You find out you are pregnant and you are already dreaming about your adorable baby. As you browse social media, you are immersed in the beautiful images of darling babies with adorable props and poses. You start to imagine how cute your baby is going to be, eager to get pictures taken of them.
You start searching and realize that there are so many different options out there. Do you want lifestyle pictures? Posed portraits? Bright and colorful? More moody and emotional? What is your budget? You probably have a million questions, but the most important questions you should be asking are regarding safety. Who are you trusting with your brand-new baby?
Many seem to assume that those photographing newborns are trained and using safe techniques, but this isn’t always the case.1 Did you know that newborn photography is an unregulated profession? That there is no safety training required of newborn photographers? Did you know you could literally be handing your baby off to a novice? There are no requirements for someone to give themselves the title “newborn photographer”.2 Your baby’s safety should be the number one priority when choosing a photographer. So, how do you know if a photographer is safe?
Stephanie Robin, a major newborn photography safety advocate, has compiled a list of questions that she recommends asking your potential newborn photographer.3
#1 – “How many years have you been working as a newborn photographer and approximately how many babies have you handled up to this point?”
#2 – “Have you received any newborn specific posing training and with whom did you train?”
#3 – “Are you a member of an organization or association directly serving newborn photographers and their educational needs?”
#4 – “What safety practices do you have in place in your studio specifically geared towards the newborn client?”
#5 – “Will my newborn be supported by human hands in all upright positions as well as any poses requiring suspension? Do you do composites for difficult poses?”
#6 – “Do you work with an assistant or provide spotters at your newborn sessions? Or will you allow me to spot my baby during a session?”
#7 – “What will happen in the case of illness, your own or otherwise?”
#8 – “Are you vaccinated against pertussis and the flu?”
#9 – “Can you point me towards online resources from which I can learn about safe practices when photographing newborns?”
Great answers to questions you may have can be found on Stephanie’s blog.
The Accredited Professional Newborn Photographer International organization also offers this free list of the questions that you can send to your prospective photographers if you prefer: Find it HERE.
Remember to ask about the photographer’s portfolio, or spend some time going through their website. It isn’t a bad idea to ask for testimonials and references. Remember that the person photographing your baby is not only taking pictures but serving as a caregiver to your child for several hours.4 It takes proper training, equipment, and insurance for newborn photography. These expenses will often be reflected in the cost, so be wary of cheap photographers. The number one factor when hiring a photographer for your newborn baby should be safety.5
Even if I am not the right fit as your photographer, please be sure to do your research on photographers and use these questions as a guide to help educate yourself on the qualifications of the photographers you are considering.
Sources
- Brandt, A. (2017, July 05). Retrieved July 28, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLn5InfFb0U
- Matrangos, C. (2018, January 5). The newborn photography industry is NOT yet safety regulated and that is SCARY! Retrieved from https://www.imagesbychristinem.com/single-post/2018/01/03/The-newborn-photography-industry-is-NOT-yet-safety-regulated-and-that-is-SCARY
- Robin, S. (n.d.). Burlington Ontario GTA Newborn and Baby Photographer. Retrieved from http://www.stephanierobin.ca/#!/PARENT_INFO
- Newborn Photography. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://newbornphotography.com/page/questions-to-ask/
- Packham, A. (2015, May 19). Not All Creative Newborn Photoshoots Are Safe, Warns Photographer. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/05/19/newborn-baby-creative-photoshoots-safety-warning_n_7311612.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIUp5zvDWRPw5eJL7jsLNWL2l9vWwF–l2ClMQX1i0qQ66pwYAiGUwpDCJf4LR9X7PSLHeidqdnPYpQzmrpVOYEQOQPa60–SACYft7sycF83Bh5iyI8Ej1LmesV_JIUL1CprsCdow3_ZH7f90_xNetdvR2tEFn_DORtAAmnFQTj
