Newborn Photography in England — Safe, Gentle, and Completely Baby-Led
The first two weeks of a baby's life pass in a blur of exhaustion, wonder, and overwhelming love. The tiny details — curled fingers, downy hair, the way their whole body fits in one arm — feel vivid now, but memory is notoriously unreliable for sleep-deprived new parents. Newborn photography exists to hold on to these details: to give you something you can return to in ten, twenty, thirty years and feel it all over again.
Yana Skakun offers gentle, safe, at-home newborn sessions across Cambridgeshire and the surrounding counties. Sessions take place in the comfort of your own home — no unfamiliar studio, no travelling with a days-old baby — and are completely unhurried. Feeding breaks, nappy changes, settling time: all of it is built into the session as a matter of course. There is no schedule and no pressure.
When to Have Newborn Photos Taken
The ideal window for newborn portraits is between 5 and 14 days after birth. During this time, babies sleep deeply, curl naturally into those beautiful compact shapes, and are at their most settled for posed images. After three weeks, babies tend to be more alert and wakeful, which makes certain poses more challenging — though lifestyle 'awake baby' sessions are still beautiful at any age in the first few months.
Yana recommends booking during pregnancy — ideally from around 20 weeks — to secure a provisional slot around your due date. This is held with no obligation until your baby arrives, at which point the exact date is confirmed. Maternity photography sessions are also available, typically photographed at 30–35 weeks to capture the full, beautiful bump.
What's Included in a Newborn Session
Sessions run 2–4 hours and include posed newborn images (wrapped and in props), lifestyle images with parents and siblings, and detail close-ups of tiny features. Yana brings all wraps, props, and posing equipment. You receive 25+ fully retouched images in a private online gallery within two weeks, with full rights to print and share. A selection of beautiful fine-art prints and albums are available to add.
Beyond standard newborn sessions, Yana also offers Fresh 48 sessions — at-hospital documentary coverage within the first 48 hours of life — and extended milestone packages covering newborn, sitter (6–8 months), and cake smash (12 months) sessions together at a combined rate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newborn Photography
Is newborn photography safe? Absolutely. Baby safety is the first priority in every session. All poses are anatomically safe, your baby is never unsupported, and any composite-style images that appear to show babies 'floating' or balancing are digitally created from fully supported shots. Yana follows industry best-practice safety standards throughout.
Our baby won't settle — should we still come? Yes. Unsettled babies are entirely normal and Yana has extensive experience of working very patiently with them. Often the best images come from babies who took their time to settle. Sessions are never rushed and there is never any pressure.
Can siblings and parents be included? Yes, and it's warmly encouraged. Sibling images are among the most treasured. Parents are included in lifestyle images — no pressure on how you look, just natural, loving moments in your home.