baby photography business plan

How to Start a Profitable Baby Photography Business [11 Steps]

By Nick Cotter Updated Feb 05, 2024

Business Steps:

1. perform market analysis., 2. draft a baby photography business plan., 3. develop a baby photography brand., 4. formalize your business registration., 5. acquire necessary licenses and permits for baby photography., 6. open a business bank account and secure funding as needed., 7. set pricing for baby photography services., 8. acquire baby photography equipment and supplies., 9. obtain business insurance for baby photography, if required., 10. begin marketing your baby photography services., 11. expand your baby photography business..

Embarking on a baby photography business requires a thorough understanding of your potential market. A well-conducted market analysis will help identify your target audience, understand the competitive landscape, and tailor your services to meet specific needs. Consider these key points in your market analysis:

• Research the demographic profile of parents in your area including age, income, and family size to ensure there's a demand for baby photography.
• Analyze your competitors by looking at their pricing, packages, marketing strategies, strengths, and weaknesses to find a competitive edge.
• Engage with parenting groups, both online and offline, to gain insights into current trends and preferences in baby photography.
• Identify potential partnerships with local businesses such as maternity stores, birthing centers, and pediatric clinics to expand your reach.
• Assess the popularity and demand for different styles of baby photography (e.g., posed studio sessions, lifestyle shoots, newborns) in your target market.
• Examine social media and online forums to monitor what parents are saying about baby photography services and identify any gaps in the current market.

Are baby photography businesses profitable?

Yes, baby photography businesses can be highly profitable. The business model is relatively straightforward and provides high margins when compared to other niches of the photography industry. Businesses that specialize in newborn and baby photography often experience strong customer demand due to the sentimental nature of the products offered. Additionally, the equipment costs are relatively low since the majority of photographers shoot with point-and-shoot cameras or even cell phones.

Creating a baby photography business plan is a crucial step for turning your passion for photography into a profitable venture. This plan will serve as a roadmap, outlining your business objectives, strategies, and financial projections. Consider the following key components when drafting your business plan:

• Executive Summary: Summarize your business concept, mission statement, and the services you will provide.
• Market Analysis: Research your target market, understand potential clients' needs, and analyze competitor offerings.
• Marketing Strategy: Define how you will attract and retain customers through branding, advertising, and promotions.
• Services and Pricing: Detail the types of photography sessions offered and your pricing structure.
• Operational Plan: Describe your studio setup, equipment needs, and day-to-day operations.
• Financial Planning: Project your revenue, expenses, and profitability. Include startup costs and break-even analysis.
• Legal and Ethical Considerations: Address necessary business licenses, insurance, and policies for working with children.

How does a baby photography business make money?

Baby photography businesses earn money through a variety of services, such as portrait sessions, special products like birth-announcement cards, and other packages. For example, they may offer discounted newborn packages that include a series of three photoshoots throughout the baby's first year of life. Businesses can also offer more specialized services such as cake smashes and professional prints. A target audience for an air duct cleaning business could include property management companies, real estate agents, home builders and homeowners. These organizations might need regular inspections or cleaning to increase the efficiency of their HVAC systems or to remove dust, debris and allergens from indoor air.

Developing a brand for your baby photography business is essential in creating a memorable identity that resonates with your target audience. Your brand should reflect your unique style, values, and the emotional connection you aim to build with parents and their little ones. Here's how to get started:

• Define Your Brand Personality: Decide on a tone and personality that aligns with your photography style—be it playful, classic, modern, or whimsical. This will inform your brand's voice and aesthetic.
• Choose a Memorable Name: Select a business name that's catchy, easy to remember, and gives a clear indication that you specialize in baby photography.
• Create a Distinctive Logo: Design a logo that captures the essence of your brand and appeals to parents of young children. Consider using soft colors, playful fonts, or imagery related to babies.
• Establish a Color Scheme: Pick a palette that reflects your brand's mood and style, and use it consistently across all marketing materials and online platforms.
• Build an Online Presence: Develop a professional website and social media profiles that showcase your portfolio, brand identity, and the unique experience you offer.
• Consistent Messaging: Ensure all communications, from email newsletters to social media posts, reflect your brand's voice and values.

How to come up with a name for your baby photography business?

Choosing a name for your baby photography business is an important step to take when starting a new business. Consider a name that reflects what your business stands for and that is easily recognizable. Brainstorm creative concepts with words like “cheerful” and “baby magic” to create a memorable name. Ask family and friends for input and begin to narrow down your list; ask yourself questions such as “what do I want my customers to think of when they hear this name?” Taking the time to come up with the perfect name will pay off in the long run.

When starting your baby photography business, formalizing your business registration is a crucial step that gives your venture legal recognition and allows you to operate within the confines of the law. This process varies depending on your location, but here is a general guide to help you get started:

• Choose a business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation) that best fits your needs and confers the appropriate level of personal liability protection and tax benefits.
• Register your business name through your local or state government office. If you're using a name different from your own, you may need to file a 'Doing Business As' (DBA) name.
• Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for tax purposes, especially if you plan to hire employees.
• Apply for the necessary business licenses and permits. Your local government's business office can provide information on what's required for a photography business.
• Register to pay state and local taxes, which may include sales tax, use tax, and property tax, depending on your business's location and the products you sell.
• Consider consulting with a business attorney or a professional accountant to ensure all legal requirements are met and to get assistance with the registration process.

Resources to help get you started:

Explore vital resources designed specifically for baby photography entrepreneurs, featuring insights on market trends, operational best practices, and strategic business growth advice:

• Professional Photographers of America (PPA): A comprehensive platform offering educational resources, industry research, and networking opportunities aimed at professional development. https://www.ppa.com/
• Newborn Photography Industry Report by IBISWorld: An in-depth analysis of the newborn photography market trend, including statistics, growth predictions, and competitive strategies. https://www.ibisworld.com/
• Click Magazine: A publication focused on photography, including articles and tips on baby photography, with a strong emphasis on the art and business of photography. https://clickmagazine.com/
• Child Photo Competition: An international photography contest platform that can provide inspiration and benchmarking against the best in the world of baby photography. https://childphotocompetition.com/
• Baby Photography Workshops by Ana Brandt: Educational workshops and online courses tailored for those specializing in newborn and baby photography, offering techniques and business strategies. https://www.anabrandtonline.com/

Starting a baby photography business involves not just talent and equipment, but also ensuring legalities are in order. Different locations have different requirements for licenses and permits. Here are some steps to guide you through acquiring the necessary documentation:

• Research Local Regulations: Check with your city or county government to understand the specific business licenses and permits required for a photography business in your area.
• Business License: Apply for a general business license, which is a basic permit to operate a business legally within your locality.
• DBA Filing: If you're operating under a name different from your legal name, you may need to file a 'Doing Business As' (DBA) certificate.
• Home Occupation Permit: If you're operating out of your home, this permit ensures your business complies with local zoning laws.
• Professional Permits: Depending on your state, you might need a specific photographer's permit, so check with state business resources.
• Health and Safety Compliance: If you have a studio that clients visit, you may need to comply with health and safety regulations to ensure a safe environment for babies.
• Insurance: While not a permit, having liability insurance is crucial to protect your business and clients, especially when working with infants.

What licenses and permits are needed to run a baby photography business?

To run a baby photography business, you will need a state business license and a local business permit. Depending on the state and locality, you may also need to register your company with the IRS, obtain an occupational license for your specific type of business, and obtain liability insurance.

Starting a baby photography business requires not only creative skills but also financial management. Opening a business bank account is essential for keeping personal and business finances separate, while securing funding is crucial for covering startup costs. Below are some steps to guide you through this financial phase of your business setup:

• Research banks and credit unions offering business banking services. Look for accounts with low fees, easy access, and good customer service.
• Prepare the necessary documents, which may include your business license, EIN, and articles of incorporation, to open the account.
• Consider different funding options such as personal savings, loans from family and friends, bank loans, or small business grants and loans from government programs.
• Develop a solid business plan to present to potential lenders or investors to show the viability and potential of your baby photography business.
• If applicable, explore equipment financing options to purchase photography gear without paying the full cost upfront.
• Keep detailed financial records from the start to make it easier to manage cash flow, taxes, and future funding needs.

Setting the right pricing for your baby photography services is crucial in attracting the right clients while ensuring your business is profitable. Consider your costs, the market rate, and the unique value you bring to the table when determining your prices. Here are key points to guide you:

• Calculate your costs: Include expenses such as equipment, studio rental, props, editing software, and travel. This helps ensure your prices cover your costs and provide a profit.
• Research the competition: Look at what other baby photographers are charging to get an idea of market rates. Adjust your pricing to reflect your experience level and the quality of your work relative to others.
• Offer packages: Create different packages to cater to a variety of needs and budgets. Include options like a certain number of edited photos, session length, and number of prints.
• Consider time investment: Factor in the time spent during the shoot, as well as post-processing time for editing photos, when setting your prices.
• Value-adds and upsells: Think about offering additional services such as photo albums or extra sessions for a complete first year package, and price them accordingly.
• Communicate value: Make sure clients understand what they are getting for their money. Highlight your expertise, the quality of your work, and the personalized experience you offer.

What does it cost to start a baby photography business?

Initiating a baby photography business can involve substantial financial commitment, the scale of which is significantly influenced by factors such as geographical location, market dynamics, and operational expenses, among others. Nonetheless, our extensive research and hands-on experience have revealed an estimated starting cost of approximately $6000 for launching such an business. Please note, not all of these costs may be necessary to start up your baby photography business.

Starting a baby photography business requires specialized equipment and supplies to ensure you can create beautiful, safe, and comfortable settings for your little subjects. Here's a list of essentials you'll need to get started on capturing those precious moments.

• Camera: Invest in a high-quality DSLR or mirrorless camera with a good sensor size for capturing clear, detailed images.
• Lenses: A variety of lenses such as a 50mm prime for portraits and a 24-70mm zoom for versatility.
• Lighting: Softbox lights and reflectors to create soft, flattering lighting conditions.
• Backdrops: Several washable and non-distracting backdrops in neutral colors and subtle patterns.
• Props: Safe and clean props like baskets, blankets, and age-appropriate toys to add creativity to your shots.
• Memory cards and batteries: Extra memory cards and fully charged batteries to ensure you never miss a shot.
• Photo editing software: A subscription to photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom for post-processing work.
• Safe posing beanbags and pillows: To support the baby comfortably during the shoot.
• Heating pads or space heater: To keep the baby warm and cozy during the session.
• Sanitizing supplies: To maintain cleanliness of the props, equipment, and the shooting area.
• Insurance: Business insurance to protect your equipment and liability insurance in case of accidents.

List of software, tools and supplies needed to start a baby photography business:

• DSLR camera - around $1000
• Studio lights - around $400
• Reflector - around $60
• Softbox/Umbrella - around $50
• Tripod - around $50
• Backdrop stand and backdrop - around $25
• Props for the baby (toys, blankets etc.) - varies
• Lightroom/Photoshop for post-processing - $9.99/month
• Professional website or portfolio – varies depending on preferences
• Business cards – around $30 to design and set up an initial batch

Before embarking on the rewarding journey of baby photography, safeguarding your business with the right insurance is crucial. It not only protects your investment but also provides peace of mind for you and your clients. Here's how to secure the appropriate business insurance:

• Research different types of insurance policies suitable for baby photography businesses, such as general liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance, and equipment insurance.
• Contact insurance providers to compare coverage options and premiums. Ensure the policy covers specific risks associated with photographing babies, such as accidents or property damage.
• Consider additional coverage for business interruption and data loss, especially if you maintain digital archives of your photographs.
• Discuss with an insurance broker or legal advisor who understands the unique needs of baby photographers to get tailored advice and find the best policy.
• Once you've chosen a policy, review it carefully before signing to make sure it meets all your business needs.
• Keep your insurance documents accessible and review your policy annually to adjust for any changes in your business or the industry.

Launching your baby photography business is an exciting venture, and marketing your services effectively is crucial for success. Attracting clients and showcasing your unique style will help you stand out in a competitive market. Here are some strategies to begin marketing your baby photography services:

• Develop a professional portfolio: Show off your best work on a dedicated website or social media platforms to give potential clients a glimpse of your talent.
• Utilize social media: Regularly post engaging content, behind-the-scenes peeks, and special promotions on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to build a following.
• Offer referral discounts: Encourage word-of-mouth marketing by offering discounts to clients who refer new customers to your business.
• Collaborate with local businesses: Partner with maternity stores, pediatricians, and birthing centers to reach expecting parents and offer exclusive deals.
• Run targeted ads: Invest in online advertising through Google Ads or social media to reach audiences interested in baby photography.
• Participate in community events: Attend baby fairs, craft shows, and local markets to network and showcase your services in person.
• Collect testimonials: Use positive feedback from satisfied clients to build trust and credibility with new customers.

Once you've laid the groundwork for your baby photography business and started to build a client base, it's time to think about expansion. Growth doesn't just mean more customers; it's also about enhancing your services, reaching new markets, and increasing profitability. Here are some strategies to consider:

• Diversify Your Offerings: Introduce new types of photography sessions, such as maternity shoots, 'cake smash' sessions for first birthdays, or 'grow with me' packages that capture milestones over time.
• Partner with Local Businesses: Collaborate with baby boutiques, maternity stores, and pediatrician offices to offer exclusive deals, share referrals, or display your work.
• Invest in Marketing: Boost your online presence through targeted ads on social media, search engine optimization for your website, and by encouraging clients to leave positive reviews.
• Offer Workshops: Conduct photography workshops for parents who want to learn how to take better pictures of their babies, positioning yourself as an expert in the field.
• Expand Your Team: If demand is high, consider hiring an assistant or another photographer to help manage additional bookings or to specialize in different styles.
• Explore New Markets: Look into offering your services in neighboring towns or cities to tap into new client bases, or even consider online consultations for clients who are not local.

How to Start a Newborn Photography Business

Most new parents feel a strong desire to document and preserve every precious moment, ensuring they always remember the earliest days of their little one’s life. Newborn photographers can clearly play a significant role here, providing families with a more professional way to immortalize this critical stage in the family’s life.

Whether you are an amateur photographer who is interested in providing newborn sessions, or you’re simply looking for a way to turn your passion into a money-maker, starting a newborn photography business can be a rewarding path. Needless to say, there are countless considerations you’ll need to make for your company to prove successful. In this post, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide.

Getting Started with Your Family Photography Business

Before you start scouting prospective clients, here are a few steps to establish a firm foundation for your new business .

Conduct Market Research

First and foremost, it’s important to conduct some market research, getting to know the competitive landscape into which you’re entering. Take some time to identify the areas for opportunity, as well as the big challenges you’ll face.

Some of the questions that might guide your market research include:

• How many family photography businesses are in the area? And how many focus on newborn portrait services?
• Who is your target audience? What are the core demographics of your potential clients?
• How big of a geographic area do you need to target? Should you focus on newborn photos in a particular neighborhood? The whole city? Or an even broader region?

Much of this information can be gleaned with a simple Google search, though it may also be helpful to put together buyer personas, which are detailed profiles of the kinds of clients you’re trying to reach. You can check out this guide on how to create a detailed buyer persona .

Plan Your Business

Next, give some thought to your basic business model. There are a few things that any baby photographer should think about while pursuing a new business. Note that organizations like the Small Business Administration offer valuable resources.

• First, think about some basic goals for your business. These goals may touch on things like the number of clients you’d like to bring on or the amount of revenue you’d like to generate within a specific time. Also take into mind things like the number of hours you’d like to work each week.
• Create a business plan. Your business plan should articulate the basic list of services you’ll offer; for instance, beyond fussy babies, will you also photograph toddlers and teens?  Core sections of a business plan should include not only the list of services you’ll offer, but your methods and channels for marketing those services. In other words, explain everything you’ll be doing to acquire customers. Finally, a business plan should include a financial forecast.
• Remember that a business plan is not meant to be a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. Revisit it once you get your newborn photography efforts up and running, and make adjustments as needed.

Legal and Financial Considerations for Your Baby Photography Business

Chances are, you’re not in the business of newborn photo shoots because you love thinking about business insurance, legal formation, and other technicalities. Nevertheless, legal considerations are important for ensuring your company is set up for success. Here are a few specific factors to keep top-of-mind.

Choose the Right Legal Structure

First, consider the legal structure you will choose for your business.

When you first start taking newborn baby shots and generating some revenue, the government will automatically classify you as a Sole Proprietor. 

In this legal arrangement, there is no formal distinction between the business and yourself. As such, there is no way to separate your business assets from your personal assets, nor business liabilities from personal liabilities. 

The long and short of it: Your personal wealth is very much on the table to potential litigators or creditors. And while the photography industry is not especially litigious, this is still a concern to keep on your radar.

Another option is to start a Partnership , allowing you to split revenues (and to share liabilities) with one or more colleagues. Note that this can defray some of your legal risk, but not completely eliminate it.

The industry standard within the newborn portraiture space is to register as a Limited Liability Company, or an LLC. Some quick benefits to the LLC:

• Registering an LLC allows you to establish the business as its own legal entity, and thus to keep your personal assets and liabilities separate from your business ones.
• An LLC allows you to shield your personal nest egg, keeping it off the table to potential litigation.
• LLCs allow for tax flexibility. You can declare profits and losses on a pass-through basis, which is probably going to be the best bet, but corporate taxation is also an option.
• Registering as an LLC can also provide some credibility, positioning your business as something serious and professional (not merely a hobby or creative outlet). This helps earn the trust of potential clients.

