Why get professional pictures of LO?

[outdoorgirl10]

I'm getting a little flak from MIL that we haven't done any professional pictures of LO since the 3 day pictures done in the hospital. She's expecting that we'll get a 6 month picture done and has given us coupons and brought up names of photographers that would be good.  I wasn't planning on getting any taken because I kind of don't see the point. Family members get pictures sent to them just about every other day via FB or text or email so it's not like they don't get any pictures of him.  This kid will have piles of pictures in his baby book(s). What am I missing? Why should we bother getting professional pictures done?  Is this like a parenting rite of passage that I'm failing to do? It's not that I'm against it, I just haven't come up with a good reason to do it.

[redhorizon343]

I really wanted to get pro pictures taken. Then I saw the price tag. Going rate around here is $1,000 just to book the session - that does not include photos or the digital rights to the photos. For that price I'll just take a goddamn photography class!

[mrsnorris]

If I had lots of money I'd pay for regular pictures by a professional. When we were kids we got them done at Sears yearly and they were a nice way to show our growth and I'm glad my parents did them.But they were staged pictures in a Sears. Of course this was in the 80s and before cell phone cameras always in your pocket. Between the decent cell phone cameras my DSLR that produces some good pictures despite my lack of skill, LO had more pictures taken of her in her first month of life than I did in my childhood. That, to me, eliminates the purpose of staged annual pictures and her childhood will be well documented. That said, if I had the money to pay someone amazing to come do regular shoots I would. Since that's not in the budget we'll save it for occasional family shoots every few years.

[eena1242]

We haven't had pro pics of LO because I don't see the point either. We might get a family photo done sometime, because I'd like a pic with all three of us. But for that I'll probably just ask an artsy friend.

[withsilverwings]

We were gifted 4 photography sessions so we have/will use them. Otherwise my plan was just to get a newborn set done, and then we will get annual family pictures done.

I agree that in the non-digital age, way less pictures were taken so it would more important to use a professional.

[jamjoyful]

We just snap pictures constantly on our phones and camera. My H bought me a better camera so it makes it easy for pictures to look almost professional. We also edit them ourselves if we are sending any out. Because of this I feel no need to have professional pictures done. They are just way too much for something we can do ourselves. Plus, most photographers around here are just self-proclaimed.

[hham10]

I got a pkg deal for newborn 6 months and 1 year. I just love the photographers style and how they look. I don't think people are expected to do these by any means. It's expensive!

[weeklyplanner]

I bought a package for NB, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. It's $750 dollars and includes at least 25 digital edited photos per shoot. Also, her prints are super affordable ($8 for 8x10). I guess I'm traditional in the fact that I knew I'd be going every 3 mo for pics and having a photographer come to the house is WAY better than going to the mall. Plus, my friend told
me when she buys the digital copy at JCP she ends up spending at least $100 each time. Not mention the photographer is insanely talented. It's her PT job and she's slowly building the business, so her price is much better than the competitors in the area who want $500-1,000 just for the shoot and then charge a ton for digital copies and prints.

[tinkl0ver]

I use Groupon for Picture people. I find the pictures higher quality than I can do at home, I get actual prints (i don't have a printer at home) and it's about 20 bucks.

[peggygarbe]

I use a DSLR at home for solo pics of LO that I'd say turn out pretty good, but we're getting 6 mo pics professionally done for the sole reason of having "family pictures" - it's hard to get creative pictures of us as a family with just a tripod - so in that aspect, I think they're worth it

[roccobabyk]

I'm a little biased because a friend of ours has done all of DD's pictures so far for free. We also plan to get 6 month pictures/family pictures done. I really enjoyed doing them. I also don't have a better reason for you to get them done other than I liked it. Maybe quality?? Idk. If you don't care to have them done I wouldn't spend the money. Tell your MIL she can pay for them if she wants them.

[Deleted]

I also have DSLR. And I went on amazon and bought some photog lights the ones with the umbrellas. I did my own nb pics and I love them. So I think I'll try to do my 6 mos too. I really want to take a class, but will have to settle for some library books on the subject.

[theteno]

We did prof maternity photos and they were done free by a friend, but I had to pay for the pics, so much money. Theyre not even framed yet bc of the price. I regret not doing the newborn ones, but we couldnt afford it. Eventually, maybe.1 yr well do more Prof pics?

[Deleted]

i'm a huge photography nut- I've taken about 8K+ photos so far of DD. On any given year I take about 15k-20K for my own personal use- its' my hobby

But i also really value good photography so I've insisted on hiring a pro for DD's pics. We did maternity, she actually photographed our L*D, newborn pics, a mini session for Xmas cards, and we'll be doing a 6 month session soon.

