You just had a baby and are ready to document this amazing time with beautiful pictures. As a SLC baby photographer I have seen many posts on social media asking for photographer recommendations. Those posts are almost always flooded with dozens of recommendations! So how do you weed through the list and choose the best photographer for you? I’m going to give you a few tips to consider when deciding on who you want to hire.
1. Consider the safety of your newborn
The safety of our babies is obviously an important aspect of parenting and if you choose to hire a photographer who does adorable posing like you see below, it is so important that the photographer is well versed in the proper way to handle these poses. Limitations are also important when posing because sometimes a baby will just not want to do the pose and you have to move on to something different. A well trained photographer will know a baby’s reflexes and circulation issues and take these things into consideration in their posing.
Some poses require an extra set of hands to make it more safe for baby. Here moms hand is on baby at all times so baby doesn’t have to hold this pose by himself.
Final edited image after merging the above shots.
2. Are you drawn to posed newborn photos or natural lifestyle photos?
What is your style and what stands out more to you? Do you like the airy, bright, and natural posing that a lifestyle session has to offer or do you prefer a moodier, posed portrait look? Some photographers offer both to cater to a wider clientele. I’m happy to do in home lifestyle sessions also. If you prefer light and airy, you can also request this for a posed studio session. I always ask my clients their preferences and build their session from there.
3. Is the photographers work consistent?
Probably the best way to tell what kind of experience the photographer has is simply by looking at their portfolio. Are their images well lit? Is the posing consistent? Is it neat? Does the baby look comfortable? Do they have a lot of examples of pictures that you specifically want to hire them for? It takes some photographers years to nail down the style of their work, but you should definitely see consistency across the board if experience is something that matters to you. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen a wedding or family only photographer be recommended for newborn pictures. If there are no examples of newborns in their portfolio (or very little) then they most likely do not have experience handling babies.
4. How important are professional portraits to you?
What you choose to do with your final images matters also. Do you want to decorate the baby’s nursery with a few portraits? Or maybe line a hall with a gallery of images? Or do you just want to have them on your phone to post on social media? Professional photos will shine on your walls and will get lots of ooh’s and aah’s from anyone who enters your home. Professional photography is art and it is beautiful to look at. I have experience with amazing print labs and can provide this expertise to my clients. Many photographers give a ton of digitals that go hand in hand with cheap session prices, but do you really need 50 images to sift through? For me quality over quantity always wins! I am proud to have learned my skills from some of the nations best newborn photographers and love giving my clients the best of the best.
There you have it, my top tips on how to choose a newborn photographer. I hope these are helpful! If you are looking for a SLC baby photographer please contact me to plan your own newborn session! I would love to give you amazing portraits to look back on. To see my most recent work, you can visit me on Instagram.
