newborn photos...thoughts?

[LovesMeSomeCake]

Newborn photoshoot, yes or no? did you do one? would you do it again? was it worth the price? 

So, I think they can be adorable, but having to take baby out at under a week old makes me uneasy.  FTM (this means First, not Full, right?) lol.  I'm not good with photography, so that's not an option.  My SIL went nuts and got addicted, did a full shoot every month for the first year.  I think it could have been cute, if they'd had one consistent shot to show growth, but they didn't.  I'm sure the grandmas loved it.

Lets discuss! Because work is SO not interesting today.

[ellabee]

DO IT. You will not regret it.

As for taking out a <1w old, it'll be easy peasy logistically (harder emotionally). They're so sleepy at that age.

Paging ashtog , cuz clearly if anyone can convince you it's our resident photographer.


ETA: here is the blog preview from our session with DD. We used the 2nd photo in our announcements. susanbartolini.com/2014/04/sweet-baby-e-boston-baby-photographer-2/


ETA2: You didn't ask, but I'll provide for those curious. My session + CD with 25-30ish edited images was in the ballpark of $700 in 2014. I would pay that and more to do it again. It was worth it. 

[ashtog]

Do it!!! Your baby will only be that little that one time! And it will be so good for you to have the memory forever. You don't *have* to go the posed squishy ones like I do, there are often options for life style sessions.

Here is a blog if nb photos I took not too long ago. I love my job, it's like crack (but a good kind that doesn't kill you)

www.ashleyhempel.com/blog/index.php/2016/04/artemis/

[ellabee]

ashtog, I'm mad that 1. you live in canada and 2. you can't travel to take my newborn photos because you'll likely have your own LO at the very same time!

I'm debating this time around to take my own, but I'm such an amateur hobbiest that I fear they wouldn't come out well at all. If you don't mind, (when I have time) I might PM you and pick your brain a bit about a few photog things.

[geekmama]

I had planned to have newborn pics taken of DS. They offered photos at the hospital and I turned them down thinking I would have the lady who did my maternity photos do some. We had already talked about it and she was going to come to my house and do a lifestyle shoot instead of a posed one, which is more my style anyways.

Unfortunately, I never felt ready for her to come for the first couple weeks and then it was too late. I regret not getting the hospital ones done so much. They're so much better than they used to be.

[osumegs]

We did them and I'm glad we did. We had someone come to our house to do lifestyle newborn pics. She wasn't able to get posed newborn pics very well because dd didn't sleep, but the lifestyle pics were good.

[flcl]

Do it!! They're only so itty for so long and the pictures are totally worth it. I love the ones we got of LO

[aprilz81]

I haven't done any research but I'm interested in having newborn photos taken. I would love to find someone to come to our house so we can get pictures taken in the nursery and in our normal environment.

[ashtog]

ellabee absolutely!

And yes it's hard to make the time in the first week but it's so worth it in the end. And the nice thing about studio vs in home is that you don't have to prep your space while recovering with your little bub.

[silvermelody]

Do it!

I paid for the (likely overpriced) hospital photographer to do them and I am extremely happy with how they came out. I did not have the mental energy to schedule newborn photos after the fact so I'm glad I did them in the hospital. My package also included a set of announcements, so all I had to do when I got home was address and mail

This time around I will probably hire a local newborn photog ahead of time and either have them come to the hospital or do them in my home (I think the ones I know of here offer both options as well as their studios).

[peaseblossom55]

I'm still in a bit of disbelief that I might get to take these two babies home. It seems like a great idea though. I wonder if our wedding photographer would be willing he is amazing. I loved our wedding/engagement photos.

[heybulldog56]

I did not do it for DS and I don't necessarily regret it but I want to do it this time. Although I feel bad thinking about doing it for baby #2 when I didn't do it for #1.

[ellabee]

Jun 7, 2016 12:29:28 GMT -5 silvermelody said:

Do it!

I paid for the (likely overpriced) hospital photographer to do them and I am extremely happy with how they came out. I did not have the mental energy to schedule newborn photos after the fact so I'm glad I did them in the hospital. My package also included a set of announcements, so all I had to do when I got home was address and mail

This time around I will probably hire a local newborn photog ahead of time and either have them come to the hospital or do them in my home (I think the ones I know of here offer both options as well as their studios).

Just wanted to add (about the bold above) that I had to book my photographer like 4-6 months in advance because she would only take a handful of babies per month. It probably depends on the photographer.

After DD was born, I just let the photographer know and we came up with a day (between 7-10ish days old) that would work for both of us.

If I had to set it all up after DD was born it never would have happened lol.

[Deleted]

We did them and I'd 100% do it again. We had a photographer who came to our house so we have some very natural shots and it was great not to go anywhere so soon after my c/s.

aprilz81 this is exactly what we did, I love having shots of her in her crib and us changing her, nursing her, etc.

[LovesMeSomeCake]

Jun 7, 2016 11:57:39 GMT -5 ellabee said:

DO IT. You will not regret it.

