Between all of the excitement and anxiety that comes with having a baby, you’ve probably been thinking about having photos taken of your newborn in order to capture the tiny ball of joy that you just spent the last nine months creating. Well, it just so happens you're in the right place! It’s common to think that a newborn photo session is just like any other photo session but this is actually not the case. When thinking about getting photos taken of your newborn, it’s extremely important to find a photographer that specializes in doing newborn photography for your baby’s safety and well being. For this reason, I’ve detailed the four main reasons why you should go with a professional photographer who specializes in newborn photo sessions.

1. Safety

The first, and most important, aspect of a newborn photography session is ensuring the safety of your newborn during the shoot. Newborn posing is much more than just laying a baby down in a basket. Your photographer must be newborn safety certified to know how to pose the baby correctly in order to prevent unsafe movements, blocked airways, and overheating. When a newborn is posed correctly, by a professional, this session is completely safe and unharmful. That being said, this is why newborn training is so important. Photographers must have knowledge of how to handle newborns with gas and medical conditions, and be able pose them correctly in order to avoid unwanted wriggling and unsafe positions. As someone with over nine years experience in photographing over a thousand babies, trust me when I say that knowledge of human anatomy and a newborn safety certification is essential! I am a part of multiple photography education organizations, such as Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International, Ana Brandt Baby Belly School, and Finding North Educational Resources for Photographers.

  2. Experience & Skill 

In addition to a thorough understanding of safety precautions, newborn photography also requires skill, knowledge, and a lot of patience. Newborn photography has become an expanding field of the years. From new photographers trying to start a side gig to established photographers trying to expand, there are alot of people making an effort to earn your business. However, photographing a newborn is not for the faint of heart! This business takes patience, training, and a ton of editing knowledge. Many times, the best newborn photos that you see aren’t just one image at all, but a composite of several images which are edited together to create one cohesive photo. This is done because posing newborns requires constant support of the baby’s body in order to create the beloved poses that everyone loves while also maintaining safety measurements. Because of the skill that this type of photography requires, it is important to hire a professional who understands the high level of safety and hard work that this type of session requires.

  3. Legalities

Another reason why it is important to hire a professional for your newborn photography session is to ensure that the session is legal and covered by insurance. A professional legal business photographer will have insurance that covers their business and your rights as a consumer. Many times when a parent chooses to have a freelance photographer shoot photos, especially newborn photos, not only is the quality of your photos and experience not going to be as good, but there is no type of liability insurance in case something goes wrong. Because the safety of your child is so important, particularly in newborn shoots because newborns are so fragile, it is usually a good idea to make sure that the person you choose to handle your baby is licensed and insured.

  4. Getting the Most Out of Your Session (and Money)

Newborns are only little once and they grow up so fast! The precious time of having a newborn is quickly fleeting as they transition to toddler and then child; for this reason, you want to make sure that your newborn session is worth every penny spent. Newborn sessions can take a really long time. Posing, reposing, taking multiple shots to create composites, making sure every pose is safe, creating a comforting environment for your baby, and reposing AGAIN, all takes time, energy, patience, and a lot of hard work. By hiring someone who has done this for as long as I have, you're more likely to get a variety of poses in a shorter amount of time because we know how to maximize our workflow. In addition to supplying you with the best possible service, hiring a professional ensures that you will get some amazing images of your little one, enabling these fleeting memories to be captured and kept forever. I personally love working with newborns, creating memories to last a lifetime and for generations to come. If you’re looking for an Edwardsville photographer or Glen Carbon photographer, consider contacting me for your newborn and family photo needs!

 P.S. If you’re an aspiring photographer, I now also offer newborn photography classes. Keep up with your safety, shooting, and editing knowledge and contact me to inquire about learning how to properly photograph newborns.