Becoming a newborn photographer

[sarah13xx]

I’m a Primary Teacher although I’m currently off on maternity leave. I’ve known for the last few years that I haven’t wanted to be a teacher forever. I love the kids but hate the job and it’s an impossible task to teach among major behaviour issues with no support as well as unnecessary paperwork and absolutely no resources whatsoever. Meanwhile there is an expectation that your classroom will be all singing all dancing when the school haven’t provided so much as a single pencil towards it. Anyway…

Since being off on mat leave I have realised I don’t miss it, not one bit! I took my baby to a newborn photographer for a photo shoot and since then I’ve been looking into being a photographer. The girl had a qualification from college but I have done a bit of research and it seems some photographers aren’t actually qualified as such. I was thinking of completing a 10 week course online at the open university while on mat leave to build up a portfolio and eventually achieve The Royal Photographic Society Licentiate Distinction (LRPS) in still photography. There’s a further online course you can do after that one as well as various in-person courses from a variety of places claiming to be able to teach you to become a newborn photographer. I’m thinking I could get a dslr camera for Christmas.

Any photographers out there know if this is doable? Would two online courses then some specific short courses to become a newborn photographer be enough? Obviously over time I would build it up but I would need to be able to make an income alongside it. I would go back to my work part-time after maternity leave then I could resign if it took off. Any advice please? ☺️

Op it does sound a better idea to do supply and do photography on the side. Before you go and buy a camera though, go out with your phone and take some photos of stuff that doesn't move - flowers, rocks, trees, landscapes that kind of thing. Practice looking for the right shot, have a play with editing software either on your phone or computer you can get some pretty powerful free software. Have a look on Facebook to see if there are any groups for photography on there that you can join to learn and get feedback.

Don't forget though that running a business is very hard work in addition to the photography. Tax returns, public liability insurance, the structure of the business (company vs sole trader) website, social media accounts, all the time that takes to set it up. Most of running a business especially a photography one is drumming up trade on social media so that means hours on the likes of Instagram building a following and engaging with them. You may find you're putting all your free time into it which is fine if you love it - i own a small business and I've put literally hundreds of not thousands of hours into it and have yet to get anywhere near a profit, let alone a net profit. But i love doing it. If i didn't i wouldn't still be doing it.

Most photography businesses are born out of a love for photography. So first you should discover if you actually do love photography or not because it's incredibly long hours for very little pay.

@Iluvperegrines aw great thank you 😊 I will do!

@pinkyredrose teaching art for years is significantly more experience of art than a random person off the street might have

@Glitterybug thank you, some very good points. My cousin runs a small business on the side as well as doing supply teaching. She hardly ever takes supply shifts though as her business has taken off but I’d definitely need to consider all that comes with being self employed

Bit of snobbery there about art school. You don't need to go to art school to be a photographer. Especially if you've got a talent for seeing a good shot and understanding colour. I know dozens of photographers who book clients time after time and what they have is experience and talent, not qualifications.

A 10 week course is not going to make you a photographer! You need to spend thousands on equipment and software to get anywhere close to the professionals. How are your skills in Photoshop? Will your computer hardware be sufficient for processing? Lots of questions to ask yourself before you start. The biggest hurdle to entry into the profession is money! These days anyone can take photos with a cheap camera. To produce professional images you need to be better than that. Don't expect to earn a living from it unless you have been in the business for a long time. Most start out as wedding or commercial photographers as that is where the money is and change genre once they are established and want an easier life but they have already built up a client list and have a great portfolio to start with.

I'm not saying don't do it - just that is going to take a lot of work to get to the point that you are making money - but if you're passionate about it there is no reason not to give it a go. I'm 2 years in to my business and one day I'll make money - it's a marathon not a sprint.

By the way ... My business is a creative/art based one, i didn't go to art school but people still regularly buy what I'm offering. Id have been better off going to business school than art school because it's the business part that holds me back as i have to learn all that by myself as i go.

Morning OP, I dont know anything about photography but just wanted to say that you should go for it! Lifes to short to not just have a go! Ignore all the negative nancies of MN, good luck! xx

teaching art for years is significantly more experience of art than a random person off the street might have

Look you're not an art teacher if you spend an hour or 2 a week getting kids to draw oranges. What are your artistic qualifications?

Do you have five grand to get the basic equipment and in addition pay for courses? Photography is an art form and the majority of photographer's who makes a living out of it has an art degree. However, as photography goes, family/newborn/pet/wedding photographer's are probably the least trained ones there is and most clients won't ask for qualifications, just look at previous work. So if you are dying to get into photography that is a good route to go. It needs to be a passion though for you to be successful, not just something you fancy doing on the side.

Sorry to be blunt, but you're living in cloud cuckoo land 😆

Most of the professional photographers I know have been doing it for years as amateurs/hobby photographers before they even think of charging for their work. Also, I've done that OU course and it's absolutely shit (and I already know my way around a camera).

What are your artistic qualifications?

She's just said she doesn't have any.

But luckily for her, you don't need qualifications to be an artist.

One is literally a million pounds (and very good)

I would obviously do cake smash’s for first birthdays

You're a teacher?

