Eleven, almost twelve years ago now, my son was born. While I did take some pictures of him in the hospital, the first professional pictures I have of him were taken in the hospital by a company the hospital works with. they provide packages not unlike school pictures. Of course I love them, they are my baby! But to this day, what I love more are the few pictures I took myself of him laying in the isolette in my hospital room. The lighting was beautiful, streaming into the room, he was sleeping all snugly. It certainly wasn’t a fine art piece. But something clicked in me during this time.
The pictures I look at to remember how tiny and new he was are not the pictures I purchased from the hospital, those are in some drawer. They are the pictures that I took of him, in the hospital room. While I had taken classes on a film SLR camera, and I had fun, I didn’t start taking pictures of children in a more fine art or portrait style until my son came along. Digital changed everything for me. I was a graphic designer at the time and digital was a natural progression. This is not about my history so much as why I think it is so important to hire a professional newborn photographer to capture those timeless, fleeting memories of just how fresh and new your newborn is.
Professional photographers can be though of as a luxury item. Necessary to some, not as important to others. There are times in your life where a photographer can be very important, often those big moments in life such as a wedding…or the birth of your child. I wish I would have though of hiring someone for my son when he was a newborn. I did not realize at the time, that newborn photography was even really a “thing.” Well, I can’t say that totally. Anne Geddes started it all, really. I did not realize, however, that more and more photographers were taking newborn pictures. As I grew my business, I learned about many types of photography. While I knew I was done having babies, I still loved working with them. I was drawn to the beautiful newborn portraits that were becoming more and more popular.
Over the years I have grown my business to become a full service retail studio offering studio and on location sessions. My favorite service I offer is newborn photography, and my first year baby plan. I love all ages and families, of course. But those brand new little beings are just so new, curly and beautiful. I love capturing that newness, that beauty that is undeniable to newborns.
Ok, so maybe you can agree newborns are sweet. But you might think you have a camera, even a nice camera with a nice lens. Why do you need to hire a professional newborn photographer?
1. Newborn portraits are a timeless keepsake that will be shared and cherished for generations. When you first bring that new baby (or babies) home from the hospital, you will realize life will be quite different going forward. Part of this is adjusting to having a baby, or another baby. You may be exhausted and sore. The last thing you may be thinking of is leaving the house to get portraits taken. The real issue is by the time you feel more up to it, your new baby isn’t so new anymore and they have changed so much in such a short time. In just 3 weeks they will have lost some of their curliness, their face may look totally different as they start to fill out more. There is something about a brand new baby, just a few days old, that is so fleeting and special. And there is such a short window to capture that. Those images are something that will be cherished for generations. One of my favorite pictures of my grandmother is of her as a baby. I just love it.
2. A professional newborn photographer has extensive experience with newborns. Your new baby is exposed to a totally different environment when they first come out of the womb. A professional newborn photographer will know how to handle, soothe, and keep baby warm and comfortable during a newborn session. It can be difficult to get much more than snapshots at home. While those are precious as well, a professional has a talent for using light, soft props and settings to really bring out the unique beauty and sweetness of a newborn baby. A professional will also understand newborn safety and often has tricks and tips for soothing that even parents don’t know.
3. But some of the photographers say the sessions are so long, you might be thinking. Yes, newborn sessions can last a while, even up to a few hours. Why is this important? Because your photographer will be allowing time for baby to be fed and soothed as much as is needed to get the images that you want from your session. A good professional newborn photographer knows how to work with newborns as efficiently as possible, but does also understand that newborns are individuals and may need time for settling into poses, or may need a cuddle or a snack. While it can take up some time, these sessions are not rushed and parents are often found relaxing during the session, or even enjoy watching. I love when I get that perfect pose and I can hear mama sighing behind me. I look back and see that look of awe as she looks at her precious, beautiful baby. I have had more than one shed a tear or two in my studio.
