10 Reasons To Hire A Professional Newborn Photographer

I was sitting at my desk, editing this beautiful picture, when I thought about writing this post. It took me a long time to clean up this baby’s acne using Photoshop, sharpening all the little details, and fixing some unwanted shadows for every single one of his images. It made me wonder if moms really understand all the time and hard work that goes into the final product. If they only knew, they would probably be surprised and even more thankful!

But allow me to elaborate here:

• 1 hour for preparing all the props and the station before mom and baby get to the studio. 2 hours for the session itself, with feedings and diaper changes included.
• 1 hour for cleaning after the baby is gone & washing all the props used (Babies often tend to be a little messy. In that case, it can take even longer).
• 45 minutes transferring the RAW files to a safe place so they are secure.
• 30 minutes selecting the best images.
• When it comes to editing a gallery of 30 pictures can take me from 5 to 8 hours.
• Let’s not forget the 1 hour of the complementary consultation (before the booking occurs, moms are invited to visit my studio, see my collections, meet me and go over the session plans).
• At least 30 minutes spent sending emails, talking on the phone during the entire process.
• And last but not least, the ordering appointment that can take up to 1 hour (post session meeting where moms choose their favorite pictures and wall art designs).

Now, are you ready for the final number?

15 hours of work!

Aren’t you impressed? I am!  

You are welcome!

Thank God Newborn photographers exist! And now here are my top 10 reasons why you should hire a good one for your newborn session:

1. NEWBORN SAFETY

Relax and sit back over a cup of coffee while you watch breathtaking professional photos being created of your little bundle of joy. Being a mom is a big bonus to being a photographer as it helps to understand the level of care and patience needed to make you and your baby feel safe and secure as she/he is positioned into elaborate and adorable poses.

2.EQUIPMENT

 In order to have the best quality photos, equipment from your local shop or Best Buy simply won’t do. From cameras, lighting, and lenses, to props, outfits and accessories, investing in some of the best equipment and software available is of the utmost importance to maximize the quality of your finished product. Not to mention you’ll have access to a prop collection and won’t have to worry about purchasing your own.

3.ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Cost of equipment aside, hiring a photographer also comes with the satisfaction of knowing that they will know exactly what to do and what to look for to create the perfect photograph. Paying close attention to details such as lighting, smoothing blankets, even adjusting the minor things like there hands and lips. Things someone who lacks experience might not think of. All these are variables the photographer knows how to manipulate to help ensure an easier and successful session.

4.EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

Attention to detail goes hand in hand with experience, but I thought I’d touch on the subject a little more. All of this wouldn’t mean a thing without the years of experience and countless hours of learning the skill required to be able to understand the technical and creative aspects of camera settings, lighting, composition and positioning to truly capture professional images. Photography is a fluid and dynamic medium, where just understanding these fundamentals alone is not enough to guarantee an excellent image. Having years of technical and creative experiences to make all these areas work together is essential when creating the perfect photograph.

5.SMALL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

You have a limited time frame to get these photos taken and you don’t want to be searching for someone who may or may not have availability during the days following your baby’s birth. Try to hire a photographer before you deliver so you won’t waste any of those precious moments with your new bundle of joy, possibly 2-3 months ahead of time. You can always change the date if needed, but this way everything will be prepared for you on time.

6.THEY ARE ONLY LITTLE ONCE!

Speaking of time, people always say how kids grow up in the blink of an eye. This is definitely true when it comes to the time frame needed for this particular photo shoot. In what feels like an instant your baby will grow from this little adorable thing you are able to hold and snuggle with to a toddler running around that you just can’t keep up with! Years from now you will hold the photos from your newborn session in your hands and be able to re-live the emotion of holding your child in your arms. You’ll pull out those photos and be amazed at how big your little one has grown! You are truly capturing an unforgettable and irreplaceable moment in time.

7.PRICE

Remember the old saying, “You get what you pay for”? This is certainly true for photo shoots. When choosing your photographer, going with the least expensive or the “best deal” might not be the best decision for you. Granted, it’s great if there is a special deal going on, but just look into who it is and why they might be offering it. Remember, your little one is only so tiny for a very short amount of time, so if you end up choosing someone you end up not being happy with, you cannot get those days back. With that in mind, experience and knowledge is one of the reasons why photo shoots could be so pricey, despite the fact that a lot of money goes into the props, equipment and not to mention the amount of time needed for the session itself, editing and preparing your final product itself.

8.EDITING

When hiring a photographer, you’ll have the guarantee that the photos will come out perfect. Editing is an important step in the process, using products like Photoshop and light room ensure that the images are properly exposed, colors are perfect and the image is polished to a professional level. Although the photo will look best through professional equipment, every image can be enhanced through editing, especially newborn ones. Lots of babies have red feet and hands or may have yellow skin from being jaundiced. Most have flaky or peeling skin, baby acne or scratches from their nails. Some babies even have bruising as a result from a difficult delivery. Whatever the issue, a photographer knows how to edit your images to give you wall-worthy images of your sweet little one.

9.THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO!

Once your baby has finally arrived, you will the be responsible for a new life. This means you will literally be too busy to pick up a camera between the diaper changes, feedings, sleep, etc. Granted, most of us have some sort of device with a camera built in, but is such a low quality photo really what you want during this magnificent time in your life? Even if you have a decent camera someone has to take the picture and that family member won’t be in the photo. What about a timer, you ask? It’s still just too much thinking and stress to do it yourself. it’s much easier to have someone take care of everything for you and have a much better product in the end. Amazing pictures, stress free.

10.FINAL PRODUCT

With collections that can take over 30+ hours to complete, you can be assured that the prints and products used to showcase your newborn art is of the highest quality. This means your final images will be calibrated for the most striking, color accurate images available on the market. After all, the real reason your looking to get professional photos is so you can show them off, right? (and why not?!)! Specializing in maternity, newborn and baby photography means you have the greatest appreciation and respect for these fleeting moments in life and feel such a great responsibility to provide the highest standard of exclusive customer service and care. From the moment you inquire about booking a session to the moment you receive your final products, you’ll notice the love, care and attention to all of the tiniest details that will make your photography experience an unforgettable one!

To see some newborn photos, click here! http://lissetgaleyevphotography.com/gallery/newborn/