Also I would ask them how many on average newborns they have photographed. Also watch that your newborn does not get distressed while they are posing your newborn. Some people have not been taught the correct way to get some pose and try to do it how they see it in other newborn photos. Also make sure your newborn is never left in a prop without you by their side. If your newborn all of a sudden jolted then I would hate to think of a baby rolling off and hitting their head or banging it on someone else. This is your baby so make sure you are right beside it at all times and read to have a hand ready to grab/support if needed...
Just because someone has an SLR does not make them a professional, god I can have a point and shoot camera and still get the same quality of images I can produce with my big camera. Maybe not as sharp but that is what Photoshop was create for.
This leads me into my next part, what set a photographer apart from a hobbyist is they have public liability insurance and they have contracts and model release. If your photographer does not have them, then I would look elsewhere. Public liability not only covers the photographer but if your baby became hurt while doing a pose then it cover you and the babies medical needs and heaven forbid any ongoing issue the baby may face in the further. I have heard storied and seen some shocking things people try to do to a newborn, e.g. putting a baby in a sling unsupported or have a something soft under the baby in case the baby falls. Or putting a baby in a glass jar. Or putting a baby in a river in a vase... Now come on people regardless if the photographer says its art, the safety of your baby comes first, and you as their parent need to stand up and say NO that is not acceptable to do with MY child.
A contract protects you and your photographer, it tells you what to expect and what you in turn will get back out of your money. Don’t just sign it, for all you know you are signing away your first born son. Make sure you read it so you don’t get a shock when your photographer comes back and says “no that $99 you paid me doesn’t cover any prints or files as you thought” or “orders need to be placed within XX amount of days”. Read what you are signing regardless what it is for.
A model release is a must, for any hobbyist or professional. Here is Australia the person taking the photo hold the copyright to the negative or digital file. Yet as you are the subject the copyright of the image lies with you unless you sign them over to the person taken the photo. This can included anyone so grandma, your sister or you best friend. If they use that image in 5 years time when they are a superstar photographer and are being paid $10,000 for that image at your daughter’s 4th birthday party you can claim part of that money unless you have signed your rights over to the person taking the photo. Most professional know this and may just have a simple model release they have you sign. You can even get apps for this now as well.
How you can tell a professional from a hobbyist is the price, a hobbyist only charge you $50 for an hour of their time to take the photo and then give you the WHOLE disc of unedited image. I started out like this and I learnt fast that is it not just that hour I was doing, I was travelling at my cost and then spending at least 4 hours editing images. It was taking my time away from my children and family and I thought they deserved more. So now I price according, it may not be to everyone price range but if you want me to create lasting memories of your family while I take time away from my little ones then it needs to be worth it. A professional has lived and breath their art until they have got it right. They have invested thousands of hours in learning and reading and asking questions and practice.
I get at least 2 emails a week from someone I don’t know saying they book in with X and paid them $xxx and when they see the images from their session they were so disappointed, as they were not what you were expecting. Make sure to look thought anyone portfolio thoroughly and see if their work matches up from past session, of course over time people will get better but if you don’t see any improvement in their work maybe look elsewhere, however if you are really want that style don’t carry on when you see your gallery and complain to people as your seen their work and still decided to go through them. You are investing a chunk of money with these people to crate lasting memories of your family you had better be sure they are what you really want.
There are so many people who are stealing image off the Internet and claim they have created this image. Well they are in breach of copyright and can be sued. Many people who starting out attend workshops and claim the posing as their own, well this is not the case. The mentor is actually posing the baby and create the set up and teaching the attending at the workshop what best angle to use etc... Then they display these image on their website/blog/FB page and it draws clients in, and hence I get that email stating they were so shocked when they didn’t get the same level of work as the baby on the rug etc... the old saying comes to mind “you get what you pay for”. I can’t do anything for you beside listen to you grievances. I can offer to do a session for you but then you would have to pay my prices as I don’t work for free. My mortgage is not going to get paid off for free so why should I work for free.
It offends me when people try to haggle my on my price, or ask for a free session at such and such a date yet when you got to a dentist or a lawyer you do not question their pricing. My price are set so my business is profitable and will be in business for a long time to come. I take a lot of time to be able to product the high quality of images that my clientele have come to expect. I don’t just shoot and burn. It normal take me around a week at least to get your session up on a gallery for you to view. Yet I can get a sneak peak up as its only one or 2 images.
Custom Photography is a luxury, not a must have.