Five Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring Your Newborn Photographer
As a pregnant mom trying to pick a newborn photographer, I’ll bet you’re a little overwhelmed. I know, I’ve been there! Your baby’s first photographs are a big deal. You want to get this right because you want these photographs to capture everything that’s perfect and wonderful about your baby and your life with her in it. Not an easy task to hand off to a stranger. Not to mention that in this photo-sharing world we live in, these photos will be your baby’s first official introduction to your friends and family. And, there’s a very good chance they’ll reappear at all the important milestone moments during her life. In fact, just this week I just pulled my 10 year old’s baby photo for her 5th grade yearbook!
With so many choices out there, from different photographers with different styles, to different product offerings and price points, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re uncertain or confused. You want to make the right decision, but you don’t want to have to make it your full time job finding the right person.
The good news is, there are a few key questions you can ask yourself that will make the decision easy. Once you answer these 5 questions, the task of selecting and hiring your newborn photographer will be a cinch.
FIRST QUESTION: WHAT’S YOUR STYLE—POSED OR LIFESTYLE?
These days, newborn photography can be broken down into two styles--posed and lifestyle. You know the posed newborn photographs--made popular by the 1990s by the famous Anne Geddes--where adorable babies are posed and styled on calm backgrounds, often with props. Posed sessions can go in many different directions, from sweet and elegant, to fun and quirky, depending on the styling and props you use. Ultimately, the quality of the photographs depends on the photographer’s experience with posing newborns and expertise in styling in a manner that suits your taste and expectations for the session. Most families that choose posed sessions are looking for very specific, stylized portraits that are either very traditional or very quirky and that focus almost exclusively on the baby.
Lifestyle sessions are much more laid back and comfortable. They take place in a natural setting, most often your home. Their goal is to create beautiful, natural photographs that capture the important details of your newborn’s life and also to tell the story of her homecoming. In a lifestyle session, the photographer will capture beautiful portraits of your baby in natural positions, either being held, in her crib or bassinet, or on a bed or floor. She’ll also include family members holding and interacting with your newborn, feeding, playing, and reading to capture the true feelings experienced by everyone welcoming this new life to your home.
Lifestyle sessions don’t require the photographer bring any special props, though you may choose to incorporate your baby’s own toys, blankets, and/or heirlooms in your session. The best part, in my opinion, is that your newborn does not need to be sleeping, so there’s no need to worry if your baby is fussy or needs to be held. You get to relax, be yourselves and let the photographer expertly capture your natural activities or guide you to comfortable, natural poses and interactions. Everyone gets to be comfortable and authentic! And because baby can be awake, lifestyle sessions don’t need to take place within the first 10 days of life, as with posed sessions.
Lifestyle sessions are well suited for relaxed families hoping to capture photographs that truly resemble their lives and their family’s story. They are also perfect for families with other children so that everyone can be easily included in the fun. I’m sure you’ve noticed, from the photos in my portfolio, my work falls into the lifestyle camp, capturing a balanced blend of natural moments plus some beautiful portraits of baby in her natural environment, ie. her bassinet or her mother’s lap or arms. It’s the approach that I’ve found works best for my style and personality and for the families I work with.
QUESTION 2: DO I LIKE THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S STYLE?
Regardless of the style session you prefer, you’ll want to choose a photographer who’s photographic style resonates with you. Scroll through several photographer’s websites online and you’ll likely know pretty instinctively if a photographer is the one for you. Ideally, you’ll notice a consistent style to her work that generally appeals to you. If that’s a little too vague, ask yourself if the colors and light in the photos resonates with you. Are they light and bright or intense and moody? Are the bright and cheerful or soft and sweet? Do the photos make you feel the way you want your photographs to make you feel? If the answer is yes, you’ll be pleased with her work for you.
QUESTION 3: ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER?
Newborn sessions are an intimate experience and you want to make sure you’re comfortable with the photographer you’ve selected. Bringing home your newborn is a special, private time, and capturing this intimacy is part of her job. If you’re not at ease, you won’t enjoy your session. My golden rule is “good photos come from good times.”
