How to Choose Your Newborn Photographer | Dallas, TX Newborn Photography

Congratulations! You recently found out you are pregnant! I know how exciting it is, and the joy that comes when you receive that positive pregnancy test! It can be a time full of so many emotions.

Joy. Anxiousness. Overwhelming.

Who do you tell first? When do you tell someone? All the “what ifs” that come in that first trimester. Believe me when I say, I have been there mama!

As an expecting mom, not only are you trying to wrap your arms around ALL. THE. THINGS. You are also trying to decide who will do your newborn photographs. When do you want them? Do you want maternity pictures? Milestones? The list goes on.

When choosing your newborn photographer there are several things to think about. First, what type of session are you wanting?

Lifestyle vs. Posed

There are two very distinct types of sessions: Lifestyle and Posed. A lifestyle photographer typically shoots in your home and incorporates elements of your home, creating a relaxed session. I am very much a lifestyle photographer. I come to you and you stay in the comfort of your home. While a posed session, typically takes place in a studio with props and other elements that the photographer may provide.

Reviews and Testimonials

You always want to look for review and testimonials on a photographer’s website. Hearing just a bit about someone else’s experience with a photographer can help you determine if that specific photographer would be a good fit for you and your family.

Experience

What type of experience does a photographer have? Do they specialize in newborn photography? You want to know how long a photographer has been doing sessions, how experienced they may be, and if they have had any sort of “training”.

Portfolio

Always look through a photographer’s portfolio. Take time to review their online galleries, maybe even read through some blogs they have posted of recent work. And did you know Instagram is a quick way to see a snip-it of a portfolio? Photographer’s usually have highlight reels that capture a variety of images from a session. Make sure to understand how a photographer captures a newborn session. Do you feel it is what you envision for your session?

Investment and Offerings

I know prices can range all over the board. Experienced photographer’s want to provide just that, an experience for their clients, while providing high quality images and products. You want to make sure what the investment includes. Is it just the session fee? Does it include digital images? Products? Ask the questions up front to make sure you know what the investment includes.

Remember: Quality photography is an investment.

These are images you will hold on to, look back through, and pass down to your children. You want to want invest in a photographer that is a good fit for you while providing high quality images for your family!

What if my home doesn’t have good natural light? | Dallas, TX Newborn Photography

What if my home doesn’t have good natural light? Yes, I get this question often, but you would be surprised. Most homes have great natural light in at least one or two rooms during a portion of the day.

One tip I like to share with my clients that may be concerned. On a day when the sun is shining, turn all your overhead lights and lamps off. See how each room changes lighting throughout the day. Some rooms get better morning light while others get better afternoon light. All you need is one room to have natural light pouring in when the blinds and curtains are open!

As a natural light photographer, I tend to always use the natural light of your home during our session. This is why many times you will see me reschedule if it is forecast to be overcast and rainy. I also tend to schedule your newborn session during the hours of 9am-4pm when the sun is the strongest.

When I arrive, I will ask for you to show me your home, walk me around, and allow me to view the lighting in each room. This will help me to determine our best location or two for your session. Yes, I will turn off any lights that may be on or pull a curtain open just a bit more. We want as much light flowing it as possible.

If you worry about your home’s natural light, you are always welcome to take pictures of your rooms and send them too me. We can also determine when lighting is best as I review your images prior to your session!

Are you expecting or interested in more information on a session? Please reach out to me here for more details!

Why Milestone Collections? | Richardson, TX Family Photography

As a new mom your focus is to prepare for your new baby, plan their nursery and make sure to confirm your photographer for your newborn session before your baby arrives. You want to remember those first few moments with your new baby. Between those sleepless nights, you want to capture your baby’s tiny details, how they fit just perfectly in your arms and their sweet smell.

So often we wait to look at capturing the moments of their first year. The 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and one year milestones. Sitting, crawling or even standing. It is so sweet to capture these precious stages. One thing I would tell my clients to do is to book a collection to schedule those milestones!

I have had mama’s say “I am so glad I had these scheduled. It allowed me not to worry about making sure I tried to take the pictures on myself” or “I wasn’t frantically trying to book something at the last minute.” I could be present each and every day. It gives you, as a mama, a sense of relief to know your little one will have pictures at every stage.

Did you know I offer Collections for this very reason? Yes, collections include a 6 month, 9 month or even one year session. Booking sessions as a collection allows you to capture each milestone, and to book your session early before things book up. We can adjust the timing based on when your baby hits their milestones plus you have updated pictures for each sweet stage with your family! You can even book a session that includes a first year album. All those sweet milestones wrapped into one place you can flip through at any moment!