Furthermore, we are also seeing budding photographers trying to replicate the work of professional newborn photographers, which is not only producing cringe-worthy results, but is also putting a number of new babies in precarious situations.
If you are unsure of how a photographer has achieved a particular portrait, it’s more than likely that the outcome is the result of years of experience and hundreds of hours spent on photoshop. In any case, the checklist below is to help you ensure you’re making the right choice when selecting a newborn photographer to safely handle your precious new cargo.
• Ensure the photographer has Public Liability Insurance, in the event that something unforeseen occurs during the photoshoot.
• Confirm that your photographer is trained in first aid, and specifically, infant and baby first
aid.
• Check that your photographer has a Working With Children permit, and ask for their
reference number, or to see a copy of their certificate.
• Verify whether your newborn photographer is trained to handle and pose the newborn
safely and correctly. Many poses are not what they seem, as images are often stitched
together in photoshop to ensure the baby is always safe. Take the example of an image of
the baby hanging from a basket… the photographer has taken a photograph of the basket
and a photograph of the baby safely on the ground, and then used photoshop to stitch the
images together.
• Make sure you ask your newborn photographer if they are vaccinated, as new babies are
unable to receive all their vaccinations, so it is imperative that the photographer presents
no risk to the baby’s health.
If you are planning on photographing your gorgeous new baby, please do your research because there are too many people just pointing and clicking, with little concern for the baby’s health and safety, which should always be our number one priority.