Compared with other legal structures, including Corporations, LLCs make for fairly minimal regulatory burdens. You’ll need to file a very bare-bones report to the state each year, basically just affirming that you’re still in business, but that’s more or less it.

Other Legal Considerations

Some additional legal dimensions for newborn photographers to consider include:

• You’ll need to register the name of your business. If you’re choosing the LLC format, that means filing Articles of Organization with your state. Note: You’ll be required to choose a name that isn’t already in use by another LLC in the state. Most states provide a searchable database, making it easy to confirm that the name you desire is still up for grabs.
• You’ll also need to fulfill other registration guidelines from your state. These can vary, and requirements to form an LLC in Texas will inevitably differ from those in New York or Wyoming. In general, you should expect to file a small registration fee.
• While it may not be legally mandatory, it’s usually wise to create an Operating Agreement. This is a blueprint for how your company is structured, e.g., how you allocate profits and share duties with any partners you bring in. This document can help you mitigate legal disputes down the road.

Be aware that if you choose the LLC format, you will be legally required to choose a Registered Agent. This can be either an individual or an organization tasked with receiving legal correspondence, including subpoenas and tax documents, on behalf of your business. Some states will allow you to serve as your own Agent, but it’s very affordable to outsource to a third-party service (typically less than $100 annually).

Financial Considerations

Assuming you make a fairly average salary as a photographer, you may eventually need to enlist employees and/or open some investment accounts. Here are two quick ways to prepare for these eventualities:

First, claim an Employer Identification Number. An EIN is sort of like a Social Security Number, only it’s for your business. You can claim one for free from the IRS. You will need it in order to administer payroll and file your taxes.

Also, set up a business bank account. To protect your personal wealth, make sure your business bank account is separate from any personal checking or savings accounts. This is especially important if you establish your business as an LLC, and wish to keep personal assets and liabilities distinct from business ones.

Additional Guidelines for Your Baby Photography Business

Before you start taking those beautiful pictures, there are a few further steps to take. From buying the right equipment to marketing your business effectively, here are some essential steps for a newborn studio.

Create Pricing Packages

Before opening your newborn studio for session work, you’ll need to think about how you’ll price things. For many photographers, the thought of assigning a specific monetary rate can be daunting. Do a little online research to see what newborn photography sessions cost with your competitors. You don’t want to sell yourself short, but neither do you want to price yourself out of good, consistent work.

Some standard pricing models might look something like this:

Basic Package

Two to four hours of photography services, digital copies of hi-res images, cost starting at $500.

Standard Package

Six to eight hours of photography services, a second photographer for wider coverage, cost starting at $1,000.

Premium Package

A full day of coverage, digital and high-quality printed images, customized editing and retouching, cost starting at $2,000.

Craft Contract Templates

In advance of any newborn photo session, you’ll need current clients to sign off on a contract . To expedite your contracts, create templates in advance. Four specific types of contracts you might need include:

• A minor release contract, authorizing you to use images of your clients in your marketing materials. (highlighting a portfolio of your work is one of the best marketing tactics for photographers.)
• A final sales agreement, outlining the total costs that your clients will incur.
• An album artwork/design agreement, specifying the pricing for any such work that you do on a client’s behalf.

A delivery agreement, specifying the timeline by which digital and/or physical images will be delivered to the client can also come in handy.

Set Up a Studio Space

Newborn photographers sometimes work in people’s homes, but it’s also wise to have your own studio space. This might involve leasing a space, but it’s more common to set up a section of your home to function as the studio. 

Of course, this will entail an investment in some equipment, including studio lights, a space heater, mirrorless cameras, and more. Also make sure you have some furniture for parents or siblings who need to sit and wait while your session unfolds.

Invest in Other Key Props and Tools

There are several other items you’ll want to have on hand for your baby photography business. These needs will vary from one photographer to the next, but here’s a basic list and what to do with them:

• Ensure the ability to edit photos as needed, with a software suite such as Adobe Photoshop.
• Invest in props to keep babies comfortable and happy during your newborn shoots; think beanbags, wraps, blankets, headbands, and hats, plus any other newborn prop you can think of to assist you in getting the best baby poses.

A white noise machine can be helpful for keeping babies asleep, while curtains are a must if you have natural light coming into your studio space.

Set Up a Mentoring Session

While running your own photography business can be incredibly rewarding, it is not without its difficulties. You’ll be tasked with wearing many hats, and learning a lot of technical skills and business competencies on the go.

To help you adapt to the rigors of business ownership, having at least one professional mentor can go a long way. Do an online search for an event photographer near me who might be willing to chat with you, over coffee or over Zoom. If you can’t find locals, cast a wider net.

Be Intentional in Marketing

Finally, remember that your newborn shoots won’t sell themselves! For your business to succeed, you’ll need to market your business effectively. Some general guidelines for your marketing efforts include:

Seek Word-of-Mouth Referrals 

Remember that word-of-mouth referrals are always going to be your most effective assets. Ask your current clients to provide Google reviews, to tag you on social media, and to tell their friends about you!

Invest in Your Website

A good website is key. Make sure yours loads quickly, has intuitive navigation, and includes your contact information prominently. Showcasing an online portfolio is also important for newborn photographers.

Cultivate Citations

Seeking listings in local business directories, or in industry-specific directories, can also be a great way to build your brand. Also, take the time to set up a Google Business Profile, a simple step that can make a huge impact on your online visibility.

Embrace Other Forms of Digital Marketing

Some other potentially cost-effective marketing tactics include local SEO, an email newsletter, a blog, and a consistent presence on social media. Paid ads can be effective, but budgeting and bidding require some trial and error. This may be a more advanced set of marketing strategies.

Establish the Success of Your Newborn Photo Business

Having your own photography business can be incredibly rewarding… financially, creatively, and relationally. But before you start booking sessions, it’s important to make sure your business is set up for success. From legal considerations to marketing strategies, make sure you do everything you need to do in order to establish your business longevity.

About the author

Amanda E. Clark

Amanda E. Clark is a contributing writer to LLC University. She has appeared as a subject matter expert on panels about content and social media marketing.

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Start a Baby and Child Photography Business: Your Ultimate Guide

You can turn your passion for photography into a rewarding business venture by starting a baby and child photography business. This guide will show you how to get started, build a portfolio, and market your services to parents. With hard work and dedication, you can turn your dream into a reality. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

What is a baby and child photographer business, how do i find customers for my baby and child photographer business.

A baby and child photographer specializes in capturing precious moments in the lives of young children. This type of photographer often works with parents to plan a photoshoot that reflects their individual style and captures the unique personality of their child. In addition to traditional posed shots, they may also capture candid moments, such as children playing or interacting with family members.

Baby and child photographers often have a background in portrait photography, in addition to experience working with young subjects who may not always be cooperative during a photoshoot. These photographers also typically offer printing services for parents to display their final photos in their home or share with loved ones. overall, a baby and child photographer is an invaluable resource for preserving memories of this special time in a child’s life.

Why would I want to start a Baby and Child Photographer business?

So you want to be a professional photographer? Maybe you’ve been dabbling in photography for a while now and you’re finally ready to take the plunge. Or maybe you’ve been doing it for years and you’re looking for a change. Whatever your reasons, starting a baby and child photography business can be a great way to leverage your talents and make some extra money. But why exactly should you start a baby and child photography business? Let’s take a look at a few reasons.

You Can Be Your Own Boss

One of the best things about being a professional photographer is that you can be your own boss. You get to set your own hours, work as much or as little as you want, and decide how to run your business. Of course, this also means that you have to wear all the hats—from marketing to accounting—but it can be very rewarding to be in charge of your own career.

It’s Rewarding Work

Photographing babies and children can be extremely rewarding work. Not only do you get to capture these precious moments in time that will be cherished by parents and grandparents for years to come, but you also get to see the joy that your photos bring into people’s lives. There’s nothing quite like knowing that your work is bringing happiness to others!

It Can Be Lucrative

Baby and child photography can also be quite lucrative. Families are often willing to pay top dollar for high-quality photos of their little ones, so if you’re good at what you do, you can easily make a nice profit. Of course, it takes time and effort to build up a successful photography business, but once you do, the financial rewards can be great.

If you’re thinking about starting a professional photography business, baby and child photography is definitely worth considering. It’s a great way to be your own boss, do rewarding work, and make good money. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start capturing some memories!

How do I start a Baby and Child Photography business?

Are you passionate about photography and children? Do you have a knack for capturing those precious moments that parents want to remember forever? If so, starting a baby and child photography business may be the perfect entrepreneurial venture for you! Here’s what you need to do to get started.

What do you need to start a baby and child photographer business – equipment, insurance, permits etc.?

Starting a baby and child photography business can be a rewarding and exciting venture, but it is important to make sure that you have all the necessary items in place before starting.

Equipment-wise, you will want to invest in a high quality camera and lenses, as well as any lighting equipment or backdrops that you might need. It is also advisable to have liability insurance to protect yourself from any accidents or injuries that may occur during a photoshoot.

Depending on your location, you may also need certain permits or licenses in order to run your business legally. Additionally, consider setting up an online portfolio or website to showcase your work and attract potential clients.

By properly preparing yourself with the right equipment, insurance, and permits, you can set yourself up for success in the world of baby and child photography.

How much should you charge for your services as a baby and child photographer?

When determining your pricing as a baby and child photographer, it’s important to take into account a few key factors.

First, consider the cost of your equipment and any additional expenses such as props or studio rental. Next, research the going rates for similar services in your area to make sure you’re competitive without undercharging. It’s also important to consider the value of your time and experience – are you just starting out or have you been in the industry for years?

Pricing can also vary depending on the type of shoot and any additional services offered, such as digital files or printed products. Ultimately, finding the right price point for your baby and child photography services involves balancing these various factors while remaining confident in the value you bring to clients.

What are some tips for taking great photos of babies and children that will make them look their best in pictures?

When it comes to taking photos of babies and children, it can be challenging to capture their playful personalities and adorable expressions. However, there are some tips and tricks for getting those perfect shots.

Firstly, capture candid moments rather than forced poses. Babies and children naturally have an energy and spontaneity that will make for more genuine photos.

Secondly, try taking photos at their level rather than looking down on them. This helps to create a more intimate and personal perspective in the image.

Thirdly, pay attention to lighting when shooting indoors. Natural light is often the most flattering, but if that’s not available try positioning your subject near a window or using a flash diffuser for a softer glow.

Following these tips will result in beautiful photo memories that families will treasure for years to come.

How can you market your new baby and child photography business to attract new clients?

When it comes to marketing your baby and child photography business, word of mouth can often be your greatest asset. Make sure to continuously communicate with past clients about the quality of your work and ask for referrals or reviews. Additionally, consider offering special packages or discounts for first-time customers or offering a referral program for current clients.

Building a strong social media presence is also crucial for reaching potential customers. Ensure that your website and social media profiles showcase unique and high-quality photos, and regularly post updates about specials or promotions. Networking with local mom groups or pediatricians can also help to spread the word about your business.

By utilizing these strategies, you can effectively market your baby and child photography service to attract new clients.

What are some common challenges faced by new baby and child photographers starting out on their own businesses?

One of the biggest challenges for new baby and child photographers is balancing work and personal life. Managing a photography business requires not just taking pictures, but also setting up appointments, editing photos, managing client communication and marketing, and handling financial tasks. All of these responsibilities can easily take over personal time if not managed properly.

Another challenge for new photographers is dealing with difficult clients. Learning how to handle dissatisfied customers or difficult shoots takes practice and experience in the industry. In addition, pricing can also be a tricky issue for new photographers, as they must figure out how to set their rates while still remaining competitive and profitable. However, with proper planning and practice, these challenges can be overcome in order to establish a successful photography business.

Starting a baby and child photography business is a great way to turn your passion for photography into a profitable business venture. By figure out your niche, getting the right gear, and finding your clientele, you’ll be well on your way to success.

How much does it cost to start a Babies and Children Photography business?

Many people dream of starting their own photography business, but don’t know where to start. They may not have the expensive equipment, or they may think that they can’t make money off of taking photos. In this blog post, we will debunk some of those myths and give you a realistic estimate of how much it might cost to start your own baby and child photography business.

Equipment Costs

When starting any kind of photography business, the biggest initial cost is going to be the equipment. A good entry-level DSLR camera can cost anywhere from $500-$1200. However, after doing some research, you may realize that you don’t need the fanciest and most expensive camera to get started. There are plenty of great cameras available for less than $500. In addition to a camera, you will also need a few lens (at least one portrait lens and one zoom lens), memory cards, batteries, and a tripod. All of this equipment can be bought new or used from sites like eBay or Amazon. Depending on what you buy, your total investment in equipment could be anywhere from $600-$2000.

Software Costs

The next big cost associated with starting your baby and child photography business will be software. You will need a computer with editing software like Photoshop or Lightroom in order to edit your photos. If you don’t already have a computer and editing software, you can expect to spend around $1000-$2000 on this part of your business.

Business Costs

Once you have your equipment and software sorted out, there are some other basic costs associated with starting any kind of business that you will need to consider. These include things like getting insured, setting up a website, registering your business name, etc. These costs can vary widely depending on your location and the type of business you want to set up (LLC vs sole proprietorship). In general though, you should budget for an additional $500-$1000 for these miscellaneous start-up costs.

Marketing Costs

The final cost associated with starting your baby and child photography business will be marketing expenses. This is how you will get the word out about your new business and attract clients. There are many free or low-cost ways to market your business (flyers, word-of-mouth, social media), but if you want to invest in some more traditional forms of advertising (newspaper ads, radio ads), then you should budget an additional few hundred dollars per month for those costs.

So there you have it! A realistic estimate of how much it would cost to start your own baby and child photography business is between $3500-$5000 for the initial investment in equipment and software plus an additional $500-$1000 for miscellaneous start-up costs like insuring your business, setting up a website, etc. And lastly, don’t forget to factor in marketing expenses which can range from nothing if you are utilizing free methods like social media) to a few hundred dollars per month if you are investing in paid ads. With all of these costs considered, are you still interested in starting your own baby and child photography business? If so, then what are you waiting for? Get out there and start snapping away!

Are you a Baby and Child Photographer? Have you been struggling to find customers? You’re not alone. Many new photographers face this challenge. But don’t despair, there are ways to overcome it! In this section, we’ll share some tips on how to find customers for your business. So read on and start attracting those clients!

Word of mouth is your best friend – start by asking your family and friends to spread the word

As a Baby and Child Photographer, building a strong customer base can be one of the biggest challenges. While there are countless ways to market your services, one of the most effective can often be overlooked: word of mouth. By reaching out to your family and friends, you can start to build a network that will not only spread awareness about your business, but also provide trustworthy endorsements for potential clients.

This personalized touch can go a long way in establishing trust and credibility with new customers. As you continue to grow your business, don’t forget to capitalize on word of mouth recommendations – it could be the key to finding your next happy customer.

Create a social media profile for your business and post interesting and engaging content regularly

When it comes to promoting your Baby and Child Photographer business, having a strong social media presence can make all the difference. First, create a profile on platforms like Instagram or Facebook that accurately represents your brand. Consistently posting high-quality content, such as portfolio samples or behind-the-scenes photos, will not only showcase your talents but also attract potential customers.

In addition, engaging with followers by responding to comments or hosting contests can help to solidify relationships and convert them into clients. Though managing social media can be time-consuming, it is a valuable tool for finding new customers and growing your business as a Baby and Child Photographer.

Hang flyers in local businesses, schools, and parks

If you are in the business of Baby and Child Photography, one way to find customers is to hang flyers in local businesses, schools, and parks. Businesses often have bulletin boards for advertisements and community events, and many schools have designated boards for local services. Parks can also be a great place to hang flyers, as there will likely be young families visiting the park on a regular basis.

When designing your flyers, be sure to include important information such as your contact information, pricing, any special deals or packages you offer, and samples of your work. Utilizing these local resources can bring new customers to your door and help expand your photography business.

Attend community events and meet new people

Are you a Baby and Child Photographer looking for new customers? One great way to find them is to attend community events and meet new people. These events often bring together families who may be interested in your services, and they provide opportunities for networking and word-of-mouth recommendations. Consider bringing along a selection of your best portfolio pieces to show off your skills, as well as business cards or flyers to give out to potential clients.

Community events can also serve as a chance to connect with other local businesses that may be looking for a photographer for their own needs or may be willing to refer clients to you. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to expand your customer base by attending community events – they can pay off in more ways than one.

Get involved in local parenting groups

If you’re a photographer specializing in babies and children, local parenting groups can be a valuable source of customers. By joining and actively participating in these groups, not only will you build connections with other parents, but you’ll also have opportunities to showcase your skills.

Offer to take photos at group events or organize mini photo sessions for members. You can also advertise your services within the group, whether through word of mouth or by posting digital flyers.

Not only will these efforts bring new clients to your business, they can also help spread the word within the community. So don’t hesitate to get involved with your local parenting groups – they could provide the perfect platform for growing your Babies and Children Photography business.

