How to prepare for your baby’s newborn photo session | Oviedo & Orlando Newborn Photographer
Newborn photography clients have lots of questions about how to prepare for their baby photo session.
Preparing for your newborn’s photography session should be a time of excitement and anticipation. But a newborn baby photo session is a new experience for many parents who visit the Truly Madly Deeply – Maternity and Newborn Photography studio in Oviedo, Florida and many are unsure of what to expect and how to prepare.
Plan the right amount of time
Many, for example, are surprised to learn that a newborn photo session can take up to four hours. This is because your baby needs to be in a deep and relaxing sleep to be safe and comfortable in many of the curly, serene newborn poses.
In fact, helping your baby achieve a deep sleep is the second-most crucial factor (after safety) in capturing beautiful baby photos. Read more about it here.
For this reason, at Truly Madly Deeply we schedule all newborn baby photo sessions for four hours. However, we often finish sooner if the baby is super-sleepy.
While four hours might seem a long time for a baby photo shoot, much of the time is dedicated to making your baby comfortable. Of course, a lot of the time also goes into family shots, changing outfits, sets and props, and feeding.
Knowing that the session is going to take a while, many clients use the time to relax and put their feet up while their baby is in the hands of a trained and experienced professional.
Below are 7 tips to help you enjoy the planning and ensure the session is a relaxing experience for you and your family:
1. Dress in layers
For your baby’s comfort, a newborn photography studio is very warm (think about the temperature of your baby’s accommodations for the past nine months, and you’ll understand why).
At Truly Madly Deeply – Maternity and Newborn Photography, we follow the Guidelines for Perinatal Care by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ (ACOG), and set the room temperature between 72-78°F (22–26°C).
Most grown-ups (and siblings), however, find this pretty toasty. We suggest you arrive at the studio dressed in layers so you can shimmy out of a layer (or two) if necessary.
2. Communicate with everyone involved … before the session!
Prior to the photography session, your photographer will likely provide you with lots of information about what’s going to happen and what to expect. Be sure to share that information with everyone who will attend the session, especially your partner and/or other adults.
If a grumpy grown-up doesn’t find out until they’re at the studio that they’ll be in a very warm room for up to four hours, or that they should have brought snacks or something to keep them occupied, it can have a negative effect on the session.
3. Consider your preferences for baby photo colors, props
Typically, your newborn photographer will provide all of the props and newborn outfits required for your baby’s photography session.
However, if you have ideas about which color combinations you would like or props and poses that you’ve seen elsewhere, it’s a good idea to share your input early in the planning process. This is usually done during an in-person or telephone consultation prior to the session.
Personally, I encourage my client’s input and I love discussing your ideas and preferences. It helps me put together a plan for your session that will deliver images that you will love.
And we’re happy to include personal props and or family heirlooms that you want to bring to the session.
It is, however, best to have those conversations as soon as possible with your photographer. Ideas or suggestions that you bring up on the day of the session may be harder to include without disrupting the entire session plan.
4. Stay nourished
Most photography studios will have light refreshments available but do bring your favorite snacks and drinks to keep you going.
5. Bring some entertainment
Bring along magazines, books, iPad, etc. to keep yourself entertained…or use the session as an opportunity to put your feet up and rest while your baby is in the safe hands of a trained and experienced newborn photographer.
6. Schedule the siblings
If you plan to include older siblings in some of the baby photos, talk with your photographer about when best to have another trusted adult bring the siblings to the studio, so they can be there when they are being photographed but not be there longer than necessary.
I usually prefer to create the parent and sibling shots first, while everyone is feeling fresh, then let the kids go home so we can focus first on the newborn images.
7. Prepare for feeding during your baby photo session
Read this article to learn what you can do to ensure your baby stays full and sleepy throughout the photo session.
Interested in booking Truly Madly Deeply for your maternity or newborn photographs? Give us a call at the studio on (321) 341-3000, use the contact form below or on the Contact page to send us a message.
Have a question or want to help others by sharing your newborn portrait experience? Please leave a comment below.
