Every family is unique and has different needs. Fortunately, there is a newborn photographer out there to fit every desire! Let’s look at what you should consider when selecting the best photographer for your needs.
A great example of a posed, studio newborn image done with props.
Style. Most likely, these are photos you are going to have hanging on your wall or sitting in a photo album on your coffee table for many years to come. So one of your first considerations should be picking the photographer with the style you prefer.
Studio/Posed: These are the photos you see of newborns wrapped up and posed in a bowl or bucket or posed with naked or just with a wrap. There are many varieties from those with themes and lots of color to those that are more simple and done with neutral tones. These are what I offer in my studio and I offer both colorful props and neutral options, usually keeping it very simple and focused on the baby.
Lifestyle: This style of newborn photography is typically done in the your home with an emphasis on a casual, non-posed look. Not every home is an ideal setup for a lifestyle session, but a skilled photographer can make most homes look beautiful.
The above examples are definitely oversimplifying your options. Another option I didn’t even list is birth or 48 hour photography which can be done instead of or along side a newborn session. There are so many possibilities! Each photographer has their own style, own props, own equipment and expertise. Be sure to look at lots of examples of their work and find the one that you like best!
Lifestyle newborn photography is usually done in your home. (image courtesy of https://shefaliparekh.com/marin-county-newborn-photographer-sycamore-smith/)
2. Services: Some photographers might not have many services or extras to offer their clients while others might include the use of their props, their own studio, wardrobe for the parents, hair and makeup, or even more. These types of services might make the photographer more expensive up front, but could save you money and stress in the long run. Also, you definitely want to consider what other types of shoots they may be willing to package with a newborn session. Perhaps you’d like to do a maternity session or milestone sessions throughout the baby’s first year. Having the same photographer for all those sessions will create a consistency with your photos and your albums.
3. Product Options: Some photographers offer only edited digital images while others offer prints, wall art, and albums. Lots of photographers offer options of both. Before deciding, decide what exactly you’ll be using the photos for. Are you going to hang them on your walls? Are you going to create a birth announcement or share them on social media?
Many photographers that provide the edited digital images will include a print release, however the quality of prints available to the general public are many times not as good as those available to professional photographers.
4. Experience: You might not realize how important this is, but rest assured that having a photographer who has experience is very important. Especially experience specifically working with newborns. There are many photographers, many of them just starting out, who are willing to lots of different niches of photography as they discover what their preferred specialty is. However, newborn photography is a time when you want someone with experience.
Experience means safety. A photographer who has experience around babies knows how to safely pose, wrap, and moderate the temperature of a newborn.
Experience means talent. Having an eye for lighting, for posing, angles, props, I could go on and on. All of that comes with years in the business.
To put it bluntly, a new photographer should get experience by taking courses and working with a mentor. Not practicing on your baby and putting them at risk and creating mediocre images.
5. Price: Just like in many other industries, you get what you pay for when it comes to a newborn photographer. Finding a photographer with the style, services, options, and who has lots of experience in your budget may seem like finding a diamond in the rough. One thing to keep in mind is that many photographers offer pricing plans, gift vouchers, and even a gift registry (have your friends and family contribute at your baby shower!). Photos are something that are going to be around for years to come and I can’t count the times I’ve heard someone say they wished they hired a better newborn photographer. A good photographer who has their heart in it is not doing it for just a few extra bucks but instead are doing it as a career and a passion. They are worth every penny!
The average newborn photographer can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. The more money you spend, the more you should expect in talent, services, and product offerings. If you find a photographer who is offering all digital images for just a hundred dollars run away! While it may seem like a deal, they likely don’t have the training, skills, and expertise to provide you with images you really want or deserve.
6. Professional: While this was touched on in number 5, it is worth stressing the importance of hiring a photographer who is a professional. A big reason is that they should have a comprehensive contract that will protect both them and you. A good contract should cover things like the rights to use the images, a model release, terms for refunds, liability release, and more. There are many, many horror stories out there where a photographer who didn’t have a contract signed was able to take advantage of a client by charging more, cancelling a session without offering a refund, or withheld the images even after payment was received. These aren’t images you can replicate months down the line when you realize that a photographer has ghosted you. Hiring a professional with references and a contract will insure you’re actually getting what you pay for and will have photos to cherish for years to come.
The right newborn photographer can create irreplaceable, timeless images that you will cherish for years to come.