To newborn photo or not?

[ngdgtco]

Are you planning to do birth announcements? We're not hiring a photographer, but I'm planning for my H to take some (he has some photography skills) so we can at least use them for an announcement. We're planning to hire a professional to do family photos around 3 months, so I'm saving my money for that.

[linz]

We are but I'm not doing professional monthly ones. And our nb shoot will be more of a lifestyle one where they came to our house and get pics with me and H. I hate the ones with props so didnt want that. And my photographer does them within 3 weeks so we wont be rushed and wont have to leave home.

[MrsAggie]

I think I want to because I think I'll always cherish them. I don't know that I'll do professionals all that often, maybe 6 months and 1 year? Newborn photos were kind of an afterthought that I had about a month ago but now I'm set on it.

[Blue Moon]

Our hospital actually takes pretty decent ones so I'm thinking they will be sufficient for just a couple of photos of baby girl when she's brand new. There's no pressure to purchase them, but I'm sure we will. I hired a photographer to come to our house when the baby is 1 month to get some family/lifestyle photos of baby, H, and me. I was shocked to see how much photographers were charging for a newborn package with props and everything. Our "lifestyle" shoot is very reasonably priced comparatively.

[azurely]

We are doing newborn, 6 month, and 1 year photos. I love the more natural newborn photos, and definitely want professional photos at 6 months and a year too.

The newborn and 1 year photos will be family photos and we'll probably just continue that every year since he will have a fall birthday, then we can use them for Christmas cards.

[ringstrue]

I just took my own with DD but I sorta wish I went to the mall to get them done or something. I was too nervous to get into that though.

With this baby I am gonna do a shoot with him and hopefully a few with him and DD together somehow. No sacks or tree stumps or wings or anything silly. Just him laying on his blankie or something basic.

I also might not do them right away - maybe wait til he's like 2 weeks old? Depends when he stops looking like a squished pumpkin and starts opening his eyes more. Lots of times newborns just look awkward.

[zarapipe]

Dooo it! Look around till you find a style you like. 3 month photos are boring- not sitting up, not smiling, etc. I would rather do a newborn shoot than 3m.

[ringstrue]

Oh I took DD to a kids place at the mall to have them done and it was a good experience time and money-wise. But also if you use a daycare center often times they do "school photos" in the fall and spring so sometimes you can opt for that route instead of going to the mall.

[zarapipe]

Aug 25, 2014 12:53:36 GMT -5 @astrid said:

Aug 25, 2014 12:50:35 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Dooo it! Look around till you find a style you like. 3 month photos are boring- not sitting up, not smiling, etc. I would rather do a newborn shoot than 3m.

Don't they look more...smooshy and baby-ish at 3 months?

Yes- definitely chubby and cute. I think we had ours just under 3 months though and she wasn't smiling, some babies smile though by 3 months, we probably should have just waited a few more weeks- she just kind of looked at the camera. They are cute pics, but I wish I would have done nb with DD, which is why I am doing them this time.

[rachelgreen]

I want to but I know they prefer baby to be between 5-14 days old. Our hospital doesn't do them at the hospital (that I know of) and since I'm due around Christmas/NY...I have no idea if I will be able to. Plus add in WI weather woes...I guess for me I will plan them but have to be prepared to have it fall through.

[Brie]

Aug 25, 2014 12:53:36 GMT -5 @astrid said:

Aug 25, 2014 12:50:35 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Dooo it! Look around till you find a style you like. 3 month photos are boring- not sitting up, not smiling, etc. I would rather do a newborn shoot than 3m.

Don't they look more...smooshy and baby-ish at 3 months?

At 3 months my kid had baby acne and cradle cap.  Not cute.

[estrellita]

I want to, but I'm trying to decide if we want to just do them ourselves. We have a nice camera and are decent photographers, so I think we could get some good shots. Plus doing it on our own time cuts out baby being crabby at the studio or anything like that. But I like the photos the "real" photographers take better, lol.