I'm good with a camera, but her pro pics are so much better. It matters to me & i love her pics. They are special and beautiful IMO...even priceless.

I also am a strong proponent of being in the pictures too. One day your child will wish you were in the photo more often.

[gahorseygal]

I take the monthly photos of LO and have my sister help me out when I want family photos. One of these days I will convince my husband it is worth it to have a nice professional shoot but he thinks my photos are good enough. I love photography and like @zoegirltx I value good photography and using a professional. My college roommate is actually a professional photographer and I'm dying to have her do a shoot for me.

[prairiegirl]

I get pro pics of LO done because there's a photog around here that does 3,6,9,12 month pics for $100. You have to buy the prints from her, and you only get low res digital images. But for $100 for sitting fees I can't go wrong.

[professorbinns]

We were gifted a newborn photo session which was amazing. I did do a Christmas mini session for 100$ you get five digital photos. It was the same photographer who did our NB photos and she is amazing. That being said I probably won't pay for photos again until the next baby.

I am always taking pictures with my phone and I have a decent camera that I use as well.

[shevacc]

I like doing yearly professional family pictures. It's definitely a want, not a need, but I love having them around the house, in my office, etc. And we use them for our Christmas card.

[Chrisse]

Feb 2, 2015 17:18:57 GMT -5 messica said:

We did family pictures when LO was around three months old. They were mostly for Christmas presents but I really enjoyed them. I might have a friend take some six month pictures of LO but the next session I'm planning to have professionally done are her one year old pictures. Maybe.

eta:  It was nice to document such a special time in our lives but I'm not sure I want to cough up the money to do it again. 

All of this. I paid for professional photos for our Christmas card...now I'm thinking about the Christmas gifts I could have bought LO instead...Hey, it was her first Christmas, I guess.

[redhorizon343]

@lizziebennett Is this the set of lights you bought from amazon?

www.amazon.com/LimoStudio-Photography-Portrait-Umbrella-Continuous-Lighting/dp/B005FHZ2SI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422968564&sr=8-1&keywords=photography+lights

They're cheaper than I expected. How'd your photos come out?

[Deleted]

Feb 3, 2015 8:07:07 GMT -5 redhorizon343 said:

@lizziebennett Is this the set of lights you bought from amazon?

www.amazon.com/LimoStudio-Photography-Portrait-Umbrella-Continuous-Lighting/dp/B005FHZ2SI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422968564&sr=8-1&keywords=photography+lights

They're cheaper than I expected. How'd your photos come out?

Yeah, pretty close to those.  I really liked my photos but i don't have pro photos to compare them too.  I also liked being able to take the shots over a couple of days.  I read a few books on photography and "practiced" with my dog when LO was napping.  The hardest part was finding a decent backdrop and props. 

ETA photo

[puffandstuff]

With DD1, we just got professional one year pics, so I plan on doing the same for DD2. The plan was to do pro pics every year, but we missed DD1's 2 year pictures. My favorite pictures from my childhood are the ones my parents took because they really show my personality. We had pro pics taken at Olan Mills every year and we were all dressed alike and in some weird staged backdrop.

We should do a Throwback Thursday of our favorite baby pics.

[tinkerbell019]

We did the newborn pics in the hospital, then Christmas photos (3 mo) - we found a wonderful local photographer that does 'mini sessions' for around $25-50. I do monthly photos on my own and we are always snapping pics with phones/cam at home. I don't plan on doing pro pics again till 1 yr - I'm thinking of doing a studio mini session then having the photographer possibly come to LOs birthday so we can get lots of group family pics as well. Since my step children are out of state it's hard for us all to get together, so I'm hoping we can get us all in one place for LO's first & SS's 17th birthday!

[3magicbeans]

I actually picked up photography when I was expecting DS, so my objective was to capture beautiful, classic and most importantly genuine images of my LOs. So, I don't really like the traditional portraits, but I wanted more to document them daily, weekly, etc in an honest way. I use *mostly* available light.

If I was only using a phone or a point and shoot, I'd be hiring somebody

That being said, I do hire somebody annually so I can be in the photos as well.

[outdoorgirl10]

All good points ladies. I also didn't realize how expensive doing it might be. I have to look into the cost and go from there. If I can find one that's not so staged with a boring backdrop maybe I'll do it. I didn't think about the fact that we don't have many pictures with all 3 of us, usually just LO or LO with me or LO with DH. So it might be nice to have good pictures of all 3 of us.