The total cost of newborn photography

We know that there are so many newborn photographers to choose from. And of course, you want only the best for your little one. That includes getting the perfect images of your growing family. So, what are the different types of newborn photography, and how much should you expect to spend on a newborn photographer? How much does the average newborn photoshoot cost? Most importantly, how do you know when you’ve found the right one?

When searching for the perfect photographer to capture your newborn session, you may find a wide range of prices and styles. We know that it can be a bit overwhelming, which is why we’ve broken it down to help you understand just what, exactly, you’re paying for and how to ensure you’ve found the right newborn photographer for your family.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• the different approaches to newborn photography – and the price that goes along with them
• the average cost of a newborn session
• finding the perfect photographer for you, your family and your values

First, let’s look at the different approaches to newborn photography and the costs involved.

How Much Does a Newborn Photoshoot Cost | All-Inclusive

Let’s begin with the most common type of newborn photography – all-inclusive.

This means that you hire a photographer who charges a set amount, arrives to shoot your session and then delivers all of the digital files via an online gallery. The level of involvement with this type of photography can range from very minimal to more hands-on in assisting with planning.

These sessions range anywhere in price from $250 (very beginner) to $500+, depending on their level of expertise and experience. Generally speaking, cheaper means less experienced, and lower-quality experience and end-product as you tend to you get what you pay for when it comes to photography.

In addition to the cost of the photographer, here are some additional costs that you may encounter.

Wardrobe

While purchasing new outfits may not feel like a priority, most parents typically purchase a few items at least. This helps you ensure that the family is coordinated (but not matching), that mama feels comfortable in her postpartum body and outfit, and everyone is beautifully photo-worthy.

Dressing the family can cost anywhere from $200-$500+, depending on how “photo-ready” you want the family to be. Typically, a quality dress for mama runs $100-$300; baby swaddles, bows, wraps and bonnets cost between $20-$100; sibling outfits are usually $50-$100 per child; and an outfit for dad between $100-$200+.

Hair and Makeup

Many moms, experienced and brand-new alike, find themselves cluster-feeding a hungry baby in the hours leading up to their newborn session. This makes it especially hard to prioritize getting yourself photo-ready, and is why most photographers recommend adding hair and makeup to your newborn photos. You typically have one shot to get it right, so taking this off your plate helps to ensure that you can look and feel beautiful. And when you feel good, your confidence shines through in your images, allowing you to relax during your session and love the end-product that much more. Adding hair and makeup to a session costs anywhere from $150-$250 in the Edmonton area.

Artwork

With all inclusive photography, you have the ability to print and create any artwork you’d like. This can be ideal if you know exactly where to get quality products that will turn your precious memories into works of art. However, it can also mean spending a lot of time and money searching for the best quality products. Because artwork ranges from printing loose photos, to framed prints, to albums, this one is hard to pin down a specific number for, but it can really add up if you trial a few different printing spots until you find the right one – because we all know that not all printers are created equally!

Time

While this one doesn’t have a specific price tag, time is one of the most precious commodities when you’re a mother. With all-inclusive photography, you have a wide selection of digital images to choose from to print, frame and place in albums. This is perfect for the DIY mama who loves crafting and planning. However, it can also become overwhelming postpartum. Sifting through each photo, choosing your favourites, researching the best places to print them (inevitably re-printing them when the quality comes back less-than-perfect), deciding what sizes to print and what frames to hang them in… it takes a lot of time. By the time you’ve got everything done and printed, the money and hours spent adds up.

As you can see, the cost of an all-inclusive newborn photoshoot in Edmonton can range greatly. At the end of the day, most sessions will cost extra time and end up around $1000-$1500+ with all of the little extras.

How Much Does a Newborn Photoshoot Cost | Luxury Experience

A luxury newborn photoshoot looks a little different than all-inclusive. These photographers typically charge a booking fee and then you customize the artwork you’d like from an à la carte menu.

The booking fee is typically $350-$450 for a newborn session, and helps cover your luxury experience. This includes (but is not always limited to):

Wardrobe

Detailed wardrobe planning is typically included in a luxury newborn photography experience. This includes a client closet with outfits for mothers, babies and sometimes younger siblings. This means saving money and time shopping for outfits that may be worn once. It also includes hands-on guidance to ensure that your photos turn out exactly as you’ve envisioned.

Hair and Makeup

This is included in your luxury portrait experience, and is coordinated by your photographer. This allows you to start your morning in a stress-free way and focus on what’s important – feeding baby.

Customized Planning Prior to Session

Luxury portrait photographers will walk you through all the planning details, so that you’re not left with any questions or to-dos prior to your session.

Film

If your photographer shoots this medium, typically the booking fee goes towards it (but doesn’t always cover it).

Customized Artwork

Luxury portrait experiences save you a lot of time sourcing artwork, printing, planning and getting your memories preserved. Not to mention, the artwork is archival, heirloom quality that can be cherished and passed down for many generations. No guessing where to print, blindly planning gallery walls that might not fit the space or spending months (or years) writing “print family photos” on your to-do list.

Overall, the luxury experience is seamless, stress-free and easy. The price can range greatly, from $1500 – $4000+ depending on the amount of custom, heirloom artwork you wish to get.

The Average Cost of a Newborn Session

As you can see, the “average” cost of a newborn session ranges greatly and there is no one single answer. There are so many factors that go into a photographer’s pricing, such as:

• level of experience
• style of photography
• experience they provide
• amount of hands-on support
• quality of products
• ability to work with young children

At the end of the day, it’s important for you, the client, to determine what you value most when it comes to capturing your memories.

Finding the Perfect Photographer for You

Each family has different values when it comes to hiring a newborn photographer, so it’s important for you to consider yours. There is no one photographer for everyone, and every quality newborn photographer has something beautiful to bring to the table. Decide what is important to you.

• Do you want quality, timeless images that will age gracefully?
• Do you want your images to feel like these hazy, first weeks as a new family?
• Do you want to remember the little details, like tiny fingers and toes?
• Do you want your photographer to take care of every little detail so you don’t have to?
• Do you want a stress-free process?
• Do you want wardrobe provided?
• Do you want quality albums and wall art that will become family artefacts?
• Do you want a stress-free, seamless experience?
• Do you want images that tell your unique story and that will be cherished for many generations?

There are so many factors to consider when selecting your newborn photographer. Price is definitely one of them, but should never be the only one. At the end of the day, photographs will be all you have left of this fleeting season of life, and we believe that choosing the perfect photographer to tell your story is something you’ll never regret.

Want to chat more about our newborn photography experience? I’d love to capture this special time in your life. Come say hi and let’s begin planning your dream newborn session!

All film scanned by The Canadian Film Lab
Hair and Makeup for mama by Robyn Scheer Makeup
Mama’s dress and baby’s swaddle are from the KKP Client Closet
Show home https://carriagesignature.com/edmonton/showhomes/
All images by newborn photographer, Kahla Kristen Photography