In Home Newborn Photography in Western Springs, IL — When to Book and What to Expect
When the D family opened their front door on a quiet morning in Western Springs, IL, ready for their in home newborn photography session, the house already told the story.
Soft white walls, a nursery in the most gentle blush, an older brother who was so excited to show off little sister, and a brand new baby girl sleeping through all of it.
If you are expecting and beginning to think about newborn photos, this post covers everything you need to know about timing, booking, and what happens when life does not go exactly according to plan.
What Is the Newborn Window?
The newborn window is the period between five and fourteen days after birth. Most experienced newborn photographers, including those serving the western suburbs of Chicago, consider this the ideal time to photograph a new baby.
Within this window, a few things are true that will not be true for very long:
- Babies sleep deeply and often, which allows a session to move at a calm, unhurried pace.
- They are still naturally curled, the way they were in the womb, creating natural newborn poses.
- Their skin has a particular softness and smoothness in these first days that changes quickly as the weeks pass.
Why the First Two Weeks Matter
After about two weeks, several things begin to shift. Sleep becomes lighter and less predictable. Babies become more alert and wakeful, which is wonderful and beautiful but changes the rhythm of a session significantly. Some babies also begin to develop mild baby acne around this time, and colic can emerge. None of these things make a great session impossible, but they do make it less predictable.
The images most families picture when they imagine newborn photography, the peaceful, curled, softly lit portraits, are most naturally available in that first two-week window. This is not a rule designed to create urgency. It is simply the reality of how quickly newborns change.
Inquire About Your Newborn Session
When should you book your in home newborn session in Western Springs IL?
The session happens in the first two weeks after giving birth. But the booking happens months before that.
The Sweet Spot: 20 to 28 Weeks
Most experienced newborn photographers recommend booking between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Here is why this window works so well.
You are past the early months when everything still feels uncertain. Your due date is confirmed. You have enough time to have a real conversation with your photographer, think through your vision, ask questions about wardrobe and location, and arrive at your session feeling genuinely prepared rather than overwhelmed.
It also gives you meaningful buffer. Babies come early sometimes. A booking made at 22 weeks means that even if your little one arrives three or four weeks ahead of schedule, you are not scrambling to find a photographer in the first days of your baby’s life, which is the last thing anyone needs in that moment.
What the Booking Process Actually Looks Like
When you reach out to inquire, we will have a conversation about your due date, your vision, and what you are hoping the images will feel like. From there, a deposit holds your spot on the calendar. Your actual session date is confirmed once your baby arrives and you have had a few days to settle at home.
A good newborn photographer builds flexibility into this process. You will not be locked into a specific date months in advance. Life with a newborn is unpredictable, and the logistics should never add to that.
What Happens If Your Baby Arrives Early?
First, take a breath. Early arrivals are more common than most people expect, and a photographer who specializes in newborn work has navigated this before.
If your baby arrives significantly early and requires additional medical care, your session will simply wait until your baby is home, healthy, and ready. We will reschedule without question. Your deposit is safe and your spot is held.
If your baby arrives a few weeks early but is healthy and home, reach out as soon as you feel ready. In most cases we can confirm a session date within your first week home and still photograph within the ideal window.
The most important thing you can do is let me know as soon as your baby arrives. We will figure out the rest together.
What Happens If Your Baby Arrives Late?
Due dates are estimates, and late arrivals are completely normal. Once your baby is here, send me a message and we will schedule your session from there.
If your baby arrives a week or two past your due date, you will most likely still be well within the newborn window for a beautiful, calm session. We simply confirm the date once you are home and work from your baby’s actual birthday rather than your original due date.
What If You Miss the Newborn Window?
It happens, and it is not the end of the story.
I have photographed babies up to one month old and made galleries families treasure just as deeply as any session from the first two weeks. What changes is the approach, not the outcome.
An older newborn is not guaranteed to sleep through a session the way a five-day-old might. But a baby who is well fed, calm, and content can be photographed beautifully awake. Some of the most expressive, personality-filled newborn images I have made were of babies who were wide-eyed and taking everything in.
If you are reading this while holding a three or four week old, please reach out today rather than waiting. The window is shorter than it was, but it has not closed.
And if your baby is beyond the newborn stage entirely, a three month or six month milestone session may be the perfect next chapter.
Let’s Talk About Your Timeline
Ready to Book Your Newborn Session?
Whether you choose a cozy in-home session or a bright, timeless studio experience, I would love to help you preserve these precious first days. Contact me today to reserve your newborn session and let’s create memories that will last a lifetime.
A Note for Western Springs Families and the Western Suburbs
Western Springs is one of my favorite communities to work in. The homes here have a particular character — bright, thoughtfully designed spaces with the kind of natural light that makes an in-home session feel like the only right choice. The family featured in this post welcomed us into exactly that kind of home, and the images reflect it.
I photograph in-home newborn sessions throughout the western suburbs, including Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Elmhurst, and the surrounding communities. If you are local and beginning to think about newborn photos, I would love to hear from you.
Inquire About an In-Home Session in the Western Suburbs
Johana Choi is a Chicago newborn and family photographer with over ten years of professional experience, including training at the London College of Fashion and international work across Seoul, London, and Mexico City. Before opening her own studio, she photographed over 600 families as an associate photographer at one of Chicago’s most respected family studios. She works with a small number of families each month, with in-home sessions throughout Chicago and the western suburbs including Western Springs, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, and Elmhurst.
