Newborn FAQ
If you’ve never had newborn photos done before, you likely have no idea what to expect and may have some questions. And if you are choosing a newborn photographer, I hope you will find the following information helpful.
Do all photographers offer newborn photography?
Newborn photography is a specialty, just like weddings. Newborn photographers spend many hours training to do poses safely, keep baby calm and comfortable, and create the most beautiful images they can of your sweet baby. You may have a friend that loves to shoot travel photos or food, but newborn photography is entirely different!
How do I choose a newborn photographer?
Firstly decide if you prefer the lifestyle look (done in the client’s home without posing the baby) or would rather the posed studio newborn art look. Once you know which style you prefer, then you only need to look at photographers who shoot your preferred style. Lifestyle and posed are really are quite different and by the time you get your photos it’s too late to change your mind as babies grow so fast!
Although I’ve always favoured lifestyle photography for families and couples, the reality is that newborn babies need a warm cosy environment and can rarely be photographed outdoors in Alberta. I chose to focus on the studio posed style because I like to be creative, make my own outfits, and put together artsy setups. I will, however, sometimes do lifestyle newborn photography on request. This is a good option if you missed the 14 day window for posed newborn photos!
Studio posed newborn photo
Is that baby really hanging/unsupported?
With newborn photography, things aren’t always what they seem. Some newborn photos are composite images, that is, made up of several photos then put together in Photoshop. They are done this way to ensure the baby’s safety. Not all poses require this, but any pose that involves hanging, ‘froggy’ or anything that looks unsupported actually had someone’s hands in one of the images, and may also have had a bean bag underneath. Glass should never be used. It’s not worth the risk. Photographers will sometimes show behind the scenes images to show the safety precautions taken. They do this because beginners or DIY-ers might attempt to copy poses without knowing how they are actually done, and no-one wants a baby to get hurt! Photoshop skills are a must to create these special images.
This image is a composite – baby was supported the entire time.
What about vaccinations?
Your new baby has not had a chance to develop his or her own immune system yet, so for the first few days you need to be careful about who is around your baby. Making sure your family members are vaccinated against whooping cough will help protect your baby from an illness that can turn deadly. If you have concerns, ask your potential photographer if they are vaccinated. I had a whooping cough vaccination when I started photographing babies, and I get the annual flu vaccination.
When should I book my newborn session?
You can book once you know your due date, booking in the second or third trimester is great, then you will not have to worry about finding a photographer after the baby is born. If you wait until you are home from the hospital before you even start looking, you may not get in before the baby loses those darling newborn qualities. As they grow, they become more alert, sleep less, and lose flexibility, making it much more difficult to get squishy perfectly posed newborn images. It’s not impossible, but not guaranteed either.
What if the baby comes early or late?
Newborn photographers know that babies don’t always come exactly when 40 weeks are up, so most will put your due date in their calendar and leave space around it to accommodate your session. Being flexible with which day you can do photos is really helpful, as sometimes the babies arrive all around the same time!
What about circumcision? Is it still ok to do photos?
Don’t have your photos done the day after surgery… either wait until he is healed or have the photos done first.
How do I prepare for my newborn session?
Before you come to the studio, I will send you some information to read over. You don’t need to bring any props or outfits, as the studio has a huge store of items in different colours and styles. If you have something special you would like to use, please let me know about it in advance. If we can make it work, we will.
If you want to know something I haven’t covered here, ask me! Head on over to my contact page and hit me up with questions.