As for taking out a <1w old, it'll be easy peasy logistically (harder emotionally). They're so sleepy at that age.

Paging ashtog , cuz clearly if anyone can convince you it's our resident photographer.


ETA: here is the blog preview from our session with DD. We used the 2nd photo in our announcements. susanbartolini.com/2014/04/sweet-baby-e-boston-baby-photographer-2/


ETA2: You didn't ask, but I'll provide for those curious. My session + CD with 25-30ish edited images was in the ballpark of $700 in 2014. I would pay that and more to do it again. It was worth it. 

those are ADORABLE! 

[pibblemom]

Kinda sorta unrelated... ashtog, what do you use for editing? Lightroom, Photoshop, combination? I actually have a BFA in photography but most of what I did was film. I love photoshop but for batch editing no thank you. Still learning LR. I did a newborn shoot for friends of ours, but the editing turns me off big time, until I catch up on modern practices anyhow.

All that said, my kid will be so tired of being in front of a camera and being a posing dummy I'm sure.

[LovesMeSomeCake]

I'm sold. ashtog, know anyone in the Chicago area?

[ashtog]

Plus one for book early! I only schedule a few a month, and often people contact me after baby is already here and I can't fit them in.

[LovesMeSomeCake]

who brings the props? blankets, basket type. headbands and hats I assume are me?

[ashtog]

Jun 7, 2016 13:01:58 GMT -5 pibblemom said:

Kinda sorta unrelated... ashtog, what do you use for editing? Lightroom, Photoshop, combination? I actually have a BFA in photography but most of what I did was film. I love photoshop but for batch editing no thank you. Still learning LR. I did a newborn shoot for friends of ours, but the editing turns me off big time, until I catch up on modern practices anyhow.

All that said, my kid will be so tired of being in front of a camera and being a posing dummy I'm sure.

I cull my sessions in bridge and then batch the basics (color correcting and exposure ) in camera raw. Then I do the rest in Photoshop. It's time consuming but I love it

[thelittleredm]

I was supposed to get free newborn photos because a friend was trying to expand that side of her photography portfolio but it never happened so I did my own mini shoot in my parents backyard. We plan on hiring a photographer for this one.

[heybulldog56]

ashtog, seriously, how much to fly you to Maryland for a session? Your work is absolutely beautiful.

[meeggaannww]

Jun 7, 2016 12:29:47 GMT -5 heybulldog56 said:

I did not do it for DS and I don't necessarily regret it but I want to do it this time. Although I feel bad thinking about doing it for baby #2 when I didn't do it for #1.

I feel the same way.

[ashtog]

Jun 7, 2016 13:07:55 GMT -5 LovesMeSomeCake said:

who brings the props? blankets, basket type. headbands and hats I assume are me?

I have all those things and I think most photographers do! But I always tell my clients if they want to bring a few special props or blankets to go ahead

[ashtog]

Jun 7, 2016 13:15:09 GMT -5 heybulldog56 said:

ashtog, seriously, how much to fly you to Maryland for a session? Your work is absolutely beautiful.

I would love to! .... But I'm probably having a baby around the same time you are

[heybulldog56]

Jun 7, 2016 13:23:14 GMT -5 ashtog said:

Jun 7, 2016 13:15:09 GMT -5 heybulldog56 said:

ashtog, seriously, how much to fly you to Maryland for a session? Your work is absolutely beautiful.

I would love to! .... But I'm probably having a baby around the same time you are

Oh...yes, good point. I'll find another reason to get you down here to take some gorgeous pictures for me!

[ashtog]

Jun 7, 2016 13:21:53 GMT -5 meeggaannww said:

Jun 7, 2016 12:29:47 GMT -5 heybulldog56 said:

I did not do it for DS and I don't necessarily regret it but I want to do it this time. Although I feel bad thinking about doing it for baby #2 when I didn't do it for #1.

I feel the same way.

Just really put more of an emphasis on the family and sibling connection to your photographer then get lots of pics including baby #1 and it's not as bad.

[ellabee]

Jun 7, 2016 13:07:55 GMT -5 LovesMeSomeCake said:

who brings the props? blankets, basket type. headbands and hats I assume are me?

Will depend on the photographer and whether you're looking for posed positions or just general lifestyle I think.

For mine, everything was provided. I brought a few headbands I thought were cute (but she had a bunch there). Any props that are meaningful to you I would assume you could bring and incorporate.

[heybulldog56]

Jun 7, 2016 13:29:09 GMT -5 ashtog said:

Jun 7, 2016 13:21:53 GMT -5 meeggaannww said:

I feel the same way.

Just really put more of an emphasis on the family and sibling connection to your photographer then get lots of pics including baby #1 and it's not as bad.

That's a great idea, thanks!

[flcl]

Jun 7, 2016 13:04:21 GMT -5 LovesMeSomeCake said:

I'm sold. ashtog, know anyone in the Chicago area?

I'm in the Chicagoland area. Let me know if you need some contacts!