5. Choosing the wrong newborn photographer (for you)

Newborn photography is a very distinct specialty that requires very different skills than other types of portrait photography. Beyond that, not every newborn photographer is created equal! Even if you follow everything else I’ve put forth in this guide, choose the wrong newborn photographer, and your baby’s newborn photography session will be a spectacular fail instead of a spectacular success. Here is a checklist of things to consider to help you determine which professional photographer is the right fit for YOU.

• Does the professional photographer you’re considering have a newborn photography portfolio? (And do you like the photographer’s newborn pictures?)

• Does the photographer work full-time as a photographer? (Look for a newborn photographer for whom photography isn’t a side job.)

• Do you want to do your newborn photography session in your home or at the photographer’s studio? Check if the photographer will do this, since some photographers work only in-home or only in-studio.

• Will the newborn photographer supply all wraps, blankets, and backdrops? What types of props will the photographer provide? (Some newborn photographers don’t provide any of this, whereas other photographers may supply these items only for in-studio sessions.)

• Meeting in-person prior to your newborn photography session is very helpful for planning purposes, and also gives your photographer the opportunity to get to know you, your likes/dislikes, and your personality so s/he can create newborn photography that fits you and that you’ll love. You’ll also feel more comfortable on the day of the session if you’ve already met your newborn photographer. Not all photographers will meet you in person before the session. Will the photographer you’re considering do this?

• Will the photographer cull images? There will never be a photography session (of any kind) where every single photograph created is a good one. Would you rather be handed 200 baby photos that you have to delve through to find 40 good ones? Or would you rather your newborn photographer do this work for you?

• Will the photographer edit/retouch images? Let’s be honest. Newborn baby skin is not the beautiful skin of an older baby. In fact, newborn baby skin is not pretty. Ask your newborn photographer if s/he performs editing and retouching.

• Newborn photography that you’re not looking at and enjoying day after day is worthless. Don’t let your precious baby pictures be hidden away on your computer hard drive. Nothing’s wrong with digital files, and you may wish to have the digital files to print from many years from now. However, don’t envision digital files as being the only product of your newborn photography session. Instead, hang wall portraits in your home so that every time you happen to glance their way, they make you smile. Set an album on display on your coffee table or on a desk easel on a console table. Do something so that you’re enjoying your baby pictures every day. And that means searching for a newborn photographer who offers heirloom-quality art products like these, because you won’t get the same quality of products on your own.

• Think beyond (and before) the newborn photography session. Would you also like a maternity photography session? In that first year of your child’s life, s/he will change so fast and achieve so many “firsts.” Would you like additional baby photography sessions during that first year to document those once-in-a-lifetime moments? Ask the photographer if s/he offers baby photography plans. These are multi-session plans covering the period from pregnancy to your child’s first birthday and typically come with discounts not available when booking individual baby photography sessions.