What to Know About San Jose Newborn Photography

What do you need to know about the photographers on your shortlist so that you can decide who to hire for San Jose newborn photography? It’s important to connect with any potential newborn photographers you are considering to have all your questions answered. As a bay area newborn photographer, here are some questions I recommend asking:

Questions to ask your San Jose Newborn Photographer

What kind of education and experience do you have?

This is one of the most critical questions to ask. This is especially important with posed newborn photos since the photographer will be handling and posing your delicate new infant. You’ll want to make sure that the person you’re entrusting with your new baby has received adequate training on how to safely pose them. When you book your newborn portrait session with me, you can rest assured that I am an experienced photographer who has been trained on newborn safety.

How old should my baby be at their newborn portrait session?

Many photographers will have a window when they prefer to photograph newborns, depending on the style of photography they offer.

The first two weeks of a baby’s life are usually the best time for a photoshoot for posed photographs since babies are the sleepiest then and prefer being curled up in the womb-like position they’ve been in for the previous nine months.

However, with more relaxed lifestyle newborn images or modern baby-led posed styling, babies can be up to six weeks old. Even if your baby is a bit older than that, check in with your photographer to see if newborn-style sessions are still a possibility.

What is the location of the newborn photography session?

When you’ve just had a baby, the location of the session is important to consider. Some photographers will come into your home, others only offer sessions in a studio, and some offer both options. Some things to consider are the logistics of leaving the house with your new baby, and how comfortable older siblings will be in a studio vs their home.

When should I book my newborn session?

After all of this research, you don’t want to find out that your chosen photographer is unavailable when it comes time to book your session!

Each photographer will most likely have a set number of newborns they can photograph per week or month. It’s a good idea to schedule in advance of your baby’s birth to ensure you can get on their schedule. However, it doesn’t hurt to try after baby is born – they might be able to fit your in! Personally, I only schedule one newborn photography session per week to allow for wiggle room since babies don’t often arrive on their due date.

Do you edit newborn photos and provide retouching services?

Retouching newborn images can make a big impact on the final product. Some photographers leave their images mostly untouched to show the realness of newborns – flaky skin, baby acne and all. They want to photograph newborns as they truly are without the touchups. Other photographers produce highly edited images with smoothed skin and brightened eyes. Still, others are in between. For example, baby acne might be removed, but the skin texture shows, and peely skin on baby toes might still be apparent.

A photographer’s style will be apparent on their website and social media, so you know what you’re getting when you book with them. Which style you choose is a matter of preference.

How soon after the session can we expect to receive the photos?

Obviously, you’ll be eager to see your beautiful photos as soon as possible after your session! Depending on the photographer, you’ll discover that the time between shooting and receiving your photos ranges from one to six weeks. This varies so greatly due to the amount of retouching a photographer does and how many clients they take on. Check with your photographer to find out what their turnaround time is.

San Jose Newborn Photographer

These questions should help you find the best San Jose newborn photographer for you! Interested in finding out more about preparing for your newborn photo session or preparing for motherhood? Check out these other blogs!

What to expect from your newborn session
How to prepare for your in-home session
San Jose pelvic floor physical therapy
Bay Area birth centers to consider
View my Bay area newborn portfolio