Ok, you say, I see why it is important. But who do you hire? How do you find someone? Well, word of mouth is great, Google is your friend. Lastly, budget may be a consideration for you. There are many photographers out there. Many say they photograph newborns. Some are very good. As you browse the net, Pintrest, Facebook, take note of the images that speak to you and why. As you do this a bit you will find you prefer a certain style. It might be images with lots of cute props, or it might be family interacting with baby, maybe in home images, or natural light images. Once you take some notes on things that draw you to each image, then it is time to browse through a few portfolios of newborn photographers near you. Before you look at price, I suggest you just look at their newborn gallery. It doesn’t mean you will be hiring a specific photographer just yet, you are more educating yourself on the differences. Some photographers will have work that stands out more than others. Take note of the photographers that you like the best, keeping track is a good idea. Then once you have narrowed it down to a few photographers, you can then start to look at more specifics like price if it is a consideration. Or if the photographer works on location, or has a studio.
Just because a photographer says they photograph newborns, do your research. Looking at their work should clue you in to if they have been working with babies for a while or not. While everyone has to start somewhere, I do believe that this is a time of your baby’s life that is so fleeting, it is very important to work with someone that has experience with newborns and understands the importance of safety and comfort of the newborn. Newborn photography has a learning curve and is not for everyone. It takes extreme patience. A newborn will not be hurried. Try to get a newborn to do something they aren’t in the mood for and you will find out very quickly. The time, the patience, it simply takes experience. It is a commitment unlike any other area of photography. Everyone loves those cute curly newborn pictures. But it is more than throwing a blanket down, putting on a flowery headband and pushing the button.
Everyone starts somewhere. I did, as well. It will be pretty obvious to most who those photographers are. That is ok. Most of the time you will be able to tell the more experienced from the newer. Lighting may be better, colors more coordinated, focus is better, posing is spot on…also price may be a big sign. Again, there is a level for everyone, and there is nothing wrong with that. My biggest piece of advice is understand what you are getting when you do decide on a photographer. That $100 photographer that includes the disk with all of the images may get some cute pictures of your baby. Or they may not. Be sure to ask for samples of their work so you do understand what the outcome will be. In general, it is like anything. Often, you get what you pay for. Again, just understand what you are getting for the price you are paying. Years of learning and experience often come with a higher price tag, but also often result in better quality customer service and images. Just because someone has a nice camera does not guarantee good pictures. If you pick up a paint brush and a palette of oil paints, will you know what to do with them to produce a painting worthy of hanging in a museum someday? I don’t. I can still paint a smiley face, however.
The best time to research newborn photographers is before you have your baby. Those nights when you need to get up because your back hurts, might be a good time to do some web surfing. I suggest calling before you have the baby, as most newborns are best photographed in the first two weeks of life. Often a good photographer will book out a ways, so getting on their radar and setting up your session early is the best way to ensure getting in within that tiny window of time.
Sometimes a baby comes early, or mom just can’t think of professional pictures within that time. That is ok. I welcome babies of all ages into the studio and for on location sessions. I will be honest with you when it comes to expectations at different ages. Preemies often act like newborns even if they were in the hospital a month or more. A 3 week old is still just a precious and can result in beautiful images. While I like to emphasize the importance of getting in as soon as possible, I also do not want parents to ever feel like they failed if they could not make it work within that first couple of weeks. As babies get older, what they are able to do simply changes a bit. I will talk to you about this and what to expect for whatever age your baby is.
While I would love to work with every newborn, I am not the only photographer out there. Whoever you hire for your professional newborn portraits, be sure to research their style so it matches with yours, you need to know what you are getting. Be sure they have enough experience in newborn safety and handling. While you don’t need to interrogate them, it will be pretty obvious when you talk with them and look at their work. If at any point you feel uneasy about someone or during the session, do not be afraid to speak up and ask or address the issue. Or even move on to another photographer if you feel the fit is not right.
To find out more about my photography services, click on the Contact menu link at the top of the page. I would love to chat with you about your newborn portrait needs.