Check out local baby stores

As a photographer specializing in babies and children, it’s important to target your marketing efforts towards the right audience. One great way to do this is by checking out and connecting with local baby stores. These businesses cater to new parents who are constantly searching for products and services for their little ones. By building relationships with these stores, they may be willing to promote your photography business to their customers or even provide referral discounts.

Plus, many of these stores host events such as baby showers and first birthday parties, giving you the opportunity to showcase your portfolio and booking potential clients on-the-spot. So next time you’re looking for ways to expand your client base, don’t forget about connecting with local baby stores.

Contact local daycares and schools

As a photographer specializing in babies and children, one of the best potential customer bases can be found at local daycares and schools. By contacting them and offering your services, you can not only provide parents with lasting memories of their little ones, but also potentially establish a long-term partnership with the daycare or school. One way to approach these organizations is to offer a discounted group package, where you could photograph all the students or children at once.

This not only saves time for both parties, but it may also incentivize interested parents to purchase additional individual portraits. Another option is to offer a percentage of your profits back to the organization as a fundraising incentive.

Whatever route you choose, don’t forget to spread the word by leaving business cards or flyers at the front desk and mentioning your services in any newsletters or parent communication channels. By thinking outside the box and targeting specific consumer groups like daycares and schools, you can expand your customer base and grow your photography business.

Advertise in local publications

As a photographer specializing in babies and children, local advertising can be a great way to find new clients. By placing ads in local publications like city newspapers and parenting magazines, you can target families in your area who may be interested in booking a photo session for their little ones.

Your ad should include eye-catching visuals, information about your services, and ways for potential customers to contact you. Don’t forget to also advertise on your own website and social media pages. While advertising locally may not bring in clients from far away, it’s a reliable way to attract customers from your own community and potentially even gain word-of-mouth referrals. Happy advertising!

About Jeremy Reis

Jeremy Reis is a serial entrepreneur from the Franklin, Tennessee area. Jeremy is the founder of multiple businesses and is the VP of Marketing for CRISTA Ministries. Jeremy has his MBA with a focus in Entrepreneurship from The Ohio State University.

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The Complete guide to starting a Newborn Photography Business

What if I told you you could start a successful Newborn Photography business working from home with zero experience?

After struggling with the long hours and minimal pay in retail, I was ready to start something new.

To be my own boss and be a stay at home mum .

I decided to start a Newborn photography business working from home and I couldn’t believe how it took off.

I struggled in the beginning trying to learn on my own. I don’t want that struggle for you. This course boils down only what you need to know to start a Newborn Photography business.

This is just what you need EVEN IF YOU DON’T OWN A CAMERA YET

Just imagine how your life could change for the better?

• Work from home
• Decide your own hours
• More time with your family
• No more financial worries
• All while doing the most enjoyable job EVER!

All of that CAN be your reality thanks to my proven system for building a Newborn Photography Business

Which can only be found inside of… The Complete Guide to Newborn Photography

80% off for a Limited time only!

An introductory offer of £99

LET'S DO THIS

Who am I to teach you the road to Newborn Photography success?

Hey I’m Aine

In 2016, I found myself as a single mother of three children, after dedicating 25 years working in the retail industry. Balancing my demanding job made it challenging for me to provide my daughters with the time and attention they deserved, all while struggling to make ends meet due to my limited income.

I realised that something needed to change , but given my lifelong commitment to retail, I was unsure of what path to pursue or where to even begin. Then, one day, while at the park with my kids, I ran into an old friend who happened to be a photographer. When I shared my situation with him, he made an unexpected suggestion: that I should start my own Newborn Photography business. At first, I found this suggestion rather unusual since I had never even lifted a professional camera before, and I didn’t have much interest in photography. However, he went on to explain how this business had grown substantially and encouraged me to consider it.

THE PROBLEM WAS I HAD NO PRIOR PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE EVER!

Over the next few days, I thought of nothing else, and within just one week, I launched my new home-based business as a Newborn photographer.

While I firmly believe that embarking on this journey was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, I also acknowledge that I wasted a considerable amount of time researching how to start this business, and invested money in items that ultimately proved unnecessary.

This is precisely why I’ve chosen to create this course. My goal was to compile all of this invaluable knowledge into one comprehensive resource, which covers every essential aspect for beginners looking to launch this business.

I used to be exactly where you are… frustrated, discouraged, and getting nowhere working for someone else

I’ve taken everything that I’ve learned on my journey and put it into The Complete Guide to starting a Newborn Photography Business because it’s exactly what I wish I had known when I first started.

It’s my mission to help as many people as possible skip past the overwhelm by simply focusing on what actually works. The Complete Guide to starting a Newborn Photography Business would have saved me SO MUCH time and money. 

I can’t wait for it to do the same for you!

INTRODUCTORY OFFER! ALL OF THIS FOR ONLY £99

Here’s what you’ll learn on the inside:

• What you need to get started
• Camera and lighting
• Posing table or bean bag
• Wraps and outfits
• Studio space
• How to gain experience
• Practicing with a newborn baby
• Newborn baby posing
• Wrapping a baby
• When is the best time to photograph a newborn baby
• How parents can prepare for the session
• Preparing for your 1st newborn session
• Workflow of your session
• Uploading your images
• The editing process
• Digital Backgrounds
• Creating an online gallery for your clients
• Control your business bookings
• Promote your business online
• Supplier lists

The list is endless….

You might be wondering…

Even if you have never used a camera or are still mastering your photography skills and craft,, you’re in the right place! This course will show you exactly how to be a successful Newborn Photographer. Whether you have days, months, or years of photography experience, this course can help you!

Because this is a self-paced course, you can work through the modules as fast as you want, or take your time. You have lifetime access to this course, so you can go at your own pace and revisit whenever you need.

As soon as you sign up, you’ll get instant access to all modules so you can start learning everything you need to know to start your new business.

Of course!! I’m here to help you throughout this course and long after. Email me on [email protected]

Buffalo NY Newborn Photography | WNY Maternity Photographers | Baby Pictures | High School Senior Portraits

​Buffalo NY Newborn Family Photographer. Portrait Pretty Photography specializes in fresh and modern maternity, newborn, baby, child, senior and family photography. Our studio is centrally located in Western New York in Buffalo. Our sessions are relaxed and fun. If you're ready to experience the difference, contact us today to schedule your session, We'd love to work with you!

How To Start a Newborn Photography Business

A newborn photography career is really enjoyable. You get to spend time with new babies, new families to create images that will be cherished to last for a lifetime. This should be taken with great care, this is a very emotional time for new parents and the images should be professional quality, and newborn safety needs to be the number one priority. If you do not know what you are doing, do not practice on a newborn baby, study, learn, understudy under professionals who have the knowledge and experience to teach you. Newborn portraiture is not easy. The top newborn photographers have devoted the time, funds and energy needed to perfect their craft and newborn safety knowledge.

Here are some items to use as a starting point.

Camera: If you do not have a professional grade camera this is a must! Decide between Canon and Nikon. Each have their own creature features which drives photographers to their brand. I am a Canon girl, that is my preference. My camera of choice is the Canon 5D Mark III. When you have your camera, you will need to learn how to shoot in manual mode. It is important to master, Aperture, ISO and Shutter Speed. Learn how these items affect exposure and understand how they work together. This takes time and tons of practice. When you are working with a client you will need to know how to react to these quickly, so it is very important to master them as best as you can.

Lenses: Lens choice is an important aspect to newborn portraiture. You are not going to use a long focal length lens to take a newborn portrait, so it is important to figure out what you will need that will work for you. Rent a few of the popular lenses preferred by newborn photographers and see if any of these lenses will work best for you. The 50mm 1.2L and the 35 1.4L these are non zoom lenses. If you do not like using a fixed lens like such as these another option is the 24-70 2.8L zoom lens. The main difference when shooting between the 50 and the 35mm lenses for me is, I am 5’4 and I like to be close to my newborns so I use a 35mm lens. With the 50mm I feel too far away. It all depends on your shooting style, so rent the different lenses before you buy. A great place to rent lenses is Borrow Lenses . They will allow you to extend your rental while you are renting should you need to.

Lighting: Next if you plan on using a studio light or natural light you will need to learn how to work work with it and modify it. Sue Bryce offers a Master Lighting class on Creative Live Studio vs. Natural.  Using reflectors as well as shooting at different angles is important to learn as well.  A good resource for lighting comparisons with different studio lights you should check out this awesome video by Karl Taylor .  I offer both natural light as well as studio light options. I often will host the newborn session in the comfort of the parents home and I can do natural or studio, if the natural light is there, I will just use it, if not, I have a studio light I will use.  It is important to learn how to work with light in various situations.

The Business Side:   This is crucial, if you want to do this as your career not as a hobby, you will need to eventually make a profit.  A profit in 2 – 3 years time is ideal.  Think about if you plan on any equipment purchases or upgrades? Props are a large investment for newborn photographers, do not go crazy. Stay off of the de-stash groups, chances are you can buy it cheaper when there is a coupon code advertised right from the vendor. When I see a de-stashed item in my feed that I have been dreaming about it becomes an impulse decision, just stay off the groups until you are making a profit.  I budget for the purchase of one new backdrop and a few extra items per newborn booking. Budget how you feel comfortable, but again, don’t go crazy. You don’t know what your clientele will want until you have your style established.

• Accounting – Business taxes can get confusing but you will need to understand the process in order to avoid fines.
• Legal – It is important to plan on investing in contracts to protect yourself as well as your clients
• Insurance – You need to protect yourself, your gear and your clients. Average about $300 – $700 annually for property, liability, and other business insurance.
• Computers – staying up to date on the latest computers and gadgets is crucial. A slow computer means longer editing time, this taking longer to complete and finalize a session. I have 3 computers, 3 external hard drives and all client sessions are backed up twice via external hard drive and in a Cloud Storage.

Education:    A great place to start is to see if there are any organizations hosting photography courses in your area. If not, you can attend a workshop hosted by another photographer.   When you have mastered manual, it is time to mentor under one of the experts. Here you will find a few of the cream of the crop, newborn photography mentors in the USA and Canada.

Newborn Photography Mentors

Son Kissed Photography

Keri Meyers Photography

Dewdrops Photography by Amy McDaniel

Milk and Honey Photography

Caralee Case Photography

Eden Bao Photography

Respect Your Mentor: You are hiring your mentor to teach you things you never would have known should you not have mentored with them. This is their intellectual property, their knowledge, their hard work, their experience that they are teaching you. A huge problem in the newborn photography industry is photographers learning from their mentors and starting their own mentoring classes using the same knowledge they were taught. It is the mentors intellectual property, not yours. Use it to perfect your craft, but respect your mentor and do not abuse what they are giving you.

Finding YOU:   Now that you have mastered your camera and have mentored with a newborn photographer. You will need to discover YOUR art. The wonderful aspect of photography is it is art. Artistic vision, your vision. So take everything you have learned and you’re your style, develop what you love, what you like, and what is going to separate you from others to make you your unique self. I know for me I love color, depth, light and airy. After a long journey of discovery, this is what I found is me and makes me happy. When a client chooses me, it is because they too like these as aspects as well.

SEO and Marketing: People need to find you, this can be done in a variety of different ways, word of mouth, print advertising, web, direct mail, you will need to budge for this as well.

Be Friendly with Your Neighbor Photographer:   You never know where your next referral is coming from. I have photographers come from all over to have a session with me. They refer to me and I have no issue referring to others if I am unable to service a client. To me it’s a disservice to just say, “sorry, I am booked” and just send a client away. If you say hey, try this person, chances are, that client will remember you were nice enough to do that, should they want to book another session in the future, they WILL remember YOU.

Avoid the Drama: You will come across unfriendly photographers and cyber bullies that like to post things in private groups (ignore it or report it if it continues as cyber defamation and cyber bullying depending on the state is illegal) But don’t engage. The last thing you should ever do is engage in drama to be, “part” of an online social circle.  Be prepared, but don’t get involved.

Stay Positive – The photography community I stay in, is very positive, supportive and a healthy environment. Everyone is happy to share new innovative ideas, how they did what, where they bought what and help a fellow newborn photographer out in any way they can. You meet a lot of these people through your mentor and some times can become life long friends, this is an amazing gift. You connect with others that have common goals and challenges. And share your journeys with each other along the way.

Resources for Your Business

ProPhoto – Offers fabulous SEO friendly wordpress templates fit for photographers

Photography Merchant Account – Accept Credit Card Payments via your cell phone and send invoices for deposits

Custom Photo Props – A Great Place to Buy Affordable Newborn Props

Roses and Ruffles – Offers newborn backdrops, maternity gowns, flokati rugs and wraps

A & R Backdrops – Offers newborn backdrops, furs, wraps and maternity wear

LemonDrop Stop – Premier backdrops and floor drops provider

Savage Seamless Paper –  Seamless backdrop paper provider

Better Photo – Offers online classes and learning

Understanding Exposure  Book of learning all about exposure

Adorama – A place to camera and studio equipment

Thank you for reading my post hope this helps you with your newborn photography business.  If you feel I left something out or should add something let me know.  XOXO ~ Jennifer Lee

« Buffalo Sabres Family Portraits by Portrait Pretty Photography Maryvale High School | WNY Senior Photography »

Angie - Great article! You pointed out all the necessary elements to beginning a newborn photography business! Reply Cancel

portraitprettyphotography - thank you! Reply Cancel

Harshita - Jennifer…your article is so informative…when we start a business we dont realize what all we need to put in to be there. I love the part about respecting the mentor 🙂 Reply Cancel

portraitprettyphotography - Thank you for reading. Reply Cancel

Carmen - Fantastic article here. You covered all bases as to what it takes to not only be a newborn photographer but a photographer in general. Reply Cancel

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Newborn Photography: The Ultimate Guide & Best Tips for 2024

There’s something truly magical about a newborn baby. From their little yawns, those tiny toes, everyone loves photos of newborn babies. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the world of newborn photography . Or are thinking about a career as a newborn photographer. There are many aspects to consider and understand when it comes to newborn photography. This complete and ultimate guide is here to help!

This guide will answer all your questions about taking newborn photos . Plus it will give you the best tips and tricks out there for newborn photography that you won’t find anywhere else. Why? Because this guide is written by Matt and Jess, expert and professional newborn photographers in Los Angeles since 2011. We have over 13+ years of experience working with newborns and babies. This guide is a wealth of information based on our experience running our newborn photography business together over the years.

I’ll start from the very beginning, but here is a general outline of what this step-by-step guide will cover:

• Why Newborn Photography Matters
• Newborn Photography Definition
• Family & Sibling Poses
• Swaddle Techniques
• Posing Aides
• Accessories
• Newborn Photoshoot Top 10 Tips for Taking Great Baby Photos

Why Newborn Photography Matters in 2024

Let’s talk about why newborn photography is such a big deal in 2024. Picture this: the world’s moving faster every day, everything seems to be changing, but here’s one thing that remains timeless – those first precious moments of a newborn’s life. For new parents, they know how quickly time flies, and before they know it, their tiny baby isn’t so tiny anymore. That’s where newborn photography comes in – it’s like pressing pause on these fleeting moments.

How often do you hear parents say things like:

“The days are long, but the years are short”.

“They grow up so fast!” or “Time is flying”.

Think about all those adorable details – the little yawns, tiny toes, and those peaceful sleeping faces. These are the memories parents want to hold onto forever. Newborn photography captures these details so beautifully, and in 2024, it’s all about documenting these moments with even more emotion and style.

It’s not just about taking pictures; it’s about telling a family’s story right from the start. These photos will become a part of a family’s heritage and passed on to future generations to come. They’re a way to remember how small their little one was and to cherish the beginning of this amazing journey called parenthood.

In 2024, newborn photography is more than a trend – it’s an essential part of capturing and celebrating life. For us baby photographers, it’s a privilege to freeze these moments for families. We’re here to help them remember every little detail of this special time, giving them something beautiful that they’ll look back on for years to come.

To be the photographer who documents these special moments in time is truly an honor. We are humbled every time a new family chooses us.

What is Newborn Photography: A Definition

There has always been many different categories of photography: engagement, wedding, graduating seniors, family, etc. It was only a matter of time until newborn photography became its own niche.

Before there were photographers specializing in newborns, most parents would turn to their wedding photographer for help in photographing their new baby boy or baby girl. It only seemed natural to go back to the photographer that documented the first most important day of their life!

But, most wedding photographers had little to no experience working with babies. In fact, taking photos of a newborn is nothing like photographing a wedding. So, this left many parents searching for a photographer who was trained and well versed in working with babies. Naturally, this led to many photographers deciding to focus solely on newborn photography.

So, in a nutshell, newborn photography is a baby’s first ever photoshoot . It is the category of photography that focuses specifically on taking photos of a newborn baby, usually two weeks old or less, by a trained, experienced professional. One that has devoted themselves to the craft of safely lighting, wrapping, posing, and soothing newborns. It’s all about celebrating and capturing the start of a brand new life in the most beautiful way possible.

Newborn Photography Overview

At first glance, a newborn photo might seem simple: a cute, sleeping baby . But you would be surprised at how much time, patience and effort goes into a newborn photoshoot. Not only do you need to be a great photographer, but you should also understand all the different aspects of newborn photography. Aspects such as safety, different styles, locations and equipment used, props and accessories, as well as timing and preparation.

