Newborn photography is a photographic niche that requires special training and experience. Find out what you should look out for when choosing your newborn photographer and what questions you should clarify before booking in this article
Are you expecting a baby soon and are already full of anticipation or have you just welcomed your newborn into the world? How wonderful! Are you wondering how you could have these first moments of your little miracle captured photographically? There are many photographers to choose from, and not every photographer who photographs newborns and babies has the necessary training and experience.
As a newborn photographer from Munich and mom of three, I know what is important when choosing a newborn photographer. In this article, I would like to give you a few tips on how to find the right newborn photographer for you and have your newborn captured in high-quality newborn photos.
Here you will find a brief summary of the main content of the article:
- Book early: You don’t have much time to look for a photographer immediately after the birth. It’s therefore best to book your dream photographer while you’re still pregnant.
- Training, experience and safety: Newborn photography requires special training. Experienced newborn photographers are trained to handle your baby safely and react flexibly in unforeseen situations. With a professional and experienced photographer, the likelihood of you getting wonderful newborn photos increases considerably.
- Image portfolio: Take a close look at your photographer’s image style and portfolio. Do you like the image look, motifs, outfits and accessories? Are you more interested in natural images or would you prefer an artistic, staged newborn shoot?
- Home story or studio: The newborn photographer can visit your home or a studio. With a newborn shoot as a home story, you as a family have the advantage that you don’t have to travel and have everything to hand. That’s why we recommend the home story.
- Recommendations and reviews: You can find out about the photographer from recommendations from friends and acquaintances and reviews on Google or other rating platforms. Make sure that the photographer has a sufficient number of recent reviews and is often recommended.
- Important questions: Clarify the scope of services as well as the price before the newborn shoot. This includes, among other things, date certainty, rescheduling, shoot duration, outfits and accessories, extra costs, image editing and image packages.
- In a nutshell: With a specialist, you can be sure of beautiful newborn photos
- Why you should look for and book your newborn photographer early on
- Training and experience in newborn photography
- Safety first: What matters
- Picture style and portfolio: Do you like the newborn photos?
- Newborn shoot in the studio or at home: what suits you?
- Find a newborn photographer: Use reviews and references
- You should ask your newborn photographer these questions before booking
- What a newborn photo shoot in Munich costs
- Are you interested in a newborn shoot with me in Munich?
- You can find more tips on newborn photography in my blog
A newborn shoot usually takes place within the first two weeks after birth. In the first few days after the birth, everything revolves around your baby: sleeping, breastfeeding and feeding. As a family, you usually need some time to settle into the new family situation. There is hardly any time for a detailed search for a photographer.
It is therefore best to look around for your newborn photographer while you are still pregnant. Popular newborn photographers are sometimes fully booked well in advance. If you book your newborn shoot early, you can secure your photo shoot with the photographer of your choice. After the birth, all you have to do is arrange the final date for the photo shoot.
Newborn photography is not an area in which a photographer can simply start out with a good camera. Posing a few-day-old baby safely requires special training. If you don’t know how to position a newborn and which poses are suitable for which age, you run the risk of injury in the worst case scenario. Therefore, ask your newborn photographer specifically whether they are trained in newborn photography and the safe handling of newborns.
Practice is just as important as training in newborn photography. A photographer who regularly photographs newborns and babies is much more experienced in dealing with challenging situations in a photo shoot. A baby that doesn’t calm down straight away or a pose that doesn’t work are much easier for a specialist newborn photographer to solve. This routine and patience is noticeable in the calm handling of the baby, the flexibility in the photo session and ultimately in the quality of the newborn photos as lifelong memories.
Another quality feature of photographers can be certifications or awards. Many photographers display their qualifications on their website.
Newborns are particularly sensitive in the first few days of life. Sophisticated newborn poses may look obvious in the pictures, but they require a sound knowledge of how to safely position and support a newborn. An experienced newborn photographer knows the limits of each pose and works conscientiously and calmly. They do not force a baby into a position that it does not want to assume on its own. If newborn photos in certain poses are important to you, feel free to ask your photographer how they go about it.
Before you book your newborn photographer, take a good look at their portfolio. Do you like the photographer’s style? Light, colors and mood shape the look of your newborn pictures. Don’t just look at individual favorite pictures, but clarify for yourself whether the overall feeling appeals to you.
Also take a look at what newborn poses and subjects the photographer shows. Does he have a good range of image motifs, from classic swaddling poses, bassinets, family pictures and detail shots? A good variety in the portfolio shows that the photographer is confident in dealing with different situations and does not always reproduce the same photos.
