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Austin Babies
Please educate me on photographers
I'm trying to book a newborn session and I'm unfortunately very uninformed about photography in general. We got DS1's 6 month, 9 month and 1 year pictures done professionally and I always selected photographers that were more budget friendly (new to the city, doing it as a second job, stay home moms doing it on the side, etc). My thought was that I would rather get his photos taken more frequently then get a very awesome but expensive photographer that we are able to afford only once a year. But for newborn photos I'm thinking about splurging getting a more professional photographer. I just don't know enough about photography to understand what the difference is between those who cost around $1000 (with digital images and session fees) and those more around $300 or so. Is it the equipment they own, quality of editing, props, more experience in general? If you splurged on family photos, was it worth the cost? I know there are lots of photographers on this board and I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, I'm just trying to understand the profession :-)
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Re: Please educate me on photographers
Since I'm no photographer myself, I don't know exactly what makes the difference, but I can tell you that I can tell the difference in those who are just starting out (or just plain aren't good) and the more experienced photographers who are worth the $$. The pictures just look so much better that it's not even on the same level.
If you can't afford their regular prices, maybe you could do a mini-session with a better photographer to keep your costs down? I don't know if they offer those for newborn pics or not.
I totally feel you though--I wish we could afford great photography several times a year! And I wish I had a husband who thought it was worth paying for
. He thinks that just because he bought me a pricey DSLR, that we can just have a friend use our camera and take the pics. Ummm, no.
When you get up in the $1000 range, you'll usually be getting some additional items instead of just digital images. Although I do know several photographers that sell each digital image for several hundreds of dollars, and that is to cover their cost of you not purchasing any additional prints from them (because you'll have the high resolution images at your fingertips).
Besides an obvious talent different (or experience, in the case of newborns), you'll find a couple of different schools of thought regarding photographer pricing. 1 group charges you exactly what they want to make up-front and doesn't intend on making additional money w/ prints, etc. The other group usually charges slightly less on session fees, but expects to make money on products afterwards (prints, digital images, collections, canvases, etc). It's just 2 different types of business plans.
It's totally worth it and I really regret not having professional newborn pics taken. If it was cheapy pictures or nothing at all, I would get the cheapies, but if we have another baby, quality newborn pictures are at the top of my priority list.
We have a DSLR and I take decent pictures, but we splurged on a minisession last spring with Libby (libbyannphotography.com) and it was so worth it. I look at the pictures on my walls every day and they make me happy. There is no comparison between my pictures and a pro's. None.
In fact, I've pretty much decided that I want to use my Christmas money every year on 1 minisession. I figure that even if I can't afford to have anything printed now, I will have the pictures in 5 years when I do. So, for me, I would rather have 1 pro session a year than 4 or 5 cheaper sessions at the mall or whatever. Of course, I take pictures of Kate all the time so it's not like she only has pictures once a year.
Do it. You won't regret having them done.
oh, and I wanted to add that you can't really compare newborn photography with other portrait sessions. Newborns are a whole different ballgame! My newborn sessions typically last 3-4 hours, and the amount of setup gear is phenomenal. It's a whole day event that I usually have to block off to do a newborn (prep, driving to their home, setup, shoot, break down, drive home, unpack the car, upload images, etc). The editing is also much more time consuming than a typical portrait session, as newborns all have different issues to fix (flaky skin, splotches, hands/feet that are red/blue, jaundice, scratches from their fingernails, etc).
I have been learning about photography a bit just for fun, and this is my understanding: For newborn photos, a photographer who is experienced with newborns is most likely going to give you better pictures. I know they can be tricky to photograph.
Take a look at some photographer websites and see if you notice a difference. For the most part, it isn't the camera or props, and not really even the editing that makes the differences. If you handed me the most expensive camera in the world, I could not take pictures as well as the photogs on this board. It's experience and talent that makes the difference. Good photographers take very crisp images - for example, look at the eyes of the people they photograph. And they know how to use light, especially in an outdoor setting. And they know when it's appropriate to make the background "blurry" and have the subject really stand out. And they are used to working with kids. I know a lot of moms on this board will be amazed by how beautiful their kids looked in their pictures, because their kids seemed to not be cooperating the entire time. But the photographers knew how to get "that shot."