Let’s take a closer look.

Safety in Newborn Photography

The most important topic when discussing newborn photography is safety.

There are many ways you can learn the skills needed to safely photograph newborns. There are hundreds of on-line videos, classes, groups and conventions all devoted to newborn photography education. But, the number one way in our experience is to learn from in-person mentoring and training sessions from an expert newborn photographer. It’s the gold standard of learning in our field. During these sessions you will learn hands on the safety skills and posing confidence needed to be a newborn photographer. Of course, in addition to this you will learn the proper soothing techniques to work with babies.

I’m here to tell you that in-person, hands on mentoring and training with an expert is the number one way to learn how to pose a newborn safely. Additionally, you can take on-line education courses . Photographers can watch expert mentors conduct multiple live newborn photoshoots and ask questions. Throughout the year, there are also many baby conventions dedicated to newborn photography and include courses devoted to safety. Even photographers who’ve been in the game for ages find these super valuable. We’re all about keeping our skills sharp and staying up to date.

And More Safety

Knowing how to properly soothe, handle and support baby is an absolute requirement of any professional newborn photographer . Parents should take extra special care when deciding on their newborn photographer. Ensuring they are putting their brand new little love into the hands of someone who is highly experienced and specializes in newborn photography. Someone who will never pose a baby in an unsafe position. No pose or shot is EVER worth a baby’s safety. I can’t stress this enough. Our newborn photoshoots are dictated by one, and only one, person. The baby. It doesn’t matter what parents or we have planned out. Or what pose or prop we were hoping for. We photograph what the baby is comfortable in. If they are not happy in a certain pose or position, we move on. A comfortable baby is a peaceful baby and this will show in the photos you take.

The baby’s comfort and safety should be paramount to you, as the newborn photographer, which is also why you should always always work with an assistant. Having two sets of eyes attending to the baby during the entire newborn session is very important. Newborns can startle easily and in our experience the safest way to photograph a newborn is with two people- the photographer and an assistant.

All professional newborn photographers should be current on their vaccinations, especially the Tdap, or whooping cough. Newborns are not born with a fully developed immune system. So it is extra important that anyone that will be in close contact with them be fully vaccinated. Additionally, photographers should take an Infant/Baby Safety and CPR class at their local hospital. Both Matt and Jess have completed the Infant Safety and CPR class at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center .

There are two main styles of newborn photography: posed and lifestyle. Below we will cover the differences between each!

Posed Newborn Photography

Posed newborn photography is more like professional portraits for your baby in a studio setting. Studio light or natural light can be used. Accessories, backdrops, flowers or greenery and props are used to add texture and beauty to the photos. Your photographer will gently position your baby into a variety of cute poses during the photo shoot. Keeping your baby comfortable and content the entire time. The emphasis is on your baby looking especially adorable in those classic sleeping newborn poses.

There are three main categories in posed newborn photography:

Parents and Siblings

Bare baby shots are those classic newborn photos where baby is posed on a fabric on top of a firm surface. Accessories such as wraps, headbands, hats, etc. are used, too. The focus of these shots are just baby with very little distractions. A stretchy fabric is draped and pulled taught over a firm surface, serving as one continuous background. Surfaces like a posing beanbag or table can be used.

Each newborn photographer has their own workflow for these bare baby shots. Often, they will start with one specific pose and continue to transition from one pose to another. In our experience, it is best to create a posing flow that will end up moving baby the least amount of times . Planning out how this works takes some time, but will pay off big when you still have a sleeping, peaceful baby at the end of the photoshoot. Parents especially love these photos because they focus on the star of the show- their new born baby!

Specific Considerations

After photographing newborns for more than 12 years, we have found that these bare baby poses can be the more challenging shots during the photoshoot. Keep in mind that newborns naturally prefer to be swaddled up, snug and cozy. But with bare poses, they are not. In our experience, we have found it best to start with these poses at the beginning of the photoshoot . Baby has slept the entire car ride over and is more apt to be in a deeper sleep upon arrival.

Bare baby poses also require a very, very sleepy baby. A full belly and a warm studio are going to be your best bet here. Also, remember that not all newborns will do bare baby poses. Some will have gas or tummy issues and some are just super alert and awake. If this is the case, we will do a shortened work flow or skip these bare baby poses and focus more on swaddled shots.

Top 4 Basic Newborn Photography Poses

There are four main bare baby poses that we do here at Matt Cramer Photography.

• Bum or Tushy Up
• Side Laying
• Back Laying

1. Womb Pose

In the womb pose, we cross baby’s feet and lay baby gently over them for a curled up look. A hand is tucked sweetly under their cheek. This posed is named for being somewhat similar to the position baby is inside the womb during pregnancy .

We use posing pillows, also known as “posing beans”, under the fabric to achieve our bare baby poses. In this photo, we have used one large posing bean underneath baby’s head to lift their head up towards the light and camera. This is the first pose we do in our posing workflow.

2. Bum or Tushy Up Pose

During the bum or tushy up pose, baby’s feet are crossed and resting underneath their bottom. Their hand is placed under their cheek. Babies tend to love this pose. Having their knees tucked under their tummy, with their head to the side is a natural position for them when being held or burped by a parent. The tushy up pose is one of the most classic bare baby shots in newborn photography.

We achieved this pose by gently moving babies legs from under them in the womb pose to behind them. The hand position stays the same, tucked under their cheek. The larger posing bean used in womb pose remains in place and a second, smaller posing bean is added under baby’s bottom. This is the second pose in our posing workflow .

This pose is perfect for accessorizing! We like to change the look by adding a knit or cheesecloth/gauze wrap and trailing it off and away. This pose with the pink wrap trailing off is the most requested shot for girls!

3. Side Laying Pose

Next, we move to the side laying pose where baby is laying on their side with their legs out from under them and slightly bent. Their cute feet are stacked on top of each other and hand under the cheek. Notice that the baby’s face is in focus, as the body goes out of focus.

From the bum up pose, we gently uncross baby’s legs, shift their hip under a bit, and stack their legs on top of each other off to the side. The hand position stays tucked sweetly under their cheek. The larger posing bean used in the bum up pose under baby’s head rotates clockwise 25%. The second, smaller posing bean is now pushed farther back under the fabric to support baby’s legs in the side position. This is the third pose in our posing workflow .

This pose can be one of the more challenging shots during a newborn photography session. This is because baby is a little more apt to wake since their legs and feet are a little more “free” and not tucked under them. But we think this pose is one of the cutest! Parents love this pose because it put the focus right on baby’s face.

The most requested accessory for this pose is our sheer, ivory cheesecloth wrap! We drape this over baby for an extra beautiful look!

4. Back Laying Pose

Last, we have the back laying pose that is just that. Baby is posed on their back either bare or swaddled. The goal in this pose is baby’s hands resting peacefully on their chest while their feet are crossed.

If baby wakes during the side laying pose, we will take baby off the fabric and swaddle them with a nice knit wrap. Once wrapped snug and neat, we will place baby back on the fabric on their back. The larger posing bean used in the side laying pose under baby’s head remains in place. The second, smaller posing bean is now positioned as a “stopper” at the back of baby. This will also lift baby’s bottom a bit and help keep the pose. This is the fourth pose in our posing workflow .

We love to add a little teddy bear lovey if baby is sleeping deeply, too!

This pose sets baby up for an absolutely perfect transition to a prop look. Especially if this shot has been done with baby wrapped. We simply pick up baby from the fabric and place them in our first prop set up. Be sure to use a wrap that will match and work with your first prop.

Remember the key to newborn photography is maximizing a well thought out posing workflow. Our goal is always to get the most amount of variety while moving baby the least.

Speaking of props! We love them! Not only do they add in more texture and dimension to our photoshoots. But they also give us the opportunity to capture those beautiful close up, macro shots of baby’s details. For these photos, baby is photographed while posed on or in a prop. We will alway swaddle baby nice and snug in a wrap first. Then, we place baby gently in a prop and little posing pillows are used to support their head. Next, photograph baby from a variety of different angles. Aerial, side view, straight on, close up, etc.

In our experience as newborn photographers, the prop shots allow us to get the most variety of images for our clients. For this reason, prop shots are not only a favorite for us, but also among most baby photographers and parents.

Where to buy newborn posing fabric: Freebird Prop Shoppe

6 Best Newborn Photography Props

There are six main types of props we use during our newborn photo shoots here at Matt Cramer Photography.

• Round (bowls, baskets, nests, etc.)
• Rectangle (crates, baskets)
• Flokati Rug

1. Round Prop

For round props, things like wood bowls, woven baskets and nests are used. We love this style of prop because they seem to naturally keep baby in a nice, round shape . Its easy to swaddle baby up in a pretty wrap, place a posing pillow under their head and capture beautiful shots!

Where to buy: Luneberry and Rozzi Rayne Studio Props

2. Rectangle Prop

The most popular rectangular props right now are wood and bamboo crates . Baby is always padded underneath with layers of knit blankets, faux fur or felted wool for comfort. This prop is also perfect for capturing close up macro shots of baby’s details.

Where to buy: Luneberry and Rozzi Rayne Studio Props and Hobby Lobby (where this exact prop shown in photo was bought!)

3. Baby Bed Prop

What can be cuter than a baby in a mini bed? Not much! Baby bed are among the most popular newborn photography props right now. They are usually made of wood and come in a variety of colors. The most requested baby bed props here at Matt Cramer Photography are our white wood bed and our natural wood bed. Made with specific dimensions, they are perfectly sized for a newborn baby .

Where to buy: Rozzy Rayne Studio Props (where actual prop bed in photo was bought) and The Original Photoblocks Props

4. Basket Prop

Although the basket prop shot can be more challenging, it sure is a parent favorite! In this prop, baby’s half swaddled body is placed down into the basket. Baby’s arms rest on the edge of the basket for a perfect shot of their face. Don’t worry, there is plenty of padding and support in and around the inside of the basket to keep baby very comfortable. Baskets props come in a variety of materials, with wood and rope being the most popular in newborn photography.

Where to buy: Luneberry (where actual prop in photo was bought)

5. Flokati Rug

Ok, well this is not technically a prop! But in professional newborn photography sessions, we use a flokati rug a lot. This is a shot we do in almost every single session . We spread it out over a posing pillow or round prop. Then we create a small dip in the middle and place baby gently in. A posing bean goes underneath to support baby’s head. The flokati gives a beautiful textured backdrop for a newborn photo. And, it adds variety to the gallery.

We have multiple colors of flokatis here at Matt Cramer Photography. Most popular are: blush pink, ivory, light slate grey/blue and a perfect light grey.

Where to buy: Luneberry (where flokatis in photo were bought- perfect light grey and light blush) and Rozzi Rayne Studio Props .

6. Trampoline

Say what? Did we just say trampoline? Well, yes we did. The latest and greatest posing aid to come on the newborn photography scene and we are here to say we LOVE it. To use and set up this aid, we take our mini 36″ trampoline and throw 3-4 blankets over it. Then we put our “final” fabric that we want to photograph on top and clamp down all around the frame of the trampoline. One large posing bean is used under fabric that will support baby’s head.

We gently place baby down on the fabric and adjust our light. With this set up, we are able to get beautiful overhead shots of swaddled baby. It is a perfect backdrop for a more modern and minimalistic style of newborn photos.

Where to buy: Amazon

Last, there are parent and sibling photos taken during our posed newborn photography photoshoots. These shots have a more emotional and sensitive element to them. We will pose baby with each parent, sibling and everyone together. We will also guide them through a series of shots, photographing different angles and expressions as parents and siblings engage with baby . These are photos a family will never regret having!

Top 4 Newborn Photography Family and Sibling Poses

There are four main categories of the parent and sibling portion of our newborn photoshoots here at Matt Cramer Photography.

• Mom and Baby
• Dad and Baby
• Sibling and Baby
• Family and Baby

1. Mom and Baby Poses

If mom is feeling up to taking photos we always encourage them to! Here at our home studio we have a selection of tops for moms to choose from. We’ve got them covered! We have a nice selection of beautiful cream lace accented tops in a variety of size, styles and colors here- plenty to choose from! We tell moms that they can actually bring nothing at all, and we have enough here to work with.

Of all the mommy/baby shots in our newborn portfolio, 95% are of moms wearing tops from our collection. This certainly makes it easier on moms! When everyone is ready, I place swaddled baby in moms arms with her hands cradling baby’s head and feet. Then, I guide mom through a series of interactions with baby. For example, looking down at baby, kissing baby, smelling baby, and softly placing her cheek on baby’s cheek. These photos always evoke beautiful connection between mom and new baby.

2. Dad and Baby Poses

Similarly, there are the Dad and baby photos. Usually we capture these photos after mom. We pose Dad with his baby girl or baby boy together. The photo of baby in dad’s hands is perhaps one of the most popular requests. This is where we will position baby on top of a black fabric with Dad’s hands gently cradling baby. This very powerful shot is so timeless and classic .

3. Sibling and Baby Poses

Another important category to consider is sibling and baby photos. These photos are especially important to our clients that have other children. To see their older child interacting with their brand new baby brother or sister is such a joy. But capturing that in a photo is even more so. However, getting a great shot of sibling and baby during a newborn photography session can be a challenge. Especially if sibling is under three years old.

For this reason, we can include siblings who are three years old and over in our newborn sessions. We like to remind parents that we always try to capture great sibling shots. But it will really depend on what the little ones are game for. Sibling shots can be great when they work. But we like to stress that they are  not  the focus of our newborn sessions.

Typically siblings arrive separately about an hour after the session starts. Then we try for a few different shots with newborn and sibling, as well as everyone together with newborn. For about 30-45 minutes, we give it our best shot with the siblings, but if they aren’t cooperating, we move on. Taking too much time away from the baby-only shots isn’t something we like to do. We recommend that someone is available to leave with the siblings once their shots are done. Newborn sessions are much too long and hot for siblings!

4. Family and Baby Poses

Now it’s time for the entire family to come into the photo! In our home studio, this is where we will pose mom, dad and baby together. Of course, we also include older siblings if there are any. Hopefully, baby is still sleeping for these photos. We like to capture families engaging with baby . Either looking down and admiring the new baby or kissing baby. You will frame these photos and put them on the wall for years of enjoyment.

Lifestyle Newborn Photography

Lifestyle newborn photography is more like an informal and candid photo shoot for your baby. Generally, your photos will have a more casual feeling. The props and backgrounds used are more in line with your home or baby’s nursery . They can use a crib, a bassinet, a window, a bed, etc. Your photographer will still guide baby through a variety of different shots and photograph the baby in props that align more with what you would find around your home or in the baby’s nursery.

Lifestyle photographers almost always conduct these sessions in homes using natural lighting . But there are some photographers who have a lifestyle area in their studio already set up. Many are more boho themed with a bed, pillows, wall art and floral accents. We do not offer this style of newborn photography here at Matt Cramer Photography, but there are many newborn photographers in Los Angeles that do!

Locations for Newborn Photography

There are three main locations where newborn photography takes place:

Most newborn photoshoots take place in a studio. This can be a rented or leased commercial space. Or, it can also be a home studio where a dedicated space is used only for newborn photography. Here at Matt Cramer Photography, we only photograph newborns in our comfortable home studio.

The benefit of coming to our studio for baby photography is that all our props, equipment and lighting are already set up . We tell parents they only have to bring baby, food and a diaper bag! And don’t worry. We have all the supplies needed for a newborn right here! Things like baby wipes, diapers, a bottle warmer, a UV sterilizer, burp clothes, a changing pad, bottles and pacifiers are on always on hand.

Likewise, we also have our super comfy parent area . This is a place where parents can comfortably sit back and take a moment to breathe. Many parents take a nap, catch up on text, or work emails. We also have free wifi, so take advantage of it, too! Around the studio you will also see displays of the different prints and products that we offer. We display products like reclaimed barnwood frames, metal prints, hanging canvas, albums and books.

Last, we always have a cute little welcome sign for the baby of the day!

Sometimes a photoshoot can take place in your home. We call this in home newborn photography. Generally, this will be more expensive as your photographer has to travel to your home. The photographer must pack up all props, lighting, and equipment and bring them to your home.

While this location is convenient for some parents, it comes with its own set of challenges .

First, your home must have ample light and ample room. So, if you live in a small apartment or home without many windows, this can be challenge. Second, props and background choices might be more limited. Your photography can not bring their entire studio with them. Many times they will bring just the essentials or a narrowed selection of props. Also, many parents feel they need to tidy up their house before an in home newborn photography session. However, after just bringing a new born home from the hospital, that is the last thing most parents want to do! We do not offer in home newborn sessions at Matt Cramer Photography.

Although uncommon, there are some newborn photographers in warmer states that will photograph newborns outdoors. Many use a nearby open space or a yard with filtered light. While these type of photos can be beautiful, they also come with a set of challenges. Natural elements like insects and weather come into play. Since newborns need to be kept warm, outdoor temperatures, even in the warmest states, can make this difficult.

Newborn Photography Equipment

The best cameras for newborn photography.

There are two main camera options for the professional newborn photographer. The DSLR, or a digital single-lens reflex, camera. Or the latest and greatest technology known as a mirrorless camera. In 2024, most photographers have either already made the switch to mirrorless or are deciding if they should. It is the way the photography industry is moving. Our bet is that most will make the change by end of the year.

