Choosing someone to photograph your brand-new baby is a big decision. Beautiful images are important, but experience, newborn safety, photography style, and the overall experience should all play a role in choosing the right photographer for your family.
Here are five things to consider when searching for a newborn photographer.
1. How Much Newborn Photography Experience Do They Have?
Newborn photography requires a unique combination of experience, patience, and an understanding of how to safely work with very young babies. Look for a photographer who has extensive experience photographing newborns and understands how to work with babies at different stages and temperaments.
Take time to look through their portfolio as well. You should see consistent, professional work across many different babies and sessions—not just a handful of favorite images.
At Image Is Everything Studios, we’ve been photographing babies and families for more than 20 years. That experience has taught us something very important: every baby is different, and a successful newborn session needs to follow baby’s cues rather than a strict schedule.
2. Is Newborn Safety a Priority?
Your baby’s safety and comfort should always come before getting a particular photograph.
Ask how the photographer approaches newborn posing, what happens if your baby needs to eat or be soothed, and whether they’re comfortable adapting the session when a baby isn’t happy in a particular position.
A professional newborn session should never feel rushed or forced.
At our Pitman, NJ studio, newborn sessions are relaxed and baby-led, with plenty of time for feeding, soothing, and snuggling as needed. We also schedule only one full newborn session per day, allowing us plenty of time to prepare and thoroughly clean the studio for each family.
3. Do You Love Their Photography Style?
Every newborn photographer has a different style. Some specialize in very simple portraits, while others use wraps, props, accessories, or more elaborate setups.
Look beyond one or two photographs and browse through a photographer’s newborn gallery. Ask yourself whether you can imagine those photographs hanging in your home years from now.
Also pay attention to variety. Babies don’t always sleep through their sessions—and that’s perfectly okay! An experienced photographer should be comfortable creating beautiful portraits whether your baby is peacefully sleeping, wide awake, stretching, or making one of those expressions you’ll want to remember forever.
4. What Is Included in the Newborn Experience?
Before booking, make sure you understand what the session includes and what happens before and after your photography session.
Ask about session length, styling, available props and accessories, family and sibling portraits, how you’ll view your photographs, and how images and artwork are purchased.
At Image Is Everything Studios, we offer both Full Newborn Sessions and Newborn Mini Sessions, giving families the option to choose the experience that best fits what they’re looking for.
Our studio also has a carefully curated collection of wraps, headbands, bonnets, and props, and we’ll help plan the colors and styling for your baby’s portraits.
5. Do You Feel Comfortable With the Photographer?
This one is easy to overlook, but it’s incredibly important.
You’ll be trusting this person with your brand-new baby during one of the most emotional and exhausting seasons of parenthood. You should feel comfortable asking questions and confident that your photographer will be patient with both you and your baby.
Read reviews, explore their website and portfolio, and don’t be afraid to reach out before booking. The right newborn photographer should make you feel comfortable and informed from your first conversation through the delivery of your finished portraits.
Looking for a Newborn Photographer in South Jersey?
Image Is Everything Studios is located in Pitman, NJ and welcomes newborn families from throughout South Jersey, Gloucester County, Philadelphia, Delaware, and surrounding areas.
With more than 20 years of experience photographing newborns and growing families, our goal is to provide a relaxed, personalized experience while creating timeless photographs of this incredibly fleeting stage.