@Plantstrees

A 10 week course is not going to make you a photographer! You need to spend thousands on equipment and software to get anywhere close to the professionals. How are your skills in Photoshop? Will your computer hardware be sufficient for processing? Lots of questions to ask yourself before you start. The biggest hurdle to entry into the profession is money! These days anyone can take photos with a cheap camera. To produce professional images you need to be better than that. Don't expect to earn a living from it unless you have been in the business for a long time. Most start out as wedding or commercial photographers as that is where the money is and change genre once they are established and want an easier life but they have already built up a client list and have a great portfolio to start with.

This. Its also really quite hard to get LRPS, my mum has it she is a hobby photographer and retired. They look at everything to judge the LRPS down to how well you have it printed and mounted, it is not just a case of submit the photos and get it.

Good newborn photographers need to be able to edit photos as many of the staged photos that you see need the baby to still be supported. For example www.findthebestphotographer.com/blog/what-is-a-composite-image-in-newborn-baby-photography/

To many people do it nowadays. Just because you have a fancy camera doesn't mean you know how to shoot.
It's not about having a eye for it, you actually need to know what your doing.
Do you know what Aperture, depth of field, shutter speed, f number etc etc are?

I think other posters have covered the photography side of things so i'll add another consideration into the equation. Who will look after your child while you're taking the photos? Parents aren't going to want your newborn / toddler there, and as the shoots will be random days / times finding ad hoc childcare could be tricky.

Also newborn photography. A lot of it is editing. Have you ever edited on photo shop before? Do you know how to edit RAWs? Or would you use JPEG? A 10 week course is nothing, you need a lot more experience and education than that.

As someone with a degree in photography you don’t need any qualifications to do photography.
It’s all about experience and getting the photos to build your portfolio.

I would suggest getting a camera - learning how to use the camera and then find a course in newborn posing.
It’s harder than it looks to get the posing that mums want.
Also look at editing classes- so many babies have baby acne, blotchy, dry skin and retouching is a must.
Practice on your baby.
YouTube is full of videos.

The newborn photos I have done take about an hour to capture and about a day to edit.
To make money from It you ideally need a studio and the ability to upsell from a standard print ( everyone wants digital now and want to print themselves but this isn’t good as you lose the profit and can’t control the final product) I’ve seen some newborn photographers visit people’s homes and charge max off £250 all prints included but I don’t see how this can cover insurances, travel, equipment depreciation etc

Also during covid the photography industry was badly hit- could definitely not be going into people homes to photograph them and you cannot do newborn photos outside I the uk it’s just too cold
Weddings cancelled etc
I

I have a photographer friend. She used to work a lot in music so when she became pregnant started doing pregnancy, new born and family stuff as festivals and late night music venues were going to be a problem. She was already very experienced and her husband is a photographer too so I expect they had already invested in all the kit.

Where are you based? In an affluent area is better.

What about school photography? The people may kid's school get in are pretty shit so we rarely buy them. Could there be a market there?

To add a basic kit lens will not get you images that sell.
To get the soft creamy backgrounds you need something with at least a 1.8 aperture.
Ideally you want something with macro capabilities too for those little fingers, toes and lips.

teaching art for years is significantly more experience of art than a random person off the street might have

You're an infant teacher. I doubt you have significant experience of art.

I think if you've not done any level of real photography then you'd struggle to get the licentionship from the RPS. I know a few people who have done this and it usually takes multiple tries and fine tuning of what they are looking for.

I've listened to a talk given specifically by a newborn photographer and I was amazed that they gave very specific instructions for feeding etc for the day prior to the shoot to ensure baby stays asleep. Newborn photography isn't my thing but there's a lot more to the art than just learning the basics

You're an infant teacher. I doubt you have significant experience of art.

Have you got anything constructive to add?

Do you take your own photos at the moment? Are they any good? If so go for it.

I am not a photographer but I am in the design industry and commission photography as part of my day job. I also hired a newborn photographer to do a shoot when my son was born.

I think you are vastly underestimating how much equipment and capital you need to get set up properly. It's not just about having a good camera. Newborns are generally shot inside, either in some kind of studio set up or at the parents home. The lady who shot my son had a mobile set up that she assembled in my living room.

This included: Various backgrounds being held up by a large frame, lights, reflectors, her camera, a tripod, flash, a large bean bag covered in about 5 blankets to position baby safely, shusher to keep baby asleep. Many many props including, buckets, baskets, different outfits and toys. A fan heater blowing warm air so baby wouldn't get cold during the shoot.

Remember babies and children are notoriously unpredictable and unreliable. You might have a baby who screams through the whole shoot or pees / poops on your props. The lady who shot my son was basically a baby whisperer; she spent the first 15 minutes just cuddling him with the fan on and the shusher just to get him as relaxed as possible.

I'm not saying don't do it. Just that there is a lot more involved than you realise.

You mentioned there is a really expensive newborn photographer in your area who is really good. My advise would be to contact them and ask if you can work as an unpaid assistant on some shoots. This will give you more understanding of what is actually involved.

I also echo previous posters who have said that you should not quit your day job. You need to build up your skills first. Photography is part art and part science, mastering the lighting side of things is a huge deal and is Photoshop. In fact it is likely you will spend as much time editing images as shooting them.

Good luck with whatever you decide.