If you’re a parent or soon-to-be parent who is in the process of finding a newborn photographer to book a session for when your little one arrives, you might be feeling that the process is a bit overwhelming.  I completely understand!  Not only do photographers each have their own unique vision and style, they may also vary a great deal in pricing, offerings, location, skill level, etc.  

I think the easy part is finding an artist whose work you love. When you see their portraits and gasp, or can’t stop staring at them, there’s a good chance you’ve found the artist whose work truly speaks to you!  Once you’ve found that, however, there are a few important questions to ask that photographer to prior to booking. These questions should give you an idea of the breadth of knowledge the photographer has regarding newborn health and safety, as well as their expertise in handling newborns, and skillfully photographing them during a photo session.  

4 important questions to ask your newborn photographer before booking!

1. How do you handle and pose baby?

Every newborn photographer has a different style, and each photographs babies in their own way.  However, there are trends in the industry of certain types of images- with baby posed a certain way- that seem to gain popularity among parents. Like baby posed in the “froggy” position, posed in a swing or other object that appears suspended, posed upright like a “potato sack…”  But HOW does the photographer actually capture baby this way? 

Though sleeping babies can safely be moved and guided into certain positions (e.g. laying them on a flat surface and tucking their hands under their chin) any movements of baby’s body should be gentle, and ONLY done with ease.  Babies should never be forced into unnatural positions, positions that can increase their risk of asphyxiation, or positions in which they could startle or fall and become injured.  

Compositing images for safety

Likewise, photographers should NEVER attempt one of the aforementioned poses without baby being supported by a spotter (assistant or parent).  A baby should NEVER be allowed to “sit” upright in a vertical position with having their head held gently in place (to create two images to composite in post-processing).  And babies should NEVER be suspended in any object without being fully supported, with the object resting on a surface the entire time.

For my OWN session, I place babies that are awake on a flat surface and capture them exactly how they are.  If their arms and legs are moving around quickly (and blocking their face) I will gently swaddle their arms/legs so that they are still and secure and so I can capture their expressions.  If babies are sleeping soundly, I will either capture them swaddled in a prop, wrapped on my flat poser, or photograph them  in the position they seem to prefer. Some babies like to scrunch up- as if they’re doing crunches in a workout! For those babes, I’llwrap their limbs close to their body where they seem to prefer them.  Other babies like to stretch their arms overhead or stick their legs out straight! Those babies usually easily lay on their sides or perhaps their tummies.  I can “feel” the way babies prefer to move when I’m holding them!  So, I always pay attention to baby’s cues and pose them very gently in a way that lets me beautifully capture their little features. 

“Un”posing

Also, some photographers claim they only do “unposed” newborn photography.  That’s totally fine! But if this is the case, you might ask the photographer HOW they will capture your baby…  Can you expect any photos showing their fingers or toes? Will they always been swaddled or covered up? Will they capture photos of their face without anything obstructing it? Will they only capture baby while he or she is held by a parent? 

2. Are you up to date on your vaccinations? (Specifically against Pertussis)

No, this isn’t to get all political. (Though I will say that vaccines should never be political.😉) But when closely handling someone else’s newborn child, it is of the upmost importance that newborn photographers are NOT exposing that newborn to potentially deadly illnesses. Covid-19- thankfully- hasn’t been a significant threat to infants’ health, unlike older adults. There are still many illnesses, however, that ARE. And one that still exists and can be easily passed from infected individual to infants is Pertussis or Whooping Cough. And sadly, Infants are more likely to die from complications due to Pertussis than older babies or children. And since their first vaccine (DTaP) dose isn’t administered until 2 months of age, they rely on immunity from their family and those around them to be safe from infection. 

Pertussis boosters

Boosters for pertussis are readily available for adults. And according the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tdap boosters should be administered to pregnant women as well as those that care for newborns.  Newborn photographers- given the close contact they have with newborns for several hours-should be considered in this category, and should be up-to-date with a Pertussis booster for the safety of the newborns they work with. 

Likewise, most photographers in the industry have now adopted the policy of wearing a mask when photographing newborns. I myself continue to wear a mask, because it’s erring on the side of caution… and when we’re working with someone else’s baby, that’s always the best side to be on! 🙂

For more information on the pertussis vaccine, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here. 

