Helpful Hints: What Questions Should I Ask My Newborn Photographer?
Being a new parent comes with lots of unexpected things. The arrival of a newborn into a family can sometimes be overwhelming. If there are other young children in the home, this adds to the stress. This is why I do my best to make your newborn photoshoot as easy as I can possibly make it. I work really hard to calm your nerves and address your concerns. One of the questions I see a lot in my industry is, “What questions should I ask my newborn photographer?”
Some moms and dads worry that they will annoy me with their questions, but that is most definitely not the case. At the end of the day, the safety and wellbeing of your newborn baby is the most important thing. This is why I compiled this list of the most common questions that parents ask when booking their newborn session.
1) When should you book your newborn photography session?
I tend to advise new parents to book within a month of baby’s due date. This way I can block off the time in my calendar. These days I am getting busier and busier, so the further advance notice I can get, the better. That said, on occasion, I can do last minute bookings. But this is all dependent upon what my calendar looks at the time.
Newborns are their cutest and “curliest” when they are 2 weeks old or younger. They also tend to have less baby acne. The older that baby gets, the more alert they become. Babies are their sleepiest and less colicky within the first few weeks of life. They are typically easier to pose during this time. Of course, if you have a preemie, the situation is different. Depending on how early your baby arrived, we can most likely delay your photoshoot in order to allow baby to reach their healthy weight gain milestones.
2) How many newborn sessions does your newborn photographer do per month?
This is a significant question to ask your newborn photographer. If you find one that does a high volume of bookings, their schedule might not be as flexible. Personally, I only do one shoot per day due to COVID safety guidelines. This allows me the chance to make certain that my studio is fully cleaned and sanitized between sessions.
When you book your newborn session with me, I put your due date in the calendar and take a reduced amount of appointments in the weeks surrounding your due date. This ensures that I will be able to accommodate your baby’s photoshoot once they make their debut to this world. It is for this reason that I also request a small deposit up front when booking your session. I do have to account for a slight drop in revenue due to limited booking around your due date. Deposits are common in this industry and are a reciprocal method of communicating your commitment to your booking.
Which brings me to my next point…
3) What is included in the price of your newborn photography session?
I field a lot of questions during our initial booking interview and this is one that is right up there. It’s important to also acknowledge that when it comes to your newborn photographer, cheaper isn’t necessarily always the best option. I do tend to price my packages here well within the industry standard. I’m definitely not the least expensive in town but I also have a lot to offer. That said, it is also important that you fully understand what’s included in your package so there are no surprises at the end. Furthermore, some photographers won’t disclose this info if you don’t ask. They will simply assume that you fully read their prices and package inclusions and that you are okay with them.
4) What kind of safety training does your newborn photographer have?
This is a really important question to ask. After all, you want someone who has experience and training on ways to safely and properly pose a newborn. I personally have extensive newborn safety and posing training. My utmost concern is the safety and comfort of your precious little one during our session.
5) How is your photographer’s studio COVID compliant?
To further ensure the safety of your newborn and the rest of your family, it’s important to understand the photographer’s COVID safety practices. There are specific COVID guidelines that service related businesses must abide by.
As for myself personally, my studio is equipped with a UV sanitation box and UV air purifier. I discuss my process for keeping my studio safe and COVID compliant more in detail in this post. You can rest assured that I go above and beyond to protect your safety. My studio, wardrobe, and props are cleaned and sanitized between shoots.
6) How should you prepare for your newborn photography session?
Every photographer has their own method for producing priceless memories with their lens. Typically, when we do newborn photos, it is best to schedule them around your baby’s sleepiest time. I provide all my clients with a comprehensive checklist to follow in order to guarantee a successful photoshoot. It’s also important to note that I provide props, a beautiful wardrobe with plenty of options to choose from, and professional lighting at my high end studio. Of course it is always okay for you to bring your favorite outfit or prop as well. Just know that I have everything you need to simply show up for the session and start snapping pictures! I try my best to make everything as simple as possible. Finally, newborn sessions typically take between 1-2 hours. So be ready to hang out for a while!
7) How many people are allowed in the studio at a time?
In order to remain COVID compliant, I do have to limit how many people can be in my studio at any given time. I will tend to have an assistant working with me on the day of your shoot as well. While I do allow for some family posing during some newborn photography sessions, if you plan on having more than three family members in the session (including baby, of course), we may need to discuss doing an outdoor shoot.
I hope that I have provided you with some deeper insight on what types of questions to ask your newborn photographer. It is essential to interview your photographer prior to booking with them. This will establish a precedent and lay the groundwork for a successful shoot. Additionally, asking the right questions can reduce errors, miscommunications, and surprises from arising. Ultimately, having a full understanding of the process can help eliminate stress and make for a successful session and gorgeous photos.