Contact Us
TRULY MADLY DEEPLY
Maternity and Newborn Photography
2191 Catbriar Way,
Oviedo, Florida U.S.A.
(by appointment only)
Ph: (321) 341-3000
Email: contact@tmd.photo
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A comprehensive guide to baby photography and newborn photography prices in Orlando.
One of the questions we're asked most by expecting or new parents from Orlando and the surrounding area is: How much does newborn photography cost?
In fact, we get this question a lot! Typically, it’s one of the very first questions we hear from first-time expecting parents in Orlando or those who don’t have a lot of experience in working with a specialist newborn photographer in the region. If that’s you, that’s totally okay and perfectly understandable. Everyone was a first-timer once. 🙂 In fact, this is just for you!
This article does not aim to promote my maternity and newborn photography business. Instead, I’m hoping to share honest information about a valuable service that clients sometimes find confusing. Regardless of whether you choose to work with Truly Madly Deeply – Maternity and Newborn Photography, I hope you find it helpful.
That said, and perhaps not unexpectedly, the answer to the question, “How much does newborn and baby photography cost in Orlando?” is ... "it depends."
Just like most categories of products and services, the price varies from cheap to exorbitant. The good news is, up to a certain price point (which we'll call the "luxury" level), your price is usually a reasonable indicator of the skills and professionalism of your photographer and the quality of the print products they offer.
At the "luxury level" and beyond, there is often little appreciable difference in the photographer's skill, image quality, customer service, or print product quality. At the luxury end of the market, clients may pay more for the luxury photographer's reputation, the higher overhead costs of operating a studio in a high-end market, and higher profit margins.
Introduction to newborn photography and answering the question about cost
Understandably, many Orlando parents look forward to working with a professional newborn photographer to create newborn portraits and family photographs of their newborn child. After all, your baby’s first days will pass by quickly and will then be gone forever … relegated to memory and then lost to future generations.
Working with a professional, experienced photographer from Orange County or Seminole County who specializes in baby and newborn photography can ensure that have not just the beautiful, high-quality images you desire, but the prints, wall art, and albums you’ll cherish for your lifetime and pass on to those who follow.
But how much should you expect to pay for newborn photography in Orlando? Below, I’ll break down the factors that affect newborn photography pricing and help you understand how much it might add up to.
This is information based only on my experience as a maternity and newborn photographer. It is not applicable to every circumstance or every location, and does not replace your need to do your own due diligence in assessing your photography options.
GET THE FREE NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY COST COMPARISON TABLE
To download - CLICK HERE
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The "average" cost of newborn photography in Orlando and Central Florida
The cost of newborn photography in Orlando and Central Florida can vary widely depending on the photographer, their location, their pricing structure, and the package you choose.
First, it's important to understand that some newborn photographers will charge a session fee and then an additional amount for any print products, albums, or other tangible products you want to display your images. Other Orlando-based newborn photographers may offer inclusive packages that include the session fee and your selection of print products, albums, digital files, and more.
To work with high-quality, reputable, experienced, professional newborn photographer who charges a session fee, you should expect to pay between $250 and $500 for your newborn photography session.
Some of those photographers may include bonuses with their photography session fee, ranging from a selection of digital files to a gift certificate to purchase wall art, prints, albums, and other print products. Yet, for other photographers, the session fee will cover only the session, and any files or print products will require an additional investment.
Katerina's tip: If a photographer’s newborn photography session fee is notably cheaper than $250, consider this a possible “red flag” worthy of your deeper investigation. Cheap prices are sometimes a sign of a less experienced photographer or one that does not have specialized skills and training in safely handling and photographing newborns. Cheap session fee prices can also be a sign of an amateur photographer posing as a professional, who may not be operating a registered and insured business, thereby exposing your family to unnecessary risk. Ask lots of questions. I’m really not being elitist; this is a matter of your family’s safety.
If you choose to work with a Orlando newborn photographer who offers inclusive packages (including the session fee and various selections of print products, albums, digital files, etc.), the price will vary according to the range, variety and quality of print products offered. To work with a high-quality, reputable, experienced, professional newborn photographer with this type of pricing model, you might expect their packages to start as low as $1,000 and range up to $3,000 to $4,000 and sometimes more.
