Your newborn’s portraits are a lifetime treasure that will be cherished for generations to come. It is so important to document your child’s life at every stage, because they just grow up so fast, newborns especially. Newborns are so delicate, so tiny, so sleepy and all curled up and so small. You have one chance to capture that moment before it passes you by at warp speed. So, who do you hire to be your newborn photographer? You can call and hire anyone you want, really. Why you should hire a photographer that specializes in newborn photography is simple. Newborn photography is not for every photographer even if they do offer it. Most people do not realize all the behind the scenes and effort that goes into a newborn session; they just see the beautiful portraits and the final outcome. The beautiful portraits you see require more than a nice camera and a pretty website, so just remember that when you are deciding on your photographer.
Style. Style is a big part of why you should choose who you choose for your newborn photographer. What caught your eye to make you look at their social media pages or website should be close to your style and who you are. If you like simplicity, then you are not going to choose a photographer that likes to use a ton of props, and vice versa. You should be able to hire your photographer and trust them to style your session accordingly without having to plan the whole session for them. Also look at their color tones and accessories that are used in their newborn portraits. Make sure you like what you are seeing in their online portfolio. Do you need to supply your own props and wraps or does your photographer have a full selection of props for you to use.
Experience and knowledge. Everyone has to start somewhere. But just keep that in mind when searching for your photographer. Someone who offers you a portfolio building session probably may not produce the high quality, perfectly posed images that you see on other photographer’s websites. Ask your photographer not only how long they have been in business, but how long they have been specializing in newborns. It takes experience and knowledge to properly and safely pose a newborn. You can always tell the amateur photographer from the professional that has been doing it for a while. An experienced newborn photographer will not force your baby into a pose and should be able to read your baby’s cues. Your photographer should be patient with your baby during the session.
Baby safety is a crucial factor to look at when choosing your newborn photographer. Do not be afraid to ask them questions on how certain poses are achieved to make sure your baby is never put in harm’s way. There are several poses you see these days that are created using multiple images so that baby is safe and secure the whole time. Thanks to Photoshop, the general consumer never knows it was a composited image.
Your baby’s immune system is delicate. I do keep up to date with my whooping cough vaccination for extra protection as well as all recommended vaccines. When interviewing photographers do not be afraid to ask this question as well. We also wash all our studio props after each newborn session so germs are not passed baby to baby. On the business end of photography, ask if your photographer has insurance. If something were to ever happen during your photoshoot, you want to make sure you are protected.
Last, but not least, price! Price is always the forefront of every consumers mind when choosing a photographer. Just remember the old saying, “You get what you pay for”. Going with the least expensive or whomever offers the “best deal” might not be the best decision when choosing your photographer for your newborn portraits. Remember you only have a small window to capture those first days of life so if you choose a photographer that you end up not being happy with, you cannot get those days back. It is very similar to wedding photography in that you really only get one opportunity or moment. Newborn sessions are more costly than other portrait sessions because they take a lot of session time to photograph and in editing. I might only be present in the session for 2-3 hours but I spend at least 10 more additional hours between all the editing, contact with the client and creating and ordering products for you. It is more that the image you are paying for; it is art and lifetime memories for you and your family. I find it very hard to believe that anyone charging you $100 for all images on a CD is making any money from the session when it is all said and done. I know clients who book me do so because they appreciate my work and are willing to pay for it, not because they are hunting for the best deal.
Everyone deserves classic, timeless photos captured of their new bundle. Spending a little extra time researching Houston Newborn Photographers and photographer’s work, and possibly spending a little extra money than your friend who has a nice camera would charge you is well worth the outcome for your newborn photos.
You can view more of our portfolio here, and learn more about us here.
We would love to chat with you about your newborn’s portrait session. You can call us at 713-461-2862 or reach us via email: [email protected]
Houston Newborn Photographers studio is located minutes from the Galleria in a professional office building.