Without getting too technical, you can use both for photographing newborns, but mirrorless cameras are definitely the future. Here at Matt Cramer Photography we have already gone mirrorless.

Some of the most popular mirrorless cameras on the market:

• Canon EOS R5

2. Canon EOS R6

These are some of the more popular DSLRs being used today are:

• Canon 5D Mark III or Mark IV

• Nikon d800 or d850

6 Great Lenses for Newborn Photography

Photographers always have their “go to” lenses. And this is the case in newborn photography, as well. While there are many who swear by Nikon or Sony , we shoot Canon so the lenses listed below are what we have used during our 12+ years of photographing newborns.

The most popular lenses are:

Best Lighting Equipment Gear and Kits for Newborn Photography

Many newborn photographers who do not use natural light use Paul C. Buff’s White Lightning, Einstein or Alien Bees as their primary lighting source. They are know to be relatively affordable, durable and reliable. Matt personally uses a Dynalite m1000wi power pack with a 2040 head. It’s built like a tank and almost indestructible. He has always liked having the power controls on the power pack as opposed to the actual head itself. It also recycles relatively quickly so he can shoot quick bursts of continuous high speed when needed. (Note that Dynalite was purchased by Philips 2009).

There are a number of other high quality lighting solutions on the market such as Elichrom, Speedotron or Profoto but the price starts to increase as well. For the price, the Paul C. Buff products seem to be the perfect fit for all levels of newborn photographers.

As for light modifiers, the Paul C. Buff 86″ White PLM Front Diffusion Fabric Umbrella is our go-to. The diffused bounce of the light creates very soft shadows. This is ideal for newborn photography. Additionally, we have also used large rectangular soft boxes.

We put this on top of a 7 ft. Matthews Reverse Stand . Its light and easy to move around the studio and compacts nicely for storage.

Newborn Photography Accessories and Backdrops

Swaddles and wraps.

• Headbands, Bonnets and Hats
• Teddy Bears and Loveys
• Flowers and Greenery

The accessory used the most in every one of our newborn photoshoots is a wrap. It is the must have for every infant photographer! Babies loved to be wrapped up . Once they feel a soft and snug swaddle around them they often drift right off to sleep. It is usually the key to calming a fussy baby during a photoshoot.

Additionally, wraps are great ways to dress up those bare baby poses. By draping a light gauze wrap softly over baby, or covering baby’s bottom and trailing the fabric off behind them. There are so many ways to create beautiful shots with an accessory wrap.

Here at our studio, we have hundreds of wraps in many different shades. Palettes of white, cream, blush, pink, grey, and blue are the most requested! Although wraps can come in different fabrics, the most popular seem to be stretch cotton jersey, cashmere, mohair and sweater knit. These fabrics give a beautiful texture to our newborn photos!

Experienced, professional newborn photographers will have mastered wrapping a baby. In fact, there are many different wrapping techniques that we use here.

6 Newborn Photography Swaddle Wrap Techniques and What They Look Like

These beautiful wraps add interest and texture to our newborn photoshoots!

1. Middle Twist Wrap

This is by far and away our most requested wrap style. It is pretty and functional at the same time!

2. Full Body Wrap

This wrap style is perfect for fussy babies. It keeps them snug and warm!

3. Cross Over Wrap

This is the perfect wrap to keep baby feeling snug and secure. The fabric crosses over baby’s body and gives some textured interest to the wrap.

4. See the Details Wrap

This wrap technique shows off baby’s tiny hands, feet and details!

5. Knot Wrap

A perfect wrap style to keep baby snug but also adds a little extra detail!

6. Comfort Wrap

Since it allows them to keep their arms tucked in and hands close to their face, babies usually love this wrap! It’s a perfect way to see their little feet and capture close up shots of their hands, too.

The best vendors for beautiful, quality wraps are:

• Beautiful Ewe
• Natural Whispering Wonder
• Peach Stitch

Newborn Photography Posing Aides

Say hello to the little helpers of newborn photography – posing aides! These special tools are a photographer’s best friend. Designed just for newborns, they make posing a breeze. Comfort and security for the baby? Check. Easier posing for us? Double check. Each posing aide has its own magic, simplifying our job and ensuring your baby looks adorable and stays snug during the shoot. They’re the behind-the-scenes heroes, helping us capture those perfect, peaceful baby poses every time.

Posing Beans

Posing beans are the original and most popular newborn photography posing aides. They are basically just little curved pillows filled with firm stuffing . We use them for both bare baby poses and props to support baby’s head and anywhere else baby needs a little extra support. They come in a variety of sizes, with the largest beans mostly used as head support and the smallest beans as “fine tuning” supports. We use them often in our photo studio that we have multiple sets. The original design came from a prop vendor named The Original Photoblocks Props . Amazon and Etsy now offer cheaper, lower quality versions

Newborn Cloud Posing Pillows

Another excellent posing aid are the Newborn Cloud Posing Pillows . These are most often used for bare baby posing, but the smaller versions can also be used for behind baby’s head in props. They are filled with rice or buckwheat so they can be easily molded. Here at Matt Cramer Photography we use the largest pillow under the fabric on the trampoline. The beauty of these pillows are the firm rise to support baby, but they are contoured to fade back to the backdrop fabric so that minimal to no backdrop editing is needed.

Modest Little Me Boutique Posing Systems

The Original Freeform Posing System is a rounded super soft fleece covered pad that fits perfectly inside a variety of props. It provides the extra padding needed to support baby and has a hidden soft, metal frame that allows us to easily bend it to match the shape of our props. We use this in baskets especially. It brings ease and efficiency to our newborn photography sessions.

Next is the Freeform Lite Posing System , and this one is the winner for us. In our experience, this slimmer and more streamlined posing tool is the most versatile . This tool is also a super soft fleece covered pad, but is in more of a rectangular shape that is used inside props. It is smaller in size than the Original mentioned above, and also less bulky. It is also bendable so we can shape it support baby perfectly. We love using this posing aid in almost every prop!

Tips for Using Headbands, Bonnets and Hats in Newborn Photography

After wraps, little hats, bonnets and headbands are another adorable way newborn photographers can accessorize. Our studio has many custom made! While there are many vendors selling newborn accessories and props on-line (especially Etsy), most of them are very mediocre in both quality, materials and style. We always ask our clients to NOT buy any newborn accessories for their newborn photography photoshoot with us. Most of these vendors actually do not know proper size measurements for a tiny newborn. Often these props, once received, look absolutely ridiculous and huge on a newborn, for example.

Newborn photographers should have established relationships with quality newborn accessory vendors. Someone who knows how to size for a true newborn (not 0-3 months!), who matches their style and uses quality materials. The vendors we work with have very exclusive and limited shop openings. Since they sell out in minutes, I have to time it just right to buy the props I have my eye on. Our vendors are artists, just like us. So when we buy from them, we know we are getting the highest quality.

1. Headbands for Baby Girl

We love to use delicate and unique headbands for baby girls. Often, materials such as dried flowers, tiny leaves, and moss are used for an organic and natural feel. For our style, we use only small headbands that compliment baby. We believe accessories should never distract from the beauty of a newborn.

2. Bonnets for Baby Girl

Though requested less than headbands, bonnets can be a beautiful newborn prop, too! We love the way a bonnet outlines the face of a tiny newborn baby.

3. Hats for Baby Boy

There are many different type of hats for a baby boy! The sleepy hat with a little knot at the end of it is most popular. But the teddy bear hat is a close second. Grey, blue, cream are the most popular colors. Often, we use a matching a wrap, too, for a polished look!

Up the Cuteness in Newborn Photography With Teddy Bears and Loveys

Another newborn prop we love to use in our photos is the little “lovey”. This is a small object placed into the newborn’s hands. It really ups the adorable factor. The tiny teddy bear is often used, but, the felted hearts or other animals are just as common. These loveys are also perfect additions to a shot inspired by a woodland, forest or zoo animal nursery decor. Last, rainbows or a set of rainbow felted hearts celebrate a rainbow baby. The term rainbow baby is a healthy baby born after the loss of a baby. The idea recognizes these special babies as the rainbow of light and hope that appears after a storm or dark time.

The little teddy bear and felted animals are the most popular here!

Some of our favorite teddy bear and lovey artists are:

• AGK Originals

How to Use Flowers and Greenery in Newborn Photography

Another way to add texture and interest to a newborn photography session is to use flowers and foliage. Here at Matt Cramer Photography we absolutely love to incorporate these organic and natural elements to our newborn photos. For baby girls we tend to use flowers like peonies, roses and baby’s breath. For baby boys and general greenery, we like to use ferns, eucalyptus, moss, and willow branches.

Where to buy: Michael’s and Hobby Lobby

Best Backdrops for Newborn Photography

When it comes to newborn photography backdrops there are hundreds of options.

The four main categories that are most commonly used today:

• Solid Seamless Paper
• Posing Fabric
• Prints and Themes

1. Wood Backdrops

Much like the trend in interior design, reclaimed barnwood is by far the most popular look right now in wood backdrops. Some newborn photographers will use real wood and build themselves a DIY wood backdrop. Here at our home studio, we backdrops with a wood pattern actually printed on it- and they look incredibly real! This type of backdrop is made of a rubber backed mat or a large piece of canvas, coated poly paper or stretchy fabric and a wood print is applied directly to the material. Further, wood backdrops will vary in terms of color, type of wood, board width and how rustic they look. Our collection of wood backdrops covers white, medium and dark wood looks.

Above all, we prefer Rozzi Rayne and Intution Background for our wood backdrops.

2. Solid Seamless Paper

Mainly used for parent and family shots, a solid seamless paper backdrop is classic and timeless. This type of backdrop comes as a large roll of paper and we hang from the ceiling. Most importantly, this allows the photographer to easily pull it down when needed and roll it back up and out of the way when not. Hundreds of color options are available, however, most newborn photographers will use neutrals such as bone, beige, mocha, chestnut and grey.

Savage is the most widely known maker of seamless paper backdrops for photography.

3. Posing Fabric

You would consider this backdrop option for those cute bare baby photos I talked about earlier. Posing fabric comes in every shade of the rainbow and more recently printed options have become available, too. Moreover, the material is always a stretchy fabric so it can easily be draped over a posing area and clamped up to a backdrop stand for a very smooth and even look. Two yards is the most common size for the posing fabric used in newborn photography.

We buy all our posing fabric from Freebird Prop Shoppe . Her fabrics are incredible and of the best quality.

4. Prints and Themes

Last, there are thousands of different print and theme options out there. Everything from florals to fields, from whimsical to woodlands. If you can think of it, there is probably a backdrop for it! Here, we tend to shy away from busy backdrops, as our style is just less “themed” in general, but there are many wonderful photographers out there that enjoy and do themes beautifully!

Newborn Photography: 10 Tips for Taking Great Baby Photos

So we’ve covered all the different aspects of newborn photography in this guide. You’ve read it through a million times and you are familiar with everything you need to do . Safety- check. Eduction- check. Posing- check. Accessories- check. Now, you are ready to take adorable newborn photos. But how do you prepare for the actual photoshoot?

Here are a few tips that we do in our own newborn photography studio. In our experience, these are the most important.

1. Communicate with Parents

Let parents know exactly what to expect during their photo shoot. Tell them how long it will take. Let them know it will be very warm and to dress in layers. Remind them of your address and where to park. I know that might sound silly. But remember, first time parents can be very sleep deprived! Having a new baby is a lot of work, so make sure to spell everything out for them ahead of time . Be sure to communicate with them on how the prepare for the baby photos.

Remind them that when they arrive to your studio, their only job is to relax. Once they arrive they are off duty and you will be in charge of all baby soothing, handling, diaper changes, wiping, etc. Many of our parents are so surprised they don’t have anything to do while they are here! They really can just take it easy. It will give them a little time to take a nap, have some quiet time, or catch up on any emails, texts, calls, etc.

2. Ask Parents to Do a Little Prep at Home

We always ask parents to keep baby awake and alert at home for about an hour the morning of the photoshoot. Baby will usually sleep deeper and longer during their time with you if they can do this. This will enable you to get in the maximum number of “set ups” that you will want to deliver to parents. Singing, walking around and talking, or even taking them for a stroll outside are all great ways to interact with baby to keep them awake. Also, if ok’d by the pediatrician, tell parents to give baby a bath in the morning. Sometimes this will keep them alert for longer periods and get baby photoshoot ready!

Tell them to be sure to wipe down baby’s eyes and face as best as they can during awake time at home. Paying special attention to any flakey skin or dry skin around the baby’s eyes, corner of eyes and any crusty eyelashes. Last, recommend that parents do not use any kind of oil based skin lotion or moisturizer on baby the morning of the session. Oil based lotion can add shine to baby’s skin that the camera will pick up. Any cream based lotion is fine to apply.

Next, have parents give baby a full feeding before leaving the house. A full belly of warm milk will help keep baby content and asleep during their photoshoot. If mom is breastfeeding, recommend no spicy foods and absolutely NO caffeine for at least 48 hours prior to the newborn pictures.

Last, remind parents to not take baby out of the car seat when they arrive to the photoshoot. This helps to not disturb baby and ensure baby stays asleep for the start of the session.

3. Time it Right

Newborn photography is typically scheduled within the first two weeks of birth . This is when babies are still very sleepy and curly. And infant pictures require a sleeping baby!

However, for preterm or early babies, and babies that have spent time in the NICU this timeline can be adjusted. Remember that while within two weeks is the ideal timeframe, you can still photograph “older” newborns past two weeks old. You will just need to be more patient and perhaps focus more on the swaddled shots than bare baby photos. In our opinion, five weeks is the latest you can try for newborn photos. We have photographed many older newborns and they have always turned out beautiful!

You will want to ask parents to consider booking their photoshoot with you in the second or third trimester.

4. Plan Your Props and Looks Ahead of Time

So, you’ve scheduled your newborn photoshoot and the day has arrived. Now its time to prepare for your best newborn photoshoot.

Create a questionnaire and ask parents what colors, poses, props, etc. they like . You can tell them to send you links or screenshots from your website or Instagram of photos that they like. This way you can get an idea as to what photos in your portfolio they are drawn to.

Then, make a plan for what poses you want to try for and which props you hope to use. Communicate with parents on this plan to be sure you are incorporating looks and colors that they like.

The morning of the photoshoot, pull together all your looks. Choose your fabrics, backgrounds, props, wraps, etc. and set them all up. Then, you just have to add baby. Have these ready before parents arrive so you can review the looks and get their top choices picked out quickly .

5. Warm the Space You Will Be Working In

Now, you are ready to get to work. But there are a few things you still have to do. The most important is to heat the room you will be photographing baby in. Newborns can not regulate their body temperatures as well as older children or adults. So you will need to keep your space comfortable, cozy and warm . This is especially important during bare baby poses. You can use a space heater if your shooting area is usually cold.

6. Use White Noise and Heartbeat Sounds

Newborns love to listen to white noise and a heartbeat. So much so, that there are many baby products on the market to help create these soothing sounds for baby. Make sure to have white noise going in the background while you are photographing baby. Most newborn photographers use the Baby Shusher , and we do too! It is a wonderful tool that makes the best white noise for a newborn photoshoot.

Similarly, you can also play a heartbeat soundtrack while you are working. There are plenty of apps and Spotify or YouTube playlists for this! Other sounds that newborns love are: washing machine, hair dryer, traffic, rain, and ocean waves.

7. Move Slowly and Gently

From taking baby out of their car seat upon arrival to posing and swaddling them, be sure to make your movements gentle and slow. You are handling the most precious gift any parent has ever received. It is your duty and promise to them that you will handle baby in the most safe and gentle way possible. Keep in mind that newborns can startle easily with too quick movements or loud noises. So it is incredibly important that you take your time with each baby and be aware of their cues .

8. Have Patience and Know When to Move On

There is no doubt about it, newborn photography takes patience. What seems like one simple, easy shot to parents can take you 45 minutes alone! From getting baby poses just right to finally taking the shot, it can be a slow process. So above all, make sure you bring your patience! For example, a baby might not like a pose. Further, others might need to feed, have their diaper changed or just have a little gas. Whatever happens during your new born photos, always remember to be patient . And if something isn’t working, or baby is not happy, move on to the next look. No picture is worth an unhappy baby.

9. Allow Time to Take Care of Baby’s Needs

Remember you are working with a baby, and babies have a lot of needs. Be sure to build in extra time during your session to allow for breaks, soothing, diaper changes and feedings. You can expect a typical newborn photoshoot to take a least 1.5 hours, and up to 3 hours if parent/siblings are included.

10. Stay Current on Your Vaccinations- An Absolute MUST!

A newborn’s immune system is not fully developed at birth. Therefore, protecting the newborns you work with should be your number one priority. So, you should be current on all vaccinations , especially the Tdap, or whooping cough, immunization.

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into newborn photography.

This guide gives you everything that you need to get started in newborn pictures.

Now, you know all the work that goes into preparing for newborn photography in 2024.

If you need help, you can reach out to us for any newborn photography questions or use our contact page to work with professional newborn photography experts .

Also, when it comes to maternity photos, check out this article for tons of great Maternity Photo Shoot Ideas ! Although we do not offer maternity photography anymore, we recommend our great friend and colleague, Oxana Alex Photography. She is an incredible artist and does beautiful maternity photos.

