Welcoming a new baby into your family is one of life’s most memorable experiences, and those first few weeks pass incredibly quickly. Choosing the right newborn photographer gives you the opportunity to preserve those tiny details and create photographs you’ll be able to treasure long after your baby has grown.
But with so many photographers to choose from, how do you know who is right for you and your baby?
From finding a photography style you love to checking experience and newborn safety, there are several things worth considering before making your decision.
Here’s our guide to choosing a newborn photographer you can feel completely comfortable with.
1. Start Looking for Your Newborn Photographer Early
It might feel strange to book photographs of somebody who hasn’t arrived yet, but you don’t need to wait until your baby is born to start looking.
In fact, pregnancy is the ideal time to research and choose your newborn photographer.
At Kingshill Studios, we often hear from parents around the time of their 20-week scan, and our diary can fill several months in advance.
Booking early means you have time to explore your options without feeling rushed. Your due date can be used to reserve space in the diary and, once your baby arrives, the actual date of your session can be arranged.
2. Look at Reviews and Recommendations
Recommendations are a great place to start when choosing someone to photograph your new baby.
Ask friends and family about their experiences and take some time to read reviews from previous clients.
Don’t just look at the star rating. Read what parents actually say about their experience.
Did they feel comfortable? How was the photographer with their baby? Did they enjoy the session? Were they happy with the finished photographs?
A newborn photographer may have a beautiful portfolio, but reviews can tell you much more about what it’s actually like to put your baby into their hands.
3. Find a Photography Style You Love
Every newborn photographer has their own style, so spend some time looking through their portfolio before making your decision.
Look beyond individual photographs and consider the overall feel of their work.
Do you prefer simple, timeless portraits or something with more colour, texture and personality? Think about the photographs you’d love to display in your home and which style feels most like you.
At Kingshill Studios, we offer two different approaches.
Our PURE style is ideal if you love clean, modern and simple newborn portraits, while our RICH style introduces more colour, texture and props.
And if you love elements of both, we can combine them to create something personal to you.
4. Ask About Newborn Safety and Experience
This is perhaps the most important consideration when choosing a newborn photographer.
Newborn photography is very different from other types of portrait photography. Your photographer isn’t simply operating a camera; they’re also handling, settling and positioning a very young baby.
Don’t be afraid to ask about their experience and training.
Susan regularly attends training in newborn handling and safety to ensure her knowledge remains up to date. She photographs hundreds of babies and also holds an SQA Executive Diploma in Photography: Newborn and Baby Portrait.
Knowing that your photographer has specialist experience can help you relax and enjoy the session while your baby’s comfort and wellbeing remain the priority.
5. Meet Your Photographer Beforehand
You don’t have to make your decision based entirely on a website or social media profile.
If you’re unsure, ask whether you can visit the studio and meet your photographer before booking.
This gives you the chance to see where your photographs will be taken, ask questions and make sure you feel comfortable.
It can also make the newborn session itself feel much easier. Instead of arriving somewhere unfamiliar with your brand-new baby, you’ll already know where you’re going and who you’ll be meeting.
Finding someone you connect with is especially valuable if you’d like them to continue photographing your family as your child grows.
6. Understand the Pricing Before You Book
Before choosing your newborn photographer, make sure you understand exactly what you’re paying for.
Look at what’s included in the session, how photographs are purchased afterwards and whether there are additional costs you need to consider.
You may also want to think about what you’d eventually like to do with your photographs.
Are you looking for digital images, beautiful prints, albums or wall art for your home?
At Kingshill Studios, our pricing information is available before you book, and you can see examples of our printed products and wall art at the studio.
We want you to be able to make the right decision for your family without unexpected surprises.
7. Choose Someone Who Makes You Feel Comfortable
Qualifications, experience, style and price all matter, but there’s another important factor that’s much harder to measure.
How does the photographer make you feel?
Your newborn photography session should be something you look forward to rather than something that makes you nervous.
You’re going to be spending several hours with your photographer during a very special and often emotional time in your life. You should feel welcome, listened to and confident that your baby is in experienced hands.
Sometimes, trusting your instincts really does matter.
Finding the Right Newborn Photographer for Your Family
Choosing a newborn photographer isn’t simply about finding someone who can take beautiful photographs.
You’re choosing the person who will capture one of the earliest chapters of your child’s story.
Take your time, explore their work, read reviews, ask questions and make sure you feel confident in their experience with newborn babies.
Most importantly, choose someone whose photographs you genuinely love and who makes you feel comfortable from the moment you meet them.
Those tiny newborn days won’t last forever, but the photographs you create during them will become part of your family’s history.