What to expect | Investing for Newborn Photography

Hooray! You’re having a baby! You’re so excited and you can already imagine how cute it will be and you know you’re going to want to capture photos of that fresh perfect little one so you’ve started looking into newborn photography. And now you may be asking yourself: why is it SO expensive?!

I understand the sticker shock, believe me! I know the numbers can seem baffling at first, but let’s break that down, shall we?

Why is it so expensive?

There are a lot of factors that go into the pricing. To start with, I have heavily invested in education for myself for newborn posing, safety, technique, lighting, etc. in addition to my equipment, marketing, insurance, studio space, props, etc. Scheduling for newborns is tricky because due dates are estimated (those babies arrive when they’re ready!) which means I need flexibility and can only book so many newborn sessions as a result. Then the sessions themselves are very long and require a lot of work during the session. It’s super warm (warmth=happy sleepy babies) and I’m on my feet or bending over or working to get the baby into just the right position then-oops! They pooped everywhere and we have to start over! After the session is over, the work doesn’t end. Everything the baby touches needs washed and my studio is fully cleaned and disinfected before and after every session. Then the most time consuming part comes=editing. Newborn editing takes an especially long time because baby skin tends to be super flaky as well as a mix of colors and I have to fix all of this in post-production. It’s also super important for the mamas to look amazing and sometimes that requires just a little bit of retouching and nipping and tucking in Photoshop. And it’s also common to do composites when doing sibling photos (especially if they’re still young-under 4-and harder to keep calm and still with their newborn sibling) or if the baby is on an unusual prop or if we’re trying to create a particular pose: very tricky editing, but amazing results!

Now let’s look at everything you’re getting.

Each of my newborn photography clients starts with a consultation so I can get to know your style. I use that to put together 5-6 custom setups for the photos (I take into account colors in your home, preferred styling, texture, and an overall cohesive feel to your set of portraits). My newborn sessions range from $600-$1000 and are all 1 flat price for the session + digital files with print release and include 25 or more (usually more!) final images in color and black and white that have all been professionally retouched and are available in an online gallery for viewing once they are ready.

Here’s how you can make it work (and why it’s so worth the investment!)

I know $600+ is a good amount of money. And it’s difficult to figure out where that money will come from! But, if you value great photography, it’s absolutely possible to find ways to make it work for you. First of all, I do offer a gift registry for any loved ones who would like to contribute! Apart from that, making small swaps can help you save up. Instead of paying $4/day for your Starbucks latte (that’s $112 a month!) make yourself some coffee in a travel mug to take with you to work! Or get your favorite bottle of wine from the store and enjoy at home instead of paying for that ridiculous upcharge when you get a glass with dinner. In the scheme of things, you won’t care or remember that you didn’t get that fancy coffee in 20 years when you gaze at the gorgeous photos you have of when your baby was small and wonder where the time went. Newborn photography isn’t something you can re-do later, your baby is only this small once, and you want to hire someone you can trust with that precious gift. Your newborn photographer will be the caregiver for your infant for that 2+ hour session-they’ll be posing them, positioning them, and soothing them. You want someone you trust and love and someone whose work speaks to you and will stand the test of time. Take your time, look around, and hire the professional that is right for you.