Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful times in a woman’s life. It doesn’t matter if you’re about to have your first child or you’re preparing to welcome another addition to the family, the miracle of life never gets old.
But, it can happen rather quickly. One minute you’re telling your partner the good news and planning a gender reveal, and the next, you’re inviting people to the first birthday party!
As such, it’s worth investing in a maternity photographer to capture the beauty and joys of pregnancy forever. This is an amazing way to reveal your pregnancy to the world or to create special, intimate moments with your bump as the birth gets closer and closer.
Whatever the reason you want a pregnancy photographer, though, you need to know how to find the right one. Make sure your top choices offer the following before scheduling your maternity shoot.
1. Experience
The last thing you want to do is hire a brand-new photographer or a person who just happens to have a nice camera to do your maternity photos. After all, imagine if you had done that for your wedding or your headshots!
Every kind of photography requires a certain kind of artistic eye and a deep level of experience. At least, that’s how the best work is produced. Make sure your pictures come out as beautiful as possible by hiring a photographer who is used to working with expectant mothers and their lovely baby bumps.
2. Professionalism and Personality
Experience doesn’t matter much if you and your photographer can’t get along. You should feel like your photographer is a good friend or a trusted colleague. At the very least, you should be able to have creative input and enjoy yourself rather than feeling like you’re being bossed around or rushed.
All professional photographers have this level of respect for their clients. But, it’s only the one with the right personality that will really click with you. You may find one photographer who is kind and clearly has good intentions whom you just can’t make a connection with, and another who you feel like you’ve known for years.
3. The Right Portfolio
One way to see how well you’re going to be able to get along with your photographer is to take a close look at their portfolio. See if their style matches the ideas you have in mind for your maternity shoot.
This applies to everything from the angles taken and the quality of edits to the location scouting or studio setup. Keep in mind some photographers don’t have a studio and prefer outdoor locations while others only work in their controlled creative environments. This, as well as other creative details, may very well affect your final decision.
To get an idea of what a great portfolio looks like, check out Zoom In Photography.
4. Fair Prices
While you’re browsing each photographer’s portfolio, you may as well check out their prices. It’s not worth spending an arm on a leg on a maternity shoot if you can afford another photographer who is just as good of a choice for a better price.
Keep in mind some photographers will charge for the entire project while others have hourly rates. Pay attention to whether or not there’s a cancellation fee if you decide to go with someone else or something comes up on the day of the shoot.
5. Photo Edits and Access
Another thing to consider when comparing prices is the amount and quality of photos you can expect to receive. A photographer may charge you for a packet of pictures, a collection of your whole shoot, or a flat rate for each photo you want to keep.
This means you’ll either have to pay for every 10, 15, or 20 photos (and so on), for individual photos, or for all of them – even the ones you don’t like. Plus, there are editing costs and different kinds of access a photographer provides.
Some photographers will only release pictures via print which means you have to pay for duplicates of photos if you want them. Others will give you a shared access file or a CD to keep as yours and do whatever you’d like with the photos.
Editing costs, on the other hand, range from edits per photo to edits of the entire collection. At the end of the day, all of these things can easily add up, so clarify them with your potential maternity photographer choices before moving forward.
6. Amazing Service
There are package deals and then there are maternity photographers who seem to be the whole package. As you inquire about rates and availability, get a feel for the person you’re communicating with.
Does it feel like the photographer truly cares about your best interest? Are they willing to work with you about payments and photo packages?
Remember, the more attentive a photographer is during the planning process, the more likely they are to be patient and passionate throughout the rest of your time working with them. This is not worth overlooking if you truly want the best experience.
7. Long-Term Photo Possibilities
Here’s one more thing to consider: newborn baby pictures and family photos as your child grows. Some maternity photographers specialize in family portraits and infant photos as well as baby bumps and beautiful mothers-to-be.
If you want to continue capturing such moments and like the thought of working with the same photographer, keep this in mind before making your final choice. A continued relationship could turn out to be more beneficial than you might think, considering many photographers appreciate having loyal clients.
Deciding on Dress and Theme With Your Maternity Photographer
It’s one thing to find the perfect maternity photographer and another to decide all the creative details together. It’s always best to discuss everything from your clothes to the setting up-front. This minimizes any surprises, puts you both on the same page, and results in the most amazing pictures possible.
If you aren’t sure what you’d like your photos to look like, lean on your photographer for creative direction. Or, click here to check out some amazing style tips!
