Newborn Photo Session

elizacb

Our son is due in November right before Thanksgiving and we won't be able to travel home until Christmas so I know the majority of our family will want announcements - which is totally fine, but they are so expensive in Dallas! It's a $200-$300 deposit and then a minimum of a couple hundred dollars to buy pictures.  I just want one really cute one for the announcements! Are you ladies going to do the photo sessions? If you've done it before, is it worth it? I don't mind spending the money if it's an absolute but I guess I just need some more opinions.  

Creedon778

Personally yes I feel it's worth it.  I spent way more than that as my photographer was pricey, but we could afford it.  

We'll be spending the money again for newborn/family photos for DS#2.

PB102012

We are going to do it. We are using the same photographer as we did with our engagement photos, she charges us $200 a session and last time we received about two full CD's with photos. 

Babylouis

You could always make your own. Walgreens have baby announcements. If you wanted professional pictures that are cheap you could always do sears.

MrsBlindLove

Check groupon or other coupon sites. We found a great deal through groupon in our area. I of course looked at the website and talked with the photographer before buying it but we are getting a killer deal.

SamanthaPo

We decided on a Newborn/Maternity joint photo session. It is a little pricey, but I'm in love with the photographers work and she does a two hour maternity session and a 4 hour newborn session plus a release of all the photos taken.

WashingtonQueen

I'm sure if you keep looking you can find someone more in your price range. Check craigslist and FB.

StayingSecret

I think they're worth something, but not everything.

We pay a mom-photographer $60 and get the rights to them and print what we need.

Honestly?  I wouldn't pay lots of money for them...sure, they are a capture of a very special time in life, but how many of them do you display?

Think of wedding pictures - do you need 200 pictures of that day?  There are only so many you can hang and as the day gets further away, you replace them with more current pictures.

So, I like them, but they're not priceless.  Everything has a price.

WashingtonQueen

StayingSecret said:

I think they're worth something, but not everything.

We pay a mom-photographer $60 and get the rights to them and print what we need.

Honestly?  I wouldn't pay lots of money for them...sure, they are a capture of a very special time in life, but how many of them do you display?

Think of wedding pictures - do you need 200 pictures of that day?  There are only so many you can hang and as the day gets further away, you replace them with more current pictures.

So, I like them, but they're not priceless.  Everything has a price.

While they may not be hanging on the wall forever you will always have them to look back on whenever you feel like it.

Mamusia2be

If you're looking for something on a budget why don't you try Sear or Jcpenny? They both have photographers for newborns which I'm sure are cheaper than a newborn photographer.

olga1311

We are gonna do CJ Penney ones. I don't feel the need to spend 300 bucks on newborn pics. I don't think it's worth it to have 100 professional pics of LO as newborn when there will be so many pics of LO taken by friends, family and us anyway. I wid do JC Penney to have couple prof pics for birth announcements but that's about it

WashingtonQueen

 

Mamusia2be said:

If you're looking for something on a budget why don't you try Sear or Jcpenny? They both have photographers for newborns which I'm sure are cheaper than a newborn photographer.

Walmart has them too. They also have a crap ton of coupons you can use to buy prints online and save a butt load of money.

mommabmb

Do you have a photography school in your area? We have lots of students looking for cheap work for their portfolios near us. Maybe that's an option?

little_bren

mommabmb said:

Do you have a photography school in your area? We have lots of students looking for cheap work for their portfolios near us. Maybe that's an option?

Yes, people who are expanding their portfolios or are new to the area are often very, very reasonably priced. We got our wedding pictures done for free this way and they were GORGEOUS (and we got tons of raves over them, too). I found a newborn photog whose work I love who is charging $120 and she gives the disk without charge (prices will change after this year), and she happened to be doing a promotion where maternity pics are free. A friend asked to do my "gender" reveal pics already, so we will have two sets of maternity pictures: One set at 5 mos and one at about 8.5
Keep looking! You can find someone whose work you love AND that you can afford. No need to break out the savings in order to get some nice pictures.

prettyinpink120

Look on FB you can find a lot of good photographers that way and i sure you can find a better deal.

elizacb

These are all great ideas! Thanks ladies!

BelhurstBride

To me? Totally worth every penny. I'd never consider not and started saving up as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I still look back and cherish those photographs. 

AshleyF1234

I actually got an advertisement from photographer in Weatherford (not too far from Dallas). She is running Maternity/Newborn package where she does mini Maternity shoot and Newborn package for price of Newborn. She has shooting fee of $150 and print packages (with digitals) start at $350.  Her website portfolio was amazing...  I am excited to try her. Normally I would have stayed away from $500, but since it includes maternity pics too... I went with it.

SiaBia

Definitely! But be sure to shop around and view portfolios.

StayingSecret

WashingtonQueen said:

StayingSecret said:

I think they're worth something, but not everything.

We pay a mom-photographer $60 and get the rights to them and print what we need.

Honestly?  I wouldn't pay lots of money for them...sure, they are a capture of a very special time in life, but how many of them do you display?

Think of wedding pictures - do you need 200 pictures of that day?  There are only so many you can hang and as the day gets further away, you replace them with more current pictures.

So, I like them, but they're not priceless.  Everything has a price.

While they may not be hanging on the wall forever you will always have them to look back on whenever you feel like it.

Sure...which is why I want some, but not thousands of dollars worth.  I'd rather spend a little for newborn pics, a little for 6 month pics, a little for 1 year pics, etc.  But to each their own.

jessicat2283

Lurking from 2nd. Newborn photos are something you can't get back. Also penny's, someone who shoots & burns & gives you the cd for 60.00 probably has no newborn training. As a photographer please don't just look at the price tag or the galleries. Ask about safety, if they do composite shots etc. those cute head in hand shots can be done by propping them up. Those photographers are stupid. It's easy to put them together as a composite in photo shop. I trained with Kelley Ryden & Tracy raver. It was worth every penny of the 2100.00 I paid. My newborn shots are done safely. The babies are content, happy, safe & barely make a peep. Please don't skimp on newborn. Save that for 6 months or 1year