Many people undervalue the importance of using a professional photographer to take precious photos of their babies, in particular a newborn under two weeks of age.

Many people will have their phone full of snapshots of their newborns, and feel that as long as anyone has a camera of any form, they can take pictures of their babies.

Why Hire A Professional Photographer Then?

This is the same question you should ask yourself when deciding whether to spend $5 on a pair of scissors to cut your own hair or to spend $50 on a hair stylist to do it.

By hiring a professional photographer, you are not only paying for their time but also for their expertise and talent to guarantee that these priceless moments will be captured for eternity.

1. Time

Many people think the only time a photographer invests is the time during the photography session itself. The truth is, the session is just a small portion of the time spent.

Here’s a sample breakdown of the average time spent on a newborn session:

• 30-60 minutes – Consulting with client prior to session via email/phone, answering enquiries, prepping, etc.
• 1 hour – Prepping studio before session, setting up props.
• 1-2 hours – If it’s a home shoot, travelling time to and from location.
• 2-3 hours – Actual session time.
• 30 minutes – Cleaning up studio and putting back all props.
• 1 hour – Washing all blankets/wraps and wiping the props.
• 1 hour – Uploading and backing up photos.
• 2-4 hours – Sorting and adjusting photos, editing photos and preparing gallery to present or upload online.
• 2-6 hours – Editing the final selected photos, checking through, revisiting 2^nd/3^rd time to ensure all editing is done perfectly.
• 1-3 hours – Sending photos out for printing, liaising with suppliers and awaiting prints/canvases/frames to be returned.
• 1-2 hours –Burning discs, packing them and visiting post office, or arranging a courier or self-collection.

As you can see, the time spent on one session is around 13-25 hours. This time does not even include marketing, accounting, props ordering, props maintenance, and so on.

2. Equipment

Many people can afford an entry level DSLR camera for SGD2000 and then call themselves a photographer. However, we professionals are called professional for a reason. We invest in more than a camera and lenses. We invest in lighting, backdrops and props, easily worth more than SGD10,000. It is not about which brand of camera and lens you use. It is about the experience/creativity/thinking of the person behind the camera and the setups in front of the camera, such as lighting, props, and so on.


3. Talent (Experience And Creativity)


A professional photographer will know exactly what they need to do to make the image great, and will not need to experiment like an amateur. They will know how to use their equipment to get the desired results.

A professional photographer has the creativity and ‘eye’ to provide a full gallery of well-composed, distinctive images at just the right light, angle and position. You will be sure that your baby does not look weird in those poses and with the props, but be best presented with the props the professional photographers create.

Look out for Part 2, where we talk about the last two reasons for hiring a professional photographer for your newborn – Safety And Comfort and Clients’ Experience.

Visit Ashley Low Photography page to find out more about Ashley's work.

_{Image credit:
Photo from Ashley Low}

_{Edited by Nedda Chaplin}

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