Let us know in the comments when your next photoshoot is and which part of our complete, step-by-step guide to newborn photography in 2024 helped you the most!

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well written, thanks Mattcramer Reply Cancel

Matt Cramer Photography

Los angeles, ca.

Matt Cramer Photography is a Los Angeles based husband and wife newborn & baby photographer team serving the Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Santa Clarita and Orange County areas, including Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Northridge, Arcadia, El Monte, Monrovia, as well as the South Bay and Beach Cities.

visits by appointment only

Phone: 818.326.3344

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Business Plan Template & Guide

‘The Path to Success’ Business Plan Guide & Template is a transformative roadmap for photographers aiming to excel in the business world.

This guide is a powerful toolset, offering practical strategies and resources to elevate your photography business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your established business to new heights, it will provide you with a solid foundation and tailored steps for your unique goals.

Crafted with dedication from everything I’ve learnt during the past 20 years in business, ‘The Path to Success’ reflects my commitment to your success. I want to see your photography business not only thrive but also embody your distinctive vision and ambitions. So that you can discover what resonates best with you, not adhering to a strict formula.

Success begins with a clear understanding of why you’re in business, channelling your passion into a thriving venture. The Path provides guidance on when and how to revisit your business plan, it remains aligned with your evolving dreams and goals.

With practical exercises and illustrative examples, this guide helps define your goals and establishes a sturdy foundation for your business plan. From the Executive Summary to Legal and Regulatory Compliance, each section is accompanied by examples, making the template easy to complete. ‘The Path to Success’ is not just a guide; it is a trusted resource on the path towards a thriving photography business.

Let ‘The Path to Success’ be your guide, providing the tools you need to turn your vision into reality.

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Who is Kelly Brown?

Kelly is a world renowned photographer, who has been specialising in baby photography for over 18 years.

Kelly is a Grand Master of WPPI and a Fellow of SWPP. Her reputation as a creative professional with commitment to quality has seen her named a Canon Australia Master, Canson Infinity Ambassador and Graphistudio Ambassador.

To meet a growing international demand for training, Kelly then launched her own online education platform, dedicated to newborn photographers, in February 2017. newbornposing.com has since become the definitive resource for over 65,000 family photographers. In 2021, Kelly moved her online education to KELLYBROWNONLINE.COM   a members only subscription site that has been called the “Netflix” of photography with over 700 video tutorials covering everything a photographers needs to succeed in business.

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How to Become a Newborn Photographer (7 Important Tips)

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There are a few things you need to learn if you want to become a newborn photographer . But do these things right, and it can be a very rewarding career. There are many things to consider before starting out, such as what type of photography you want to specialize in, what equipment you will need, and what kind of training you might need. In this article, we will discuss some of the basics that you need to get started in this exciting field.

1. Become A Newborn Photographer: Will You Have a Studio or Be Mobile?

2. Must Haves for Any Newborn Portrait Session

3. Get to Know Your Client: The Newborn

4. Learn How to Pose Babies Before You Start Your Business

5. How to Keep Baby Safe During the Shoot

6. Keep Samples of Prints or Albums on Hand

7. Have a Referral Program in Place

Starting a newborn portrait photography business can be a gratifying experience. You’re capturing a newborn baby during their first days of life. As magical as it is, it is also very important to keep these tips handy. This way you can make sure that your business is a success.

Popular Content

Photography Studio Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Art & Craft Industry » Photography

Are you about starting a photography business? If YES, here is a complete sample photography studio business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a photography business . We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample photography marketing plan backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for photography businesses. In this article, we will be providing an in-depth sample photography business plan template.

A Sample Photography Studio Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Photography business is one of the businesses that can unarguably survive in any part of the world as long as the business is well positioned.

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The photography industry can boast of creating jobs directly or indirectly for countless numbers of people all over the globe. One good thing about the photography industry is that it has various areas of specialization ranging from wedding or portrait photography to wildlife photography or travel photography, amongst many others.

Over and above, starting a photography business is what we have chosen to do because having done our due diligence and research, we have realized that it is a business that is highly profitable if well planned and managed.

Without a shadow of doubt, there is a high rate of competition in the industry, but we have been able to create a unique Business model that will help us gain market acceptance and also work our way to the top of the ladder in the city where our photography business is to be located.

Some of the things that will help us stand out in the industry include that we will ensure we deliver quality photography jobs at rock bottom prices in our city at all times.

Much more than delivering quality photography jobs to clients at rock bottom prices, we have further gone to invest in a CRM software that will help us effectively win new clients over and also help us effectively manage our existing clients.

We intend exploring referrals from loyal clients as a means of generating leads that we will eventually work hard to convert to loyal customers.

2. Executive Summary

• Current Situation

Currently, we have chosen a name for our photographing business, we have concluded the name search exercise at the corporate affairs office and it is good a thing that the name we propose to call our business is very much available and so, we have started the process of incorporating the business with the government authorities.

After we strike that of, we will apply for Tax Payer’s ID and also open a corporate/ current account with any bank of choice for business. Opening a current bank accounts is especially important so that we can start on a professional note, as well as attract corporate clients who will be able to pay a premium for the photographing services rendered.

Part of our strategies to effectively position the business; is to rent an office space in a busy business district in New York City. The space we intend renting will be big enough to accommodate our studio, reception, as well as our administrative office.

And we have also gone ahead to involve a competent realtor whom we think will be able to give us exactly what we want. Needless to say that one of our dreams is to run the best photography studio in the whole of New York district. This is especially why we are leaving no stone unturned in paying attention to details.

• COMPANY’S DESCRIPTION

We are a topnotch – all round Photography Company and have a great vision to become the one – stop shop when it comes to photography in New York City. We are currently a team of passionate photographers who have come together for the sole purpose of creating a brand that will compete with leading photography companies in New York City.

We also intend to go beyond just making memories, but also will build relationships such that will offer all round photography services.

This means that we will cover wedding photography, child photography- where we capture the milestone of every baby from infancy to late childhood, capturing of nature and landscapes, beauty coverage- pageants, modelling shows, and what have you, as well as other areas too numerous to mention.

Our photography company would also be in the business of training rookies as well as budding photographers who want to be closely watched in their photography endeavor by a mentor. There are also plans not to make our photography business limited to just capturing pictures.

We will also be involved in the sales of photographing digital cameras, lenses, camera stands, photography software, as well as other consultancy services. Furthermore, in the nearest future (our five years goal to be precise), we shall commence to sell franchises and become one of the best photography business in the world.

3. Our Products and Services

Of course, like every other photographer, we shall be into the business of covering events. However, we shall take our services a notch higher, by paying attention to details- like having pre- shoots and after- shoots. Why after shoots? Well, the after- shoots will basically involve capturing the after event moods in pictures.

There will also be the production photo albums, photo books, framed pictures, as well as soft copies of edited pictures as requested by our clients.

Much more than rendering the services, we will also like to be known as a one stop shop where competitors can come purchase equipment that will help foster their expertise. As a result, we are to be involved in the sale of digital cameras, and other photography hardware and software.

We intend to deal in brand new equipment as well as the fairly used type. This is so that we are able to give those who couldn’t possibly afford the brand new stuff the opportunity to still be in the trade by selling the fairly used types of products to them.

We believe that the photography trade wouldn’t be complete without having to offer consultancy services. This is why we will be offering photography training and consultancy services. As a result budding photographers, as well as novices can always run to us to garner more knowledge about the trade. Our consultancy services ranges from providing advisory services to setting up photography studio for our clients.

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• We have a concise vision and mission in view and that is: To become a world class photography brand and to be amongst the top 5 le aders in the photography trade in New York and The united states of America.
• To make top notch photography services available to a wide range of clients that cuts across different classes of people at affordable price.

Our Business Structure

Our plan is to start the photography business with 4 key employees who are expected to handle more than one role per – time. They include:

• Chief Operating Officer and Lead Photographer
• Office Administrator
• Sales and Marketing Officer

Assistant Photographer and Office Assistant

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Operating Officer and Lead Photographer:

• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for leading the team to cover events
• Responsible for the day to day running of the business
• Responsible for handling high profile clients
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for recruitment
• Responsible for payment of salaries
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company

Office Administrator:

• Responsible for the day to day administration of the office
• Responsible for handling correspondence
• Manages customers
• Manages vendors
• Handles all incoming calls and emails, et al
• Responsible for handling payment collections and lodgment of cash and checks in the banks
• Any other duty as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer

Sales and Marketing Officer:

• Responsible for marketing the company’s products and services
• Responsible for promoting the company
• Responsible for creating marketing and sales strategies, etc.
• Source for exhibitions and opportunities for the company to leverage on to promote the business
• Represents the organization in some strategic business meetings
• Responsible for hiring and training of freelance sales reps
• Assists the Lead photographer at all times
• Runs errands for the organization (i.e. job delivery to clients, purchase of supplies and stationeries et al)
• Responsible for transporting cameras and other equipment to and fro event locations
• Ensures that the office and environment is kept clean at all times
• Any other duty as assigned by the Chief Operating officer

6. SWOT Analysis

We are quite aware that we need to leverage on our strengths if we intend building a successful photography business in the united States of America and that is the reason why we have taken time to analyze our Strength, our Weakness, the Opportunities available to us, as well as the threats that we are likely going to face in the photography industry.

Our strength is not limited to the robust professional training, certification and experience we have acquired prior to setting up a photography business, but also our rich network, passion and ability to convert leads to loyal customers within a short time – frame.

Part of our weakness as a start – up Photography Company is that we have fewer employees and experts, and also we have limited cash to execute all we intend executing before launching the business. For example, we would have loved to build our own customized CRM Software.

• Opportunities-:

The United States of America and New York City in particular is one of the cities in the world that attract tons or diverse classes of visitors, coupled with the fact that some of the finest photography schools are located in New York. It is easier for a start – up photography business to leverage on these factors to build to their businesses and that is exactly what we intend doing.

There are well established photography businesses / photographers in New York City who may not need much stress to convince new clients to patronize them. There is also the threat of the huge cost of running businesses in New York City, as it is on the high side. Hence, we need to be on the top of our game if we must grow our photography business to profitability.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

There is always a readily available market for the photography industry, and whoever is hardworking and can produce decent photography jobs will always make headway in the industry.

But in recent times, because of the advancement of technology, it is now a lot easier for non – professional photographers to take cool shots or ‘ selfies’ that can be processed to classic portraits from their smartphones or other computer devices like iPADs and even digital cameras.

In view of this, it has been observed that people only engage the services of professional photographers on rare occasions.

We are quite aware of this; which is why we took our time to study the market and we have been able to identify marketing and sales strategies that will help us generate profits from the business. Part of the marketing and sales strategies that we will adopt are;

• Mouthwatering promos for the first 12 months and then subsequently when the need arises
• Participate in photography exhibitions and expos
• Neighborhood, door to door and mouth to ear adverts to introduce our business
• Engage in roadshows to introduce our business
• Leverage on social media platforms cum online marketing to source for clients
• Create a loyalty program that will help us convert leads to loyal customers

8. Our Target Market

No doubt the target market for the photography industry is pretty wide, but in order to easily stay focused and pursue our target, we have clearly defined our target market as;

• Young Executives
• Intended couples planning to get married
• Churches and other religious centers
• Wedding planners
• Corporate Executives
• Event Planners

Our Competitive Advantage

We are fully aware that there are several top notch photographers in New York City who already have their own loyal clientele base, but we are have done our due diligence and we are ready to give them a run for their money.

Despite the fact that we are new in town, we have been able to critically study the existing photography businesses around our location and we were able to identify some lapses on their part and we plan to work towards making their lapses our strong selling points.

One of the advantages we are bringing to the fore is excellent customer’s service. It is no doubt every business owner will work hard to keep their customers, but if they are not operating on the same page with their customers, they will find it difficult to meet the need of the customer.

In addition, if they can’t meet the need of the customer for a period of time, the customer will definitely source for another company that can meet their need.

In view of that, we have designed a CRM Software that will help us effectively engage our customers from time to time. We will be able to know what our clients want and we will work hard to meet their needs per time .Also the fact that we are new and are willing to deliver photography services at a price that is about the lowest in our location is also an advantage to us.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Much more than generating income from covering events like Weddings, Parties, Thanksgiving services, Naming Ceremonies, and all forms of events that will require taking pictures; we will also engage in the sale of digital photography cameras and accessories as earlier mentioned.

After a period of 5 years, we would have succeeded in selling our brand to the entire populace in New York City and beyond. That should give us a platform to generate more income via providing photography related consultancy services and trainings to as many aspiring photographers that will need them.

After a period of 10 to 15 years, we will start selling franchises of our company in the United States of America. These are basically the areas where we will concentrate on to generate income for our photography business.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We will adopt the aggressive marketing approach because we believe that for us to win over clients in the already saturated market, we must be aggressive. Part of our marketing process is to get the contacts (phone numbers or email addresses) of leads, then send them introductory mails or call them to introduce our businesses to them.

After a week or thereabout, we should follow – up with another call or email and try as much as possible to book an appointment to see them.

We are quite aware that we don’t have the financial capacity to hire enough employees that can cover the entire city and beyond; which is why we will engage freelance marketers to help us market our services. They will be paid commissions based on the number of clients and the amount of the tasks done. In nut a shell, we will explore the following marketing and sales strategies to promote our business;

• Direct Marketing (Staff)
• Online Marketing
• Referral / Network Marketing
• Revenue Sharing Business Partners (Event Planners and Contractors)

10. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

From the report gathered from our feasibility studies, we have been able to identify some platforms that will help us effectively create awareness and promote our photography business. Here are the platforms we intend making use of to promote and advertise our business;

• Place adverts on national newspapers
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook et al
• Attend photography exhibitions and conferences
• Engage in roadshow from time to time
• Distribute our fliers and handbills to targeted areas from time to time
• Door to door and word of mouth promotions

11. Our Pricing Strategy

In as much as we will not compromise quality in any of our jobs, we have decided to enter the market with rock bottom prices in our business location. Our prices will be the prices to beat in the industry. We will offer discounts to loyal and repeat customers.

Part of what will enable customers get discounts, is when they successfully refer clients to us and if the cost of the services they want exceeds a certain amount of money. The amount will be determined from time to time by the management as the business grows; so there should be no fixed amount for now.

Our philosophy when it comes to pricing is that; ‘We appreciate making smaller profits from many clients, than making huge profits from fewer clients.’

12. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

• The Fee for Registering a Business and Obtaining the Necessary Insurance:
• The Amount Needed to Rent a Facility and To Setup a Studio: 5,000 USD.
• The Cost of 2 or more Standard Cameras (Nikon D7100 and Nikon D610): 3,200 USD.
• The Cost of Good Camera Lenses(Nikon 35mm f/2.0, Nikon 50mm f/1.8, and Nikon 85mm f/1.8 lens): 1,500 USD.
• The Cost of Computer, Software and Computer Accessories: 1,504 USD.
• The Cost of Launching a Website: 600 USD
• Additional Expenditure (Adverts and Promotions et al): 1,000 USD

Going by the report from our research and feasibility studies, we will need an average $10,000 to set up a standard photography business in New York City. Ceteris Paribus, we are likely going to break even within the first 2 years of starting the business.

Funding / Start – Up Capital Generation

As regard raising the start – up capital for the business, we have decided to explore the following means;

• Source for seed capital from angel investors (leverage on any available opportunities to pitch my business idea)
• Generate part of the start – up capital from my savings
• Apply for loan from the bank
• Invite Interested business partners

N.B-: I have been able to save about $3,000 and I intend to raise the balance by applying and obtaining a loan from the bank and also from seed capitals from angel investors. Although, I intend raising part of the start – up capital by inviting interested business partners, but that will definitely be the last option to explore because I intend owning %100 of the business at least for 5 years.

13. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The bigger picture of this photography business is to grow beyond New York City to other major cities in the United States of America.

As such, we intend spending the first 5 years of the business in building and communicating our brand. We know that once our brand has been accepted by the general public, it will be easier for us to successfully sell our franchise to interested entrepreneurs who intend leveraging on our brand to start their own business.

In addition, we will ensure that we invest in regular training and development of our work force.We will work hard to stay abreast with the latest technology in the photography industry and the changing trends as well.

• Photography Training and Certification (for COO and Lead Photographer): Completed
• Business Name Availability Check:>Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Account: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Renting of Office Facility (Studio) and Setting Up: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Sourcing for Angel Investors: In Progress
• Applications for Loan: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of 3 employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed Cameras, lenses and other Accessories: Yet to Commence
• Purchase of Computer and Software: Completed
• Negotiation with Freelance Sales Reps: In Progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business but online and in the neighborhood: In Progress

A Marketing Plan for a Photographer of Newborns

Taking adorable photos of cute newborns requires skill and a willingness to work with a subject that doesn't take direction well. You also need a marketing plan that helps build your business so it becomes a profitable company, and not just a photography hobby. Start by setting goals for your marketing efforts, such as obtaining a certain number of clients who want their baby's photo taken in the next year.

Target Audience

Build your marketing plan by reviewing the demographics of your target clients, such as their disposable income with which to buy your photos. Identify the age group and their location to better understand your market. Include a section on where to find your customers, such as newborn announcements in the local paper. You may need to network with boutique stores that sell baby clothing and supplies or medical offices that focus on prenatal care as well as delivering and caring for babies, to find clients.

