Travelling to photographer for newborn photos at 2 weeks?

JCM285 · November 2014

My photographer is a great person but she can be frustrating sometimes. She told me over the phone that she would travel to our house for the newborn photos and then when I went to her business to physically show me the packages and tell me exactly how much they all cost (this is like pulling teeth), she changed her story and told us that we would have to travel to her. As a FTM, I'm not sure how I feel about this. I really would like some newborn photos around 2-3 weeks old (depending on how we are all feeling) and she is willing to take the pictures basically any time I want, but I was sort of set on the idea of her coming to me. She will come to me, but it will cost at least $200 extra. (FYI- I only live about 30 minutes away from her studio so basically she doesn't want to pack up all her stuff.) Again, I am kind of frustrated with her, but she has decent package deals and she took our wedding pictures so I know the newborn ones will come out great. STMs, do you think it would be ok to take baby to the studio at 2 weeks out or should I possibly find someone who is willing to come to the house or wait until the baby is older? I know I have to take the baby to the doctor within the first two weeks as well, so I might just be overreacting to the news of also going to the photographer. Anyway, thanks!

AllTheTeaInChina · November 2014

What are you concerned about? I really don't see a problem and it's pretty typical to take NB pics at 1-2 weeks.

I wasn't someone that never left the house though. We went grocery shopping, to Target and the mall etc all within the first couple weeks.

JCM285 · November 2014

Thanks @AlltheTeaInChina. I think I'm just being a little paranoid about germs and stuff, but you are right. I shouldn't overthink it.

kboyet · November 2014

You will be fine with taking baby to get pics taken! Although I know what you mean about maybe not wanting to get out. My photog is 2 hours away and she is allowing me to decide once the baby is here if I want to go to her or her come to me. She's only charging $50 to come here though.

Cadg0986 · November 2014

My photographer is about 30 mins away and we are going to her studio. Emma will be anywhere from 1-3 weeks old at that point, depending on when she decides to arrive lol. I wasn't nervous about bringing her there at all.

dianeg1017 · November 2014

I traveled 45 min to a studio at 2weeks with DD. I thought of it like this we traveled about that much for all my DD dr apt in the first 2 weeks so no big deal. Luckily now her studio is only 15 min away.

MrsNash37212 · November 2014

I took DS to get newborn photos at the photographer's at 8 days old. Most newborns get the dreaded newborn acne by 12-14 days, so most photographers I've spoken to prefer to take them between 7 and 10 days old. Also, in my experience the studio is set up with good lighting, all of the props, and is extremely warm to encourage sleep so they can be easily placed in good positions.

Also, if you're planning on breast feeding, your child will be protected by your immunities from day 1. That and germs are good. No one builds an immune system by being in a sterile environment.

birdytn · November 2014

I have taken my previous two to the photographer at 5 and 3 days old respectively. I have never feared about germs at a photo shoot. You are only interacting with the photographer and maybe an assistant. At our photographer they block 2 hours for newborn photos, so no other children are even at the studio.

JCM285 · November 2014

Thanks ladies! Just checking to see if it was a good idea since I know a lot of photographers will come to the house. Yes @Ainslie325, although she takes great pictures she can be unreasonable and a bit unprofessional at times. The $200 charge (which is not written down anywhere of course) is absolutely her way of swaying us to come to her studio since she didn't mention anything about the charge on the phone. This is why I went to her studio to speak with her face-to-face in order to nail down the specific package prices lol.

Eora3 · November 2014

The photographer would be bringing the same baskets/blankets/props to your house anyway, right? So, I don't see how going to the studio would expose your baby to more germs unless there is going to be a crowd of people at the photo studio or you let the baby lick the floors.

byrne15 · November 2014

I started bringing my kids out and about starting right from the hospital discharge, so I guess I don't see the big deal about doing it with a 2 week old.

Fossegirl1228 · November 2014

Our photographer is about 40 minutes away and we'll be taking LO to get her pictures taken at his studio. My only concern is the unpredictable winter weather in CT.

2JEL · November 2014

JCM285 said:

The $200 charge (which is not written down anywhere of course) is absolutely her way of swaying us to come to her studio since she didn't mention anything about the charge on the phone. This is why I went to her studio to speak with her face-to-face in order to nail down the specific package prices lol.

In response to the question you asked, it is normal to travel to the studio. As many others have said, most of us are told to go by 10 days for peak newborn photogenicity. I'm not a photographer, but in order to "pack up her stuff" our photographer would be schlepping giant lights, screens, props, and background stages-- I'm not even sure it's possible, but I would expect it to cost a lot as it would take a lot of time.

In response to the question you did not ask, based what I quoted above and what PPs have mentioned, as a lawyer by training, I strongly urge you to get final pricing, availability and options agreed in writing before DD is born because while "face to face" communication is clearer, it is absolutely not going to get you anywhere if she tries to change her mind/policy/price in the future.

AZMagnini14 · November 2014

We traveled for our son's photographs and will for this ones too. Pretty standard. Its extra for them to come to you for any shoot. For obvious reasons, they have ALOT of stuff to pack up. She had 3 different backgrounds/props set up for babe when we got there.

SeahorseMama · November 2014

We took DD1 to newborn photos at a studio about 30 minutes from home at 5 days old. We also took her to the chiropractor that same day. At less than 3 weeks old we drove 4 hours away and took her to a series of MLB games. I'm sure your LO will be fine

Meether · November 2014

Maybe she has some liability coming to your place so she charges a lot more? But yea, 2 weeks seem pretty old. NB photogs around here are very clean and cancel even if their kid has been exposed to some illness.

JCM285 · November 2014

Thanks ladies. @2JEL I still have to go to her studio for the maternity shoot so I am going to ask her to draw up a contract stating the charges for everything on that day. I just didn't want to make the contract without DH there in case he wanted something different than I wanted. Thanks for the advice!

xc1148 · November 2014

I agree, traveling is fine, but not having a contract and dealing with someone flaky is not. It doesn't matter if she's a great person, she needs to be a good person to do business with (and a good photographer). I work with contracts for a living and would be too annoyed to work with someone like that, but if you like her work, make sure you get everything in writing first!

Want a personalized experience?

Travelling to photographer for newborn photos at 2 weeks?

Re: Travelling to photographer for newborn photos at 2 weeks?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards