Why do we need to ask questions of our Newborn Photographer?

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You are here because you are either a new parent or an experienced one and you want to know that your baby will be in good hands. Hands with experience and knowledge on how best to work with babies. Hands that respect the delicate nature of these tiny humans. Someone who will take capturing these memories very seriously and who will do so in a way that is efficient while also being a joy to experience. Someone who will listen to you and help you develop your vision for these portraits in a professional and artistic way. Someone who offers more than just pictures and who will help make this process as painless and stress free as possible for you and those that you love.

I have written this article to help you through the process of selecting a photographer that is knowledgeable, experienced and professional. Someone who will make all of your dreams a reality.

Let’s save you from a bad experience and help you avoid making some of these critical mistakes.

Let’s delve deeper than just the basic questions when shopping for a baby and family photographer. Beyond the questions about packages, pricing and availability. Beyond whether they have a studio or can emulate a certain style. There are so many more things to consider when searching for a photographer that will handle your most precious newborn. I have question examples listed below as well as my answers later on, but first I want to mention the issue of licensing. 

Licensing in MN

Did you know that there is no licensing requirements in MN for someone to offer Newborn Photography? Anyone can pick up a camera(or smart phone) and begin to call themselves a professional photographer and not be doing anything legally wrong. They do not even have to tell you that they have only recently started photographing babies or that they have only handled 4 babies ever in their life! Be sure to check out reviews, online presence and to help weed out possible bad choices.

Price Shopping | Prioritizing Affordability

When individuals shop for photographers based on price they may actually end up with a photographer that doesn’t know what they are doing or even know anything about posing or infant safety. Even the photographers at places like JCPenny are typically someone with little to no training. They will hire anyone even if they have no experience behind a camera.

Once. when I was just starting out, I applied with a company that photographs babies in hospital just after birth. They offered me 3 different hospitals to keep me busy. They did so without even viewing my portfolio!

Discount companies like sweet me will only hire photographers who are not otherwise newborn photographers themselves.

Training is Important

If you do not want to end up with someone who might exhibit risky posing techniques or behaviors you should ask these questions. Below is a list of really important questions to consider when choosing the photographer for you. Then I go into my answers to these important questions so that you can make an educated decision.

Important Questions to Ask a Prospective Newborn Photographer:

• Experience and Expertise

• 1. How many years have you been working as a newborn photographer and approximately how many babies have you handled up to this point?

• Training

• 2. Have you received any newborn specific posing training and with whom did you train?

• Practices

• 3. What are the safety practices you have in place in your studio specifically geared towards the newborn client?

• Spotting During Posing

• 4. Will my newborn be supported by human hands in all upright positions as well as any poses requiring suspension?

• Assistants

• 5. Do you work with an assistant or provide spotters at your newborn sessions? If not, will you allow me to spot my baby during a session?

• Illness

• 6. What will happen in the case of illness, your own or otherwise?

• Hygene

• 7. Are you currently up to date on the necessary vaccines needed when working with a pregnant or newborn population?

• Safety Practices

• 8. Can you point me towards online resources from which I can learn about safe practices when photographing newborns?

• Associations

• 9. Are you a member of an organization or association directly servicing newborn photographers and their educational needs?

My Answers

1. How many years have you been working as a newborn photographer and approximately how many babies have you handled up to this point?

I have been handling Newborns since 2009 when the first of my 5 children was born. I know what it means to trust a stranger with your most precious little ones. My hands are experienced and I am Certified in Newborn Photography safety practices through APNPI. I began photographing newborns in 2013 and quickly fell in love with capturing Central Minnesota’s Tiniest Humans. Over the 10+ years that I have been photographing other people’s babies I have completely lost track. I honestly do not know how many I have photographed.

2. Have you received any newborn specific posing training and with whom did you train?

I have received multiple in person trainings as well as extensive online education from none-other than the world famous Maternity and Newborn Photographer Anamaria Brandt. You can find her via a quick search. She has her own accreditation programs of which I have completed many. Over the years she has held in-person workshops down in the Twin-Cities. I was lucky enough to attend.

3. What are the safety practices you have in place in your studio specifically geared towards the newborn client?

We are doing many things. Firstly we take sessions by appointment only. This allows us to clean and sanitize the studio between clients. We limit the number of sessions we take each day. This helps us limit the exposure risk to each client. We clean props, outfits, gowns and delicate items between each session. For items that cannot be laundered we use steam and UV methods to sanitize. This allows us to preserve our expensive selection of props for more than one use. I wash hands frequently and I am happy to wear a mask or even gloves during your session by request.

4. Will my newborn be supported by human hands in all upright positions as well as any poses requiring suspension?

YES! Of course we limit the number and type of dangerous poses we do. It is important to listen to the baby. Baby will tell us if they do not like a pose. When do try poses that could be hard on baby we will keep hands on baby at all times. That may mean I have dad give me a hand during the session. I can have an assistant there to help with this as well.

5. Do you work with an assistant or provide spotters at your newborn sessions? If not, will you allow me to spot my baby during a session?

Yes! I already went into this a bit. After you have a baby you are probably going to be tired. I would recommend having dad do the helping if it is needed.

6. What will happen in the case of illness, your own or otherwise?

I save space in my calendar so that we have the flexibility to reschedule. It does not cost anything extra to reschedule a session due to illness. If circumstances result in having to wait longer due to covid, I can still create beautiful images of older babies.

7. Are you currently up to date on the necessary vaccines needed when working with a pregnant or newborn population?

Due to having numerous personal/private reasons that we do not/can not vaccinate we do many other things to help us limit the spread of any illness. This covid thing is nothing new for us. We have always exercised caution when it comes to the prevention and possible spread of disease. Please rest assured that we are doing everything we can to keep ourselves and our little clients safe.

8. Can you point me towards online resources from which I can learn about safe practices when photographing newborns?

I would recommend articles from APNPI as well as other articles here on my site.

9. Are you a member of an organization or association directly servicing newborn photographers and their educational needs?

Here is my profile on APNPI

APNPI

Nicole Hollenkamp is a custom portrait photographer. Her new studio is in Princeton, Minnesota where she specializes in maternity, newborn & family photography. Nicole is proud to be among the best MN Newborn photographers with extensive safety training and certification in Minnesota.

Nicole takes serving your family’s baby photography needs very seriously. Serving Central MN and offering travel in the Northern Twin Cities area, including (but not limited to) Anoka, Becker, Big Lake, Bock, Clearwater, Elk River, Foley, Foreston, Garrison, Gilman, Glendorado, Isle, Maple Grove, Milaca, Monticello, Oak Park, Ogilvie, Onamia, Otsego, Princeton, Rice, Rogers, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St Cloud, St. Joseph, Waite Park, Watab, Zimmerman  and More.

www.bynicoleann.com