the Netherlands most newborn sessions take place at home. You are recovering, the baby is settling, and nobody should have to pack a nappy bag for a studio on day eight. We match your request with a photographer in your area who photographs newborns and knows how to work safely with them.
Why the first two weeks
Between roughly day 5 and day 14, most babies sleep deeply and are still comfortable curled up the way they lay in the womb. After about three weeks they are more awake, startle more easily and stretch out — which makes a lovely session too, but a different one. That later age is covered by baby photography.
Because nobody knows the exact birth date, you book in pregnancy with a provisional window, then message the photographer when the baby arrives. The photographer holds flexible slots for this reason.
Fitting around the kraamweek
Dutch families usually have kraamzorg in the first week or so: a maternity care nurse who visits at home to check on mother and baby and help you settle in. Many parents prefer to hold the session just after that period ends, when the household has found a rhythm.
If you would rather do it during the kraamweek, that is possible too — tell the photographer, and plan it at a time that does not clash with the nurse's visits or the midwife's check-ups. There is no need to be dressed up or to tidy the whole house; photographers need one room with good daylight.
Safety comes first
A newborn photographer should work to one principle: the baby's comfort and safety matter more than any pose. In practice that means:
- the room kept warm (around 24–26°C) because the baby may be photographed in just a nappy or wrap
- the baby on a low, stable surface, never on a high table or in a prop without a hand nearby
- a parent or the photographer always within arm's reach
- no pose forced; if a baby does not want to curl up, they are photographed as they are
- head-on-hands style images, if done at all, made as a supported composite, never with the baby balanced unsupported
- washed hands and no photographer who is unwell
Ask any photographer how they handle safety. A good one will be glad you asked.
What happens during the session
Plan for two to three hours, most of it spent feeding, burping and settling. A typical sequence: family and parent-with-baby frames while the baby is awake, then a feed, then close-up details and sleepy wrapped portraits once the baby is in a deep sleep. Siblings are photographed early, while they still have patience.
Photographers adapt to your style: some work in a "lifestyle" way with the family on the bed and very little posing; others bring wraps, a posing beanbag and a few simple props. Say which you prefer in your request.
Preparing your home
You do not need a tidy house — just one room that works. Before the photographer arrives:
- Turn the heating up in that room half an hour ahead; it will feel warm to you.
- Clear a bed or a patch of floor near the biggest window. North-facing windows give the softest light.
- Have feeding things, a spare muslin and clean nappies within reach.
- Plan for siblings to have a snack and something to do, so their part can be early and short.
- Keep a neutral top for each parent nearby, for the family frames.
Then let the photographer set the pace. The best newborn sessions feel slow and quiet, with nobody watching the clock.
Price and booking
Newborn photography starts from €300, reflecting the longer session and the travel to your home. Siblings, extended family and prints add to the quote. Book in the second or early third trimester so the photographer can hold a window for you; a maternity session with the same photographer is a common pairing.
What’s included
- A provisional booking window around your due date
- Photographer travel to your home within their service area
- Two to three hours at the baby's pace, with time for feeds
- Safety-first posing with a parent within reach
- Family, parent-and-baby and detail photos
- Careful editing of skin tones and newborn skin
- Online gallery with high-resolution downloads
Optional extras
Siblings and grandparents
Photographed first, while the baby is awake; allow extra time.
Wraps and simple props
Some photographers bring these; ask if you want a posed look.
Printed album
A small album is a good gift for grandparents abroad.
Maternity + newborn arrangement
Book both sessions together with one photographer.
Durations and what you receive
| Session | Edited photos |
|---|---|
| Lifestyle session (2 hours) | 20–35 edited photos |
| Full session (3 hours) | 25–45 edited photos |
Starting prices are indicative. Your final quote depends on the photographer, duration, location, number of people, date and specific requirements.
Who books this
- Parents expecting a baby in the next few months
- Families who want a calm session at home in the first two weeks
- Parents including older siblings in the first photos
- Expats sharing the new arrival with family abroad
Newborn Photography by city
Newborn Photography: questions
When should I book a newborn photographer?
During pregnancy, ideally in the second trimester. You book a window around your due date and confirm the exact day once the baby is born.
What if my baby is born early or late?
That is expected. Photographers keep flexible slots for newborn sessions; message them after the birth and they will fit you in within the first couple of weeks where possible.
Is it too late after three weeks?
Not at all, but the pictures change. Older babies are more awake and less curled up, so the session leans towards lifestyle and family photos. See baby photography.
Does the session have to be at home?
No, but at home is most common in the Netherlands and usually easiest for a recovering parent. Some photographers work from a studio; mention your preference in your request.
Can we do it during the kraamweek?
Yes, as long as you feel up to it. Schedule around the kraamzorg nurse's visits and midwife check-ups, and keep it relaxed.
How is my baby kept safe?
By keeping the room warm, using low and stable surfaces, having a hand within reach at all times and never forcing a pose. Ask the photographer to talk you through how they work.
