How can I know I’m choosing the right baby photographer and know that my newborn will be safe during their newborn photoshoot?
You’re expecting, congratulations! Baby is all you can think about and you’re wondering if newborn sessions are safe. You’re searching Pinterest and thinking about nurseries and adorable photos to grace your home, but wait……..how do I know what photographer to choose? Which Charlotte baby photographer do you choose?
What questions to ask newborn photographers
Make sure you do your homework on the CLT photographer you choose. Ask the questions and go with your gut. Mom intuition is a real thing 😉 This session is not the session to go with the cheapest photographer. Typically cheap means starting out, building my portfolio etc. Ya gotta start somewhere but personally I want a photographer who can feel with her hands my baby’s mood.
- Hi, do you only photograph babies?
- How long have you been photographing babies? If its a short time did they assist a more seasoned baby photographer to learn safety?
- Do you work with an assistant or use parents to assist? (Neither is bad, but good to know if they pose baby in props.)
- Have you done any baby safety courses for photography? With who or where? What did you learn?
- If I want _______ newborn pose can you guarantee that pose? (I do not guarantee any pose. I will try to get a pose parents want, but baby determines the pose they will do.)
- Do you have a studio or shoot in your home? Do you come to my home?
- How often do you clean your studio and props?
- Do you allow pets in your studio? We do not. I am an animal lover but can not possibly know if a client may be allergic to animal hair or dander.
Choosing the safe baby photographer.
Choosing a seasoned newborn baby photographer is a good start. Being a baby photographer isn’t the same as a wedding photographer. I have numerous request a year to shoot weddings and I decline because I am a baby photographer. Those wedding clients call because they love how my work looks. Just loving the style of a photographers work isn’t enough when it comes to newborn safety. Having trained under some of the best newborn photographers in the industry there are behind the scenes tricks to make sure baby is 100% safe. Some of the safety precautions you will never see as a parent. EX: weights in props, have all the hinges been checked and fully secured on posing tables, have studio props been sanitized correctly between clients. These are all things a newborn photographer who specializes in babies would know.
What does LLR have to do with newborn photography?
Since photographers do not have to be professionally licensed or pass any special exams to keep the health of you or your baby in mind absolutely nothing. That’s a scary thought right? Lucky for you guys I am also a license cosmetologist (not practicing) for 30+ years and sanitization and sterilization is HUGE in that industry. Protecting your baby’s health and yours is extremely important to me along with their physical safety. Our studio, props, headbands etc are sterilized between clients. Hard surfaces like chairs, props, hand rails, the bathroom are cleaned between clients.
Google reviews
Take the time to actually read the google reviews. Are any of the reviews repeat customers for the photographer? Have they returned to the photographer for multiple photoshoots? That a good indication that they liked him/her. Did they mention feeling comfortable or safe with the photographer? How did they handle the newborn? Where they patient and kind?
Lastly, look through the newborn portfolio
Look through the photographer’s portfolio and see if the photos inspire you or are what you like. Identify what newborn images you like best. Are the images of newborns in baskets and small beds? This would be props. Do you prefer the images of babies being held and adored by their parents? Parents snuggling their baby or smiling at their child? This would be lifestyle images. Maybe you prefer parents holding their baby looking and smiling directly at the camera. These are more of a portrait type image. You may find like me you love all these styles. That’s great we can do them all here at the NIcCole Photography studio.
Newborn sessions are safe
Photoshoots for babies are absolutely safe. If you’re thinking about hiring a professional newborn photographer plan ahead of time. Educate yourself on the process and which photographer you feel like would best suit your style and you feel confident in their baby safety skills.
If you have questions about my newborn photoshoots you can read more over here and pricing is located here on the pricing page.
