There’s no shortage of advice for expecting parents in Bucks County on how, when, and where to capture those first days with a new baby. There’s no wrong way to document the moment. What matters most is starting a tradition of family photos that will last well beyond the newborn stage.

We asked the team at Ivory Tree Portraits in Newtown, named Best Photography Studio in Bucks County Parent’s LOVE Awards for multiple years running based on the endorsements of parents in our community, to set the record straight on what actually matters when it comes to newborn and baby portraits.

There’s No Such Thing As “The Perfect Window”

You’ve probably heard that newborn photos have to happen in the first 7 to 10 days, or you’ve missed your window. It’s true that Ivory Tree recommends that timeframe if you want the classic sleepy, curled-up newborn look. Babies are simply more likely to sleep through a session and still have those fresh, scrunched-up newborn features. But founder Lara Aman Mattey pushes back hard on the idea that missing it means you’ve lost something.

“There is no such thing as a perfect window,” she says, noting that neither of her own two children were photographed in that ideal timeframe. “It frustrates me when parents feel guilty about it. There’s enough mom guilt out there already.”

If your baby is past the newborn stage, don’t skip photos. Just shift what you’re capturing. Lara’s personal favorite session is the six-month “sitter” milestone (whenever a baby is actually sitting up, not necessarily at six months on the dot). “That’s the first time we really get to see their personality come through,” she says. “My kids are now teenagers, and I look back at those sitter pictures and it’s remarkable how we captured the same expressions that they make now.” First-year and cake smash sessions are also studio favorites, often with older siblings jumping in.

Not Every Photographer Knows How to Safely Handle a Newborn

This is the piece Lara says matters most, no matter which studio a family chooses: newborn photography is a specialized skill, not just a photography style. “You could be the most beautiful wedding photographer and still not know how to work with kids,” she explains. “There are a lot of photographers with stunning portfolios who don’t know how to safely photograph babies.”

At Ivory Tree, every photographer trains not only in the craft but in “baby basics,” things like reading a hungry cry or recognizing a gassy fuss, along with the holds and positions that are actually safe for a newborn’s body. It’s also why the studio’s “natural posing” approach works with how a baby actually rests, rather than forcing a pose. “It’s twofold,” Lara says. “It’s a safety component, and it’s also how you see your baby every single day. My kids are 14 and 15 now, and I still remember exactly how they slept because of those photos.”

You Just Had a Baby. You Don’t Need to Look Like You Didn’t.

New parents often feel pressure to look a certain way for photos so soon after giving birth. Lara’s advice: there’s no need for extra. “Wear your maternity clothes. You don’t need to squeeze back into your pre-pregnancy wardrobe. We know all the angles that will make you look amazing, even if you don’t feel it yet.”

Beyond that, Lara’s biggest tip is to book your session before your due date so it’s off your plate, pick an outfit in advance and stop thinking about it, and don’t hesitate to text and reschedule from the hospital if you need to. “We love when parents do that. Just don’t stress. We’ll make it work.”

A Fussy Baby Doesn’t Mean a Failed Session

Every newborn session at Ivory Tree runs two hours, entirely in studio, so the team can control lighting, temperature, and distractions. No barking dogs or doorbells mid-shoot. Sessions start with the full family, including siblings, before one parent steps out so baby can settle into a quiet second hour of solo portraits.

If a baby won’t settle, Lara says that’s expected, not a problem. “Babies have their own cadence. We see babies all day, so we often know if it’s a hungry cry or gas before a first-time parent has learned to read those cues yet.” The bigger factor, she says, is energy. “Babies feed off mom and dad’s energy. Our goal is to put you at ease so you can put your baby at ease.” Sessions are guaranteed to get the shot, however long it takes.

Budgeting for Baby’s First Year of Portraits

Ivory Tree’s philosophy is to only buy what you’ll actually love and use. Packages range from five images for $525 up to full-session collections around $1,500, with framing and album add-ons for families who want images off their phones and onto their walls. Lara says albums are seeing a real comeback as parents realize their digital files are going unused.

The most important lesson Lara’s learned as a studio owner, and the one she most wants to pass along to fellow moms, is to make portraits an annual tradition you look forward to, not a chore you talk your kids into. “If you set it up as an expectation early, kids stop fighting you on it. It becomes a tradition, like a birthday brunch.” Lara tells her own kids it’s her favorite day of the year, and means it. “Present it as something fun, not a chore, and treat the ice cream after as a thank-you, not a bribe. Kids pick up on that distinction more than you’d think. Even as teens, they keep wanting to come back.”

A Studio Rooted in the Community

Each year, the Ivory Tree team selects three to four local charities to support, often chosen because they’re personally meaningful to the team or a client. This year’s partners include the American Heart Association, the ASPCA, and Bite Me Cancer, a nod to a client and recent senior portrait subject who is now in remission from thyroid cancer. “We just did her senior portraits, and it’s incredible to watch them grow up,” Lara says.

For each themed session, $75 per family goes directly to that charity, on top of the growing lineup of themed shoots the studio has built around them, including puppy sessions, “Glow” sessions, and Confetti sessions. Over the years, Ivory Tree has raised funds for causes including the Trevor Project, the PSPCA, Kisses for Kyle, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Eagles Autism Foundation, and the Linus Project, adding up to thousands raised annually for the community.

Meet the Team Behind the Camera

Every session at Ivory Tree is led by a creative team that treats “working well with kids” as a real, trainable skill, not a nice bonus. Creative Director Kaeleigh has been with the studio since 2016 and grew up in Bucks County, just a few minutes from the Newtown studio. Photographer Kierstin taught dance to kids before joining the team, and Nicole, a former Division I goalkeeper, brings the same patience and energy she used coaching younger athletes. Even Lara’s own daughters, Caitie and Lorelai, show up for studio events, greeting families and handing out balloons.

It’s that familiarity with kids, paired with genuine warmth, that Lara says makes all the difference. Whether you’re newly pregnant and just starting to think about maternity portraits, or you’ve got a newborn at home and a session on the calendar, the Ivory Tree team is ready to welcome you in.

Ivory Tree Portraits supports the Bucks County Parent Community, as seen in the Bucks County Baby Guide.