Top Tips for Choosing a Newborn Photographer

21 January 2014

You might well have spotted that there is a new style of newborn photography now becoming popular in the UK which involves photographing babies at a very young age whilst they are still all sleepy and curled-up. It involves posing them into different positions, often with cute accessories. As a newborn photographer I find that this genre of photography can be one of the hardest fields to work in and become skilled at but also the most rewarding! When a parent tells me they were moved to tears at the pictures of their little bundle it makes me feel very proud and honoured that I was there to capture those moments.

Babies grow up so quickly, especially in those first weeks, and life is so hectic with a newborn that it is very easy to forget to take some time out, relax and capture this amazing time in your little one’s life. If you are thinking of having some newborn photography done – and I would say “go for it!” – then here are my top tips:

Find a photographer whose style you admire, who has experience with newborns and most importantly understands the safety aspect of this work. A great place to look for an experienced and safe photographer in your area is the British Association of Newborn Photographers www.banp.co.uk.
Book early! Some photographers get booked up a long time in advance - it's not unusual for mums-to-be to book their session soon after having a 20 week scan. Best results are achieved before your baby is 10 days old so it's essential to have everything prepared beforehand.
On the day of your session try and keep your little bundle awake if possible for 1-2 hours before you leave for your shoot, especially if you have a long drive. S/he will usually sleep on the car journey but if s/he has been awake beforehand hopefully (fingers crossed!) s/he will still be tired and settle back down again fairly soon after arrival. Having said this, it is not common for a newborn to take a long time to settle in a new environment, especially when you are both adjusting to breastfeeding or if your little one is a bit colicky. Photographers will be used to this and should keep everything calm and relaxed. Specialised newborn shoots are typically long - sometimes up to 3 or 4 hours for exactly this reason.
Personalise your shoot. Although you will need to check this first with your photographer I always encourage parents to bring something along to the shoot. It could be a special outfit, a teddy, a blanket - anything really to make it personal to you.
Last but not least, relax and enjoy your photo shoot! It is a very special experience to have at an amazing time in your life and you will be able to treasure the resulting photos forever.

So in the meantime, let me wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy. Enjoy your preparations for the new arrival and don't forget to spare a little time for looking into booking a newborn photo session.

Sandra Ramp is an award winning photographer, and the Owner of SR Portraits in Coalville, Leicestershire
www.srportraits.co.uk

< back