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Differentiate Yourself

More for you, how to start a child photography business, ways to promote pottery, how to stick a photo on facebook, how to promote & market your child care, how to advertise your custom woodworking service.

Standing out from all of the other photographers in your area who also take baby photos means you must show how your business is different. Take a look at how you take photos, such as the methods you use to put the parents at ease for more natural-looking photos or the creativity you rely on to portray the baby's cuteness. You may want to focus on where you take the photos – at the parent's home or in your studio with unique and interesting props and backgrounds available. The quality of your photos, the price or the number of different prints you provide may also help differentiate you from competitors.

Internet Tactics

Include online marketing tactics that include building a website with an online gallery that showcases your best photos of newborn babies. Include a password-protected area of your site to upload a selection of photos from which your clients can choose the ones they want you to print. Plan on sending your customers a few photos so they can use them on their mobile devices and social networking sites while building interest from other parents. Set up a Facebook page to share the photos you take, with your clients' permission, to gain followers who share your site with more people who want beautiful photos of their newborn.

Traditional Tactics

Plan on a campaign to send marketing messages to people who have just had newborns. Place ads in community papers or in publications that focus on babies and parenting. Offer a free photo session for local fundraising events related to newborn or young children to gain more exposure. Another way to introduce yourself to parents means heading to the hospital, camera in hand, to quickly take newborn photos to give to the parents along with a promotional flier about your services.

• MCP Actions: 50 Marketing Tips for Photographers

Nancy Wagner is a marketing strategist and speaker who started writing in 1998. She writes business plans for startups and established companies and teaches marketing and promotional tactics at local workshops. Wagner's business and marketing articles have appeared in "Home Business Journal," "Nation’s Business," "Emerging Business" and "The Mortgage Press," among others. She holds a B.S. from Eastern Illinois University.

Don't bother with copy and paste.

Get this complete sample business plan as a free text document.

Photography Studio Business Plan

Start your own photography studio business plan

Phoebe's Photo Studio

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">, opportunity.

Families need photographs to capture the special moments of their lives. Families of professionals are busy, and if too much time goes by between photos, these moments are lost forever. Babies, especially, grow fast and parents need photos of them several times a year.

While nearly everyone has a camera for snapshots, people need professional quality photos when they will be shown to an important audience, and when people want to be seen in the best light. The Internet has expanded the use of photos, making it possible for anyone to send them or to publish them for wide viewing.

Phoebe’s Photo Studio will meet the needs of professionals and their families to capture the special moments in their lives and present them in the best light. We will establish a relationship in which we initiate the calls to keep their photos up to date. Digital files of their photos will be available for free by e-mail, or with a nominal fee for CD.  Because of our relationship with the families, when something big like a wedding comes, there’s no place else they would go.

Families with children are the biggest market for portraits. For the purpose of this analysis, these families are divided into three socio-economic categories:

• College graduates
• High school graduates
• Non-graduates

Families of college graduates are most likely to be professionals and to have the means and the taste for professional portraits.  There are nearly 20,000 such families in the metropolitan area. 

Competition

Competitor X is an award-winning, highly creative photographer with a style that one would expect to find in a national magazine.  His prices are the highest in the area, up to $15,000 for a wedding album.  His strategy appears to be to capture the high-end market, where a magazine look is a luxury that people can afford.

Competitor Y is a more typical photographer with more staged photographs and wedding packages running up to $5,000.  His strategy appears to be to occupy the middle-ground of quality and price where most of the market is likely to be.

Competitor Z offers same-day photos.  This is easier to accomplish with digital processing for a studio organized around speed, but the quality is necessarily sacrificed.  The market for same-day photos doesn’t necessarily demand quality.  Prices are average.  The strategy of this studio appears to be to appeal to convenience and speed.

Our competitive edge is that we provide not only a photograph, but a program of ongoing portraits to capture the special moments in a family’s life. We then make the digital images of their photos easily and affordably available for distributing on the Internet.

Expectations

Phoebe’s will grow at a healthy annual rate by targeting families of professionals with newborn babies for baby pictures and then developing a relationship with the client over the years for ongoing photographs. The funding envisioned in this plan is projected to result in a comfortable healthy business by the third year. 

Financial Highlights by Year

Financing needed.

We foresee a total of $80,000 in startup financing to get this business going and healthy. That comes $10K from owner savings, $20K as a 5-year loan (family cosigning), and $50K as an interest-free loan from family. 

If the business proceeds according to plan, we will have about half of the $50K family loan paid off within three years. 

Problem & Solution

Problem worth solving.

Professionals often have business needs for high-quality photos, and through this familiarity, they acquire a taste for them. When these professionals need photos to preserve memories, or to display family photos when they entertain at home, they have the budget and the desire for similarly high-quality photos. Just as they appoint their homes with fine furniture and decorations, the photos on their walls need to exhibit their standards of quality.

Most people use professional photo studios only on rare occasions, such as weddings, yearbook pictures, or baby portraits. Because the client has to initiate the call, many special moments are lost and the studio loses potential business. Photo studios generally charge a large fee for CDs of their clients’ digital images. For these reasons, most photo studios are rarely used by families as a whole.

Our Solution

Phoebe’s Photo Studio helps clients preserve memories and portray themselves in the best light. We thrive on repeat business by developing relationships with our clients and calling them with timely reminders for new photos. We make professional quality photographs easily available in a digital format. We do this by using a pricing structure that makes our digital photographs a household staple and by making it fun for them to come here or to have us in their homes.

Target Market

Market size & segments.

We will target female professionals and wives of professionals, because women make the majority of purchasing decisions in these families.

The competitive environment is divided between luxury magazine-quality photographers, moderate professional photographers who mostly pose their subjects, and same-day photo studios.

The trend among our targeted consumers is toward more digital photography and more sending of digital images on the Internet. As the world becomes more technical, people need more personal support. 

Phoebe’s Photo Studio will use a "high-tech, high-touch" approach to reach and retain clients for their ongoing photo needs. We will make it affordable and easy for them to disseminate their photos electronically.

People who who pay for professional photo portraits are generally status-conscious professionals who have children, and so we’ve segmented the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area according to the social status of families. We’ve used education as a measure of social status.

Families of College Graduates

Families of High School Graduates

People who have not completed college are assumed to be more likely to be employees or be in a trade. While many of them may have the means for professional photos, relatively few will use them. They are more likely to use home-made photographs, except for rare occasions, such as a high school photo or wedding.

Families of Non-High-School Graduates

These are families who are generally without the means to hire professional photographers on a regular basis.

Demographics

The Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area has a total population of 330,527. There are 74,836 families.

Some 25.5 percent of the adult population in the metropolitan area is composed of college graduates, which we will here define as  professionals.  Some 62 percent of the population is made up of high-school graduates.

The Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area closely conforms to the boundaries of Lane County, Oregon. The office will be located in Eugene, but clients are accessible throughout Lane County through physicians’ offices. Most Lane County residents are accustomed to doing occasional business in Eugene.

Current Alternatives

Competitor Z offers same-day photos.  This is easier to accomplish with digital processing for a studio organized around speed, but quality is necessarily sacrificed.  The market for same-day photos doesn’t necessarily demand quality.  Prices are average.  The strategy of this studio appears to be to appeal to convenience and speed.

Our Advantages

Keys to success.

Our keys for success are:

• Target marketing for the gateway products of baby pictures, high school photos and wedding albums.
• Developing relationships with our clients through personal customer service, to turn one-time customers into lifetime clients.
• Our system of tracking clients’ ongoing needs for photos and taking the initiative to call them for appointments

Marketing & Sales

Marketing plan.

We will get the word out by conventional advertising to start, and by a yellow page ad, social media and a website. We have a targeted marketing effort to:

• Families of newborn babies
• Families with children old enough to graduate college or high school 
• Professionals who need a LinkedIn or Facebook shot, or a headshot for conferences. 

A special for the first baby picture will be a regular feature of our pricing structure. This is offered with the intent of getting the whole family on an ongoing basis as clients, because babies need photos frequently and we want these families to be clients for life.

Locations & Facilities

We will open in an 800 square-foot studio at 100 Main Street, the heart of the commercial district with ample free parking.  The space will be leased for three years beginning at $800 a month with cost-of-living adjustments made annually. 

The studio will have a highly visible electric sign and a 20-foot wide display window visible to passing foot and auto traffic. Customers will enter a public area with a counter, samples of our photographs and albums, and couches for waiting. A separate playroom with props and other toys will accommodate children with sitting areas for parents, while a utility area off the back door will be set up to accommodate pets and their props. Children, pets and props can be brought into the photography studio for their photographs.  An office and working area will be used for assembling the final product.

Milestones & Metrics

Milestones table.

Key Metrics

Key Metrics 

• Measure website page views and customer inquiries 
• Keep track of Facebook page views and Twitter re-tweets 
• Train our staff to return calls right away 
• # of customers in a month 
• # of customers who book a second appointment in advance 

Ownership & Structure

Phoebe Peters has worked as an industrial photographer and freelance portrait photographer in Southern California for 10 years. She has found that personal customer relationships are the key to repeat business and will open Phoebe’s Photo Studio in downtown Eugene, Oregon on that premise.

Management Team

Phoebe’s Photo Studio is a sole proprietorship owned by Phoebe Peters.  It will open in a leased 800 square foot studio in downtown Eugene, Oregon.

Phoebe Peters is a graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California and is a member of the Professional Photographers of Oregon and the Professional Photographers of America. She has 10 years experience capturing the special moments of people’s lives.

Personnel Table

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

Key assumptions.

We assume a stable economy with reasonable growth and a steady rise in interest rates. We also assume that our competitors won’t adopt our strategy within the first two years.  After that, our approach is likely to make a change in what our competitors charge for digital files, because they’ll see it’s effective in bringing in repeat business as well as new business. 

The expenses show the impact of close to $30K startup expenses, which we put into the first month. Those expenses are listed below in the Use of Funds chapter. 

Revenue by Month

Expenses by month, net profit (or loss) by year, use of funds.

Start-up Expenses

• Insurance $300
• Filing Fees $50
• Utilities and Deposits $500
• Website Development $2,000
• Marketing Consultant: Ad design, etc. $20,000
• Personnel Costs for December $3,500
• Software $1,500
• Office Expense $200

TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES $28,730

Start-up Assets: $13,000 in computer and photographic equipment

Sources of Funds

We will be using the $10,000 cash from my savings, plus a $50,000 interest-free loan from family, and a $20,000 5-year loan co-signed by family. The plan calls for funds to service the bank loan and repay most of the family loan by the end of the third year. 

Projected Profit & Loss

Projected Balance Sheet

Projected Cash Flow Statement

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4 Ways to Build a Newborn Photography Business

By Gayle Vehar on February 04, 2022 | No Comments

How to Build a Newborn Photography Business

Do you love working with children and have a passion for photographing newborns and infants?

There is a big market of families looking to photograph their child’s first milestone, and getting clients can be simple, provided you know where to find them.

Here are some easy ways to find newborn photography clients for and fill up your session schedule quickly:

1. Rent a Booth at a Local Market/Expo or Show

There are plenty of expos that are targeted directly to expectant moms, dads and parents in general.  If there is a local expo coming to town why not set up a booth, create an promotional offer and try your luck attracting new clients.

Ensure your booth is attractive, lay out some of your portfolios , have a raffle or business card draw, and chat to moms and dads about the possibility of photographing their newborn, baby or even a  maternity shoot .  A single event can net a bunch of prospective leads.

2. Advertising on Facebook & Social Media

Facebook, Instagram and other Social Media sites have huge potential when it comes to advertising and drumming up new business and if you have a social media account on Facebook for your business (which you should have) – it's definitely worth setting up some targeted advertising to track down clients for your specific area of focus - newborns!

Try targeting newborn groups, parents of specific ages and in specific locations near to you.  This will help to boost your engagement and reach.

3. Donate a Session to a Local Mothers Group or Event

Moms and families love supporting local businesses.  So, if you can donate a newborn photo session as a raffle prize to a local mothers event or moms network is a great idea to gain some great exposure for your business.

So, if there are some mothers events or moms groups in your area, consider donating a newborn photo session as a raffle prize.  You will gain some great exposure for your business.

Make sure to focus on your target market.  The possible reach or word of mouth you might receive could be a great opportunity for extra exposure.

4. Focus on SEO for your Website

Whether you’re technical minded or not, making sure the SEO (search engine optimization) is optimized for your website is an important way to stand out when customers in your area are searching for a newborn photographer.  In other words, when potential clients are searching on the internet, make sure they can find you easily!

Include SEO keywords in your meta descriptions and add title tags and keywords to your website pages that focus on the type of nweborn photo sessions you would like to shoot.

A blog with articles that relate to newborn photography topics is another fabulous way to drive traffic to your website and show off your knowledge and experience.  Make sure to post new articles on a regular basis.

 All of these ideas will drive more inquiries for your business, but to start, try implementing just one or two of these ideas, so you aren't overwhelmed.

As you progress, make sure to continue with your marketing efforts to ensure that your pipeline of potential clients stays active (ESPECIALLY during the slower times where your income might otherwise fall).

 Here are some our other favorite Newborn Photography Tutorials

1.  6 Newborn Photography Tips (to Rock Your First Session)

2.  Newborn Photography Posing Guide

3.  6 Must-Have Newborn Props

4.  5 Tips to Make Your Newborn Photo Session Once to Remember

5.  Essential Newborn Photography Safety Tips

6.  How to Get Baby to Sleep for a Photo Session

7.  Editing Newborn Photos in Lightroom

8.  3 Best Newborn Lightroom Presets

9.  Editing Newborns Using Bella Baby Presets & Brushes

10.  How to Edit Newborns in Photoshop

Do you have any questions or comments about How to Build a Newborn Photography Business?   Leave us a comment below  - we would love to hear from you!  And please share our tutorial using the social sharing buttons - we really appreciate it!

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How to become a professional newborn photographer

Not for the faint of heart, newborn photography poses a challenge that can directly impact your work: You’re unable to communicate with your subject. Having said that, newborn photography can also be extremely rewarding. Capturing images that parents will cherish for a lifetime and nailing your craft is critical to your success as a newborn photographer. 

How much do newborn photographers make?

Setting yourself up for success as a newborn photographer means entering this field and knowing what to expect. You need to have a good idea of your salary so you’re able to properly allocate your funds to grow your business. Knowing your income potential will also help with scaling your business and more accurately predicting your growth. 

Newborn photographer salary. 

The salary potential for a newborn photographer can vary greatly depending on a few key considerations including experience, location, services offered, and whether or not you’re working as an employee versus working for yourself. 

In general, though, the average salary for a newborn photographer in the United States is $44,000/year.  

With that in mind, we’ve seen some reports with salaries for newborn photographers as low as $23,000, but also salaries as high as $85,000. 

Why is there such a wide spectrum of salaries in this space? This largely stems from the self-employed nature of photographers. 

While you certainly can be employed as a newborn photographer (i.e. A private photo studio or department store studio), for many parents, hiring a professional photographer who can work with you 1:1 to make your vision come to life is preferred, which generally costs more.  

In addition, if you’re working in this 1:1 capacity, your earning potential depends on how much you’re willing to work. Remember, when you’re self-employed, you can work as much or as little as you want, and unless you have a lot of experience, the more you work you do, the more money you will make. 

Demographic data from our industry survey. 

So who is most likely to start up a newborn photography business? In our books, anyone and everyone should feel welcome to test out the newborn photography vertical. The only requirement? You probably should enjoy spending time with babies if you’re going to revolve your business around them. 

In general, the split between male and female photographers is almost equal with the median age for a professional photographer being around 38. 

In newborn photography, the balance tips slightly, as a larger segment of photographers in this space are women. Parents, former Labor and Delivery/ NICU nurses, and newborn caregivers tend to excel working in this type of photography because they are not intimidated by newborns and they know how to soothe and position them easily. While you certainly don’t have to be a parent or a nurse to work in newborn photography, we do find that most photographers are more comfortable working with newborns if they have experience with them. A lot of a photographer’s success during a shoot comes from how they can interact with, and make their subject comfortable. This is true of adults, children, and of course, babies that are mere days old.

Newborn photography equipment. 

When you’re shooting a time in a person’s life that is so fleeting, you only have one opportunity to get it right. Having the proper equipment can dramatically help improve, not only the quality of your images but also your experience shooting the images. Don’t discount your equipment as a newborn photographer.

Best lens for newborn photography. 

As a newborn photographer, there are two lenses you absolutely need: your go-to lens and your macro lens. 

Your go-to lens will be that lens you use for the majority of your newborn portraits. For most newborn photographers, either a 50mm, or 85mm will be the lens of choice. Or, if you want more of the background in the image then you may opt for a 35mm lens . Your preferences and style will determine which lens is right for you. 

A macro lens is also necessary for capturing all those little special details that are so essential in newborn photography, so don’t skip out on this. 

Best camera for newborn photography .

First and foremost, you need to find a camera that you’re comfortable shooting with. With that in mind, there are a couple of key considerations to make when shopping for a camera that will be used primarily for newborn photography.