3. How is your studio cleaned in between clients?

Though I have always made sanitation a priority since I opened my studio, the pandemic certainly gave us a new outlook on cleaning and sanitizing public areas!

Areas in a newborn photography studio that are used by or accessible to clients should have surfaces (chairs, tables, counters, handles, switches) sanitized in between every session, as well as floors cleaned, restrooms properly cleaned and disinfected, and studio props and fabrics washed and sanitized ANY time they are used.  

Studio equipment should also be sanitized between every session!  I use alcohol wipes to sanitize my cameras, lenses, white noise machine, studio light, light stand, wipes containers I may use during a session, and my phone. 

And it should go without saying, but photographers should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water (and dry with a paper towel or clean towel) before handling baby.  And hand sanitizer should be used regularlay from that point on anytime hands could become contaminated, such as after touching one’s face or nose, after diapering, after touching a trash can.

Likewise, a simple sanitizing spray- like the dilute bleach solution used in child care centers (1 tbs bleach: 1 gallon water)- can be used to sanitize non-porous props or toys. All fabrics that touch baby should be washed and sanitized after every use. And in the client area, don’t forget the coffeemakers! They should be regularly cleaned (approx. every month) by using white vinegar through a brewing cycle.

4. What do you do if baby is fussing/crying?  

Most newborns, if they have a full tummy and a clean diaper, will probably sleep the majority of their session. But if not, that’s ok!  I have many years of experience soothing fussy babies, and I won’t lie: snuggling a sweet newborn is NOT a difficult part of my job!  😛 Oftentimes, babies might fuss for very simple reasons that I can attend to: If baby has a dirty diaper, I can change it!  If they seem to want to suck to self-soothe, I can offer them a pacifier with parents’ permission. (And yes, I even keep new, sterilized pacifiers in a jar if one is needed!)  If they just want a snuggle, I can wrap them, bounce and sway, pat or burp them, shush them, stroke their foreheads… all of the little tricks of the trade that have helped me calm babies for the past decade of shooting. 

However, every once in a while, newborns might cry without wanting any of these things. That’s when I hand them over for some momma snuggles!  Usually a quick nursing session or just a cuddle with mom seems to settle them right down. And in my studio, there is a couch in the shooting area and also a private client lounge just for that.  

The most important thing for a photographer to do is not only be able to soothe baby if they’re a bit unsettled, but to be able to read baby’s cues and bring them to mom or dad when necessary. And I always let parents know that though I love snuggling babies, I can hand over their little one any time they want to nurse or soothe them on their own. 😉 

There is little in life more intimidating than taking home your newborn human for the first time.  By yourself.

  …They’re seriously going to trust us with her?  

… Don’t we need to be more qualified?

… I can’t believe they require a test to get a driver’s license, but not for this.

I remember thinking these exact thoughts fourteen years ago!  And now, as a newborn photographer meeting brand new parents every week, I can still see this uncertainty and overwhelm ALL. THE. TIME.  

But one thing many new parents don’t know is that there are resources  in nearly EVERY community whose sole purpose is to ensure babies and children have the very best start in life.  And much of their work involves helping not just babies, but their PARENTS.  And the best thing about these resources?  Most of them are FREE!  My own experience as a new mother, as well as my previous experience working at a non-profit for children & families, made me familiar with many of these services. And you don’t necessarily need to be in a certain income bracket to qualify- you simply have to ASK!

So, based on my own experiences, and those of people I know, I’ve made this list of 4 Invaluable Resources for parents of newborns- most of which you may never had heard of!

LACTATION CONSULTANTS

You may be surprised to know that most hospitals have a full-time lactation consultant on their staff.  Yup.  Full-time!  Why?  Because breastfeeding is not always easy, y’all.  For some people it is- which is wonderful!  But for others (myself included) it’s really, really hard. 

