Everything that goes into your Denver Newborn Photoshoot

Intro

Newborn photography is a relatively new art, and many expecting parents simply don’t know what goes into it.  We’ve put together this guide to help new Moms and Dads in Denver better understand what a newborn photoshoot involves. This way, you can have a better understanding of this delicate time.

Newborn photography has evolved over the recent years into a true art form.  And while anyone with a camera can market themselves as a newborn photographer, it takes a special set of skills to develop the experience necessary.  Safe handling of your infant, knowing what poses are safe and comfortable, and being able to read your baby’s mood are just part of the process.  

Initial Lead and Consultation

We begin our relationship by addressing your initial inquiry.  Most expecting parents contact us for availability and pricing.  Our pricing may be found on our Investment page, which outlines our all-inclusive packages.  While majority of photographers in the Denver area keep their price lists private, and only share them via e-mail, we believe every client should have access to the same price list – upfront and transparent.  

It’s also our firm belief that newborn photoshoots should be all inclusive.  It is quite common amongst photographers to charge a “sitting fee” for their time and effort, and then present you with a second price list – one which includes the cost of your images. This “gotcha” technique oftentimes catches people by surprise.  

Having a newborn baby in your home will keep both Mom and Dad plenty busy.  As such, our simple, all-inclusive pricing has no hidden fees, no “gotchas”, and certainly no surprises.

During our consultation, we’ll advise you on the ideal time to schedule your photoshoot, and how best to prepare for it.  Everything from styling recommendations to getting your infant ready will be thoroughly covered.

On the day of the shoot, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is sitting back and relaxing (for a change)!

Pre-shoot preparation

Before your photoshoot, we get ready by sanitizing all of our blankets, wraps, and props.  Everything is steam-cleaned and neatly folded before we arrive.  Our photo equipment is checked (and double checked), batteries charged, and extras brought along.  We use low-intensity flash with a duration of just 1/63,000 of a second to ensure your baby’s sleep does not get interrupted.

Before we head to your home, we check traffic conditions to ensure an on-time arrival. After all, getting through central Denver can be a slow process at times!

During your newborn shoot

We prefer to setup our shooting area on your bed.  We use pillows, stuffings, and other soft fillers to create a soft, pleasant, and safe environment.  We stretch our blankets and use a waterproof pad to ensure your sheets remain clean and dry, even if your baby has a little accident during the shoot.  

Over the past 15 years, we’ve perfected our posing approach. We know what baby poses work, and which don’t.  We’ve learned and dialed-in our posing techniques to ensure your baby remains safe, comfortable, and happy throughout the process.

And while some parents search for the cheapest newborn photographer in Denver – a word of caution.  Don’t let a new, inexperienced photographer use your infant as a guinea pig.  Many newborn poses that you see on social media have been done with extensive post-processing.  Others require specific equipment to support your baby’s head, or to prevent discomfort and cramps.  Trusting an inexperienced photographer who competes solely on price is not worth your baby’s safety.

We use a sleep noise machine to ease your infant to sleep. With the aid of a small heater, he/she will remain warm and comfortable.  Our job doesn’t begin until your baby is happily asleep.  For this reason, we ask that parents hold-off on feeding their baby until we arrive.  This way, a full belly will help us put them at ease. 

Props

We encourage parents to share with us any props they’d like to use.  Feel free to share your creative thoughts and ideas with us prior to your photoshoot.  This way we can better pre-visualize the workflow and have a game plan ready when we arrive.

Curating

For us, the fun doesn’t stop after your newborn photoshoot!  Once we load all of the photos into our workstation, the curating process begins.  Here we sort through all of the images from your session.  We compare each image for sharpness, composition, lighting, and overall appeal.  Only those photos that meet our strict quality standards make it into the final round.

In approximately 2 weeks, you can expect to receive an e-mail with access to your proofing gallery. 

Proofing

Your proofing gallery will feature the best images from your photoshoot.  During this time, you’ll have a chance to go through them and select your favorites.  Those favorites are going to be edited in our signature style, and made available to you for download.  Please know that unedited, RAW images are not considered a final product.  We do not release nor sell RAW images.

Post Processing

Once you’ve made your final selections, these photos are ready for the next step.  Every image is hand-edited by our retoucher to its absolute perfection.  White-balance and exposure are adjusted, highlights and shadows are recovered, and the image is run through a de-noising algorithm. Frizzy hair is edited, blemishes minimized, and any wrinkles removed.  We believe your final images should look their perfect, without looking overdone.

Print Ordering

You’ll receive your final, edited gallery about 10-14 days after you’ve made your proofing selections.  These images will be made available to you for download. We strongly suggest that you make a back-up of these digital downloads.  

As beautiful as these digital photos will look on your phone, what good are such precious memories if the walls in your home remain bare?  

Our software allows us to design your wall art, in your actual home!  Simply send us a photo of your room, or a wall, and we’ll render a preview of your images.  We can design a wall collage, or just a single framed print.  All to scale!  This way, you’ll get an accurate visual representation of how stunning your art will look before making the purchase.

Wrapping it up

As you can see, there’s a LOT that goes into a newborn photoshoot.  While we spend 2-3 hours in your home, another 20-30 hours are required for e-mail and phone consultation, equipment prep and cleaning, travel time, all the way to curating and post processing.  We believe our 15+ years of experience are invaluable when handling your baby.  

Contact Twinkle Portraits in Denver today and Sophie would be happy to walk you through the whole process and secure a date on our calendar!