How to choose the best newborn photographer | Spokane Newborn Photographer

Choosing a photographer is a very personal decision that should never be taken lightly. You are choosing someone to create art for you, to invite into your world. For so many reasons, it is important to choose the best photographer for you, your family and for your investment. Here are a few things to consider when choosing your photographer for newborn pictures.

Studio or Home?

Some newborn photographers work in studios with props and flashes. The babies may look “too perfect” or airbrushed, the parents may be wearing unnaturally formal outfits. Other photographers, like me, work within your home. I’ll focus this post mostly on at-home photography, because that’s my specialty. In home newborn photos are more natural looking, the babies look real, and the parents are dressed in cozy comfortable clothing. There isn’t usually props or flashes used for in home photography. Neither style is wrong, but everyone seems to have a strong preference for one or the other, so it is important to consider this when choosing.

Comfort.

Choose a photographer who you feel comfortable with inviting into your home. Is the photographer a loud person? or a calm person? Is this the energy you want to bring into your postpartum space. Is the photographer someone you are comfortable being vulnerable with? Sometimes tears happen in the early days with the hormone swings, you’ll want to work with someone with empathy. Is the photographer a parent? Sometimes working with someone who’s been in the same phase of life as you is more comfortable. These are all some things to consider. It’s usually best to book your maternity photos with the same photographer to ensure you’re a good match and feel safe inviting them into your home. Following your photographer on Instagram may also help you decide if they’re the best photographer for the job.

Safe for your family.

You’ll also want to consider your husband and other children when choosing a photographer. You want everyone to feel safe and comfortable. Considering things like, does the photographer use colorful language or are they accustomed to being around children? Is this someone your husband is also willing to be vulnerable in front of?

Safe for your baby. I recommend finding a photographer who specializes in baby-led posing. This means, no unsafe props, poses, feeding practices, temperature swings, or removal from the parents. Considering things like, does the photographer wear perfume or smoke cigarettes? Choosing a photographer that you know is safe to have around your baby is so so important, because the feeling of protectiveness is so real in the early months.

Artistic Style.

Look closely at the artistic style of the newborn photographer that you are hiring. Do you like to color tones? What are the people wearing? What do you feel while looking at the pictures and is that how you want to feel when you look back at your own photos? Is the portfolio consistent in quality from image to image? These are all important things to consider, because you are choosing a photographer as an artist. Looking at past work is very telling for what you will end up with for your investment.

Budget.

We can’t finish up this post without talking about budget. Do you value the work enough to pay what the photographer charges? There are photographers of all skill levels and prices out there. Some photographers are not as transparent as others about pricing (meaning website pricing may look lower than what it actually ends up being at the end), so please be sure to ask what is included in the price of your photos, before you book. Newborn photos done the way you want them are priceless. Babies just don’t keep, so it’s important to get good pictures and a lot of them, because the memories will fade faster than you think.

Alignment.

You should feel very aligned with everything your photographer does, because that will help ensure the timelessness of your photos and a positive photography experience all the way through. The whole experience should be seamless and feel natural, that’s how you will know you’re on the right track to choosing the best photographer for your newborn photos.

Newborn Photos Spokane, Washington