That’s not to scare new moms off from breastfeeding. On the contrary! (I struggled and struggled but after several weeks of working with a LC finally had success!)  I just think it’s important to know that experiencing difficulty doesn’t mean you can’t do it, it just means you’ve gotta work through some issues before it becomes second nature.  It could be issues with baby’s latch, your milk supply, sore or cracked nipples, engorgement, mastitis… the lovely list of potential mammary problems goes on!  😛 

Well, lactation consultants help you through ALL those issues, concerns, and struggles you face so you can eventually breastfeed successfully. So, if you’re having trouble breastfeeding- ANY trouble at all- reach out to your hospital’s lactation consultant- their job is to help!

POST-PARTUM DOULAS

We hired a doula for our son’s birth.  If you’re unfamiliar with doulas, I could describe one all-to-simply as: A labor and childbirth coach. 

A more fitting definition, however, might be: An angel and cheerleader sent from God to help you successfully birth a small human out of a very small opening in your body. Possibly without painkillers.   

Now Postpartum Doulas are a similarly angelic figures who assist parents in the often difficult and overwhelming postpartum period. (Yes! Someone to help you when you have no idea what you’re doing!) And to give a more thorough description of all a postpartum doula does, I googled it for you! 

Postpartum doulas provide families information and support on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing, and coping skills for new parents.  

Though many new parents have the blessing of their own parents to help them through this period, not everyone does- this is where a postpartum doula would truly be invaluable. 

Unfortunately, postpartum doulas are not a service that is provided free to families- they are typically hired privately by families.  However, they are just an incredible service to new parents, so I HAD to include them in this list!  

Postpartum doulas seem like such a God-send, I kinda want to hire one now.  Do you think 10 years postpartum is too long??

PARENTS AS TEACHERS

One of my favorite organizations to benefit families is Parents As Teachers– for a few reasons.  One: my mom was a Parent Educator with PAT for many years. Her job was to guide parents in the first three years of their baby’s life and help them to become their baby’s first (and most important) teacher).

In the short term: this benefited parents and helped them with challenges from nutrition and cognitive and motor development to behavior and discipline.  In the long term: it greatly improved the success of children in school!

PAT was one of the first things I signed up for when our daughter was born!  Now admittedly, having a mom who was a parent educator, and having worked as an early education consultant, much of what my own Parent Educator shared with me I already knew. But it didn’t matter. The support of my PE Brenda- actually visiting my home and talking with me- was a lifesaver at times. Not only did she support me and answer ALL of my questions, she connected me with resources that directly benefited our daughter.  

One of the most resources we received through PAT impacted our daughter’s life in a huge way.  When Lauren was nearing 2 years old, I’d been wondering if she was talking as much as she “should” be talking, and so our PE evaluated her speech- a routine check done by PEs for every child. When a simple questionnaire suggested that her speech appeared to be delayed, our PE was also able to perform a hearing evaluation right in our home!  Thankfully, her hearing was normal, though her expressive speech was not. To my surprise, we received a call the NEXT DAY from the Army Medical Center where she was born, to set up speech therapy for her. I didn’t even have to do anything! (A blessing for an already tired mother).

Long story short, she began receiving free early-intervention speech therapy services right away, and her speech shortly thereafter exploded, and she is (at the time this post was originally written) a 4th grader reading and writing at an 8th grade level. (!) Does her success in school have anything to do with the intervention she received from PAT?  YES! Absolutely, yes.

And if you’re thinking that you might not qualify for FREE services, think again. Most states have funding streams that are specifically geared toward young children (birth through three) and early intervention services are usually a part of that.  Even though my husband had a good salary with the DoD, we still would have struggled to afford private speech therapy on our own. But we didn’t even have to worry about it. It was all covered with early intervention services! It was truly a blessing. 

YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT

This last resource might seem like an odd one to include, but from my experience, they’re probably not utilized enough!

Before Lauren was born, I had already pored over dozens of books- trying to glean as much knowledge as I could about keeping a tiny human alive. Now, we knew the basics, of course. But I am, by nature, a worrier. So I even read the manuals to our baby gear- making sure that I didn’t miss anything important. 

