WHY ARE NEWBORN PORTRAITS SO EXPENSIVE?

10 Reasons Why Your Newborn Portrait Session Costs So Much:

#1 Education and Experience

Newborn photography takes education beyond how to use your camera and how to take pretty pictures. So many elements of newborn photography are unique to these very specific sessions within baby’s first few weeks of life. Styling these setups to help baby stay safe and comfortable while getting that perfect angle- keeping baby soothed and happy- learning to wrap baby and get perfect lighting. My education has consisted of years of ongoing photography courses and newborn retreats so that I can continue to improve my skills and provide you with the best pictures of your little one.

#2 Props, props and more props

Each setup in my studio uses multiple props- purchased specifically to coordinate and look beautiful in your baby’s portraits. In the portrait above I’ve broken down the cost of everything I used in that SINGLE portrait. My studio is full of all kinds of props to help you get a wonderful variety of pictures. I can do this because I use these props for multiple sessions- giving you the benefit of variety without having to purchase all of these yourself. I always say that this is the hardest thing about being a newborn photographer- even with a studio closet full of thousands of dollars’ worth of props, I constantly have a list of more props I can’t wait to buy!

#3 Equipment

This is a big one. Does nice equipment make a good photographer? No. But it does help to make sure your pictures are clear, crisp, and consistent. This includes my high quality camera and lenses, studio lighting, and a calibrated computer monitor specifically made with photographers in mind. These help me provide you with portraits with consistent and beautiful color, and quality files that you can enlarge for the walls of your home

#4 Time

Each newborn session takes a lot of time both in studio (between 2-2.5 hours) and in editing (around 5-6 hours).

#5 Licenses and Insurance

We can’t forget these fun legal fees, like keeping the business licensed and insured.

#6 Website, Client Portal and Delivery Software

I love making your portrait experience as simple as possible, and so I arrange my studio procedures with you in mind. I pay for a studio management system that allows you to keep everything related to your session in one place. You’ll get all of the communication you need about your session as it approaches, access to questionnaires and to view your contract. Payments, receipts and invoices are all easily accessed. You’ll be able to view your portrait gallery and purchase your print products.

#7 Studio Samples

My sessions are designed for families who want to display their portraits in their home, and I make sure to provide examples of all of the fun print products I have available. I invest time and money into researching printing labs and products so I can make sure I’m giving you the best products at the most reasonable prices. Then I invest in these products and display them in my studio so you can see exactly what you’re going to get when you purchase through your gallery.

#8 Cleaning

It’s rare that I finish a newborn session without SOMETHING getting soiled with spit-up or messes from the other end. It’s completely normal and doesn’t faze me, but it does result in some extra deep cleaning after the session, and a shorter lifespan for some of my studio props.

#9 Studio Space

My studio… I LOVE having this cozy, quiet space for client to bring their babies. It allows me to have all of my props and accessories close at hand during the session, and to keep my lighting and color consistent for your photos. It’s also a great place to show off all of the fun ways you can display your prints in your home. This space was a big investment but definitely worth it to provide the kind of experience I love to give my clients.

#10 Creativity

At the end of the day, your portrait session is a work of ART. There are so many elements that combine to create the portrait you end up seeing in your gallery. It’s hard to place a monetary value on this, but I can tell you that each photographer you meet puts significant time into practicing their craft, just as any other artist. I’m constantly looking for new ideas and connecting with other photographers to find ways to bring you beautiful portraits that you will love.

OF COURSE, I’D LOVE TO BE YOUR UTAH COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER! IF YOU FEEL LIKE WE’D BE A GOOD FIT, CONTACT ME HERE