Things to know when booking a newborn session
As newborn photographer who takes her craft seriously, I want you to feel empowered to ask all the right questions when you’re hiring a newborn photographer so that you have a wonderful experience and you get the style of photos that you desire! Bringing a new baby into your home involves a ton of planning, shopping and preparing so booking a photo session can easily be put on the back burner or might not be something you consider until after the dust settles and your little one is home and settled. I have a few tips on what to look for when you are researching all of the options and what to look for and to avoid.
One of the first things to look for is experience and not just experience as a photographer but experience and training with newborns specifically. I myself and a few other photographers in our area have had specific training, either in person or online, on how to properly pose and support little ones to ensure wraps aren’t too tight, baby’s airway isn’t constricted, etc. Most of us have also had training to ensure when posing a baby on anything elevated that hands are on baby the entire time. How do we do this? Multiple images are taken with the hands in different positions and those images are merged together in post production to remove the hands. This is why an assistant is so important for a newborn session! My assistants main job is literally watching your baby and she is never less than a foot away if I’m holding my camera, she is there to support and comfort your little one if they startle unexpectedly, as most do quite often for those first few months.
Second, make sure the studio can supply the style of photography you are looking for. If you prefer a more posed, focus on baby session - hire a studio photographer or if you are interested in a less posed more family focused session - hire a lifestyle photographer. Most of us have a preferred style and a defined workflow to ensure a smoother session and switching it up to try and accommodate a style we don’t normally offer may not end up with the results you were hoping to have. You can also request to see a full finished gallery so you can confirm there is consistency to the session with poses, colours, props etc. Social media doesn’t always reflect the full talent or experience of the photographer so viewing full galleries is very helpful. It’s also important to pay attention to the props/outfits/colours and editing styles of each photographer to ensure you will love the end results.
Look at the policies, prices and packages offered by each studio. Having a written contract that clearly outlines what’s included in the session fee and what to expect ensures you are both on the same page and you won’t be disappointed with the end results. Check out the reviews from previous clients as this will help you get an idea of the level of professionalism and customer service you can expect to receive. Find out if you can order prints, wall art or albums if you are interested in those items. Some studios only offer digital images as the end result and creating and ordering albums is something you would have to make on your own. Are siblings and family photos included or is there an extra cost for those?
Lastly, find out what the availability is and when they recommend you book, so you don’t miss out on your favorite photographer! Most of us book months in advance and often have limited space available for last minute bookings. I do try to keep a few days each month available to accommodate little ones who have already been born but those dates are very limited most months.
I hope this information helps with researching the best fit for your family!
Candace
Welcome to my new website!
Hello! I’m so excited about my new website and since I had to forgo my old blog posts I thought I’d start this one off with a few of my favourite images from the past couple of years! If you are interested in booking a session hit the contact button and we can chat!
