Why invest in newborn photography and what to think about when considering it ~ Ottawa Newborn Photography

Recently I had these questions jumping around in my head because I’m often asked about newborn photography and why it’s such a big deal.

Basically, for me, it’s capturing a very sentimental event in parents’ and children’s lives; and it captures a period of our children’s lives that really only lasts for a few short weeks. Newborns are unique because they possess the characteristics of how they were while in their mother’s womb, but they only possess these for about 10 days. The “curl” and the ability to fold them up into a tiny ball, the purity of their skin, the sleepiness, and the tiny size are what we want to remember forever, because it really is a fleeting moment in terms of the life of a child.

When we seek out and choose a wedding photographer, we want to find the best fit possible to be present and capture the best images possible on one of the most important days of our lives. It only happens once, so you want to choose well. I would argue that the similar is true when choosing a newborn photographer, because your baby will only be like that for a short time, so you want to choose well.

So what should you consider, when thinking about investing in newborn photography?

1. First thing to consider is likely going to be your budget. There are options our there for everyone’s budget, from the $30 package at Loblaws to the $3000 package with the most talented high end pro photographer. So start with a ball park of what you are willing to spend for the whole thing – from session to prints.

2. Next thing to consider is style. What style of images are you looking to capture? Natural, posed, with props, textured, black and white, colour etc. There are a variety of different styles out there, so think about what you envision hanging on the walls in your nursery after your prints arrive.

3. Personal fit of the photographer, many photographers have blogs and you can get a sense of who they are by reading their blog posts. But the most important way to get an idea of how a photographer relates to their clients is to ask for references, or ask around to friends. Many of them have probably invested in a professional photo shoot in the past and may have someone to recommend.

4. Your willingness to travel mere days after giving birth. Find out if the photographer you are considering will do on-location sessions or only studio sessions.

5. Print products offered. Some photographers and studios, such as Loblaws and Walmart will only offer a few print size options; custom photographers can provide designed products such as storyboards, custom album designs and image boxes. It is also important to find out if the photographer will sell their digital images, and at what price.



In closing, regardless of what you decide, whether you hire a custom professional photographer, bring your baby to a studio, or just take the photos yourself, remember to take many photos in those first few weeks, because before you know it, they are all grown up and you’ll have those images to look back on and cherish!