Who can resist a timeless photograph of a perfectly posed sleeping newborn? Certainly not me, nor many people I know!
Newborn photography has become something as essential as wedding photography… It’s a once in a lifetime portrait session that captures the oh-so-fleeting newborn phase that every parent quickly realizes only lasts a few short weeks. Looking back on photos of my children, it’s uncanny to see the difference from just a week old to a month old… at a month old, they’ve already started to come into their facial features, they are learning the strength of their muscles and bobbling their little heads around trying to get a glimpse of the world around them. For me, it was always a bittersweet moment when they stopped doing the little “butt up, legs tucked” pose when you pick them up (My absolute FAVORITE thing about the newborn cuddles is that little pose they do!).
As a photographer who has specialized in newborns for over 5 years, I realize that new parents who are shopping for portrait photographers have several criteria that they are working with, and budget tends to be something I see a lot of moms worry about in my Mom groups. I decided to write this post to explain a bit more about what exactly goes into your newborn session, as well as a few very important criteria that I feel may get overlooked when new parents are shopping for their newborn’s photographer. When you are hiring someone to take your newborn photos, especially posed sessions, there are a few things that new parents should consider before booking their photographer:
~Experience
- How long has your photographer been in business? There are plenty of photographers out there, as we well know. However, when it comes to Newborn portraiture, you’re going to be handing over your most delicate and fragile possession, and it’s imperative to know that they are going into the hands of someone who has SAFELY handled many newborns before – someone who knows how to sooth, someone who knows what positions and poses can hurt baby vs. ones that are safe, as well as photogenic. Many new photographers out there are willing to slash their newborn portrait pricing to “portfolio build” and to “experiment” on how to learn newborn photography.
- I encourage new parents to ask themselves this question before booking these new/hobby photographers: Is this something that you want YOUR brand new baby to be a test dummy for to save a little bit of money?
~Certification/Training
- There are lots of questions that I now would have no hesitation asking anyone I was hiring to handle my new baby, a few of which are as follows: Who has the photographers studied under? Have they invested in proper newborn workshops with newborn industry leaders, teaching them about correct posing, lighting, editing, etc. Is the photographer someone who has children or someone who’s only handled other people’s children (because let’s be real, there are so many things we don’t learn about babies until we have one for ourselves). Does your photographer have infant CPR training incase the unthinkable happens during the photoshoot or any time that the baby is in their studio/personal care?
~Health/Safety
- Something that is a particularly hot topic these days are vaccines. People who choose to not vaccinate are still in the minority, but this is something that should absolutely be discussed prior to anyone handling your fresh baby who has not been immunized yet. Is your photographer up to date on current vaccines, in particular, have they kept up with the dTap booster, which prevents adults from passing the Whooping Cough to infants who’s immune systems are too fragile to fight off? Most new mothers will get this booster while they are pregnant or right after delivery, but it’s important that everyone who is going to come in very close proximity with a newborn be up to date on this vaccine.
~Style
- Last, but not least, make sure that the person you’re going to hire has a style that you know you will love for years to come. Just like any other industry, there are “trends” and props that people will photograph little ones in that will quickly become dated or can just flat out look a bit “awkward” in a few years. Newborn portraits are an investment, so lining up your taste with a photographer who shares a similar vision to you is so important for this one in a lifetime experience.
- Make sure that the the photographer you’re hiring includes all the props that you may see in their portfolio. Not all photographers provide props due to cost, placing the financial burden on the client to provide props. If cost is a factor, make sure to check with your photographer about what exactly is included in your shoot!
I hope this brief article comes in handy while you’re looking for the perfect photographer… Just remember: you can never ask your photographer too many questions. A professional will appreciate and respect your due diligence 🙂
xo
Tricia
