Hellobee Boards

would you consider a regular lifestyle family photographer? They probably wouldn't have the supplies or skill to do cutesy posed photos - but if you want some beautiful pictures of your family, baby included, you could probably get them done a lot cheaper. I wish I had thought of this....

We did pictures with some one who "specializes" in newborns. It cost $800-1000 (I don't recall) and she was at our house for like 4 hours. It was insane and I was so ready to be done by the end.... and this was without any special props or poses -- it was all regular lifestyle photography!!

Looking back, I should have called the person that we use now for family pictures! 1 hour would have been plenty of time, and I could have gotten all of the digitals for $250.

I voted other because we did them and it was totally worth it to me but it was around $350. I don’t think I could justify $800.

@PurplePumps: I didn't vote, but for what it's worth....I did NOT do professional newborn pics with my first baby and I regret it so much we're doing them with my second baby, due in two weeks. My husband has a DSLR and a ton of fancy lenses. He wanted to DIY, so we set aside an afternoon and did it then. We got a few cute snaps of our son, but the few family ones were took were awful. I think the issue was that we didn't really know what we were doing (most of my husband's photography is nature and buildings vs people). Over the years (my son is now 3.5) we've both gotten better about using the fancy camera to get great snaps of him, but the sleepless newborn haze wasn't a great time for that learning curve.

That being said, I really took a while this time to find someone who had a reasonable package for the upcoming pictures. I think we're paying in the range of $400-$500 for "lifestyle" family pics in-home, which includes 25 digital images. We'll do a bunch of family pictures (the most important ones to me will be of my son and daughter together), and then my son will go to school and she'll snap some newborn poses, too. I hope you find what you're looking for-a search on a local FB mom board might help if you haven't tried there already.

Yikes I’m in NYC so high price market and ours were like $300 or so for each kiddo! We went with the photographer who works in the hospital— for lo1 we hadn’t thought about it at all until she knocked on my room door

I’m a photographer so I’ve always set aside time to photograph my newborns myself. But my new most cherished photos are ones that we had done after my third was just born with me in them! I myself do lifestyle photographs, not posed with props so that isn’t something I would pay for but good photos of myself and my family I would pay a lot more!

We skipped this. The posed photos with all the props are not really my style anyway. I don’t regret skipping for my 4yo. I took so many photos anyway, especially during maternity leave, that I feel his newbornness was captured sufficiently. They are compiled into a nice big 12x12 Shutterfly album purchased with a 50% coupon. I’m happy with it.

@PurplePumps: I’m personally not really into these overly posed sessions. But, that’s totally a matter of preference. Have you looked into lifestyle newborn at all? The photographer would come to your home. Here’s one I found. http://www.katelphotography.com/newborns/portfolio/

We did for my kiddos, and I love the pictures. We turned my son’s session into a family session as well, and used the pics for Christmas cards, so I justified spending a fortune. If/when we have another, we might go with someone a little less expensive (we paid $1100 I think?), but still someone I consider high quality.

We did them with our first and have already signed a contract with the same photographer to do them when our baby is born in August. It includes a shoot lasting 2-4 hours (depending on how baby behaves) that will be the just the baby and then some family pictures as well. Ours isn't that expensive and I can't remember the exact price but I think it's about $500. Includes 25-30 pics in color and black and white with the print rights which is all I wanted-I want to be able to print and do with them what I want.

We did with both kids. We got a 3 shoot package where each shoot had to be completed within the year. $1200 for the package. Totally worth it, I cherish those pictures. Less so the newborn posed shots, but more the family shots with us huddled around the newborn.

Next time around, if there is one, we will definitely do it again and I would pay $1000+ for it if I had to, but I bet you can do better if you shop around or find a lifestyle photographer. I will say if price is really an issue, you probably only *need* like 5 photos.

I got the photos in the hospital when DS was just a day old and they aren't amazing but I liked having the moment captured and it wasn't too much $.

I originally looked at booking a newborn shoot but decided I wanted something more candid and hired a friend who is a photographer to come by the house. I love what he captured and have already contacted him about coming back for LO#2 in a few months.

I also just booked a mini Christmas photo shoot for October ($150) that only comes with 3 digital prints but figure it is another chance to get a family photo during the newborn stage.

@PurplePumps: yay! So glad you found someone. Who did you choose?

@PurplePumps: so glad you found someone! And I do think newborn specific photographers who can do the extra sweet poses and stuff are a little more expensive and this is an expensive area. So that doesn’t seem too crazy to me! I hope you love them!