Finding the Right Newborn Photographer for Your Family

You have just had a new baby, or are about to, and you realize that you must have this little miracle of your’s photographed. But when you search for a photographer, you get thousands of suggestions. You haven’t even decided what brand of diapers you are going to use and Google wants you to wade through a sea of photographers hoping that you stumble upon the right one.

Well, here is a quick list of things to consider that can help you narrow down your choices to the best one for you!

1) Photography Style

Make sure you like the photographer’s style or you will be disappointed. What do you want your images to look like? Is it the beautifully posed images of babies in baskets that makes you say Awwwwww? Or do you prefer a more candid look in photographs that shows the family interacting with the baby? There are a wide range of newborn styles from “organic”, with raw, muted tones to “lifestyle”, that document the babies in their new home, to clean and classic and even colorful “fine art” creations. If you truly don’t know, check out Pinterest and you’ll figure it out very quickly. Then when you check out a photographer’s website you’ll know right away if you like their style. Some photographers, like me, do posed and lifestyle images in every session.

2) Personality

You want to make sure you have a good conversation with any photographer that you are considering, not only to have your questions answered, but to also make sure that you like the person and click with them. During a newborn session, you will be handing your brand new baby over to them so that they can position them and get you the best images possible. You may also be in many of the photographs with your new baby, so you want to make sure that you are totally comfortable with the photographer. Checking out their website About Me page is also a great way to get to know a little more about them. You can see a lot of my personality over on my Get To Know Me page.

 3) Recommendation

If you can get a recommendation from a friend or family member for a newborn photographer, that is a wonderful! Knowing that someone you trust has used a photographer and had a good experience with them provides a sense of ease and greater confidence in this big decision you are making. You only have one chance to capture your baby’s first few days, so you want to be sure that the photographer you choose will deliver those precious memories that last a lifetime.

 4) Specialization

There are many photographers that have chosen to specialize in newborn and baby portraiture. This can be a sign of greater experience and understanding of this delicate and intricate type of photography, but it certainly doesn’t mean that another photographer might not be your best choice (especially if you are interested in less posed, more lifestyle images.) Most newborn photographers have chosen this niche because they are personally drawn to it and are passionate about capturing these gorgeous little people. For me, I fell head over heels in love with newborn photography the moment I photographed my first newborn client. I do photograph babies and little children as well, but mostly because I love to watch them grow up before my camera. It really comes down to the style you are looking for and whether you already have a connection with another family photographer.

 5) Availability

You may find that newborn photographers can be booked up to four or five months in advance. The best time for you to find your photographer and secure your booking is at the beginning of your second trimester. Don’t panic if you are reading this much later than that. You can still find a photographer that will do a beautiful job with a newborn session for you. It is just that due to the uncertainty of your delivery date, most newborn photographers will only take a certain number of bookings per month and then schedule the actual session date once the baby arrives. So feel free to contact the photographer and see if they can fit you in.

 6) Safety and Comfort

The safety and comfort of your baby are the most important things to think about when considering newborn photography. Make sure you are comfortable with the training, experience and business practices of every photographer you consider.

 7) Price

Due to its time-intensive and specialized nature, professional newborn photography costs can range from $500 to $3000+. Photographers may charge a session fee and then allow you to purchase a package or individual prints afterwards. You may also have the option to purchase a discounted Club or Baby plan, which allows you to schedule several photography sessions to document the first year of your baby’s life and lock in prices for specific products.Congratulations on your newest little one! I would love to be your newborn photographer. Contact me today to find out more about how I work to make things easy for you and about my Baby Club that ensures you don’t miss anything during your baby’s first year.