So, when we did our duty as soon-to-be parents and took our car (with carseat installed) to our local fire department to have it inspected to ensure we properly installed it, we were sure they’d tell us, “Boy, you folks must have read all those books, because you nailed it!  No one ever comes here with their car seat properly installed. Well, you’ve broken that streak today: Congratulations!” 

Well, guess what? 

Even with my thorough preparedness and slight obsession with details, we still found out that we did NOT have our daughter’s car seat installed properly. 

😳 

And seriously, we were SURE we did!!!  In case you’re one of those parents (like us) who totally knew you did it right, let me describe our mistake: 

We knew the middle of the back seat was safest.  We knew all car seats must be rear-facing and properly leveled so that baby’s head doesn’t slump forward and increase risk of injury during a crash.  We also knew that the LATCH system in the car was easier to secure snugly than seatbelts. 

So we put the car seat- level and facing backward- in the back seat. We took the LATCH hooks, secured one to each anchor, and tightened as tight as humanly possibly.  

And yet the Firefighter who helped us quickly found our mistake:  Our back seat only had the LATCH system on the left and right rear seats- but not in the middle.  So, we’d actually used a LATCH anchor point from from the RIGHT SEAT to secure the right side of the base, and used the anchor from the LEFT SEAT to secure the left side. This meant the straps holding in her seat weren’t hooked perpendicularly to their anchor points- they were spread out further- allowing the seat to actually slide from side-to-side quite a bit!  A PROPER installation would have used the LATCH system on either the left or right seat, OR- his recommendation- using the seat belt to secure the seat in the middle.  

So, the moral of my story is: Firefighters undergo some insane number of hours of training JUST to be experts in car seat installation. It’s seriously that easy to do it wrong!!  So, use their expertise.  Again, it’s FREE!

And if you’re one of those who gets an A+ for perfect installation, Way to go!  If you’re shocked (like us) that even your seemingly perfect install wan’t completely safe, you’ll be SO thankful you had them inspect it. 

San Antonio Newborn Photography

I think one of the hardest things to decide when considering booking a newborn photography session is whether it’s actually worth the price. After all, professional photography isn’t always cheap. In fact, it’s rarely cheap! Any artist who is worth their weight will likely have prices that reflect the extensive education, training, expertise, and time and attention that they provide for each of their clients. And sometimes that number can be just enough to make you question whether what you receive is actually worth it.

There’s a saying I’ve heard that I think is nearly always true:

Cheap photography isn’t good, and good photography isn’t cheap.

It’s no secret that GOOD professional photography sessions are an investment. An investment meaning: they cost more than you’d typically spend on any given day, say, going grocery shopping, going out to eat, or filling up your gas tank.  But investments are not the same thing as spending.  Investments are something that cost you money NOW, but whose value only grows more and more over the years. Or something that you put “X” amount of dollars into now, only to be worth a thousand times that down the road.

Just the other day, we got a mailer for the monthly sales at our local big box/warehouse store.  And in it, they had a bunch of the newest, high-tech TVs “on sale” for $1200, $3000, $4500.  Even, (get this): $8999.  (Someone actually sells a nine thousand dollar television set. I didn’t even know TV prices went that high!)

But is that $9K TV an investment? In my opinion, no. Will that television set have more value to you in 5 years? 10 years? I doubt it. In fact, it’ll probably be obsolete. Ouch.  

Now, most of us aren’t dropping a couple thousand dollars on tv sets, so what’s my point? 

It’s simple. 

When it comes to deciding whether or not to invest in something that’s important to you now (but costs more than you’re used to spending on any given day, or more than your budget normally allows), ask yourself: Will this thing become even more important to me in 5 years? in 10 years?  What about 50 years?  Will its value to me become even greater as the years go on?

And I think you guessed it:  When it comes to portraits of our loved ones, the answer is always, Yes, yes, and YES. 

Now, I get it. I’m a professional portrait photographer, and I LOVE to make a living doing what I love. I want all the families in San Antonio to hire me to photograph their newborns!  

But yes, professional portrait sessions cost money. They’re an investment.  But the best investments only become more valuable and more precious over time. 

And portraits of your baby when they are brand new to this world do exactly that.

