Wonder Baby at 5 months, Tammy Kanigan Photography
I fancy myself a decent photographer. I mean, it’s not my art form, but I take some nice photos. So people are sometimes surprised by how important I feel it is to get regular photos taken by a professional photographer. Our sweet little ones are only tiny for a blink of the eye, and I feel it’s well worth the investment to have some beautiful shots to remember it by. Here are some points to ponder…
Left photo by me (obviously) and right by Chicken Little Photography
Hire someone to take your newborn photos. With Toddler Girl I was too cheap, and really hadn’t looked into it. That photo above is one of the better shots of her first week. I still had a lot to learn about photography (such as lighting… and maybe focusing on the face?) and I was in a lot of pain. I only took a few photos because my mom made me. On the right is a photo of Wonder Baby as a newborn. Look at that squishy little face and creamy skin! I could stare at it all day long. In fact, it’s on the wall above my computer and I do stare at it all day long! It’s important to choose a photographer and get in contact before your baby is born. Newborn photos are best taken in the first 10 days while they are still sleepy and poseable.
Me and Toddler Girl at 7.5 months, by Chicken Little Photography
A professional photographer can make you look good. I don’t know about you, but I’m a little more camera shy post-partum (well, pretty much ever since having Toddler Girl, actually). A good photographer knows how to take a flattering shot, and can remind you not to do things like crinkle your nose for every picture. I love having photos of me with my girls that we both look pretty in.
Toddler Girl at almost 2 by Tammy Kanigan
A professional photographer can make even your grumpy, camera shy child look good. Given some time and space. I do have smiling shots from this day too, but I love this one. Find a photographer who knows how to interact well with kids and they might be able to get happy shots like you can never manage. If not, they can make tired and sulky look so good!
No matter how good a photographer you are, it’s hard to get a good photo with you in it! At least without your arm in it. Seriously, even with a tripod and timer or remote, it’s hard to see what’s going on.
It’s great if you can find someone you love and stick with them. I love Jackie of Chicken Little Photography (Tammy is her partner in crime), and I know I’ll get consistent results from her. I spent some time searching online for someone local with a style I liked (modern, non-studio, light and creamy), who shot what I needed (newborn/family), and gave me what I wanted (a cd with the images and rights to print them for personal use). She’s also just a lovely person.
The prices vary but it really is an investment in your memories. If you or your husband are shocked by the price of the photographer you choose, remember that it’s not just what they make in that hour or two with you. They have camera equipment, computers and software to get you those gorgeous photos, and they are putting in a lot of time sorting and editing the shots for you. A lot of family photographers are work at home moms, and it’s nice to help support another mom like you!
I think it’s a good idea to have newborn photos done, and then family photos once a year. This year we’re going together with my parents and brother’s family and getting a photo shoot as our Christmas present for each other.
Have you hired a professional photographer? Are you as sold on it as I am?
( All photos by Jackie, of Chicken Little Photography, and Tammy Kanigan)
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
I wish we had done newborn photos after the fact but I just couldn’t justify the cost! Yes, most of the newborn photos I took of M were dark and badly composed. I blame pain and exhaustion. If you have the money, I totally agree – get newborn photos done. We do plan on getting yearly photos done, at least and not at JC Penny where you wear black shirts and sit in front of a black wall and your bodies disappear.
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
We STILL have not done this. I am terribly camera shy.
blogger / pear / 1964 posts
Okay, I was going to DIY this, but I’m sold, I’ll find a professional.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
we didn’t take newborn pictures, but we take professional pics once a year. i’m a believer!
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
Your photos are so beautiful! I can see why you are sold on this.
I must really stink at choosing photographers. We’ve had two professional sessions and I wasn’t happy with either of them so I’m definitely not sold on this yet! I think I do a better job of capturing DD than the photogs but I hired them so that I could also be in the pictures. I hope I find a good one some day.
