5 reasons why you should pay someone else to do your newborn photos
Why Hire a professional when you can use your smart phone? Good question.
Newborn Photography has become so popular because you only get one chance at capturing your Newborn. You cannot turn the clock back to capture how tiny and perfect they were in your arms. Their flaky skin, their tiny hands and toes.
Before I mention the technical differences between a smart phone and a professional camera, you cannot achieve professional looking images without the correct use of light and subject positioning. It takes years of practice to achieve relaxed, non-awkward and natural looking images that reflect true relationships.
The biggest difference between a smartphone camera and a dedicated camera is the ability to use different lenses. The importance of good glass cannot be understated. High-quality lenses produce unparalleled sharpness and image quality. These photos look crisp, detailed, styled, and hyper-real. They look like photographs instead of snapshots.
1. Pinterest Fails
If it were easy, we’d all be doing it right?! He he…
2. Why you won’t be up for doing it yourself
You will have good intentions of capturing your newborn, even vowing to make it a priority. The reality of having a baby is fatigue and exhaustion. Feeling tired is one of new mums most common complaints and unfortunately, fatigue can last for months. After all your body is recuperating from the incredible physical challenge of pregnancy and childbirth and if you had a c-section, you’re also recovering from major abdominal surgery.
At the same time, you’re now caring for a newborn who needs hands-on attention around the clock, so what sleep you do get is probably broken and less restorative. When you find that small window of opportunity to capture your baby, your baby starts crying when you unwrap them – because who knew they hated being naked? So you stop taking photos
to soothe your baby, then realise you haven’t showered in two days (Oh wait maybe that’s just me). Then you try your luck tomorrow. Repeat.
You just had a baby! You don’t need the stress or added pressure. I tired this myself, before I was a photographer and it didn’t work. I FAILED just like my Pinterest buddies in this book :-). Even now, if I had a baby, I’d still hire a professional so our entire family is a part of it. Then I can simply relax and revel in the love of my baby.
3. A Professional will keep your baby safe
Baby safety is a crucial factor to look at when choosing your newborn photographer. Many photographers are self-taught, but those skilled in newborn portraiture have taken the time to learn newborn posing and how to safely handle the littlest of subjects. Newborn portraiture is a specialized field.
A professional know’s how to safely replicate the poses they see online. I have heard stories of photographers bending baby feet and hyperextending limbs because they do not know the correct way to get the baby into posing positions. Every baby is different and won’t be able to do every pose. Your photographer will read your babies cues to ensure they are comfortable and safe throughout the session.
I keep up to date with my whooping cough vaccination for extra protection as well as the flu vaccination. When looking to book a newborn
photographer please do not be afraid to ask this question. On the business end of photography, ask if your photographer has insurance. If something were to ever happen during your photoshoot, you want to make sure you are protected.
4. Time!
A mothers perspective: “As a new mum and even as a second time mum, the first few weeks are a little stressful. From lack of sleep and figuring out how to get into a regular routine, it can be tough. Even though newborns sleep a lot, they still fuss. How relived will it be knowing that you will be getting pretty photos of your baby without having to exert a lot of time and energy. Having a professional take the pictures means there’s a better chance the whole process will be stress free. The photographer does it all! As a new mum, low stress is a must.”
“There is only a short window of time when babies are really sleepy and can be moved around without too much fuss. Babies change and grow so fast. Having those pretty pictures of them sleeping is such a precious treasure. One that won’t last long.”
“When I look at our pictures I am reminded about the labor and how she went home with the wrong name. It brings back memories that I never knew I forgot.”
“Maybe you will get pictures of your new littles, and maybe you won’t. That’s fine. I don’t want any regrets and in 30 or 40 years I won’t remember the price, just the experience and the beautiful photos.” See Shonee’s pull post here to read more.
5. Professional Posing + a time to re-connect
Handling a baby is no easy tasks. They can flip and flop and need the upmost care and gentleness. Professional photographers know the in’s and out’s of posing safely. When
hiring an expert, your experience during the shoot should be calm and relaxing, giving you the opportunity to bond and connect with your baby. You will have amazing quality images of your baby in the most adorable poses that you can share with friends and family. You get the opportunity to reconnect with your baby and partner where your deeper appreciation of one another is captured on film for you to relive over and over again.
Last but not least YOU get to be IN the photos with your family. Imagine 5 years from now, sitting on the couch together looking through your child’s baby book. They will LOVE seeing YOU in the photos with them. They will feel so validated, wanted and loved.
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