You've just had a new baby (or maybe you're planning ahead). Congratulations! This is an exciting time!
It's also a pricey time. Labor and Delivery local in Cache Valley can run you 10K just for a healthy baby, if you don't have insurance to cover the cost. There's also diapers, clothes, and all the baby furniture that you've likely been drooling over.
So....how can you save money with a newborn? Are there ways to stay on-budget with a new baby in two?
There sure are, and I've designed a newborn photography session specifically for people who are looking to find affordable newborn photography, without sacrificing beautiful images or handing their precious new baby off to an amateur.
Traditional Newborn Portraits
Traditional newborn portraits are usually priced from $275-$600, as a start rate, depending on the photographer and the package purchased. Let's look at what photographers "include" in a traditional newborn session to figure out why it is so expensive.
1. Time: Many newborn photographers promise many difficult poses that require baby to be deeply asleep. This may require multiple feedings, time to rock baby to sleep, pose, etc. Traditional newborn portraits can range from 2-4 hours (some crazies even go longer). Set-up for many photographers could take 1-2 hours as can take down. All told, many photographers consider a newborn session an all-day event.
2. Props: Photographer's who are prop-heavy spend $20-80 or more per prop, say they have 200 props, outfits, and other items in their studio. They likely have invested thousands in these items and their prices must reflect their need to pay for these items.
3. Flow: Depending on the photographer and their flow/equipment it simply takes a lot longer to get each shot. They may need to hire an assistant to help with their session flow or may work with in-person sales and need additional funds to justify this.
What Affordable Clients Want
I work all the time with clients who are all for longer sessions and some difficult shots. I adore these clients and we capture so many amazing images of baby and family.
My affordable clients, however, usually just want a couple beautiful, basic images of baby. They know the importance of capturing beautiful images of their babies, and have made room in their budget to do so, but they don't need or want as many photos, and they want to keep in budget. This is what I discovered clients looking for an affordable session were looking for.
1. Time: These clients didn't expect or even want long sessions. They were looking for something quick and simple, something that they could work into their schedule.
2. Props: Affordable clients weren't huge into props, certainly not multiple props. In looking to pay less, they were looking for less overall. Since props are difficult to work with, these clients didn't put the same value on props that many photographers needed to justify cost.
3. Images: Clients looking for an affordable newborn session usually were only looking for a couple images of baby. They balked at a $275 base price point because, only wanting or needing a few images, they would have to pay $100 per image. I have to agree- I think that sounds a bit rich to me!
4. Flow: Affordable clients weren't looking for a photographer who had spent a fortune on their set-up, on their assistants, on their studio, etc. They wanted beautiful IMAGES.
The Bitty Basket Session
To meet the needs of all my amazing clients, I've created one of the most popular newborn sessions. It meet the needs of so many families and is laid-back and enjoyable to boot.
I work with parents to select each bitty basket set-up. It can match their homes, their lifestyle, and can even incorporate items the client brings. What do you get with a beautiful bitty basket session?
1. Quick no-hassle session: Bitty sessions are 20 minutes packed with beautiful photos. They are done in-studio, and since it takes me 5 minutes or less to set up, we start photographing baby almost as soon as you come in. Baby is wrapped up, warm and cozy so even if they start awake, they usually are asleep within minutes.
2. Eight full-resolution digital images: I deliver amazing images time and time again, always exceeding expectations. These images are simple, timeless, and thanks to pre-designed bitty basket kits, they fit my client's style.
3. Up-from cost: I don't have to call my prices "investments" like some photographers, because clients see the value of their session from day-one. Bitty basket sessions are affordable options- just $65 for a session with images included. No additional, high-pressure sales, no need to pay double the day of, just one price, for your beautiful images.
The bitty basket session is perfect way for moms and dads to capture their beautiful newborn and keep to their all-important budget.
