Or perhaps the better question is… why can it vary so much in price?

You’ll sometimes see newborn photography offers that seem unbelievably cheap - perhaps a session with all images included for less than the cost of a family meal out.

On the other hand, some photographers charge several hundred pounds for what, on the surface, might appear to be a very similar service.

So why the difference?

As both a parent and a newborn photographer with nearly 20 years of experience, I completely understand that families have to be careful with money. Life is expensive, especially when you’re preparing for a new baby. But when it comes to newborn photography, price alone really shouldn’t be the only thing you look at.

Back when I worked in Health and Safety many years ago, we used a system called best value when choosing companies to work with.

Yes, price mattered - but it was never the only consideration. We would also look at things like:

Experience

Training

Insurance

Safety records

References and reviews

Quality of work

Reliability

Sometimes the cheapest quote was the right choice. Sometimes it wasn’t. The goal was always to find the company that offered the best overall value for the money being spent.

I honestly think that approach makes so much sense when choosing a newborn photographer too.

Newborn Photography Is a Specialist Skill

Newborn photography isn’t simply a case of owning a good camera and liking babies.

A professional newborn photographer should understand:

Safe newborn posing

Baby comfort and wellbeing

How to support a newborn safely at all times

Lighting techniques suitable for delicate newborn skin

Professional editing and colour management

How to work calmly and patiently around feeding, settling and cuddles

Many of the poses you see online are actually composite images created safely in Photoshop, with hands supporting baby throughout the process and edited out afterwards. A properly trained newborn photographer will know when a pose is unsuitable for a particular baby and will never force a pose for the sake of a photograph.

That’s one of the reasons experience matters so much in this industry.

What Are You Actually Paying For?

I think one reason people are often surprised by photography pricing is because so much of the work happens behind the scenes.

A newborn session itself can last up to four hours, but that’s only part of the process. Professional photographers are also covering things like:

Studio overheads and heating

Professional camera and lighting equipment

Props, wraps and backdrops

Cleaning and washing between sessions

Insurance and business costs

Editing software and computer equipment

Training and safety education

Image processing and retouching

Admin, galleries, emails and customer support

Tax, national insurance and business expenses

And of course, behind every session is the photographer’s time, experience and skill.

Cheap Doesn’t Always Mean Bad

This is something I feel quite strongly about.

There are absolutely newer photographers out there who are talented, properly trained, insured and working incredibly hard to build their portfolio and reputation. We all start somewhere, and many brilliant photographers begin by charging lower prices while they gain experience.

Equally though, newborn photography is still a completely unregulated industry in the UK. Technically, anyone can buy a camera, watch a few videos online and advertise themselves as a newborn photographer.

That’s why it’s so important for parents to do their homework.

Before booking, I’d always encourage parents to question:

Is the photographer insured?

Have they had newborn safety training?

Do they have genuine reviews?

Do they regularly photograph newborns?

Is their style consistent across their work?

Do the babies in their images look comfortable and well supported?

A beautiful image should never come at the expense of a baby’s comfort or safety.

The Most Important Thing

At the end of the day, every family’s budget is different and I would never want anyone to feel pressured into spending beyond what is comfortable for them.

But if you are investing in newborn photography, I’d gently encourage you to think about overall value rather than simply finding the cheapest option.

These photographs become more precious with every passing year. Long after the sleepless nights are forgotten, these tiny details - the flaky skin, curled-up poses, tiny fingers and sleepy smiles - become memories you’ll treasure forever.

And trust me… those early days pass in the blink of an eye.

Thank you for reading one of my slightly more serious blogs! If you’ve made it this far, you deserve a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Lorraine Jardim LBIPP QGPP

Founder of Ellie J Photography

Specialist Newborn Photographer covering Coventry, Warwickshire and the West Midlands