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Original poster

Becoming a newborn photographer

90 replies

sarah13xx · 13/10/2021 01:02

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 posts:

snowballer · 13/10/2021 09:27

I can't believe how down everyone is on you OP! Post after post telling you why you'll fail.

Just go for it. I know a couple of people who have set up as freelance photographers after having babies. Both have thriving wedding photographer businesses, and both are really, really good at what they do. You may find there's more money in weddings once you've built up a portfolio.

pinkyredrose · 13/10/2021 09:33

can't believe how down everyone is on you OP! Post after post telling you why you'll fail

Because it's glaringly obvious that the OP has no real idea of what's involved. The people pointing this out are not being down on her, they're being realistic.

kurtney · 13/10/2021 09:35

I can't believe how down everyone is on you OP! Post after post telling you why you'll fail

People are being down on the OP because it takes more than a couple of month long courses and a DSLR to become a professional photographer! The OU course the OP has mentioned is not tailored towards portrait photography for starters and won't give her anything like a standard portfolio.

She doesn't even have a camera yet! It's going to take a lot of time and money to get anywhere near the standard she needs to be but so many people think that all they need is a camera and that's it.

Original poster

sarah13xx · 13/10/2021 09:51

@COL1N aw thank you 😊 I’ve heard so much bad news lately that I think the same. Someone I know found out 2 weeks ago they have cancer and now have days to live. Someone else I know just died from a blood clot at a really young age. Being off work has made me realise how much I was just struggling through each day and trying to make it to the next holiday, why spend your life that way?! 🙄 The worst that happens is I waste some money but gain a great skill that I can use

OP posts:

bumsnett · 13/10/2021 09:57

@Whinge

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.

They might be fine with it. I think the idea sounds interesting.

Glitterybug · 13/10/2021 10:07

Because it's glaringly obvious that the OP has no real idea of what's involved. The people pointing this out are not being down on her, they're being realistic.

Some of us are being realistic. You're haranguing her because she hasn't gone to art school.

Did you learn to be this snobby in the main course at art school, or was it an extra module?

Ivechangedmynamesomanytimes · 13/10/2021 10:12

Can you show us some your photography that you've done? I'm genuinely interested now to see.

Whinge · 13/10/2021 10:19

They might be fine with it. I think the idea sounds interesting.

What part sounds interesting? If a parent has paid for a newborn / photo session they're not going to want the Ops baby or toddler there. They will want the Op to focus on their own newborn or child rather than being distracted by her own.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 13/10/2021 10:30

A 10 week course won't turn you into a photographer. What are you creative skills now? It's not just as simple as giving it a go if you want to produce quality work.

snowballer · 13/10/2021 10:39

*People are being down on the OP because it takes more than a couple of month long courses and a DSLR to become a professional photographer! The OU course the OP has mentioned is not tailored towards portrait photography for starters and won't give her anything like a standard portfolio.

She doesn't even have a camera yet! It's going to take a lot of time and money to get anywhere near the standard she needs to be but so many people think that all they need is a camera and that's it*.

I would have thought that everyone has to start somewhere when setting out on a new venture. She's hardly saying she's just going to buy a cheap £200 camera and then wing it.

snowballer · 13/10/2021 10:40

Urgh bold fail above

TakeYourFinalPosition · 13/10/2021 10:41

@sarah13xx How good are you at marketing yourself? And business admin?

Would you be able to save a few years’ expenses, or do you have a partner who can cover costs for a bit?

I’m not saying not to do it - but I’d take heed from all the people who have replied and said that they are a year or two into business and aren’t profitable yet. That’s the norm. Most businesses don’t survive the first year, and it takes a while to be profitable for most of the ones who do.

Supply work could help, but you’d be limited on how much you could take on - you’d still need to do admin/promote yourself/make connections and obviously go to any shoots you either have booked from paying customers or need for new promotional photos…

Go for it, if it’s something you love, but do it with a realistic plan. And make sure you love it, first. It’s no walk in the park; even if its amazing when you get it right.

Ivechangedmynamesomanytimes · 13/10/2021 10:43

@bumsnett how would a client be happy if they're having newborn photos and ops child wakes them up or demands attention? Talk about distraction. Nobody in their right mind would think that's okay especially if they are paying decent prices.
I used to be a family photographer before the days of "oh my uncle bill has a camera hell do my photographs!" And believe me nobody would of been pleased if I had my child during the shoot.

ftw163532 · 13/10/2021 10:50

@snowballer

I can't believe how down everyone is on you OP! Post after post telling you why you'll fail.

Just because someone has a fantasy about doing something, doesn't mean it's actually realistic or achievable.

Nothing wrong with having fantasies or wanting to make a change, but reality does need to be factored into the decision-making process.

SleepingStandingUp · 13/10/2021 10:52

Where are you planning on taking the photos op? And it's not just a camera, it's lighting and back drops and props. Plus keeping your accounts etc as a self employed person.

If you can afford it, go for it. More of us should follow our dreams. But it's more than just a fancy camera and an eye for primary school art lessons

Original poster

sarah13xx · 13/10/2021 11:15

@Glitterybug 😂😂

OP posts:

Original poster

sarah13xx · 13/10/2021 11:27

@pinkyredrose primary teacher is not an infant teacher

OP posts:

Original poster

sarah13xx · 13/10/2021 11:38

@Whinge I have plenty of childcare, my mum lives very close and is available at all times so the same way I won’t take my baby to school with me, he wouldn’t be at that job either

OP posts:

CaddieDawg · 13/10/2021 11:38

It's a lot of expenses to setup properly, i.e. backdrop, decent camera and all the accessories needed plus the editing software etc.

My dog walker is a photographer, she does family shoots, newborns, dogs and corporate product type ones...but still does dog walking mon-fri as the main business as it's a steadier income.

A guy I used to work with is a fantastic wedding photographer, he does 4 or 5 a month in peak season as well as engagement shoots. He's a full time firefighter, no idea how he fits it all in! He's been featured in some big industry awards and magazines etc and massive SM following, but still couldn't make a living doing it FT particularly because it is seasonal and you regularly need to keep up with new equipment and trends.

Neither of them have any qualifications as such, but both were really into photography generally and quite geeky about types of cameras, editing software, lighting accessories etc.

If you did newborn shoots that weren't cheesy plonk baby in a basket with a furry rug or dress them up as sailor etc then you might have a USP...but then again that seems to only be my taste

Original poster

sarah13xx · 13/10/2021 11:41

@SleepingStandingUp definitely! I feel like I’ve floated through life until this point but we’ve just bought a house that was a bit of a gamble too and I’m telling myself life’s an adventure. What’s the point plodding through life living in a ‘nice’ house and playing it safe with a job you don’t like? Itl be an adventure one way or another 😂

OP posts:

Original poster

sarah13xx · 13/10/2021 11:43

@CaddieDawg thanks! It’s crazy that some wedding photographers don’t make enough. Obviously there’s a lot of expense involved in it all before even start but my sister got married last year and her wedding photographer charged over £4000! I don’t think that would be the area I’d want to aim for though but beggars can’t be choosers as they say 😂

OP posts:

pinkyredrose · 13/10/2021 11:45

Did you learn to be this snobby in the main course at art school, or was it an extra module

Cute.

Original poster

sarah13xx · 13/10/2021 11:53

What a sad little life @pinkyredrose

OP posts:

pinkyredrose · 13/10/2021 11:55

What a sad little life

Um, why would you say that? I pointed out some pitfalls the same as lots of other posters. Not wow does what your point is.

pinkyredrose · 13/10/2021 11:57

'Not sure' I meant to say! Don't know where 'wow does' came from!

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