How to pick a newborn photographer who is right for you

Jan 17

When looking for your Melbourne based newborn photographer, there are so many incredible options to choose from. Newborn photos are a real investment, so it is important to choose the right photographer for you. When it comes to choosing your newborn photographer, there are a few things to think about.

The style of photographer (studio versus in-home)

There is quite a big difference between newborn photos in a studio, versus those taken in your home.

Studio photography involves traveling to the photographer’s studio to capture your photos, whereas for at-home sessions you don’t need to go anywhere! On the flipside, when you go to a studio everything is set-up for the photos. In your home, you may need to tidy up a little bit.

Studio sessions usually involve more of a posed style of photography, and may utilise different wraps and props. Have a good look at the photographer’s website and social media to get a good idea of how these might look. These sessions often rely on the baby being asleep, therefore may take a number of hours to complete.

In-home sessions are usually more natural in style – capturing your baby in your home, with less posing, and less reliance on the baby being asleep. The style and approach of in-home newborn photographers, however, can vary greatly. Some do a more posed style, and will aim to capture your baby asleep as much as possible. They may bring a posing cushion, and their own wraps and outfits if needed. Others may be purely documentary style, giving no directions, rather capturing these moments with your little one as they unfold. And some photographers fall a little in the middle - with some direction and slight posing, but also capturing those sweet in-between moments.

So think about why you are booking newborn photos, what you want to be captured, and how you want the experience to feel.

Pricing

Photography pricing can vary greatly in amount, and in payment structure.

The cost of a photographer is often (but not always!) a reflection of experience. “Cheaper” photographers are usually quite new to their business, and have priced themselves that way in order to build a portfolio and experience. This isn’t usually a sustainable pricing structure, which is why you will see photographers lift their prices after a few years in business.

Remember that you are not just paying the photographer for the 1-2 hours they are with you. Behind your one session, there is also admin (emails, invoicing, shoot preparation, completing print orders), travel to and from the session, culling, editing, creating galleries and slideshows, blogs and social media posts. And then there are all the additional costs of running a photography business – camera equipment, software subscriptions, insurance, education, computer and image storage. And then of course taxes and super, and then finally the photographer’s income. By pricing themselves appropriately, your photographer is ensuring they can continue running their business in the future (and hopefully photograph your growing family again!).

How the photographer structures their pricing can also vary greatly. Usually your photographer will ask for a session fee or deposit, which will reserve your session. Then, some photographers will offer your full high-res gallery for one price. Others might have multiple payment options, where you can choose a certain number of high-res photos based on what package you select. And then others may offer a more product based system, where you pay per photo for a print and/or digital copy (more commonly seen in studio photography).

Pricing is a very important consideration. So, firstly decide how much you value these photographs and what you are willing to invest. Secondly think about what payment structure might suit you. If you just want to print 1 or 2 photos for your wall you might prefer a product based, or multiple package option. Or maybe you would prefer to remember the story of your family with a full gallery, with options to print and share many of your images, which means a single price for the full gallery might be more suited to you.

The look of the images

When looking across different photographers, you will notice a difference in editing style. One thing to remember is that just like anything, the popularity of certain editing styles come and go. From light and bright, to dark and moody, and back again! If a certain style really appeals to you, then go for it, but please remember that a heavy style of editing may date. Make sure you have a good look at the photographer’s website and social media – see what style of editing appeals to you, and whether it’s consistent.

The ‘vibe’ of your photographer

Your newborn photography session should be an enjoyable experience. So, have a little snoop around and see which photographer is the right fit for you. Read their ‘about me’ bio on their website, and follow them on Instagram – watch their stories, engage with their content. You’re going to spend an hour or so with this person, and potentially invite them into your home. It is important that they make you feel comfortable, and someone you’d be happy to cuddle your little baby!

So where do I sit?

So if you’ve gotten this far – I hope you now have a good idea of the style of photographer you would like. And you might be wondering what you can expect from me…

I offer in-home lifestyle newborn photography in Melbourne. Sessions with me are very natural and relaxed, and often follow the flow of the baby and older siblings. I offer some direction, and do some posing of your baby (but minimal!). I don’t use props or bring anything other than my camera. I aim to capture your baby at 6-12 days old, so we can get some sleepy photos, however we don’t rely on this, and can capture beautiful images with your baby awake.

You can see my pricing information here. I offer a single price for your full gallery – I don’t love asking anyone to pick from the images, and really just want you to have them all. I also feel this means you can print a variety, and also over time I think you appreciate different images more.

My editing is quite minimal, with some warmth and soft tones. Please see my Instagram page to give you a good idea, or otherwise enjoy browsing through this beautiful newborn session with baby Oliver.