TIME

Besides the time working at the session, there is an additional minimum of 10+ hours of behind-the-scenes work that the client does not see—here is a general breakdown of my time per newborn session:

1 hour – Set up the studio

3-4 hours – Session time (includes the possibility of reshoot in case the baby/sibling is uncooperative)

8 – 10 hours – Upload and back up photos. Cull and edit photos (color correction, toning and retouching). If your gallery includes technically difficult shots (baby hanging from a tree branch or prop, posing sitting up, etc.), then more time is needed in Photoshop.

1 hour – Set up the online gallery. Process retouching requests, final check for quality.

As you can see, the time spent for one session can range from 13 – 16+ hours. Because professional photography is time and labor intensive, I only accept very limited bookings per month to ensure I have plenty of time to perfect your images.


NEWBORN HANDLING AND POSING SAFETY

One of the most important qualifications for a newborn photographer is their ability and experience in handling a newborn and posing them safely. You are handing over your brand new baby to a photographer to hold, soothe, and pose in and on props. You need to trust that this person knows what they are doing, just as you would with your midwife and doctor. As a mother of two and a newborn photographer, I have years of experience in soothing and calming babies, a skill that is necessary for a successful session. I am also experienced in posing babies in a way that always guarantees their safety and capturing very popular poses like baby’s hands on the chin, hanging babies with wraps, or putting babies into props like crates or buckets


EQUIPMENT

To give you professional quality images, I use more than $15,000 worth of professional-grade equipment—cameras, lenses, studio lighting, computers and software. Although cameras out there are very good, consumer cameras do not match the quality of a professional camera. In addition, I stock over $8,000 worth of quality props such as blankets, hats, headbands, outfits, crates, buckets, flooring, maternity dresses and backdrops to ensure a wide variety of beautiful set-ups to suit your style.


KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Professional photographers will know exactly how to capture the very best images. Not only do they know how to use their camera to get the proper exposure, focus and composition, they also know how to light and pose their clients properly. They have the ‘eye’ to compose distinctive images and enhance them with a professional photo-editing software. As a professional photographer, I know the importance of my job in capturing quality images for you and therefore commit thousands of dollars and countless number of hours in continuing education to perfect my craft. I have trained with numerous successful professional photographers from all over the country.


CONSISTENCY

One way to tell the difference between an amateur and a professional is the consistency of their work. An amateur photographer’s portfolio may show nice images, but those images are a compilation of one or two good images from many sessions. The professional will show quality images consistently in their portfolio. If you hire an amateur to shoot your session, you accept the risk that there may only be one or two good images from your session vs. the 20-30 great images that I will provide in your proof gallery. When you hire me, you buy the assurance that your images will be high quality and the peace of mind that your special moment is captured perfectly before it is lost in time.

In conclusion, the old adage “you get what you pay for” is true. I hope you can see the value of hiring me, a true professional who focuses on quality rather than hiring a photographer based on price alone.