- So what makes a safe newborn photographer?
Some poses are more unsafe for a baby i.e. frog pose.
This is a pose you love or hate! I actually find this pose really easy and yes I was trained on it, what shouldn't happen is your baby is practice for somebody learning who has watched a Youtube video. Asking your newborn photographer if they've trained or how long they have been doing posed shots like this is acceptable. The market is totally unregulated. There is no body that categorically has responsibility to ensure safe standards are met, I've even seen one quite big photographers training video, where the baby is propped up alone with no hand in place, even during a session a photographer should be able to assure you if you have concerns. I make it clear to my clients to say if they aren't happy with anything. Sometimes this pose tends to aggravate windy tums, as babies back is quite straight which of course is amazing for getting wind out, and this can unsettle the baby, a good photographer will be able to tell if a baby is hungry, has some wind pain, or is uncomfortable. Not every baby will go into this pose, so having trust in a photographer you have chosen is a very important part of the process as you are placing your most precious bundle in the photographers hands. This shot should always have a hand in either at the top or bottom to be safe and then composited in photoshop. Should you go to a brand new very cheap photographer requesting this pose - I personally think no, but if you can't afford a more expensive photographer, don't attempt this, don't risk your baby, there are equally gorgeous poses out there that won't risk your baby. The only way to stop bad practice with photographers is to not expect someone to do something they can't do or haven't had training in. Education for photographers is out there, not everyone chooses to use it or takes notice. So don't be afraid to ask questions - this little person is your most important thing you will ever have!
Even with poses like this, and yes I've seen baby perched on a prop whilst the baby is videod snoozing, babies have a startle reflex. Literally they can jump and fall off something. A hand always needs to be safely in place on babies back. Things to look for in a photographers images - is babies head near anything sharp, are their arms propped up and are they balanced on something, if so was a hand edited out.
So what can you do if you can't afford the photographer you love? You have to weigh up if maybe you can afford them but can't afford it all. We're often pushed for the cheapest price for all the digital images. Digital images should be a photographers most expensive product, as that is it, all the photographers work. Do families need 30 images of their newborn? If you're totally in love with a photographers work, look to see if they do a print package, I often tell my clients that maybe you can't afford all the images but you could have 3 stunningly beautiful and edited prints. Weighing up whether you go for quality over quantity is a very real question parents to be should ask themselves. Some photographers may offer a payment plan and release product or images once full payment is received. If that still puts things out of budget then looking for newer photographers is an option, you still need to ensure they are safe, but someone that has trained recently and is maybe portfolio building may be cheaper. Failing that, the following poses are safer poses, a baby laying on it's back on a huge bean bag tucked in is safe, your photographer should have a neck strap on their camera and have the strap round their neck whenever shooting a baby from above.
Ultimately cost can be a huge factor in choosing a good photographer, don't risk your babies safety because you love frog pose, something like a baby laying safely on a blanket snuggled up, is just so simple and so beautiful and safe as long as baby is warm someone is close by, those features are the most important thing of all. Don't be afraid to ask questions about whether a photographer is insured. Also watch out for hidden prices, and terms and conditions. Ask questions like - if we choose to opt for a lesser package - can we pick any photos. I have heard of unscrupulous photographers telling clients that a digital image they want is sized for canvas only so they end up being pushed to borrow money. Luckily in this day and age, I don't know barely any photographers who would try this ploy, but just because something looks like a complete bargain, do ask further questions.
Even if you can't afford a photographer do ask for advice off of them still. Most photographers that genuinely are in the job because they love babies and people will happily point you in the direction of cheaper safe photographers and will refer to other people, a photographer should be friendly and not pushy most importantly.
Liz Wood is an experienced and safe newborn photographer who lives on the Suffolk/Essex border, she has over 24 years experience in photographing, children, babies, families and has specialised primarily in newborn photography for the last few years.