I think a lot of it is how well they have honed in on their craft. Did somebody just pick up a nice camera and instantly become a photographer? Has somebody been studying their craft for years and has a business model that follows that? Or are they somewhere in the middle, meaning they are more than someone with just a nice camera and maybe they have the technical aspects down pat but are still lacking some of the artistic eye.
I think what matters most is that the person has the technical aspects down(crisp images that are in focus, with correct color balance) and that they match your style.
In working with newborns, I think it's always wise to use your due diligence and make sure they know what they are doing. With all the poses that you see in the photography world these days you will find many amateurs who try to do the same without taking into account exactly how that image was created. You see many newborn pictures that involve posing the baby in a difficult manner, "hanging" the baby from some sort of wrap or proping the baby on an item- many "photographers" will try to "copy" these images without any regard to the safety of the baby.
Like with everything, with photography, you generally get what you pay for. Sometimes you can find a great photographer who is just starting out and trying to get clients in the door who is really cheap ($300 or less), but that is rare. More often than not, you're going to get someone who doesn't know what they're doing (still shoots on auto, uses a pop-up flash, isn't a licensed business, etc). Also keep in mind that you may see the photographer for 2-3 hours at your session, but if you hire a pro, there are probably close to 30 hours that go on behind the scenes to get your session from the camera to a beautiful finished product.
This might not be a popular opinion w/ the photographers on the board, but IMHO, if you can't tell the difference between a $300/session photographer and a $1000/session photographer then don't spend the extra $$.
I have a background in photography and I work with world-class fashion photographers. There are a lot of differences and a huge range of skill in the portrait photography business. I know what I look for in a photographer, but that may or may not be what you look for. And I might choose a different photographer based on what I want that particular shoot to be like anyway.
I think you should go with someone who will make you feel comfortable in front of the camera (because honestly, that will produce the best results) and you're happy with their body of work that you've seen. Yes, a lot of that does depend on their skills and experience and setting and talent, but if you don't "get" what they're doing then I don't see what the value is in it for you. Talented photographers (of which there are many on this board) are worth every penny of the investment, but if it doesn't make a bit of difference to you, then don't feel pressured to shell out the big bucks.
BFP 12.20.2010 :: missed m/c 1/2011 around 8 weeks
BFP @ 9dpo 5.24.2011 :: missed m/c 6/2011 around 7 weeks
positive for ANAs (1:40) with a speckled pattern
MTHFR c677t mutation (heterozygous)
*folic acid, baby asprin, Prometrium, acupuncture, Lovenox*
BFP @ 9dpo 2.1.2012 || HCG = 8 : Progesterone = 19.2
2nd HCG @ 11dpo = 40 || 3rd HCG @ 21dpo = over 5000!
Stick, little one, stick! EDD October 15, 2012
i actually totally agree with austinbride. i have often compared photography to interior design- i can appreciate the way you want to decorate your house without wanting that in MY house or thinking it is worth what you paid for ME.
i can't tell the difference in an ikea woven rug and an antique persian handmade masterpiece, so i won't be shelling out the cash (if i had it ) for the latter.
i am insanely picky about photography and therefore can only afford to have our photos taken once a year. i'd rather go this route than get quick (freebie trade etc) pics done several times a year because it is important to me.
i would decide what newborn images you see that you just adore and find someone whose work lines up with what you like. if the price is something you can afford, book it! if not, perhaps look for a cheaper alternative or ask for $ towards the session as baby gifts from close family that might want to chip in (grandmas!!)
i do think price is typically (but not always) an indicator of quality, demand, and talent, but that doesn't mean you have to get someone who is super expensive for your newborn photographer. there is market out there for everyone.