In today’s digital age, it can be overwhelming for parents to try to select a person to take newborn photographs. Let’s say you’re a parent searching for a natick newborn photographer on google. There are pages and pages of options to sort through. Many potential clients give up on google and resort to asking their friends who they used for their own newborn pictures. I’m here to tell you why this might not be the best option and how to select a good photographer!

Why Shouldn’t I ask my friend who they used for their Natick newborn photographer?

A recommendation from a friend can seem like a good choice. After all, they actually used this photographer and can vouch for their integrity, personality, and follow-through. However, this doesn’t always guarantee that the photographer is the right choice for YOU. Being friends with someone doesn’t mean that your styles align. They might fancy a clean, modern and posed studio look while you value candid moments. Your friend might have a big, open and light-filled home while you have an early 18th century darker home with period details and smaller windows. Every photographer specializes in something different and I’ll walk you through how to suss out the best fit.

Type their business name into google first.

Google may seem like an old-school method for determining the best fit for a photographer, but it’s still the best way to see a business’s credentials. Anyone can look like a professional with a handful of images on Instagram, but it doesn’t tell the full story. Is there a professional and functional website for this Natick newborn photographer? Do they have a multitude of positive reviews? Are the reviews for the genre you’re hiring them for? Are the reviews recent?

Next, pull up that photographer’s newborn portfolio on their website.

Every photographer is going to have a portfolio on their website for the genres they offer. Keep in mind that the photographs a photographer puts on their website are going to be a collection of their very best work. If you’re not in love with ALL the photos (or at least the large majority) in their gallery, move along to the next person. Look carefully at the posing of each photo. Is everyone smiling at the camera? Are they more focused on each other? What style best fits your family? If you love everyone looking at the camera and the photographer you’re looking at has only one out of one hundred newborn photos with everyone looking…it’s not the right fit.

Seek out newborn images that look like your home.

It’s easy to be swayed into booking someone based on gorgeous images in stylized, light-filled spaces. The important thing is to think about your own home. Is your home big, open, bright and neutral everywhere? If it’s not and you rock color everywhere and have a smaller space, you want to find a photographer who has experience with that. Photographers are not magicians so we can’t change your space into what it’s not. What we can do is use our expertise to put your home’s best foot forward. Make sure the photographer you use has worked with homes that look like yours.

Make sure you check out the pricing and ensure it fits in your budget!

Photographers vary widely in price point. Most of the time, you’ll find newer photographers in the budget range and more experienced photographers in the higher end. There is most likely a photographer out there for every budget, but ensure that who you’re selecting fits the quality that you’re hoping for. While there are some exceptions, the phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ often holds true. If you’re hoping for a platinum level experience for your Natick newborn session, you probably won’t find that for under $700. Newborn photography is expensive, but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime event. If you can afford to hire a photographer who is in line with your expectations, this will cut down on the disappointment that can often occurs when clients feel swayed towards “a good deal”.

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