Thanks for visiting my FAQ blog on: ‘are newborn photoshoots worth it?’
When I first realised I wanted to photograph babies for a living, I didn’t realise quite how much effort would be involved in taking the photo.
I mean, I was told that babies sleep all day long, right? So what can possibly be so hard than to capture just a few shots of Baby sleeping?
If I had a penny for every time Mum told me that their baby is super chilled out, sleeps all the time, will be really easy to photograph…
In the ten+ years I’ve captured little babies on camera, I’ve never once managed to do a full set of newborn photos in less than 2 hours.
TWO HOURS!
If you think that’s long, it used to take me four whopping hours.
Believe it or not, I’ve minimised my workflow as much as possible and made the whole thing as efficient as it can be!!
Here’s why it takes so long… and here’s what all the fuss is about… and perhaps most importantly, to answer this question: are newborn photoshoots worth it?
1. Is it worth getting newborn photos?
I know what you’re thinking. Of course, I’m going to answer ‘yes’ to this question. That’s my job.
But have you ever tried to take a picture of your newborn baby capturing her gorgeous little face, or in a particular sweet mood of hers, but the phone camera just doesn’t do it justice?
The light’s all wrong and you can’t get the right angle… sound familiar?
Smart camera phones are great these days, they’re perfect for everyday snapshots. But if you want a portrait that really captures the essence of your daughter, who she is, her soul and all sides of her personality, then a professional photoshoot is for you.
Not to mention, that time flies so quick with a newborn that one minute she’s tiny in your arms, the next minute she’s crawling about. It’s worth recording the moment professionally so you have something tangible to remember long after she’s grown up.
2. When should I do a newborn photoshoot?
Big subject! I have a whole other blog post on the best age for photography. So you can work out whether newborn photoshoots are worth it and what age you’d prefer.
Typically, baby photographers recommend that a newborn photoshoot is best done between 7-14 days.
This gives your newborn son a week to adjust to life on planet Earth – and most likely mum’s milk has come in so he’ll be a pro at feeding by now!
Also, it’s in the dreamy sweet spot where your baby boy is literally feeding and sleeping all day long. This means that when he’s in the studio, he’s more likely to settle and fall asleep easily.
Posing him into those gorgeous ‘bare bum’ shots will be easier than if he was more awake and alert.
Having said that, if there’s one thing lockdown taught many photographers, is that it is possible to achieve sleepy shots with babies who are a few weeks old.
When my studio was closed due to COVID-19, I saw many babies a little older than we’d planned – even some as ‘old’ as six weeks. It can take much longer, but it is possible to get the dreamy, sleepy photos at this age.
3. How to do a newborn photoshoot
You’ve got lots of options these days on how you’d like to get your baby photographed professionally.
The first thing you’ll want to decide is whether you want to go into a photographer’s studio, for a controlled environment and a particular ‘style’ to the photos.
Some photographers, myself included, also offer to come to your home to record more ‘day in the life’ style photos of you with your baby girl at home.
There’s no right and wrong here and it’s a matter of what you like best and feel more comfortable with.
Some parents like to coordinate newborn photoshoots with a trip to the park, especially if there are older siblings or pets involved.
Once you’ve decided where to photograph your baby, think about whether you want to be in the photos too. Often this shows a great sense of scale and records a unique time where you are able to hold baby so tightly in your arms.