Where to Have Your Photo Session Based on Your Child’s Age

One of the most common questions parents ask when planning a photo session is where it should take place — especially when children are involved.

While age can influence what feels practical, there’s no single “right” location. What matters most is choosing a place that supports your child’s comfort, your family’s rhythm, and the kind of moments you’d like to remember.

Below is a general guide — not a set of rules — to help you think through what might work well at different stages.

Newborns — Familiar and unhurried

In the first weeks, sessions usually work best at home. Newborns need warmth, closeness, and flexibility, and being in a familiar space allows the session to move at their pace.

Home sessions at this stage are quiet and slow, focused on connection rather than activity — feeding, holding, settling, and simply being together.

Babies under one — Comfort first

As babies become more alert and expressive, home often remains a supportive setting. Familiar surroundings allow them to stay relaxed while we capture early interactions, small movements, and the way they engage with the people closest to them.

Sessions at this age are less about what a baby “does” and more about how they respond, connect, and take in the world around them.

From around 6 months — Gentle outdoor options (season-dependent)

Once babies can sit with support and are comfortable being outside, outdoor sessions can be an option — depending on the weather and season.

Outdoor settings introduce more sensory elements: light, textures, movement. Sessions remain flexible and child-led, with plenty of pauses and space to respond to how your baby is feeling on the day.

In colder months, home sessions often remain the more comfortable choice.

Toddlers — Space and freedom

As children become more mobile, outdoor locations often work well. Open spaces allow toddlers to move, explore, and engage with their surroundings in a natural way.

Rather than asking them to “perform,” sessions at this age are about following their lead — walking, stopping, noticing things, and responding to familiar faces and voices.

Preschool age and up — More flexibility

With growing independence and communication, location choices become more flexible. Home sessions, outdoor walks, or simple natural settings can all work well, depending on your child’s temperament and energy.

At this stage, the focus shifts toward interaction — conversations, gestures, curiosity — rather than age-specific activities.

A note on choosing the right place

While age can guide practical decisions, it’s only one part of the picture. Some children feel most at ease at home, others thrive outdoors. Some families prefer familiarity; others enjoy movement and change.

Rather than aiming for what should work at a certain age, it often helps to ask:

• Where does our child feel most comfortable?

• How do we usually spend time together?

• What kind of pace feels right for us right now?

These answers tend to lead to locations that support genuine connection.

Final thoughts

Every stage of childhood brings something different, and there’s no single formula for choosing a location. Together, we’ll find a setting that suits your family, the season, and the way you naturally are together.

If you’d like help thinking this through, you’re welcome to get in touch — or explore my portfolio to see how different ages and places shape different stories.