Newborn Sessions. Are they worth it? | Portland newborn Photographer
Short answer. YES. Yes. Yes!
The newborn stage lasts such a short period of time. Our precious babies change so much during their first year, and I’d give anything to freeze these tiny moments of my children just a little bit longer. Your little ones’ 1st month will fly by in a blink of an eye. With little sleep and learning to adjust to a new little one, Sometimes it’s hard to take in and treasure these sleepy little faces or the way they curl up just like they did while they were growing in a womb. I believe it is essential to preserve these memories by capturing them for so many families. It is my passion. After every session, I squeal at how blessed I am to document this time for my clients.
Why are Newborn Photographers expensive?
Newborn Sessions are much harder than they look. If you desire to have your brand new little ones’ pictures done to look professional safely (unlike the Pinterest newborn session fails you see), Here are five reasonings to Hire a Professional Photographer.
1. SAFETY
SAFETY is #1 for a reason! The safety of your precious baby should be of the utmost importance when selecting a newborn photographer. It takes training and practice to know how to safely achieve those beautiful poses you’ve seen on Pinterest & Instagram. Many people do not know that most posed poses can only be safely performed by combining two images in Photoshop. Your baby’s safety is always more important than saving a few minutes on editing. When selecting a newborn photographer, make sure you choose someone who has been through safety training and knows how to properly pose a baby to keep your child happy and safe during your session.
2. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Safety training is only the beginning of the education for a newborn photographer. Newborn photography is very different from any other genre and requires education, training, and a whole lot of practice to master. Learning to soothe babies, posing, lighting, composition, angles, and how to get every little detail perfectly in place becomes a significant investment in time and money. On multiple occasions, I’ve had parents remark, “Wow! that looks great right there on the back of your camera!” Knowing how to get the image as close to perfect as possible in the camera helps me achieve better final images. When you hire a newborn photographer, you pay for their expertise and ability to deliver a gallery consistent with their portfolio.
3. EDITING EXPERTISE
Though I strive to get everything I can right before the images ever reach my computer, editing newborn images comes with challenges. Some babies have jaundice. Others have flaky skin, baby acne, or scratches from their nails. Some have blotchy skin from the heat (I run a space heater- to help them stay nice and cozy to sleep). Knowing how to correct these temporary marks while retaining skin texture and avoiding the overly airbrushed look is a skill in itself. “He’s perfect, but he has some baby acne. Is it going to ruin the pictures?” I love being able to ease parents’ minds that I have the skillset to address these concerns.
Some poses can’t be done safely without the aid of Photoshop. I love that I can create compelling images that might look daring, but the baby was able to stay safe, secure, and fully supported the entire time.
4. PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT, LIGHTING, PROPS, AND SOFTWARE
First, I want to clarify that having the top, high-end gear doesn’t automatically make someone a good photographer. There is much more that goes into photography than just clicking a button. That being said, a professional photographer will have the tools required to do the job well. Hiring a newborn photographer means you don’t have to worry about providing the camera, lights, triggers, modifiers, outfits, headbands, buckets, bowls, etc., required to create beautiful, high-quality images of your baby.
5. TIME-SENSITIVE
That newborn stage lasts for such a short period of time. My newborn clients typically book their sessions for the first 14 days of their baby’s life so we can achieve those sleepy, curly newborn poses oh so desired. Around one week old, the baby starts learning to stretch those little arms and legs out. After about two weeks, they become more awake and alert, and baby acne is more likely to show up. This is such a short window to get these precious images that you’ll cherish even more as time goes on.
Hiring a professional newborn photographer reassures you that you will safely have beautiful photos of your sweet baby. It also gives you the option to get that priceless family photo with your brand new baby. Your child will adore this picture with you for years to come, and that is my plan. To document a new chapter in my clients’ lives.
