There's more to consider than you might think when it comes to choosing your newborn photographer. If you cover the things listed in this post, you can at least be confident you've made an informed decision :-)
#1 Style
This one might seem obvious but first have a good look through the photographer's work and see whether you are naturally drawn to their typical style of photography. Ultimately, this will tell you whether or not you are going to love your own images in the end, so it’s definitely an important factor!
#2 Products
Consider the end product too - ask yourself, why have I chosen to do this photoshoot? For example, is it because you want to hang beautiful portraits on your wall at home, or maybe so that you can spend time bonding with your child as they grow by flicking through their album together. Is it because you want to preserve these memories and eventually pass down a precious family heirloom to your children one day? If an end product is important to you, remember to choose a ‘full service’ photographer as opposed to one who offers digital only packages.
#3 Process
Consider whether you’re looking for a luxury experience where the little details matter, you feel looked after at each step of the way and printing is professionally taken care of for you… or whether you’d rather a no-frills experience and prefer to DIY your own prints. Remember that sometimes we can have the best intentions of doing something special with our digital images but in reality we don’t always get around to it! As a new mum, you might not have the time (or will!) to source a print lab, design an album or crop your images to the correct ratio for the size of print you need. The families I work with love the convenience of having it all done for them without having to worry about the quality or whether their art products are going to stand the test of time.
#4 Training
Has your photographer engaged in newborn posing and safety training? Infant first aid training is a great one to look out for as well. The truth is, anyone can pose your baby for photographs as the newborn photography industry is not currently regulated – so it’s up to you to check that you have chosen a photographer that can do this without compromising baby’s safety.
#5 Insurance
Is your photographer’s business insured? Don’t be shy about asking this question as it’s an important one and should be the first thing that we do as business owners, before taking on any clients.
#6 Experience
Has your photographer been in business for a number of years, or are they just starting out? There is a place for all photographers at every stage of their career and we all have to start somewhere, but it’s also important to have realistic expectations whichever route you decide to take. Training in newborn posing and safety is always a priority when trusting someone else with your baby, so don’t ever feel you need to compromise on that.
#7 Reviews
Remember to take a look at your photographer’s reviews on Google and social media pages. This will give you a great idea of what level of customer service to expect, and an insight into how they have previously handled any issues with their clients.
#8 Connection
Have you had a chance to connect with your photographer in person and get a feel for how they will be with your baby? Meeting them prior to the photoshoot is one of the best ways that you can judge this and it's an opportunity for the photographer to build trust with you. I offer a consultation before every photoshoot for this reason amongst others. From my own perspective, I also feel it is really important to make that connection with families first so that they don’t feel they are handing their baby over to a complete stranger on the photoshoot day!
#9 Budget
Custom designed portraiture is definitely an investment and, of course, your budget does come into play too, but here’s why it's not at the top of the list. Portraits of your family are one of the rare things in life that will only grow in value over time. However special these photographs are to you now, believe me they will become even more meaningful as the years go by and your little ones are not so little anymore! Also, this isn't just for you, it's for your children too. You're giving them something to hold onto and that's a gift they'll appreciate for their entire lives. It’s always going to be worth the investment.
#10 Location
I’ve left this one until last because it’s probably least important (if you are able to travel!). While it's understandable that you wouldn't want to be travelling to the other side of the country with a newborn for their photoshoot, picking your photographer solely because they are the closest and most convenient isn’t ideal either. You may be compromising on quality if you do, so my advice would be to consider the other factors listed here first.
If you’re a new parent or mum-to-be in Glasgow and approaching the time to start thinking about your baby’s first photoshoot, do get in touch for details and availability!