What should you consider when choosing a newborn photographer?

Deciding on what newborn photographer to hire for your little one’s first photoshoot can seem like a daunting task.  I mean, this may actually be one of the first outings for You and Your Baby since your little one went home from the hospital.  A quick internet search will bring up endless results and leaving you likely more overwhelmed.  I’m here to help break it all down for you todat in hopes on making your search a little easier.

Newborn Photographer Styles

Photographers have a large variety in terms of style even when it comes to the tiniest of people.  As you look through a sea of newborn photography websites, you’ll start to notice the different ways babies are positioned, the brightness or darkness of images, props used in the photos, colors, etc.  There is certainly no right or wrong answer…it all depends on your style.  Are you a colorful person?  Perhaps neutrals are your jam.  Maybe you like props or certain poses, or more of lifestyle-type of photos and less “posing.”

When looking at a photographers website, ask yourself if you can see their work on the walls in your home.  If the answer is “YES,” you might have found a good fit for your style.  If the answer is “NO,” I would suggest moving onto the next website.  You want to pick the style that resonates with you.  Here is my portfolio of work and I’m sure you’ll be able to guess which style I prefer https://heathernicolephotographystudio.com/los-angeles-newborn-photographer

Baby Photographer Personality

A newborn photography session typically lasts for a couple of hours, so I recommend hiring someone you could see getting along with…someone you come to think of as a friend. Even though you won’t be spending as much time together as you did with your wedding photographer, you will still want someone that you feel comfortable with. Someone that can make you relax and laugh! Plus remember they will be holding the most precious thing you’ve ever created at some point so I really recommend liking them!  which brings me to the third tip….

Experience with Babies

Photographers cannot photograph everything well.  Wedding photographers are skilled at getting the right shot at the right time with the best light.  Sports photographers are trained to capture fast-moving objects and people.  When you are looking for a newborn photographer, it is best to find one that specializes in babies.  For posed sessions, newborn safety is of utmost importance. After all, you do not want to hand over your baby to someone that isn’t properly trained with safety and comfort. I also recommend you ask how many years of experience they have with working with little ones.

You may also want to ask your photographer whether they are up to date on their TDAP vaccination and either has a COVID vaccine or will take the necessary precautions. Take off any photographer that questions why you are asking these questions. Verify that they are insured, there are a lot of fauxtographers out there with no training or insurance. You want to make sure you are trusting your baby with legitimate businesses.

Trusting Your Photographer

You need to trust your newborn photographer. If you love their style, like their personality and have vetted their experience that should lead to trust. Take a look at their reviews and see what past clients have had to say. Don’t be scared of one bad review but see how the photographer handled it, were they graceful or ugly. Starting your search by asking for referral from friends and family will help establish trust from the get go as hopefully they have used and loved that persons service. Be sure the photographer you choose is receptive to your questions and is helpful along the way with tips, suggestions and ideas for the session.  Pay attention to whether they are listening to what you envision for your newborn session.

Collection Pricing

This is the one that really seals the deal at decision time. The saying goes you get what you pay for and just like wedding photography it’s the same with choosing a newborn photographer.  Look to see if the photographer’s pricing is on their website. Many may only list a starting price. Ask any photographer you are considering for a full pricing guide. Furthermore you need to be aware before the session what the costs will be for what you are looking for. Be realistic too and realize for that photographer you love you might have to save up for a couple months.

Remember that the photographer with the proper gear, education and experience will cost more. When you look at your photos several years down the road do you really want to feel regret at not having gone with the work you loved the most? I scrimped and saved for our newborn photographer and never regretted it in the least. Those photos are more precious to me than my wedding photos!!!!

I hope this post is helpful in finding the right photographer for your little one’s first photo…even if it isn’t me:). If you happen to be looking for a newborn photographer in the South Bay area, reach out to me or book a session http://www.heathernicolephotographystudio.com

ILove what you see, check out my post on how to prepare for your portrait session

Heather serves the South Bay area including: Redondo Beach | Hermosa | Torrance | Manhattan Beach | Long Beach | el Segundo| San Pedro | Hawthorne