choosing a newborn photographer
5 top tips on choosing a newborn photographer
If you don't have a specific newborn photographer in mind, choosing one is a HUGE task and may seem a little overwhelming! You may ask multiple friends and they all suggest a different one or you may Google 'newborn photographer' and Google hits you with lots and lots of different photographers. It's a minefield! So here I want to share with you my top 5 tips for choosing a newborn photographer.
When choosing a newborn photographer there is a handful of important factors you should take into consideration.
Let's breakdown this down and go through the factors individually.
one. newborn safety and experience
Now this is number ONE because THIS is the most important factor when choosing a newborn photographer. It probably isn't the first thing you think of though? BUT newborn safety is paramount! During the newborn photoshoot the photographer will be handling and posing your baby. And chances are you haven't even met this person before! Your precious bundle who you have carried around for 9 months is now in the hands of a stranger. However choosing wisely by researching your photographer you can make sure that you are in safe hands.
Before I even held a newborn baby for a photoshoot I went to a lovely lady in Bristol for newborn safety training. She taught me everything I needed to know about safely handling babies. Now you may not know this, but there are no rules when it comes to qualifications. Anyone can come along and call themselves a newborn photographer, with zero training! A little scary if you ask me but it happens all the time. This is why I made sure I went to a professional to teach me the ropes before I started posing babies.
Secondly experience is vital, I have nearly a decade of experience working with newborn babies on a daily basis! That s a lot of babies if I added them up over the years. Making sure the room doesn't get too hot so your baby doesn't over heat, makeing sure circulation is ok when posed, and making sure they are settled and comfortable is paramount!
When researching for the right photographer for you, do some research. Look into their Google reviews, ask for recommendations on social media, enquire with them and find out more information. This will all help you to choose your photographer and make sure they are the right fit for you.
two. aesthetic & styling
Now this is important, what has drawn you to someones website or Instagram? Is it the tones, the colours, neutral tones/ bright tones? We all have our own preference and there will be a reason why you are drawn to someone's work. Check out their portfolio and see what their unique style is like. Do they show a lot of babies in wraps or outfits or cuddling cute teddies? If that is your vibe then that will be the style you are most drawn to.
Choosing a newborn photographer who can create the style you like will mean you will be happy with the photos now and in years to come too! If you choose someone who uses bright colours and props and you ask them to create neutral work, they may struggle to create that for you. When you enquire chat to the photographer and explain the type of style you are after and you can decide if they will be the best fit for you.
three. location
Now this is an important one. How far are you willing to travel? Some parents understandably don't want to be travelling too far with their newborn baby, it's likely the first trip out of the house since the hospital so they want to travel somewhere local. Whereas on the other hand others are willing to travel further a field if they LOVE a particular photographers work. I have had clients travel to me from London to Dorset in one day, just to have me photograph their baby, which I must say is a complete honour! But not all parents will be wiling to do this.
Once you have found someone local and your happy with their work your onto a winner!
four. connection.
You may just think your going to have some photos taken for a few hours, which you are of course... BUT how do you know how well you will get along with the photographer. I FEEL energy and when energy is off it creates a bad atmosphere. When you enquire ask to have a chat with the photographer, or even over email, what is their tone like? Do they seem up beat and happy? I love building connections and relationships with my couples, so ultimately your shoot feels like your just catching up with an old friend. If you feel relaxed and happy chances are you will love your photos because you being relaxed makes such a difference to the final results with your photos!
I love my photoshoots to be fun, relaxed and informal and a really positive experience. When you look back at your photos you will feel emotion and you will remember the experience and I want this to be a positive one.
five. pricing
Perhaps a controversial topic but an important one. Everyone has a different budget and everyones values things differently. In my personal life experience I have learnt 'you get what you pay for'. I don't mean that everything regarded cheap isn't good, however with newborn photography in particular cheap does not always mean good. You will have photographers who offer photoshoots at a very low price, then mid range and then a higher spend. If the shoot sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Ask to see a full gallery, Instagram is great but they are a highlight reel. Ask to see a full gallery so you can see how much variety there is and check the quality fo work.
By paying mid-high range it usually means that you are investing into someone who values what they do and they want to offer the best high quality experience to you.
I hope this blog on choosing a newborn photographer has been helpful to you. Are you pregnant and looking to have newborn portraits? I would LOVE to hear from you! Head to my contact form for more information and request the newborn brochure.
Pippa xx