The newborn stage is so incredibly fleeting.  It might last only a few weeks, or a month.  Then your baby begins to change so quickly, that newborn-ness is only a memory. And I’m not just saying that as a newborn photographer. I’m saying that as a mom. Because I’ve experienced it.

But that’s where photographs come in.  

If you aren’t someone really cares about beautiful photos, or can’t see any difference between a picture taken on your phone and one created by a professional photographer, then no, a newborn portrait session probably is not worth it to you!  (And yes, I believe this is true for some people- And that’s ok!)

But if you often say things like, “Oh, I LOVE this photo of my son!” Or “That is the most beautiful picture of you….”

If you love and appreciate a beautiful photo, especially of the people you love…

If you want to remember everything about your newborn…

If you want to look at a beautiful piece of art showing that precious tiny face you adore…

Then YES. Newborn photography is definitely worth it.  And five years from now, ten years from now- the money spent at that time won’t be important to you. But those irreplaceable memories will.

Because I believe in what I do and how valuable it is in our lives, I make sure to make my sessions as attainable as possible. I encourage expectant parents to book their newborn’s session months in advance, and I offer complimentary payment plans for all of my sessions. You are welcome to break up your session fee into as many payments as you need to be able to work it into your family’s budget. For more information, or if you have any questions about using a payment plan to book a session, please reach out here!

Capturing Baby’s First Year

Did you know I offer a My First Year plan?  Yup. Like whiskers on kittens it’s one of my favorite things. 

It’s a bundle of several sessions aimed to capture baby’s first year of life- where they grow and change the most! Scheduling, planning, and styling each of these milestone sessions is all taken care of by ME (because although new parents WANT to beautiful portraits of their baby, they’re tiiiiiiirrrrred.) Parents with a baby just want to get through the day without nodding off at the dinner table. The last thing usually on their minds is scheduling important dates in advance. That’s why I plan it all for them! 😉⁠

What it includes:

My First Year includes 3 once-in-a-lifetime milestone sessions for your baby…  First, capturing them when they begin to start SMILING- usually around 3 months or so. Next, capturing them when they are SITTING up all by themselves! This can be anywhere from 6-9 months. And finally, celebrating the biggest milestone of all- their first birthday! 

The First Birthday is probably the most fun of all the sessions!  We start with classic 12 month portraits in the studio and then capture the joy and fun of a 1st birthday cakesmash, and a bubbly bath afterward.

Each and every session is custom styled for your baby, and their cakesmash also includes a custom smash cake by my favorite cake artist extraordinaire –  Shandi Tabler of TablerMade.

Yes, a custom cake is included!

Shandi’s cakes are handmade, hand decorated, SUPER yummy, and provide the most beautiful special touch for such a special milestone.

What to Expect…

I reach out to you to schedule each session when the time comes.  I also custom style each session for you and your little one!  I have several go-to outfits for babies to wear. Or,  I can coordinate the set-ups to match an outfit you’ve already chosen! 

At 12 months, my cake artist and I consult with you on your baby’s first birthday session, finalizing any special colors, props, or themes you would like.  You arrive with your little one year old to an adorably styled set and a beautiful custom cake waiting to be dug into! (Yes- I even pick up the cake for you. You’re welcome! 😉⁠

And after they’ve made an adorable mess of themselves, we pop them into a bubbly washtub for more sweet photos. I use hypoallergenic baby wash for bubbles and have clean, sanitized towels ready for when they’re done splashing. 

Seriously- EVERYTHING is taken care of. I LOVE being able to continue to photograph these sweet babies as they grow and I like knowing that I’m helping my families achieve something that they’ll never have the opportunity for again.

Not only does the My First Year plan include ALL the images from ALL the sessions (with nothing more to buy!) You also receive a keepsake box and a set of archival prints for the entire year’s photos.   

Seeing these newborns grow so much during their first year is SUCH a blessing and a wonderful job perk!  The My First Year plan is- I think- the best way to remember those once-in-a-lifetime moments when your baby is small.  Because, unfortunately, you only get these days once.   

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If you have a little one soon to arrive earthside, or a newborn who’s already starting to grow and change- don’t wait! Get in touch to capture baby’s first year!  See pricing details for the My First Year plan here.