In general, our experience is that most new parents who choose to work with a reputable, experienced, credible and specialized newborn photographer, typically spend between $1,200 to $3,000 in total for the session and print products, no matter how the photographer structures their pricing.
Related: Why you should work with a professional newborn photographer
Related: Is newborn photography worth it? Avoiding the regret of not getting professional baby photos.
Factors that affect newborn photography prices in Orlando
Several factors can affect the cost of newborn photography. Here are some of the most important ones to consider:
Experience, Training, and Skill of the Photographer
One of the most significant factors that can affect newborn photography pricing is the experience, training, and skill of the photographer.
Generally, more experienced, specialist newborn photographers in Orlando, who have been in business for a longer time and have more training, education, and skills, will charge more for their services.
That just makes basic sense, right? In any industry, a less experienced business owner is more likely to try to build up their business by offering lower prices to attract clients who prioritize saving a few dollars over working with a business that has more experience, skills, training, and proven results.
By comparison, a more experienced photographer is more likely to be able to produce high-quality images and have a better understanding of lighting, posing, and other technical aspects of photography. All other factors being equal, a more experienced photographer is also likely to have a greater awareness of newborn safety and how to safely handle your baby.
Related: Truly Madly Deeply Named Central Florida’s Only Qualified Newborn Photographer
Like choosing a surgeon, you can choose your photographer based on price. But do you want to work with a cheaper, less experienced surgeon, or one who has safely performed the procedure hundreds of times and has many happy clients to verify the quality of the results?
Location
Another factor that can affect the cost of newborn photography is location. Photographers in more expensive Orlando neighborhoods may charge more for their services, simply because the cost of operating a business is higher in these areas.
You could also choose a photographer who will travel to you (rather than you visiting the photographer’s studio), but you might expect you to pay higher prices or additional charges to cover the photographer's travel time, travel-related expenses, and the time it takes the photographer to load the vehicle, set up on location, etc.
Session Length and Type
The length and type of session you choose can also affect the cost of newborn photography. Some photographers offer shorter sessions that last only an hour or two (and sometimes much less), while others may offer longer sessions that last several hours.
Similarly, some Orlando photographers may offer different types of sessions, such as in-studio sessions or outdoor sessions, or a combination of indoor and outdoor.
Typically, longer sessions or sessions that include multiple locations or setups will cost more than shorter sessions or sessions that take place in a single location.
Newborn photography sessions to create the curly newborn baby poses so many parents love require your baby to be in a deep sleep. For this type of newborn photography, you should expect a session time of between 2 to 4 hours (sometimes longer if your baby is fussy). For this reason, the session fee for this type of newborn photography is generally higher.
Products and Packages
Finally, the products and packages offered by the photographer can also affect the cost of newborn photography. At the two ends of the product and package spectrum are photographers who charge a flat rate for their session and include (often unedited) digital files, and those who offer fully retouched images and heirloom-quality products ranging from prints, framed wall art pieces, albums, and more.
Keep in mind that some photographers may also charge additional fees for editing, retouching, or other services, so it's important to ask about these fees upfront to avoid any surprises.
GET THE FREE NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY COST COMPARISON TABLE
To download - CLICK HERE
No email address required
Understanding newborn photography packages
Some newborn photographers offer packages that include a certain number of images or products for a set price. These packages can vary widely depending on the photographer, but here are some of the most common types of packages you might encounter:
Digital-Only Packages
Digital-only packages are typically the cheapest option and are typically offered by less-experienced and less-skilled newborn photographers who are trying to break into the newborn photographer market. These packages typically include a set number of image files provided by the photographer, often as digital files you need to download.
You will need to establish upfront whether the digital files will be professionally retouched or edited before you receive them.
And you will likely need to print these images yourself or have them printed through a separate service. You should note, however, even though you may have the right to print the images, the photographer will typically retain the copyright for the images and may restrict how you can use the files. Some photographers will impose no usage restrictions, whereas others may allow you only to print the files and not edit or alter them.