GOLD / cherry / 182 posts
Your pictures are beautiful. I too am a believer in professional pictures. You actually reminded me that I have to get on scheduling ones – Baby T is almost a year! Thanks for the reminder.
honeydew / 7504 posts
I am having a really hard time justifying spending the money for pro pictures. I recently found a local photographer that offers a “just hatched package” that people can actually gift you at the shower. It includes three photo sessions and a few other things. I added it to our Amazon registry. If we don’t get it as a gift, then maybe we’ll bite the bullet and hire someone. I am not a fantastic photographer and would hate to think we missed out on a chance at some great photos just because I was being cheap.
cherry / 187 posts
I am completely sold on this. We booked a combined package for maternity photos and newborn photos and have been addicted since. It was wonderful to have photos where we all looked good as that never happens except for professional photos. We took holiday photos, an extra set of family photos around 7 months, and just now for our daughter’s 1st bday. After this, I’m going to try to keep it to once a year for holiday photos to cut down on the cost (unless/until we have #2), but I’m now addicted!
pomegranate / 3275 posts
I wanted to do newborn pictures soooo bad with my second LO, but that first couple of weeks went so quickly (filled with mastitis, trips to the lactation consultant, and pediatrician) that it was the last thing on my mind. We got them done at three months instead, which is good too because he was smiling in them! I love professional pictures, I think they are totally worth the cost.
kiwi / 553 posts
Beautiful photos! We’re getting newborn photos of our boys done by the same photographer who did my maternity photos – and she’s also our doula! We have great chemistry so I can’t wait to see what we come up with for the newborn shoot!
grapefruit / 4923 posts
i’ve been recently pondering this issue and may have to forward this post to my husband to get him on board!
squash / 13199 posts
So far we havent taken and pro pictures. I do have a DSLR and do enjoy taking photos as a hobby. I like taking pictures of my baby myself. We may do professional pictures at some point, but I dont see it as a necessity
GOLD / grape / 85 posts
“The prices vary but it really is an investment in your memories. If you or your husband are shocked by the price of the photographer you choose, remember that it’s not just what they make in that hour or two with you. They have camera equipment, computers and software to get you those gorgeous photos, and they are putting in a lot of time sorting and editing the shots for you”
So true. I have photographer friends who spend hours in post-processing and the results are incredible. We did a maternity shoot and are scheduling a family shoot soon and we have had zero regrets!
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
Huge believer in professional photos – especially for newborn photos. Professional photographers spend hours and hours editing your photos afterward to make everything look perfect. It’s a HUGE part of the cost and very big reason their photos look so good!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
I already have a maternity and newborn photographer picked out. I’m not even pregnant yet. I love newborn photos.
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
I love pro photography but I can’t justify the money all the time. Luckily I have a friend with an in home studio. Not the best photog seeing she does it part time but it beats spending money and the pictures are better than if I would of taken them myself.
persimmon / 1255 posts
My husband is a great amateur photographer so he takes great photos of LO alone but we do hire a professional for family photos since as you mentioned, it’s tough to get him in the picture even with a timer.
pea / 10 posts
My husband and I just had this discussion yesterday. Money is very tight right now, but I’m making sure we have enough put aside for a professional photo shoot once our little guy arrives next month. They’re only that little for such a short period of time and I know I’ll regret it if we let the time slip by without really beautiful photos. Though I’m also trying to figure out a way to buy a dSLR so when a pro isn’t an option every day, I can still get some decent shots
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
For family photos, I agree 100%. One of us is never in the frame, so with a pro, we’re both there! We do use a friend who is quite good for our yearly summer session, but we might not be able to do that for much longer, so we’re on the hunt!
cherry / 128 posts
As a pro full time photographer, I really appreciate your post
I’m lucky enough that I will be able to capture pro photos of my LO at anytime. That being said… I will also hire someone to do family photos over the years so that I can be a part of them too! It’s definitely an investment you won’t regret as long as you hire someone you feel comfortable with and that has an aesthetic that you love!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
love this post!!!
My SIL was a pro-photographer and eventually was driven out of business because of people complaining it “costs too much” and hiring the “photographers” who will charge less but aren’t professional at all. To many, it seems it’s a dying art. People don’t appreciate it anymore, but they should.
I so agree with everything you said. In a professional photo, I look a million times better than any other picture. I value that so much!!