How to choose a Newborn Photographer in Dundee and Angus
Aw you’re expecting a new arrival!
Congratulations! How exciting!
Preparing for a new baby is such a lovely time (if you are managing to sleep and have avoided the constant nausea/swollen ankle/horrific heartburn side effects).
But seriously, I’m sure you’ll have pored over Pintrest nursery ideas and you’ll have planned every detail of the outfit you’ll bring baby home in.
You’ll have invested sooo much time trying to navigate the pram/buggy/car seat minefield and you’ll have been reading…ah the reading!
The good news is that to save you a bit of legwork I’ve written a wee guide on the whole newborn photography thing.
You know, that thing that gets mentioned at your ante-natal classes and you secretly roll your eyes and think, oh God, I hadn’t even thought of that yet!
Cause here’s the thing…most newborn photographers need to know your due date a good few months in advance. Therefore, you need to book quite a while before baby arrives! I know, it’s a bit mental really, isn’t it?!
But how on earth do you go about choosing a newborn photographer?
Choosing a Newborn Photographer in Angus and Dundee
Well the first thing you really need to think about is what style of photography do you like. When it comes to newborns there are two main camps.
The first, and probably most common is posed.
The second is Lifestyle
The third lies somewhere between.
Posed Newborn Photography
This is where a photographer will skilfully persuade your baby to cuddle down into a range of sleepy poses. They will photograph your baby on a selection of backdrops with a few different hats and outfits. They may place baby on a teeny bed, or in a bowl, that kind of thing. You know what I mean.
Credit: Newborns by Nicola
If this is what you love then that’s great!
And if you are looking for it in Angus or Dundee then I would always recommend Nicola Denny of Newborns by Nicola. She photographed both of my babies and she is beyond fabulous!
There are many others in the local area who provide this type of photography, just make sure that when you look into photographers who do posed sessions you choose someone who has plenty of experience and training. After all, what they are photographing is pretty special!
And now to…
Lifestyle Newborn Photography
As the name suggests lifestyle photography is more about your lifestyle.
This can involve a photographer coming to your home and photographing your baby in your own surroundings.
Your images can capture how you are with your baby as well as photographing your baby on their own in a semi-posed but relaxed way.
Have a wee think about how you would like your session to go.
Going for a traditional session will mean having to get yourselves organised to get to a studio for an agreed time. On arrival you will hand baby over and pop yourself down for a wee seat while baby is photographed. Depending on how your new bundle of loveliness sleeps, a session will last anything from 45 minutes to a few hours.
If you opt for a lifestyle session then your photographer will arrive at your home at an agreed time and work around you, your baby and your other kiddies too. They can take photographs of the nursery and take images of your baby in their own cot.
They can capture your whole family and the connection you all have to one another, even the dog can be included, after all…they’re part of the family too!
You will need to set aside a good couple of hours for this kind of session. Babies tend to do their thing and your photographer will just work around it.
Relaxed, Lifestyle Studio Session
In essence, this is the best of both worlds.
This session involves going to a studio but it is far more relaxed and more focused on family photographs rather than primarily your baby.
It’s basically a home session but in a studio that is set up to look like your home. (So you don’t have to worry about cleaning your own!)
There is space for your family to relax, play and even take a snooze if you are on your knees. It’s not just allowed, it’s encouraged!
If you don’t quite have your pre-baby body back yet and you are unsure what to wear for a session like this then you can choose from a selection of client dresses that will have you feeling a bit more put together.
From this kind of session you will receive a gallery full of images that show you and your other half being completely loved up with your new addition and a heap of your baby posed in a relaxed way. Just like they would be in your own home in a lifestyle session.
The neutral backdrop means that your images will be light and airy and will look good up on the wall of any home.
So, have you decided which kind of session you’d like to go for? Look at the images - which style are you most drawn to? What could you imagine hanging on your wall or looking back at over the years to come?
Ok. Well you’ve settled on a style. What now?
How to organise a newborn photography session.
How and when to book.
Whichever style you plump for it is handy to let your photographer know your due date so they can set aside time for your session. Even though they don’t know the exact date baby will choose to arrive they will have it in their books to leave availability around then for it.
Most baby photographers like to get your brand new little bundle of squidge photographed in the first two to three weeks because this is when babies are still super sleepy. They will photograph them older than this, if they have availability, but you won’t always be able to get all of the poses that you would manage within the first few weeks.
If you opt for a lifestyle session or a relaxed studio session the time frame isn’t quite as tight.
You may not get those super sleepy poses but you can still get some beautiful natural moments…and the good thing about a slightly older baby is that you can capture the odd real smile and genuine expression…as opposed to you know…wind!
And there it is. A starter for ten on the whole newborn photography thing.
I hope I’ve at least helped you decide which style you fancy. If it’s lifestyle or a relaxed studio session you’re after then feel free to get in touch with me for more information or CLICK HERE to learn a bit more about how these kind of sessions work.
And if you’re leaning towards posed then I’ll pop a link to Newborns by Nicola below for you.
If you’d like to get in touch and have a chat about which style would suit you and your baby then click on the button below to get in touch. I’d love to hear all about this wee bundle you are in the process of creating!
Wishing you all the best for the exciting journey that you are about to embark on. I hope your labour goes smoothly and quickly and may you be blessed with a healthy, happy, sleepy baby!
Enjoy every second of it!
G x