Also pay attention to the outfits and accessories used in newborn photography. Natural and high-quality materials such as knitwear, wood or linen look timeless and allow the baby to take center stage. Too many colorful, eye-catching or kitschy props and props, on the other hand, can distract from the essentials. The same applies to newborn poses. Good poses look natural and relaxed, as if the baby is simply sleeping. Poses that look forced and unnatural are not only aesthetically questionable, but often also indicate that the photographer has little experience in safe newborn posing.
It is also worth taking a look at the quality of the craftsmanship. Are the exposure, sharpness and colors well balanced across the entire series? Does the image series appear to be uniformly coordinated and photographed from a single source? In newborn photography, you should pay particular attention to how the newborn is retouched. Are small flakes of skin removed in post-processing? How does the newborn photographer deal with reddening of the baby’s skin? Is the newborn perhaps blurred too much so that the naturalness is lost? A consistent image style across the photographer’s entire portfolio is no coincidence, but shows that he understands his craft.
Newborn shoots are possible both in the photo studio and at your home. I offer both, but there are also photographers who only offer one option. For a newborn shoot as a home story, I will visit you at home and bring everything we need for the photo shoot: Equipment, outfits, props, scarves, baskets and much more. For you as new parents, this means less effort, because you save yourself the packing, the journey and the unfamiliar studio environment for your baby. Many families are exhausted after the birth, and then it is often an advantage to have natural and emotional pictures of your first day photographed in your home.
If you decide to have a newborn photo shoot in the studio because you particularly like a certain look, you can also book a photo shoot in the studio. In this case, you should prepare for your newborn shoot and pack the most important things well in advance. You can find a checklist for your newborn shoot here.
Google reviews are a good first indication of customers’ experiences in newborn shoots. But please take a closer look. How many reviews does the photographer have in total? Many very good reviews over a longer period of time say more than a few individual enthusiastic reviews. Take a closer look at the content of the reviews. What specifically do parents write about the newborn shoot? How was the atmosphere and the interaction with the baby? In my opinion, these are very important decision criteria.
Personal recommendations from friends and acquaintances are also valuable. However, bear in mind that ideas and tastes can differ considerably. Therefore, take a close look at whether the style of the recommended photographer suits you.
Once you’ve found a newborn photographer whose portfolio you like, it’s worth clarifying a few more questions before booking, in addition to the points already mentioned. This will save you any unpleasant surprises later on in the newborn shoot or when selecting the pictures.
- How can we be sure that you will keep an appointment free for us around the due date?
- Does it cost anything if we have to postpone the date for our newborn shoot? Will we be able to find a new date promptly?
- How much time do you plan for our newborn shoot? How do you handle it if the photo shoot takes longer because our newborn is restless or needs to be breastfed?
- Which outfits and accessories do you provide for the newborn shoot?
- Can we also incorporate our own ideas and wishes into our newborn shoot?
- Can other family members also take part in the newborn shoot? Does this cost extra?
- Are all newborn photos edited after the photo shoot? Is the baby retouched to a high standard?
- What picture packages are available? How much does it cost to purchase additional images ?
The prices for newborn shoots vary depending on the photographer and the scope of services. Even in newborn photography, quality usually has its price: experienced and sought-after newborn photographers are usually well booked. If an offer is temptingly cheap, you should take a close look at the qualifications and the scope of the photo session. As in many other areas, an offer sometimes seems attractive at first glance, but extras can quickly make it more expensive. You should pay particular attention to the following points when choosing a photographer:
- Personal consultation: Does your photographer take the time to get to know you over the phone? Does he respond to your wishes and coordinate the location, outfits and poses with you? Does he prepare your photo shoot individually? Is this consultation included in the price or does it cost extra?
- Shooting duration: Is the duration of the photo shoot planned long enough? How does the newborn photographer handle it if you need a little longer during the shoot? Is a longer photo shoot charged extra?
- Experience and quality: The photographer should not only take great pictures for the image portfolio on the website, but also in your photo shoot. An experienced newborn photographer will find it easier to react flexibly and take high-quality pictures in every newborn shoot. Making up for a newborn shoot is expensive and only possible in a limited time window.
- Pleasant atmosphere: In my experience, a good atmosphere and a good relationship with the photographer is one of the most important factors in whether you feel comfortable and get beautiful newborn photos. Therefore, always pay attention to the personal chemistry.
- High-quality image editing: Professional image editing is the most time-consuming part of the photo shoot in newborn photography. Therefore, make sure that the photographer edits your photo series to a high standard and that all images are edited.
- Larger image packages: Don’t be dazzled by the price for one, three, five or seven images and also pay attention to what larger image packages or additional images cost. If you receive a nice selection gallery, you may be interested in more pictures than expected.
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Newborn shoot at home: home story for authentic newborn photos
Newborn shoot with siblings: Heartfelt moments with the family
Baby photo shoot in the first year of life: when is the best time?
