6 things to know when searching for your newborn photographer

So you are looking for a Newborn Photographer in Lexington…

6 things you need to consider when you’re still pregnant.

1. Newborn Photographers vary drastically in ability and professionally…

You probably find out about photographers a bunch of different ways… Friends, Facebook, a Google search, or you might have even seen newborn images you love at your last prenatal appointment. (You might have seen mine at UK Midwife Clinic, PAA, Baby Belly Pregnancy Spa, and other OBGYN offices in Lexington.)

Let me encourage you to look carefully… when you look up a photographer you hear of, ask yourself if you think this photographer strives for excellence in every session? Did he or she pay attention to small details? (That will be especially important when it’s you in front of the camera… In your photographs, if you see a double chin, a piece of hair laying weird, your husband’s buttons on his shirt parting, or your smile looks tired and forced… it’ll bug every time you look at your pictures. Paying attention to details is extremely important in every single session.

You can see my recent work here on my site… Maternity Gallery, Newborn Gallery

Some photographers are just simply not yet seasoned to notice these details. It takes session after session of learning from mistakes to learn to look for them, and have the poise and know-how to correct them before they are photographed. I have certainly not “arrived,” but 12 years of professional photography under my belt means I’m not “practicing” on my paying clients.

2. You can’t redo a newborn session…

Everyone knows someone with a wedding photographer horror story. They’re easy to come by, and why wouldn’t the be? Most people are not excited about the price tag, everyone seems to have a friend who is a photographer… so on the biggest day of a young person’s life, many feel their best option for photography is a buddy. That’s where the horror comes in. Big important day + Amateur photographer friend = Bride wishes she sprung for the professional photographer.

Newborn photography isn’t much different. Did you know newborn sessions are best shot at within a tiny window of about a 4-8 days old, and at 14 days that precious window has closed? (more on that here) So, by the time you get to see your images, your chance for a redo is long gone. It’s extremely important to get it right the first time!

3. When looking for your newborn photographer think about your end game….

Would you love a gorgeous canvas in the nursery, or a group of relational images of your newly-expanded family, or a beautiful newborn album? Or perhaps you just want images for Facebook. Your answer plays a huge role in a choosing a compatible photographer. Here’s how: When I know a client is looking forward to a newborn album, I know I’ll pay extra attention to making sure my client gets a lot of variety. A quality album cannot have ‘the same’ image on every other page. OR, if my client wants a really wonderful cluster of canvases of relational images, I had better be on my a-game when I am looking at details of posing them. Any small mistake can ruin a set of images for a client.

DIGITALS ONLY STORY… This one hurts… My sister in law hired a very artistic wedding photographer here in Lexington to photograph her wedding. The photographer knew up front they wanted only digital images. As to be expected in the wedding industry, the photography was several thousands of dollars. That’s not crazy at all if it’s very important to the bride and groom, and all parties involved understand the investment. … But then the worst happened. The images were terrible. 😯 He was lazy with posing, lighting, and editing. It’s a shame. Being in the industry, I can see it from a mile away. He had no incentive to strive for excellence if he is getting paid 100% up front. He knew he wouldn’t sell a wedding album or parent portraits, so why try! …

Why would we expect any strictly shoot-and-burn photographers to be much different?

this one might just be the most important…

4. The early bird gets the worm

Not that I’m calling myself a worm, 😆 but if it’s important to you that you reserve a certain newborn photographer, then do that ASAP. I have a cap on the number of sessions I choose to take each month. This post explains when you need to reserve your newborn session. You reserve your photographer this early because we shoot the session so soon after your baby is born. If you wait until baby is here, you have waited too long. Don’t do that.

CONTACT ME to get on my calendar and reserve your session!

pregnancy picture from Lexington's newborn photographer

couples photograph maternity from your newborn photographer

maternity photography by Lexington's newborn photographer

5. Would you like your newborn photographer to also be your maternity photographer?

Pregnancy photography, to me, is about love, beauty, and intimacy. Two become one, and baby makes three. Many of my maternity sessions involve a LOT of dad. It’s not just about mom’s round belly that we focus on during the session, but it’s their relationship that is the true subject.

Most of my maternity clients come to me for my specific style of shooting maternity images. For my more ‘intimate’ images, I am careful to keep mom as beautiful as her husband sees her. Yes, she has gained a bunch of weight at this point, and we’re not able to use creative wardrobe to mask that. I only use my light and shadow and careful posing to keep the extra weight from getting in the way.

And not all my clients really want that intimate a maternity shot. Plenty of women are much lighter in their goal. These clients are hanging colorful, fun images in the nursery and living room. I love both ends of the spectrum, and the majority of my clients do both during the maternity session.

See this info on my maternity sessions

6. If props are important to you..

Most photographers have tons of props, however there is always that one small thing that mom wants for the session that is very specific. If that’s you, you do not have to be limited to JUST what your photographer owns. You can order your very own perfect pieces now. Some of the best boutiques for newborn props, bows, headbands, and costumes are on Etsy, and my favorite, No2 Willow Lane Boutique. You’ll want to line them up right away. (Don’t forget, babies can come early. 😉 )

BUT! What if you don’t need the props after your session???… 😎 Check this great deal Willow Lane and I have partnered to bring you.