Some of the most precious moments are the first few weeks of your baby’s life, and these images will last more than a lifetime, and when your children show them to their children, they will still make you smile all those years later.
It’s amazing how much your baby will change from the first few weeks after being born, their little toes get bigger, their cheeks start to fill out and they tend to lose that fresh newborn look. This is why it is so important to capture these moments with the right photographer for you. There are a range of newborn photographers out there, all with different styles and approaches to what they do.
It can be an overwhelming process, so I’ve written a few questions that you can ask yourself to help make your decision easier.
It’s a similar process to choosing your wedding photographer. How does their work make you feel? Excited? Warm? Proud? If you can imagine a photographer’s work displayed on your walls, then they’re the right fit for you. You wouldn’t purchase a piece of art that you didn’t like, right? Look at their lighting, the colours, how much they include in their photos, is there a lot of white space, or a lot of props filling the picture. Everyone has their own individual preferences, and an important question to ask is, can you imagine these photos still on your wall in 20 years time? Are they timeless? Imagine your family in these photos and if you feel inspired, find out more!
At Gemma Randall Photography, I focus on using whites and other neutral colours, with minimal props to ensure that your baby is the focus of every image. All of my posing is baby-led, and I’m not a photographer who uses constructed newborn poses. I will never force your baby into a position that they are not comfortable in. Some photographers do these poses well, but they’re just not for me!
When you talk to a photographer, you’ll be able to tell whether they are passionate about what they do. If it’s over the phone, in person or over email, they will tell you everything you need to know, answer all of your questions and put your mind at ease. You want to be relaxed and look forward to your newborn session, so find someone who is completely transparent about their pricing, their products and their work, as you don’t want any surprises along the way!
As well as passion being a main factor, you also need to find someone who is professional. Look for a photographer who has a good website and a dedicated studio space. They will be able to show you a vast range of images from their portfolio, with lots of different babies, and have testimonials from previous clients for you to read. If they don’t have all of these things, then I would consider other options. Photography can easily be someone’s hobby, but when it comes to moments like newborn photography, don’t take any shortcuts!
When looking for your newborn photographer, turn to friends for their recommendations. Or, make sure they have plenty of reviews you can read online. Don’t be afraid to ask questions - a professional photographer will be happy to answer them and put your mind at ease. It’s ideal to find someone who is not only good at what they do, but someone you get on with and you’re drawn to as a person.
At Gemma Randall Photography, my aim is for people to arrive at my studio as clients and leave as friends. It is SO important to me to build a good relationship with my clients in order for me to provide the best experience and client journey possible - both at their shoot and in the future.
It’s highly popular these days that digital images are the only option. You may think that this is what you’d like from your session, and only digital images, but consider this - what if in years to come, your files become corrupt or you can’t open them? Or USB/storage devices become useless? Before or after your newborn session, you need to ask yourself how you’d like to display your images.
Do you want them printed in a beautiful album to display in your home, and show off when your friends and family come round for a coffee? Or perhaps would you like to see them beautifully hung and curated on your wall, for all to see? Make sure that your photographer offers the product that you would like at a high quality, as your images will last for generations to come.
There are a range of prices that you can pay for your newborn shoot. Some as cheap as chips, others an arm and a leg! The newborn stage is so crucial that you just can’t afford to choose a sub-standard photographer based solely on price. By the time you’ve received your images back, it’s too late to reshoot if you’re disappointed. It’s honestly a moment in time that you will NEVER get back, so my advice is to truly invest in this.
Professional photography is expensive, but this is because most of the work is done when you’re not there. From all the training, the equipment and costs of renting/running a studio, all the editing, emails and ensuring your experience is the best of the best, it all costs money and time.
Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy quality. Choosing to have a newborn shoot will bring happiness to you all, and these images will last a lifetime.
With this all in mind, it’s never too early to book your newborn shoot. I would recommend booking your shoot whilst you’re still pregnant, to ensure your photographer is available around your due date. For more information on me and my studio experiences, please get in touch via the contact form here.
