How to Choose a Newborn Photographer

Having a new baby is such a beautiful and exciting time, but it’s not without its stresses and anxieties. Navigating life with a new member of the family is not always easy, and the last thing I want is for a photography session to add any extra stress.

So today, we talk about what to look for in a newborn photographer and how to know they are the right fit for your family.

Newborn Experience

One of the most important, if not the MOST important thing, to look for in a newborn photographer is experience. A photographer can be great with weddings, families or landscapes but have zero, or very little, experience with newborns.

Newborns are a very specific niche that require a lot of training hours. Sessions need to be SAFE above all else, and if a photographer has not learned how to safely pose and wrap newborns, they should not be photographing your baby.

An experienced newborn photographer will have a lot of tricks up their sleeve for how to calm babies, safely move babies into different positions, and know when they are giving hunger or uncomfortable cues. They have also learned to keep the room comfortable for a new baby (the room temperature, calming sound machines, soft textures, etc…)

Photography Style

Newborn photographers (and other photographers) have a specific style that they tend to stick to if they have many years of experience. This consistent style helps clients know what they can expect out of a session before going into it.

If a newborn photographer is asking you to go on Pinterest and find ideas for your shoot, they probably do not have a style of their own yet. When you go to a newborn photographer’s instagram, facebook, or website, you should be able to tell the types of images they create. So, going into the shoot, you should be able to trust they are going to give you a gallery similar to the previous work you have seen.

No suggestions on poses necessary.

For example, here is a screenshot of my instagram, which shows a light and airy, natural style. A client would not come to my studio asking for a session with a baby posed on a book looking like Harry Potter with a fake backdrop. They know that my images are timeless, organic, light and natural.

Price

Price may seem like a strange thing to look for in a newborn photographer, but it’s actually pretty important. Photographers that charge more tend to have more experience, better equipment, many training hours, insurance, and confidence in their work.

Booking a newborn photographer based on the lowest price could be a mistake. Lower priced newborn photographers typically are not confident in their work and do not have the experience necessary to provide a safe and beautiful session.

However; that being said, every photographer has to start somewhere. So, if someone is offering a low priced newborn session to get more experience and build a portfolio, please be sure to oversee the session and speak up if something does not seem safe for your new baby. It’s also ok to ask if they have had any in-person newborn safety training.

Studio and/or Session Materials

Not having a studio is certainly not a deal breaker when it comes to newborn sessions – many people love the convenience of an in-home session. However; HAVING the option to go to a studio is a definite plus.

As I stated in the beginning of this post, your newborn session should be stress-free, so not having to clean your home, move furniture around, clear off nightstands, etc… can be a huge advantage. Some families want to show up to a session, not have to bring along any props or wraps or blankets, and be able to go home after without doing anything to their own home.

If it is important to you to not have to tidy up your home after having a newborn, be sure to ask newborn photographers if they have a studio option. My studio has a posing beanbag, futon bed, large window, light wooden floors, blankets, wraps, headbands, outfits, and more.

Thanks for reading about How to Choose a Newborn Photographer. I hope you have found this helpful, and as always, please reach out with any questions or if you’d like to book!

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