Here’s what we recommend looking out for: 

• A camera that works well at higher ISO s (in case you want to avoid flash)
• Full frame camera
• In-body image stabilization in the camera body  
• Silent shutter (popular with mirrorless cameras)
• High resolution (12-megapixel minimum; 20+ best)

Newborn photography lighting. 

Lucky for you, newborn photography can largely depend on natural lighting, meaning if you don’t want to or don’t have the budget, you don’t need to purchase any lighting equipment. You can simply set the baby up by a window to ensure good lighting, and use your photography skills to capture the perfect shot. 

With that in mind, don’t forget that lighting can change not only from day to day but also from hour to hour. Because of this, having some studio lighting equipment at your disposal isn’t a bad idea. 

Continuous lights tend to work well for newborns since newborns don’t move around much. You will also need a stand for convenience and a modifier (i.e. parabolic umbrella) to help reduce the harshness of the light.  

Props for newborn photography. 

Using the right props will help bring together the overall aesthetic of the shoot, which usually means that the parents want to get involved. We recommend having a variety of props, as well as communicating your vision with the parents so you can get the look right. 

Colors might change depending on the shoot, but blankets are almost always a must in newborn photography. Whether it be to swaddle the baby or help prop them up, you’ll need blankets, but be sure to coordinate with the parents here. For instance, know what color the baby will be dressed in before picking out blankets. 

You will also need something for the baby to be in or on. For instance, a wicker basket, a bassinet, or a pile of blankets. A bean bag is also a good prop to have for placement because of the soft, moldable surface. 

Convenient accessories we also recommend keeping on hand include heating pads, space heaters, a white noise machine, baby wipes, and hand sanitizer. Some parents might show up with these things, or if you’re shooting in the home you might have them available to you, but it’s always best to be over-prepared, especially when working with fussy babies. 

How to start a newborn photography business. 

As with any photography business, having a plan is crucial to your success. A plan helps you map out your goals, come up with your vision, and carefully structure your business so you reach all those goals. 

Growing a successful newborn photography business takes care, time, and patience but in general, there are three steps you’ll go through as you work on your business: planning, growing, and maintaining. 

In the planning phase, you’ll lay out the foundation for your business. This means setting up a website with a portfolio for future clients to check out, pricing your services, determining your target market, and obtaining all the photography equipment you’ll require to execute. 

Next, you’ll move into the growth phase. Here, you’ll be actively working with clients to hopefully build up your portfolio and testimonials. You will also want to be actively marketing your services. While word of mouth can be highly effective, we also recommend implementing marketing tactics like Facebook ads, Instagram marketing, email newsletters, and possibly even content marketing (i.e. blogs). 

And lastly, once you’ve grown your business and you feel confident with your clientele, you’ll need to maintain your reputation by providing superior services and stunning photography.

If you want to start a newborn photography business, follow this checklist to help you get your business up and running: 

• Identify your target market: Who is looking for your services? Who should you create your marketing materials for? 
• Set up a website: Your website should have your portfolio featured, as well as an easy-to-book functionality to encourage clients to work with you. 
• Set our prices: Look at your experience and set your prices accordingly. You can also offer different packages to fit different price points. In addition, you can drive your prices up by creating packages that encourage clients to book again with you (i.e. maybe you also offer family photography).
• Seek out clients: Clients aren’t just going to magically roll in. You need to go out and find them. In the beginning, we recommend working with friends, family, and word of mouth. This will help you build your portfolio. 
• Implement marketing tactics: You need to be active with your client acquisition, especially if you want to grow your business. While word of mouth can be helpful, it will only get you so far. We recommend looking into things like social media, email, content, and Google ads. 
• Maintain client load: Once you’re happy with how your business has grown, it is your job to keep up with it. Continue to produce high-quality images, while also offering superior customer service.  

How to take professional newborn photos. 

We’ve alluded to this already, but it’s important to remember that when you’re working with newborns , there are always parents eagerly awaiting photos that they can cherish for a lifetime. This means you need to be on top of your game not only because you want to please the parents with your work, but also need to remember that this newborn stage is fleeting. A newborn is only a newborn for so long, and you want to capture this special time with your professional touch. 

Here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind when photographing newborns: 

• Utilize natural lighting as much as possible (avoid harsh light and strong shadows)
• Keep the baby happy (keep the room warm, play soothing music, and have the parents present to soothe the baby) 
• Use your macro lens to capture those special details that make the baby unique 
• Play with different angles and perspectives 
• Remind parents to keep the baby awake before the session so they sleep during the session 
• Learn how to swaddle a baby 
• Position the baby with confidence (if you’re not comfortable with babies, this might not be the job for you)

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Newborn Photography: A Beginner’s Guide

Newborn photography is a booming business these days—and we want to help you make it big! Our handy guide will show you how to become a newborn photography whiz.

When it comes to newborn photography, you’ll never run out of clients! The newborn photoshoot market is exploding because everyone is having babies—and everyone wants cute photos of their babies.

This is great news for you photographers who want to try out different types of photography , or make a little money from your photography . Newborn baby pics are also an amazing addition to your online photography portfolio ; a great newborn photoshoot can really show off your skill and range as a shooter (to say nothing of your subject wrangling skills!).

Want to learn how to take amazing newborn photos so you can get a piece of this lucrative business? Our newborn photography guide will show you how to produce newborn pictures like a pro in no time. Ready? Let’s go!

Know Your Client’s Expectations

Time is of the essence when you’re doing newborn baby photography, so it’s crucial that you establish the goals for the shoot before the tiny one arrives on set.

Take some time to work out which kind of newborn photoshoot your client is after. You have two different types of newborn photos: posed and lifestyle.

So, what’s the difference between these newborn baby photoshoot types?

Posed Newborn Photos

Posed shoots can happen either in a studio or on location (usually the client’s house). A good posed newborn photoshoot should happen when the infant is still just a few weeks old because they are still pretty sleepy a lot of the time. They are generally photographed with a few well-placed newborn photography props, like a “one-month old!” sign or a cozy blanket (we’ll get into more detail on those later).

Typically a posed newborn photoshoot can take around three to four hours. This will include set-up, feedings, changings, managing the parents, and clean-up.

Lifestyle Newborn Photos

Lifestyle newborn photoshoots are meant to be a little more casual in style. They are generally staged at the client’s house, and shot with natural light and sans many newborn photo props. The newborn can be up to a few months old because they’re still relatively moldable and very sleepy at that stage.

The objective of a lifestyle newborn photoshoot is to capture more candid shots of the infant in their own environment, and, usually, include the parents in the shots, as well. These shoots are typically a bit quicker because—as long as the lighting is good—there’s less set-up and deliberate styling. You can anticipate maybe two to three hours in the client’s space for these lifestyle newborn photoshoots.

Now that we’re caught up on the different types of newborn baby photoshoots, let’s get into what you’ll need on hand for a successful newborn photoshoot.

Be Prepared

Having the correct gear on hand is important—especially when a tiny baby is involved! Here’s some things you should have on hand for your newborn photoshoot to ensure you get the best newborn baby pics possible.

Two Portrait Cameras

It’s always wise to have the backup just in case, you know?

Fully Formatted Memory Cards

Make sure you have plenty of room on your memory cards for all the awesome newborn photos you’ll be snapping.

Multiple Portrait Lenses

Consider all the different possible shots you can take of the infant and bring the corresponding lens with you.

These are key for getting those super-cute bird’s-eye view newborn pictures.

All set? Now it’s time to gather up some more baby-specific newborn photo props, including:

Space Heater

If your studio is drafty, that will make for one unhappy, very awake baby!

You want to make sure that you have a fair number of cute and funny toys with you; if you need to hold the infant’s attention in a certain direction, clapping your hands or snapping your fingers doesn’t always work.

Large, Soft Cushion

Try to picture a large cylindrical squishy ottoman, or something similar. The baby can rest on this, allowing you 360-degree shooting access, which is key for newborn pictures.

These are great for adding a pop of color or texture—and they help make the infant a little cozier.

Waterproof Pads

Essential for any of those unexpected newborn photoshoot messes.

Theme Props

This is the fun part: try and have a bunch of options on hand, including baskets, barrels, oversized flowers, animal ears, etc. Try and refresh your prop trunk a few times a year with trendy items; parents should always be pleased with the newborn photography props available!

Cute Baby Accessories

Think cute toques, hats, headbands, mittens, booties, etc.

Change of Clothing

Always good to have on hand when you’re working with teeny talent.

Soothing Music

Have a playlist on your phone or iPod filled with soothing music to help drown out the sound of your shutter, as well as to help keep the baby asleep. Sleep time is crucial in the infant photography game.

Prep Your Clients

Your clients need to have a clear understanding of what the newborn photoshoot day is going to look like. An email template is probably your best bet. Prepare a template outlining the usual itinerary and what will be included (what you’re providing or bringing), along with what your clients should provide or bring, including any newborn photography props they want to try out.

Here are a few newborn photography tips that will ensure set-up goes smoothly. (Make sure to outline these asks in the e-mail template so parents are prepared!)

Recommend that your client feed the baby right after arrival or during set-up. This way, the little one will be full and ready for a nap when you’re ready to shoot.

Make sure to have a private area for any breastfeeding folks, or a generous cover, in case they want a little privacy.

Have the parents undress the infant during or after the feeding so that you won’t have to fumble with their clothing when they’re napping.

Psst. If you are interested in more tips , you’ll appreciate the Zenfolio complete guide to newborn photography as well!

Work Those Colors

There’s a few approaches you can try here.

You want the baby to be the star of the show! One way to do this is to use a variety of complementary skin-tone shades for your backdrop and any newborn photography props. These earthy tones and warm colors won’t distract the viewer’s eye from the centerpiece.

Complement it

Want your baby to really pop in the newborn photos? Place them against contrasting colors, like a rich purple or emerald green, or a light yellow or seafoam green.

Pastels are hot right now. If you want your newborn baby photos to look very cool and of-the-moment, go for a pastel backdrop and accessories. Pale pink, baby blue, butter yellow—they all look amazing.

Master the Poses

The classic tummy pose is an adorable place to start with newborn photos.

Once you get the hang of it, with the help and permission of the parents, gently move the infant onto their side for a cute side shot, then on to the sprawling baby back shot. Easy!

Go With the Flow

Here is a big tip for all newborn photography newbies: let the baby move! Let the little one wiggle, yawn, squeeze their fists, and roll over. These are great opportunities to be present and snap away. A lot of these natural movements are pretty aaawww -inducing, so take advantage of that sweetness.

And don’t be afraid to get macro. With the baby asleep, this is a perfect time to get up close and snap away at those adorable fingers gripping Mom’s hair, or the plump little toes sticking out from under the blanket. These are the things you need to learn to look for.

Even downtime is an opportunity for a candid shot, whether it’s a shared smile during feeding or a moment of soothing between papa and baby. (Just make sure to get the parents’ consent!) It’s often these spur-of-the-moment shots that turn out to be the real gems.

Make it a Family Affair

Newborn photoshoots can sometimes include more than just the infant: Mom, Dad, and siblings (or even the family pet!) might come along as well.

Communication and planning are key. Discuss in detail what is going to happen on the day, what the clients will be wearing, and what you’re going to be bringing. Coordinate their outfits with your props, or, say, the baby’s booties with their decor. You have to think of it all. Best of all, if you hit it off with the family, you’ll get that referral and your client base will grow. Speaking of which…

Add Newborn Photography to Your Online Portfolio

You never know where your next big referral will come from, so you have to be prepared! Make sure to add those stunning newborn baby pics to your online portfolio website , so prospective clients can see your infant photography skills. The more amazing newborn photo shoots and newborn photos you have on your portfolio, the more folks will want to hire you to shoot their little ones!

If you don’t have an online portfolio yet, you can use a website builder to create a professional-looking one in minutes. (Want to try out a few different ones before you commit? Make sure they have a free trial so you can see if it’s the best fit for you.)

Choose one with a bunch of templates to choose from , so you can find one that matches your brand identity .

We wish you the best of luck on this newborn photography journey, and tapping into this lucrative market—make mama proud!

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Passionate Expert Newborn Artist, Surrogate Mother, & small-town raised Nebraska girl who fell in love with California & followed her dreams.  Located in gorgeous Orange County, California serving Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, Huntington Beach & surrounding areas.

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Marketing Tips for Newborn Photographers

Lately, I’ve been on a kick on researching and writing blog posts that are geared towards helping aspiring newborn photographers decide if this is a career path for them.  Today’s post is no different!  In this post, I’m going to delve into various ways to market your new photography business.  Because let’s face it, marketing isn’t always easy!

For many, marketing is overwhelming and many don’t know where to even start!  But have no fear, I’m here to help break down marketing into 4 easy steps. 

Marketing Tip 1: Define Your Target Audience

To create a successful marketing plan, first and foremost, you need to define who your target audience is going to be.  Once you identify who your target client is, you will need to research their demographics.  Some areas to find data on would be: identify age group, location, and what is net income of this area/age group.  Defining these important statistics will help you decide on your pricing and packages that you offer as you want to be sure you are finding the “sweet spot” where people feel comfortable and are able to pay you for your services.

Marketing Tip 2:Define How You Will Set Yourself Apart

To be honest, newborn photography is a flooded niche.  However, despite all the steep competition, you can still be successful with a little sweat equity and some tears!  The biggest way you help your business succeed is by finding a way YOU stand apart from local competition.  This can take on any form that fits who you are and what your business represents.  Some examples of how to stand out could be:  your editing style, signature props you decide to use, to having a professional hang any commissioned artwork a client purchases from you.  Maybe it’s a mix of the above suggestions or something completely different!  But find what makes working with you special and unique; for these little personal touches will be why clients choose you to capture these once-in-a-lifetime memories.

Marketing Tip 3: Internet Marketing

In a digital world, you are going to have to get accustomed and used to putting yourself out on social media.  Below are my top 3 digital marketing tips:

• Create a website: Create a website that will showcase who you are and where you came from.  Your website is most likely the first touch point a potential client will have with you and if they can connect with your story, they are more likely to hit the “let’s connect button”!  Be sure you list out your prices and packages as well as examples of your work!  If you have social media accounts (more on this below), be sure to connect to your website so potential clients have multiple ways to access and reach your work.
• Sign-Up for Google My Business: Google My Business is a free tool that allows a business owner to promote their business listing and website on Google Search and Maps.  Having a business profile allows the owner to input vital business information such as contact information, up-to-date photos to showcase work, as well as connect and respond to reviews.  Another huge plus to having a profile, vital analytical information such as how your potential clientele is interacting with your profile.  When you know how your clients are searching and interacting, you can make appropriate changes and adjustments as needed to keep you ahead of the marketing game!
• Social Media Accounts: As a photographer, I would recommend having a business profile on the following social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Creating a business profile on Facebook is almost as important as having a website.  Facebook allows you to constantly interact and connect with your followers/clients.  However, for Facebook to be a useful marketing tool you need to be posting 2-3 times per week.  These posts can be sneak peaks of a shoot to informative posts about newborn photography, your business, and your life.  Clients not only book based on your style but who you are.  The more you can connect, the easier it will be to find and retain clients.

Instagram is a must in the photography world.  Instagram the visual social media platform!  Like Facebook, Instagram offers another means to interact with potential clients; showing people that there is a real person behind the camera!  Not only is Instagram a fabulous way to showcase your work but again, it’s another means to show your knowledge in providing informational tidbits on a post. 

Unlike Facebook and Instagram, Pinterest is actually a visual search engine (i.e., think Google with pictures).  While it’s technically considered a social media platform, people don’t flock to Pinterest to see what you are up to (it’s social in means of “sharing” or “saving” pins).  But clients are on Pinterest for inspiration, ideas, and to visually solve a problem.  The great thing about Pinterest is if you optimize your profile to be rich in searchable keywords, including your location, you can increase your social reach as well as potentially gain more clients who may not have found you on other platforms. 

Marketing Tip 4: Traditional Marketing

While traditional marketing isn’t as prominent as digital marketing, it still is a must in our business.  Once you’ve identified your ideal clients and where they live, visit local boutique children stores in that area.  Introduce yourself and your business and ask if they have a board where you could put up a flyer advertising your services.  You can also visit local pediatrician offices to try and accomplish the same effect as above.  And finally if you have the monetary means, you can always put an advertisement in a local newspaper or magazine!

Starting a new business is scary, no matter what you are trying to do.  However; I hope my above marketing tips alleviate some of your anxiety about how you will get your name and work out there!  While success won’t happen overnight, if you keep at it and put in the time and effort, you will eventually have a prosperous business faster than you can imagine!

If you love social media like I do come over and check us out here: https://www.instagram.com/candiceswansonphotography/

Thank you for all these awesome advice!

This is awesome!

So glad you enjoyed the tips!

These are really Great Tips, and your work is amazing!

Thank you; my work is truly my passion! And so glad you found the tips useful!

Love this so much! More tips please!

I will work on getting another post out with more useful tips!

Wow such amazing content!! I love all the information you provided in the blog. This type of detailed information for free is truly amazing!

So glad you found the content useful!

Your photos are so beautiful! What a beautiful gift to give families! A lifetime treasure and heirloom.

Thank you for the kind words! Portraits are wonderful ways to capture a family in time and are some of the best heirloom pieces to be passed down!

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