Since announcing that Sarah Morgan Photography will no longer be doing newborn baby portraits, of course I’ve gotten several inquiries. Unfortunately, my back can no longer take the long sessions and lifting the little bundles safely. So the next question is do I have someone I can refer clients to. At this time I do not, but I will work on that. However, with the very recent news of the woman posing as a newborn photographer and trying to steal another families newborn, I thought I would write up some tips on how to select a newborn photographer. So how do you select a newborn photographer?
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10 Tips to help you select a newborn photographer
- First and foremost, be sure the photographer is a professional photographer. You can do this by checking their website and social media.
- Do they have images dated back for at least one year on all their social media channels?
- Do they have a website?
- Do they have good reviews on their social media?
- Do they have clients that can do a testimonial about them. It is completely okay to speak to a previous client.
- Now granted, there are brand new photographers out there who are trying to get a business going and they provide tempting offers of cheap photography packages, but do you want to trust your newborn baby to one of these people with no experience? With these portraits, it really is best to go with a trained, experienced photographer who will know how to safely handle your baby. You can safely help out new photographers with 6 month, 1 year and family sessions where baby isn’t so fragile.
- Does the photographer have a studio? Whether or not you opt to have the photographer come to your home, it is best to know that the photographer is established. As seen in the news reports of late.
- Who will be providing the props needed for the shoot? Clothing rarely fits newborns so you want to select a photographer that has wraps, little hats, props and buckets. You shouldn’t have to spend time and money shopping for props, a pro will provide them.
- Ask if photographer gets vaccinated every year to protect themselves and the newborns they are photographing. Every newborn photographer should have the same vaccinations as a neonatal nurse. They will be handling your newborn and have their faces very close to them. Better to be safe than sorry.
- Do the babies in the photographer’s sample photos look comfortable? Are their necks and heads safely cradled? If the babies look uncomfortable or their necks are twisted, craned or looking funky, pass on that photographer as they are most likely untrained. You want a photographer that will safely pose your newborn in comfortable, safe positions while still creating beautiful portraits. Safety should always be number 1!
- Is the photographer professionally trained or experienced. It is okay to ask this! It is your newborn baby we are talking about.
- Does the photographer work with an assistant or a spotter. More hands create a safer environment, but it also creates a bit more chaos in the studio. If you are a nervous mom, you will have to weight out which you prefer. I have worked with and without an assistant, but only without after I had done hundreds of sessions.
- When looking through the photographer’s portfolio, does their work and style speak to you?
- Lastly, if your gut is feeling funky about a photographer, move on to the next one.
Trust your instincts!
Most newborn photographers are very professional and it is easy to tell they are pros, but it is up to you, the new parent to sort through the throngs and make a good choice. One more bit of advice is to do your homework and book your newborn photographer BEFORE the baby is born. Once that little munchkin enters stage right, life gets crazy, so start looking for your photographer around 20 weeks to give you plenty of time to do your research and you will even have time to squeeze in a maternity session as well!