Katerina's tip: If you’re think you'd prefer to work with a newborn photographer who offers only digital files in order to save money, consider that digital files are susceptible to being lost or corrupted, and the storage media can become outdated. Have you tried lately to open a photo from a floppy disc? Even a photo saved to CD less than a decade ago is now increasingly difficult to open as most computers no longer have a CD drive. You don’t want your precious newborn images lost to eternity because your flash drive or Dropbox is no longer accessible 10 years from now.
Print Packages
Print packages are a good option if you're looking for physical prints of your newborn photos. Your photographer may offer individual prints of your images in various sizes and at various prices, or sell collections/packages of prints at a discounted rate. With an endless range of print sizes, quality and options available, see the table below for indicative price ranges.
Album Packages
Album packages to showcase your newborn photos can range from high-volume-low-quality, factory-quality photo books to custom-designed, artisan-crafted, heirloom-quality albums that will last generations. These albums can be a beautiful way to display your images and make a wonderful keepsake. Higher-end photographers may also offer options for personalized covers and cover materials, thinker or thinner pages, additional pages, and other valuable album upgrades.
In my experience, you generally get what you pay for when it comes to albums. They can range in price from ~$100 to several thousand dollars. At one end of that scale, expect a cheap print book that will quickly look tattered and will unlikely endure; at the other end of the scale, expect a luxurious book you’ll love showing off to your family and friends and that will become a cherished possession of future generations.
Custom Packages
Custom packages are ideal if you have specific needs or requests for your newborn photography session. With a custom package, you can work with the photographer to create a package that meets your unique needs and preferences.
Tips for choosing a newborn photographer and how your choices may affect the cost
When it comes to choosing a newborn photographer, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Here are some tips to help you choose the right photographer for your needs:
Look at Their Portfolio
Before choosing a photographer, it's important to look at their portfolio to see if their style and approach to newborn photography align with your preferences. Look for photographers whose images align with your vision and preferences of how you want to remember the beauty and importance of this special time.
The photographer’s portfolio may be an indicator of cost. Generally, casual, candid, lifestyle-type shots can be captured quickly and with reduced effort by the photographers. Conversely, the artistic, carefully posed classic newborn portraits that are so popular with new parents do take considerable time, effort, equipment, and editing—and require a more skilled newborn photography specialist—and may therefore command a higher photography session fee.
Check Reviews and Recommendations
Check reviews and recommendations from other clients before choosing a newborn photographer. Look for photographers who have positive reviews and recommendations from other parents, as this can be a good indication of the quality of their work and customer service.
Reviews may impact your investment as newborn photographers with more and higher reviews will typically be in greater demand … but the additional peace-of-mind will be worth it for many new parents.
Consider the Photographer's Experience and Training
As mentioned earlier, the experience and training of the photographer can be an important factor to consider when choosing a newborn photographer and could dramatically affect the size of your investment. Personally, I recommend you work with an experienced and trained newborn photographer. While the initial cost may be higher (maybe as much as a couple of hundred dollars higher), that cost difference will be long forgotten in the years you’ll continue looking back at your baby’s newborn portraits. The alternative, of course, is a bunch of newborn images that you really don’t like and the additional risk of putting your new baby in the hands of a less experienced professional.
GET THE FREE NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY COST COMPARISON TABLE
To download - CLICK HERE
No email address required
Conclusion
In summary, the cost of newborn photography can vary widely depending on a variety of factors, including the experience of the photographer, location, session length and type, and products and packages offered.
In general, in the United States, you might expect to pay between $250 and $500 for a newborn photography session with a highly skilled and experienced newborn photographer, but this is just an estimate and some photographers may charge more or less than this. In addition, you will want to budget for your choice of wall art, prints, albums, and other products to display in your home and gift to family and friends.
Like most things in life, you may find less costly newborn photographers, but you should carefully weigh the benefit of saving a few dollars with the likelihood of receiving the quality images you desire and the quality of print products that will allow you to enjoy your baby’s newborn portraits over your entire lifetime and then hand them down to future generations.
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