https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:52:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2114179 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 10:05:03 +0000 whenoceansrise 2114179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eh, I just don't understand the need for professional photos all the time. A good friend of mine is a professional photographer and she did our maternity for free and a discounted newborn session. We'll probably have some professional family pictures done by her later on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2114046 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 08:42:32 +0000 autumnlove 2114046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't get pro photos done often but it doesn't annoy me when other people have sessions. Some people love pictures and that is ok with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2114029 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 08:34:15 +0000 Mamaof2 2114029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had maternity photos taken by a new photog so they were pretty cheap.</p> <p>I did NB for both kids</p> <p>I did 6 months for both Kids</p> <p>Now I do every year </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2114003 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 08:20:58 +0000 illumina 2114003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did professional wedding pics, and with LO newborn, 6 months and 12 month pics. I'm not really into styling/fashion, so coordinating everyone was a bit of a pain but otherwise, I loved them! I look at them all the time and love displaying them around the house :) I have a nice camera and like a bit of photography now and then but it's rare we get chances to take nice photos of the 3 of us. </p> <p>I actually kinda wish we could have had a professional photog take pictures during her 1st birthday party...but I guess that would be a little OTT! Hoping to get 2yr ones done, but they will be outdoors and less posed than the others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2113988 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 08:15:48 +0000 snowjewelz 2113988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you can afford them, then each to their own! </p> <p>I cannot, so I had a gracious friend that gifted me a maternity shoot as my baby shower gift.</p> <p>Then we did DIY newborn photos. If you already have a nice camera, there are sooo many tips online on how to do it yourself and we love how they turned out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2113928 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 07:47:33 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2113928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did NB and 1-yr shoots, but since LO was born in Nov, we did some Christmas ones as well. We also combined that one with my sister's kids and did some family shots, so the price wasn't as high. Our photographer also does "photo booth" shoots where she sets up somewhere and for $25, anyone can drop by and get a 10 min session that we did when LO was 5 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2113919 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 07:43:23 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 2113919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a friend who is semi pro photographer take her newborn pictures, then I found an amazing photographer who was just starting out and she was running a special, so I got her 6 months pictures taken. She also did mini sessions for fall pictures, so we did that too. Then I wanted 1 year photo... lol. So we did an entire full session. And now she sucked me in again because she's doing easter pictures at the place where DH and I got married! I was so not planning on doing easter pictures, but I couldn't pass this opportunity up! I think if you love pro pictures of your kids, do it! They're only this little once. Plus it helps that I adore my photographer and want to be her bff. Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2113915 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 07:40:46 +0000 Chillybear 2113915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We hired a local bee to do our newborn shots at our house.... It was laid back, relaxed and we got great shots of LO and us as a family. Since LO was born at the end of sept we did one posed shot (her in a basket surrounded by christmas balls) that we used for that year's christmas card. </p> <p>I try to double up as best i can. I found that our target's photo studio is wonderful to work with and super affordable because they are always sending out coupons. So 3 months later at christmas we were prepping for LO's christening we booked at target and did photos of her in her christening dress and christmas dress. At 6 months it was easter so again we went back to target and did spring shots, then at 9 months my SIL wanted to get pics of all three grandkids together so went ended up back at target. </p> <p>We hired a different local photographer to do 1st birthday/family shots at local park and also did photos at target - they did our christmas card shot and let me bring in a cake to do cake smashing pictures. Contemplating if i want to get easter pictures done this year or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2113906 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 07:37:01 +0000 yin 2113906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO will turn 4 next month, and we haven't had any professional photos taken of the kids. I do have thousands of photos of them, and DH has a whole shelf dedicated to his cameras (most film). We make an effort to document our kids, and it's usually capturing them playing with their toys or eating at the dining table. It's exactly what we need to remember their childhood.</p> <p>If I could do things differently, I would hire a photographer to take photos of birthday parties. We're too busy to capture the moments, and we hand off the camera to family and friends. The results are really disappointing. We throw simple parties at home so it's hard to justify the cost. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2113871 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 07:06:17 +0000 Modern Daisy 2113871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A newborn shoot in NYC was too cost prohibitive. I searched and searched but couldn't find anything under $1,500. I did hire a photographer to take group family photos this summer when DH's family flew frim all over the country to see us. It was a once in a ligfetime event so i thought it made sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2113862 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 06:57:07 +0000 honeybear 2113862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't ever hired a photographer, except for our wedding. I take pictures on my nice-enough, but not fancy or even semi-pro grade, camera every day, and I feel that the candid shots I get are excellent at memorializing our lives. </p> <p>I see lifestyle/Christmas card shoots all the time because we live near a beautiful spot that has truly amazing light. We go there nearly every day for that reason; it's absolutely gorgeous. However, going to this fantastic place for pictures feels artificial to me, and I suspect the photos reflect that to some extent, even if their subjects have awesome hair and makeup and flattering clothes on and the photographer is a technical master. I totally understand the desire to have photos where you and your family look great (I want that too!), but I honestly think that people look their best when they're happiest and most relaxed, and I don't think that is fully compatible with staged photos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2113854 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 06:36:01 +0000 mamabolt 2113854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had NB pics with LO1 and have done a family session in the fall each year for Xmas card pics/gifts. We will probably combine those with NB pics for number 2 this year since I'm due at the end of October. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything/page/2#post-2113847 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 06:27:32 +0000 bushelandapeck 2113847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had them done for newborn,family, and yearly shots of DS and plan to do the same for DD. We take a ton of pictures ourselves as well but I love the photos we've gotten from the local photographers we've used. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113836 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 06:14:10 +0000 looch 2113836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel conflicted, because I want to support those that are photogs, but at the same time, the cost is prohibitive when I think about all of the other things that we need to take care of around here.</p> <p>I know my way around a film camera and my husband is decent with digital and we have friends that are decent as well, so we trade off family shots. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113825 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 05:48:54 +0000 lamariniere 2113825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a hobbyist photographer, so I've shot all of our shoots myself. If I didn't know my way around a DSLR, maybe I would have considered hiring a pro. But frankly, the baby in a basket with bunny ears pics aren't at all my style. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113772 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 23:00:09 +0000 daniellemybelle 2113772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish we could have done professional photo shoots every 3 months for her first year, but we couldn't afford it. We did get close-ish... My friend took newborn pictures and 4 month pictures. She is a photographer, but I would say the pictures are not quite the quality you would get from a pricey baby photographer. We did professional pictures at 8 months that were pricier and turned out great. And then I hired a photographer who was building his portfolio but very talented for her first birthday which I am VERY glad I did.</p> <p>I cherish all those pictures and wish we could have more. So, I feel like if you can afford it, that's awesome and good for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113767 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 22:46:46 +0000 Corduroy 2113767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO just turned 2 and hasn't had any professional pictures taken. We bought a nice camera shortly before LO was born and have been using it. I like that we can grab it at any moment so we have nice pictures from lots of ages/settings/outfits. I also like that we can take nice pics of our friends and family's parties and events. They seem to really appreciate it. I just wish that other people weren't so intimidated by the camera and would take more pics of me and LO. </p> <p>LO2 is on the way and I'm considering newborn pics for him since I think our family will be complete. We would include the four of us, </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113762 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 22:27:20 +0000 Grace 2113762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a photoshoot for LO's 1st birthday and that's it. I don't know what I would have done with more photos than what I got. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113677 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:31:44 +0000 Mamasig 2113677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We can't afford professional pictures for everything. So we do professional pics for newborn and 1st birthday. We've also done a mini session at Christmas that was much cheaper and only lasted 15 minutes. I got these printed at mpix and gave to family.<br /> We did buy a nice camera when DS1 was born and took plenty of everyday pics ourselves. Sadly, we have taken nearly as many since DS2 was born but there isn't enough time and DS1 has started running from the camera. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113676 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:29:48 +0000 catlady 2113676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love good photography but it is super pricey around here so we've tried to do key moments in our lives but definitely not everything. We've done our wedding photos (skipped engagement), newborn, 6 months, and 1 year for LO. The 6 month session was a gift so we probably would have skipped that too if we were paying ourselves. I try to take nice photos with a DSLR throughout the year as well, but I really value getting family shots since it is hard to get us all together. As LO gets older, we will have to decide if it will be worth it to do more sessions. The photographers we've worked with tend not to do mini sessions but I may try to find some who do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113673 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:27:19 +0000 MenagerieMama 2113673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it just depends on how much you value photography! My DH and I are pretty frugal but our big splurges in life are travel and photos. Our wedding cost &lt;$10k and 1/3 was our photographer! We did a package for maternity/newborn photos, and then had planned to do a 6 mo/family shoot, but our photographer did an Easter mini session so we did that for a 6 mo thing and then will do sort of an 8 monthish family shoot? We're moving from this coast to back home when she is 9 mo so we kind of wanted to do a family thing to commemorate her birthplace. The photos are mostly for ourselves and grandparents, although we did use newborn ones on our birth announcements we mailed out. We have a frame with a few maternity shots in the nursery and then a photobook with maternity and newborn printed. Also have some newborn ones framed for the nursery I just haven't put them up...whoops! None of this is necessary though, we just love photos. We're also doing a weekly photo project for LO (with our iphones, we don't know how to use fancy cameras, which is why we pay other people!) and I'm already working on her photo album. About half the framed art in our house is photos we've taken on trips. Just depends on what matters to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113669 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:15:03 +0000 Mae 2113669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I hope to get professional photo shoots about once/year, mostly because that is the only way I'm going to get a decent pic of all 3 of us together. In terms of pics of the baby alone.... you either value having professional photography enough to do it or not at any given point. If it doesn't excite you, go crazy with your own camera or even your iPhone. Doesn't matter whether or not anyone else values professional pics! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113662 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:05:26 +0000 getjazzy 2113662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to do at least one individual shoot and one family per year. We did newborn, and family pictures when LO was 3 months and then first birthday photos for LO and a family picture (DIY "professional") at Christmas when LO was 18 mo. I'm not all about this mini and that mini but I will try to do them here and there so I have nicer pictures of the kids without struggling to be the one to coordinate them. I take a ton myself! My favorite pictures are not professional ones! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113659 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:03:02 +0000 Happygal 2113659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with you--it's too much!</p> <p>Same with weddings.....people are getting their engagement photographed, then formal engagement photos, wedding day/night photos, boudoir shots, honeymoon photos, trash the dress photos, anniversary photos....it goes on and on! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113655 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:00:59 +0000 FaithFertility 2113655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did professional maternity pictures and looking back I wish we hadn't, they are beautiful but once that baby is born, I wish we would have done professional newborn pictures.... at the time I was just so overwhelmed and thought ahhh we will take our own, but if I were to choose it would be for the baby </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113624 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 19:37:48 +0000 Smurfette 2113624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did newborn, 4m, 8m, 12m, and 18m. I love we did. We got great pictures that we could never have taken. We gave them to family for Christmas, Mothers Day, etc. We will do a baby package for #2. I think the pictures are priceless. </p> <p>This year all we will do is a fall mini session if we can get it. If not then we won't do family pictures. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113622 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 19:31:50 +0000 artsyfartsy 2113622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got a package from a family member who was just starting out that did Maternity, hospital, newborn, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months shots. It was really inexpensive and I love having all the pictures documenting T's first year. But it did feel excessive when we were doing them. But hey. It was cheap and the pics are beautiful so I'm not complaining. I will probably do the same for #2 but until then maybe just one photo shoot a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113611 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 19:16:25 +0000 fairy 2113611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did professional maternity photos, got her photo taken with Santa &amp; one family Christmas photo at the mall her first year, then a professional family shoot when she was around 10 months, had Christmas card photos her 2nd year at JC Penney, and that is it so far other than my photographer friend taking one photo of her at a playdate. I have plenty of photos that I took myself, I don't need bunch of pinteresty photos :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113608 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 19:09:32 +0000 Dandelion 2113608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For my oldest, I got them done every three months for the first year at a studio.</p> <p>For the youngest, I've done them all myself...mostly with my phone lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-feel-about-professional-photo-shoots-for-everything#post-2113585 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:51:02 +0000 youboots 2113585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a wedding photographer and don't often photograph kids and families, but appriciate those who can do it well. My best friends took our maternity photos and a newborn photographer is doing ours tomorrow. We usually do photos in the fall each year for our anniversary and send out Christmas cards. I expect we will keep that up and do spring photos for the babes birthday. FWIW I have heard that 3 month photos are not that great since the baby can not sit up. I would do newborn photos and one year photos as a minimum personally. </p>