My golden rule is “good photos come from good times.”
Any discomfort you feel may translate into your photographs, and they’ll most certainly resonate with the memories you associate with the photographs. You definitely don’t want that.
You’ll want to make sure she has experience as a newborn photographer, and that she’s familiar with the experience of bringing home a new baby. If you decide to go with posed sessions, make sure she has experience with posed sessions and has received training on how to safely execute the poses. Simply ask her about how she executes some of the poses you see on the website and express concerns about safety. A seasoned pro will be happy to explain how she works and reassure you.
Lifestyle sessions have less need for safety concerns, as your baby will be in your arms or in her natural environment and not subjected to the photographer’s manipulation or an artificial environment like a basket.
Regardless of which style you select, you’ll want to make sure that your photographer is insured. This is the fastest, easiest way to determine if a photographer is a professional. Though the chances are that she’ll never need it, or that she’ll only need it to cover lost or stolen equipment, insurance is important and a hallmark of professional business practices.
Make it a point to talk with any photographer you are considering on the phone. You can ask your questions and get a feel for her personality. As with style, your instincts will tell you if you’re a good fit.
4. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS?
Do you want prints, digital files, wall art, canvases, baby announcements, gifts? Do you want to be able to share the photographs with friends and family? Though you don’t need to decide exactly what you want right this minute, you should give some thought to what you’d like your photographer to deliver to you. For many families, having the full collection of digital files is important in this modern, digital age. Having the files guarantees they will always have access to them and can create all the prints, albums and products they want at any time from their own vendors.
Many clients prefer for their photographer to guide them through the ordering process, allowing her to print the images and order products from a professional lab. The quality of printing from a professional lab is substantially better than consumer labs like Shutterfly or Target.
Many professional photographers also offer design services and ordering consultations. Each of my sessions, for example, includes an in-person ordering consultation for clients who are interested in ordering prints and products. Clients can see and feel samples of quality products and we can ensure that they are ordering exactly what they need. I also offer complimentary gallery wall design services and have specialized software that allows me to show clients exactly what a gallery will look like on their walls. Even if you enjoy creating albums or are a do-it-yourself kind of girl, I recommend letting your photographer take on the printing for you if it’s a chore you’ll find yourself neglecting due to your busy life. I can’t tell you how many clients have graciously thanked me when I’ve delivered their prints and albums, knowing if it was on their task list, the job would still be there waiting for them!
5. WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET?
There is an incredibly wide price range among newborn photographers, as there is a huge range of experience and professionalism. Any photographer running a sustainable business, meaning one where she sees herself as a professional photographer, is making a living, is fully insured, upgrades and services her professional grade equipment, and pays her taxes, will have rates that seem high compared to others out there who have only recently picked up a camera and have fun taking photographs. The fact of the matter is, photography done well is not a cheap endeavor, though it may feel that way once in awhile when your i-phone grabs a great shot. Behind the scenes, professional photographers have more expenses than meets the eye. Of course, there’s the camera gear and computer equipment, but there are also website expenses, gallery hosting fees, editing and design software subscription fees, insurance, professional association fees, and day to day office operation fees. And the service that you receive begins long before your session and continues through the editing of your photographs to the ordering and delivery of your products.
Keep in mind that the photographer with the proper gear, education, experience, and quality service will cost more than hobbyist working to make some extra money. When inquiring about pricing, be sure to ask your photographer what her pricing includes and what additional services she offers (like album or gallery wall design, pre-session consultations, ordering consultations). Even if you are interested in digital files and plan to handle prints and products on your own, ask if she offers recommendations for best printing practices and printing support. Make sure you set realistic expectations about what you’ll spend. You may have to save up for a bit to work with a photographer whose work you love. It will be more than worth it, as these are some of the most important photographs taken in a person (and parent’s) lifetime, and can’t be recreated.