MotherHeard

Are you considering newborn photography but you’re not sure who to pick?

Don’t worry, I’m here to help! 

As a studio and lifestyle newborn & motherhood photographer, I understand the importance of capturing these early moments of your baby’s life. And the biggest thing I see new parents overlooking is the option to bring the studio to you.

That’s right, it’s a real thing.

Newborn life can be a big undertaking (I know, I know, understatement of the century, but hear me out!). For decades families have been without the village support our ancestors benefited from and have been struggling with societal expectations to do it all themselves.

Parents are getting smarter at the postpartum game, setting healthy boundaries, meal prepping or meal trains, friends and family set up to help on a schedule, and even hiring trained help like postpartum doulas and birth doulas and newborn care specialists to guide them through the process starting before birth.

However, the struggle to do it all is still strong.

Add in leaving the home for appointments multiple times a week while trying to recover, nursing, navigating lack of sleep…And then imagine being given the choice between going out one more time or to have it brought to you. 

Easy answer, right?

But many parents hold back because they think they don’t have the home for it.

The good news is you won’t have to worry with the right photographer.

A good photographer won’t judge your house for being lived-in during the newborn period, especially for those with more than one little, or with medical needs. They don’t expect to be hosted, either!

I’m writing this for you, by hand, because I’m a newborn photographer who cares that you know this option exists. People like me are out here and want to provide our clients with amazing experiences that don’t add to your list of worries while you heal. It’s one of the reasons why I added postpartum doula training into my skillset, so I could truly serve my clients with an empathetic approach.

Take this as your mini guide to helping you navigate this type of newborn photo service.

HEALTH IMPACT:

We’ve gone over why it would be convenient to have an in-home newborn photo session…But did you catch that there could be health reasons, too?

Not to make any claims or promises, but the less risk you introduce to a healing person, the less likely issues are to arise, right? Well, having the photographer come to your home may prove to work alongside that.

Ancient traditions in many cultures have always encouraged staying home as much as possible after giving birth. However, in our modern world, we are pushed to do everything so soon. To “bounce back after baby” and to be doing fine just a couple weeks after becoming a whole new being.

In addition, many modern moms are also often recovering from major abdominal surgery: a cesarean. And while healing from a vaginal childbirth is an ordeal not to be dismissed, a cesarean adds additional difficulties to healing from baby’s arrival. Sitting up, standing up, using stairs, taking baths or showers, pelvic floor function, and so much more are greatly impacted by cesareans. And yet, it’s the only major abdominal surgery where the patient is expected and encouraged to be up and walking in the first 3 hours post-operation.

Newborn life is hard enough, let alone not being able to use your own abs. But if you have to choose between increasing risks and slowing your recovery versus not…You’d choose not to, right?

Reduce risks, reduce energy consumption, reduce spousal arguments…Have professionals come to you. It’s the Big Brain thing to do.

INVESTMENT:

Now that you see why calling a professional to your home is convenient, let’s talk about what to expect for your investment.

Now, you’ll recognize this could be a luxury service because convenience is often found cozying up to cost. While they exist, you’ll rarely find a skilled, experienced photographer who brings everything to you at a low price.

However, if cost is a concern for you, you’ll likely need to look for either new photographers, portfolio-building sessions, a photographer who doesn’t rely on photography for a living, or those who offer lower-priced sessions through community-funded programs or social media monetization.

Mini sessions or special offers are great too, but you always compromise on something with lower prices. Always.

Which is why I’m going to go against the luxury photographer’s grain and tell you a big secret: The level of price a photographer asks for doesn’t always reflect the skillset of the photographer. Neither does their social following count. Just because someone knows how to market, use social media, or how to do business well…doesn’t necessarily mean that makes them great photographers. And sometimes the good photographers really suck at marketing themselves.

(SHH….They can’t hear the typing of my keyboard, or the voice in your head as you read this)

So why did I say that? Because I’ve been there, skilled but not great at marketing and I’ve seen others along the way doing great in business but not as skilled. I’ve been in the groups where mentors emphasized this about clients caring more about service than quality of photos. But what I want you to know is that when shopping for newborn photographers, you don’t want to fall into this category. You want to go for both service and quality.

It’s the time to get what you really want. You want those gorgeous photos. You want the safety-trained photographer. The one who has the props you love, the style you like, the aesthetic that makes your heart swoon. You want to work with the one whose process makes it easy to work with them, because you have enough going on adjusting to newborn life.

So what to expect in the investment part? I’d personally expect to pay first according to skill, my budget, and the level of service. I’d begin saving with a goal above $1k, and I’d be careful to find someone who is compassionate to new parents.

PREPARATION:

Newborn photographers typically have everything they’ll need to complete your session, so buying extra props or outfits for the session isn’t really something you’ll need to worry about.

Even more so with an in-home newborn session. We make sure what we’re using will be designed for the look we’re going for. Grabbing newborn props from Amazon is like shopping on Temu for luxury goods…You never really know what’s going to show up, and most of it isn’t what you were hoping for.

This is one of the reasons newborn photographers spend so much on props, wraps and backdrops. The ones crafted and researched for the purpose intended that shows in the final images.

Now that you’re up-to-speed, what route do you think you’ll take for your newborn sessions?