[Brie]

But yeah, I recommend NB pictures.  We're not into silly hats or anything really, so ours were taken at home and they're kind of photojournalistic, whcich I like. 

AW:

[gretchenindisguise]

A friend does outdoor newborn pics, so we'll have those done with this kiddo.

I'll probably do some lifestyle pics. If I could afford it - I'd hire someone for them.

[smm5623]

I love M's newborn pictures and we just had C's done. I want to always remember them so small and squishy!

[MamaMaui24]

Absolutely! In fact, I'd do newborn, 6 mo and 1 year.

[smm5623]

Those lips!

[MrsAggie]

Aug 25, 2014 13:11:10 GMT -5 rachelgreen said:

I want to but I know they prefer baby to be between 5-14 days old. Our hospital doesn't do them at the hospital (that I know of) and since I'm due around Christmas/NY...I have no idea if I will be able to. Plus add in WI weather woes...I guess for me I will plan them but have to be prepared to have it fall through.

I was looking at blogs of photographers who do newborn photos in my area and one photographer swears by slightly late newborn photos (think 2-3 weeks). The shoot was adorable because baby was more alert so he was looking at the camera in some versus sleeping in all of them. I'm considering doing them a little late intentionally.

ETA he was actually 5 weeks!

[rachelgreen]

Aug 25, 2014 13:35:05 GMT -5 MrsAggie said:

Aug 25, 2014 13:11:10 GMT -5 rachelgreen said:

I want to but I know they prefer baby to be between 5-14 days old. Our hospital doesn't do them at the hospital (that I know of) and since I'm due around Christmas/NY...I have no idea if I will be able to. Plus add in WI weather woes...I guess for me I will plan them but have to be prepared to have it fall through.

I was looking at blogs of photographers who do newborn photos in my area and one photographer swears by slightly late newborn photos (think 2-3 weeks). The shoot was adorable because baby was more alert so he was looking at the camera in some versus sleeping in all of them. I'm considering doing them a little late intentionally.

ETA he was actually 5 weeks!

Time will tell for us

[scribellesam]

I adore my newborn photos of DS1; we don't have any silly posed ones. It's mostly sleeping shots of him and then family portraits of the three of us. I love having that snapshot into our first days as a family.

[orangeglow]

I love newborn photos!  We scheduled maternity, newborn, 6 months and 1 year photos.  

There are only two local photographers that do the home/lifestyle photos.  I don't like either one!  The one my friend used only shoots in black and white and her photos just don't look all that good.  I did some newborn photos of her daughter with my DSLR (photographer couldn't make it for two weeks) and we both agreed mine turned out better and weren't even retouched.

The other photographer is also WAY out of my price range.

[aqualuv]

I'm glad we did newborn photos. I love the way they turned out. We did them when he was 10 days old. It was perfect.

[starlily]

Aug 25, 2014 13:35:05 GMT -5 MrsAggie said:

Aug 25, 2014 13:11:10 GMT -5 rachelgreen said:

I want to but I know they prefer baby to be between 5-14 days old. Our hospital doesn't do them at the hospital (that I know of) and since I'm due around Christmas/NY...I have no idea if I will be able to. Plus add in WI weather woes...I guess for me I will plan them but have to be prepared to have it fall through.

I was looking at blogs of photographers who do newborn photos in my area and one photographer swears by slightly late newborn photos (think 2-3 weeks). The shoot was adorable because baby was more alert so he was looking at the camera in some versus sleeping in all of them. I'm considering doing them a little late intentionally.

ETA he was actually 5 weeks!

We did both of ours at around 3 weeks and it was the perfect blend of sleepy/awake.

[curbsideprophet]

We have done them both times, no regrets! I love our newborn photos!

[jorja]

We're doing them (along with 6 months and 1 year). Definitely more lifestyle-ish, but I do have a cute little reindeer hat with a bow that I'm not sure I'll be able to resist using in them somehow.

[eav2c]

You could do lifestyle newborn pictures. They will be more unique and tailored to you.