There is a lot to consider when you are looking for someone to document this precious newborn stage. Here are 15 questions to ask your newborn photographer.

15 Questions to Ask Your Newborn Photographer

This is likely the first time someone you don’t have a close relationship with will hold your baby, so it’s important to find someone you trust to photograph your baby. These questions can help you decide if a photographer is the right fit for you.

Safety and Experience

Your baby’s safety should be the first thing to consider in your search for a photographer. You’ll want to make sure the person you hire has experience posing newborns and knows how to do it properly to avoid putting your child in danger. Here are some great questions to help you evaluate a photographer’s safety practices and experience:

Have you taken safety training?

Yes. I have taken safety training from industry leader Kelly Brown. It was the first training I took before starting newborn photography, and the training I refresh myself on most frequently.

How do you prioritize newborn safety in your business?

Your baby’s safety is at the forefront of everything I do in my studio. I use a spotter when necessary, and will never leave your baby unattended. My practice is to always use my camera’s neck strap when photographing a baby. I never climb on a ladder to get overhead shots of your baby, but will composite for large aerial setups. Photoshop is used as a safety tool so that babies are always supported and safe.

Do you know how to do difficult poses safely using composite techniques?

Yes. Baby is always supported in the Potato Sack pose, Chin on Hands, and any shots where the baby appears to be suspended in the air. (Baby is never actually suspended in the air for a swing shot or placed high on stacked props.) I remove supporting arms in post processing using Photoshop. I also composite for overhead shots that would require me to be high above baby to capture the entire setup. No shot is ever worth endangering your baby, and there are proper ways to achieve those poses safely.

Is the studio sanitized after each session?

Yes, always! After each session, I wash all the linens we’ve used using hypoallergenic detergent. I hand wash all rompers, bonnets, tiebacks, and fluffy texture layers. I spray props with disinfectant and wipe them down. Anything the baby has touched is cleaned before it is put away to be used again. 

Studio, Logistics, and Process

It is also good to know what to expect for your session. Asking these questions can help you understand how your photographer operates her business.

Are you a legal business?

Yes. Kashele Photography LLC is registered with the state of Utah, is a tax-paying business, and holds a business license with Eagle Mountain City.

Do you have a studio? Where are you located?

My in-home studio is located in Eagle Mountain, Utah.

How is your pricing structured?

A small initial fee reserves your due date on my schedule. This creative fee covers my time and talent in designing a custom session tailored to your needs, capturing your images, and creating wall art and album mock-ups for your selection and ordering appointment, as well as the use of the props, wraps, outfits, headbands, etc… available in the studio. After your gallery is complete, I’ll invite you back to the studio to purchase the portraits you LOVE in the format that best fits your needs (wall art, albums, and/or digital archive files).

How long is the session?

Newborn sessions can last between 1-4 hours depending on the final portraits you are looking for.

Is parent and sibling posing included in my session?

Newborn sessions include posing with baby’s immediate family.

Do you have props, wraps, backdrops, etc? What do I need to bring to my session?

I have a fully stocked studio with props, wraps, backdrops, tiebacks, little outfits, etc… that we need during your session. Please bring your baby with their pacifier, extra milk or formula, wipes, diapers, and snacks or water for you.

When will I get to see my baby’s portraits?

A few weeks after your portrait session, I’ll invite you back to the studio for your Selection and Ordering Appointment. This is where everything we’ve worked on comes to life! We make it fun with treats, a slideshow, an album mock-up, and wall art arrangements. My process makes it easy to display your favorite images in your home, so you can enjoy them every day without having to do all the hard work.

Do you have a Welcome Guide or Prep Guide to help us know what to expect for our session?

Yes, I have both. Contact me and I’ll send you the Welcome Guide to start.

Do you have availability for my due date?

Send me a message! I would love to find out!

I hope these 15 questions to ask your newborn photographer have been helpful to you! If it did and you’d like to connect. I’d love to chat!