If you’re considering booking a photoshoot for your newborn baby, but you are concerned about how safe newborn photography is? here it is what you need to know first.
Usually, newborn photographers who have been in the industry for years and years are highly skilled and safe professionals, who have a lot of experience. These are moms, and rarely dads who have got quite a few first aid and child safety courses done through their career.
There is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing a photographer.I have a list of tips which can help find the right professional.
Is easy to find out if the photographer is working in a safe manner; he/she will be taking into consideration the following steps:
A Safe Newborn Photographer Checklist!
- Planning ahead
- Hygiene
- Temperature
- Safe studio equipment setup
- Lighting
- Baby Comfort
- Posing
- Working with an assistant.
- Safety with Siblings
Planning ahead
A professional photographer will be discussing with you a lot of things from the first minute as you called to book the session.
He/She will give all the details about the session, exactly when is the best time to bring the baby in, for convenience of both parents and photographer.
At this point, the photographer will introduce in all the terms and conditions. You may find many of them quite busy on the schedule. However, they do their best to get as flexible as possible to every client.
They sent the email to you with all the details. Here is the time to ask any questions about what you are still concerned related to the upcoming photo session.
Hygiene
Most photographers have their studio rooms spotlessly clean and tidy. The studio room gets proper ventilation before the session starts.
Because the babies poop quite often, photographers are washing the props and blankets after each session. You will be able to notice that easy, buy the look and smells of it.
Is nothing new for the newborn photographer that babies poop and pee, it juts a part of the whole process. And that’s why they will have and sanitiser ready, before touching the baby again.
Temperature
We want to keep the baby warm but not overheating the baby. It can differ from case to case; babies are different. The photographer will ask just before the session starts, what is the average temperature kept at home for the baby?
But the average temperature in a newborn photography studio will be kept around 24-27 degrees.
If the photographer who uses the blowing heater are very precaution, the heater will never blow directly on the baby. Cause that again can overheat or turn the baby red.
In some cases, the photographer uses an electric blanket for warming up the bin bag, but just before the session starts will be removed.
Safe use of equipment
The newborn photographer use the camera with the strap around the neck at all time; it’s essential. Almost in every single shot, the photographer is above the baby with the camera.
The belt its an extra and significant precaution measure if the camera slips.
All the props are carefully chosen, with no sharp edges or rust if made of steel. They never use glass props or any other glass objects, this a big no-no!
start from a bin bag and finishing with small props are double-checked are safe and stable.
If there will be a backdrop stand or lights are too big you may see weights or sandbags at the bottom tripod for extra stability.
The wooden stands and backgrounds are secured to prevent falls.
Lightning
Despite the facts the newborn photographers use significant sources of lightning, they are setting the softboxes in a way that does not harm the babies eyes.
The correct and safe position of the lights is on top of the list of practice before photographers even start photo shooting the real babies.
The softboxes used have one or two layers of material which are softening the impact of the light.
Baby’s Comfort
A professional photographer will usually have just one session a day. To make sure there is plenty of time in case the baby doesn’t want to pose and needs more time to accommodate.
The photographer should not rush the process at any time, we all want the great pictures at the end, but the baby’s health is the priority.
The baby will let you know when he has had enough. The baby gets frustrated at some point of photographer moving, wrapping, changing, especially when the session may last more than 3 hours.
A patient and professional photographer will know when to stop the session.
An area for seating and changing will be made available for new mom s in the studio.
Drinking water will be made accessible; some moms might feel first and exhausted because of the temperature in the room and the duration of the session.
Posing
A safe photographer will go for less pose rather than experiment on the baby with the new poses which she is not confident, just for the sake of looking different on the audience.
The poses will look natural. Despite the fact the baby is pretty flexible at this time, most poses baby will look relaxed and comfy.
You probably have seen a lot of pictures where babies look like suspended with a sling or a prop. Don’t worry these again have been done by a composite of two images.
The babies are always on the bin bag or the soft surface.
Work with an assistant.
All the newborn photographers work with an assistant, or if one is not available, the parents can help to support the baby.
The assistant supports the baby’s head in potato sack poses, and the froggy poses. The final result where you can’t spot the assistant’s hand made as a composite of two images.
Safety with Siblings
Here again, the composite images ensure the safety of the newborn baby. The toddlers are getting very excited about the session, wants to touch, move, literally enjoy the time with brother or sister.
Keeping them separate gives a peace of mind to the adults, and the toddler is less frustrated by getting constraint.
However, the exceptions when the siblings are over 3-4 years old and already listen to the mom’s instructions, they can be allowed to stay together.
These poses are usually on the broad and flat surface horizontally, and it’s mostly down to the parents to decide and know the toddler is responsible enough for that.
First Aid Skills
Even more, confidence will give the photographers who have the child first aid courses, and often they have that published on about me section of their web page.
If the photographer is a parent as well or not, he/she will go for a child first aid courses before starting the business.
American and British Red Cross Child First Aid courses are most popular not just for newborn photographers but for the parents and grandparents in general.
The highly skilled and experienced Red Cross Trainers covering a lot of emergencies, in case it does happen during the Session.
Newborn Photography Safety Workflow
Because of this industry, it’s still growing, and every single photographer puts the accent on baby safety.
Sometimes you can bee surprised to see newborn photography masterclasses going on online where a paediatrician is invited to assist and instruct the photographers.
The photographer will proudly share that on it’s Instagram account as well, where you can check. Instagram at the minute is the easiest and fastest way to find the photographers and their work.
Find a safety international accredited photographer?
Not too many people know there are an International Newborn Photography association exist.
APNPI (Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International) dedicated exclusively to Newborn Photographers!
To earn certifications and the accreditation the photographers are going through a lot of safety courses and study. Then they remain in that community and getting constant updates about safe newborn photography workflow.
In ”find a photographer” section on APNPI website you can actually find a photographer in your area;
Related Questions
When Should newborn pictures be taken?
The perfect time for a newborn photography session is between five days and two weeks from the child’s birth. This is the time frame when the baby is more sleepy and flexible, and the photographer can make unique pictures.
How much does a newborn photo session cost?
The average newborn photography session cost is between 100$ and 500$ worldwide. Price varies depending on the photographer’s experience, name and the result of its work. Price usually includes all the photographer’s equipment, the session itself and all the photographer’s editing.
Is newborn photography worth it?
It’s always worth taking professional newborn photography pictures, not just because of the experience, gear and an artist’s eye that the photographer has. But also for the high-quality photos that a professional camera can take, which you can print out on a large scale and won’t lose quality. Although your iPhone can take amazing pictures, you may not be able to achieve the same results.,