Should I postpone the newborn photo session if my baby has newborn jaundice?

I did a little research on newborn jaundice and here is what I learnt – apparently most newborn babies have jaundice in the first few weeks and some are more noticeable than others.  Jaundice causes the skin to look yellowish because of the high levels of pigment in the blood called bilirubin. During pregnancy, mother’s liver eliminate bilirubin for her baby. After birth, newborn baby’s liver has not yet fully developed to remove bilirubin on their own. Therefore, pigments build up to cause the yellowish problem on their skin. That’s one of the most common reasons for newborn jaundice.

The ideal age to photograph a newborn is between 7 and 14 days old. Newborns sleep more deeply at this age and have greater flexibility and ease of posture. Since mild newborn jaundice will not affect the photo quality in most cases and I can correct the yellowish skin color in post production, it’s not necessary to postpone a newborn session.

I understand every situation is different. For newborns with more severe jaundice, treatments are required in the first few weeks. Don’t worry, older newborn photos can be equality (if not more) as cute and precious.

We take no more than 3 bookings per week to ensure the best photo quality and provide a more flexible schedule for every family. Book early today to secure your slot and start sharing your family story with us (contact).

Stay tuned for more tips on newborn, maternity and baby photography

byJanelle, your hong kong newborn and maternity photographer