How many newborn photos do you need?

Question

Our maternity photo lady was incredible but her prices are $300 for 5 digital images. Not to mention the session fee is separate 🙄 so I’m looking at other options for baby girl’s newborn photos & wanted to see how many photos you guys really used!

Answer

To answer your question, generally 5-10 photos if that. Unless you’re doing a book, there’s really no need for a large quantity. Generally, people will make one photo an announcement card photo, print a few of the same image for family and a couple for their walls and that’s it. There really isn’t a “need” for a ton of photos. I’d rather have 5 well composed, well edited, high quality images that will stand the test of time over 20 “meh” or poor photos. 
*****With that said...******
I sympathize greatly — I do... it is a lot of money. $300 is a lot. $250 is a lot of money. But what you may not see for that amount is it’s not just 5 photos.
You’re paying for so much more than that. He/she has to make money too—they have expenses, a roof to keep over their heads, groceries in the house, clothes on their back. They too deserve a livable wage just like you. 
Photography industry has changed greatly since now going digital and DSLRs are readily available. So many people think photography is just a click of a button and adding a filter or clicking a button for editing. There’s a TON more to it and it’s sad to see people entering the field are trying to earn a little side cash or believe because they’re starting out they can earn a small percentage of what others do. Problem is it’s devalues the skill and art that photography truly is and undercuts those who are trying to make a career. Also, these people are likely not educated in the field (I’m not talking a college degree), are not invested, or skilled, nor are they running a legal business. It’s an expensive industry—when ran in accordance to the law and expenses are crazy expensive for small business owners. Please understand of that $300 this photographer may charge, Uncle Sam has a 30% claim on that! Uncle Sam doesn’t care if you’re doing this as a side business or as a hobby, every dollar is to be taxed. Also, his/her time, skill, education, overhead costs, props (if there are any), equipment, insurance, business registration/licensing, website, advertising, software, etc all need to be accounted for too. 
Furthermore, you’ve stated you loved the maternity photos and you seemed to have a good connection to your maternity photographer. If you’re happy with her and what she produced and you feel like she’d do a good job for newborn pictures, please don’t discount her. Please understand newborn photography is NOT an area to save a buck. There’s a huge safety and posing component that most people are not aware of. If she’s charging $300 for 5 photos, good chance there’s a solid reason why. If you want a good bang for your buck and are focused more about quantity versus quality, all I can say is please do your research and hire someone who is licensed, educated and is running a LEGAL business. 
Best of luck in your search for a photographer and I’ll step down from my soapbox now.

Answer

That’s so much. We paid $250 and got a ton of incredible photos. And that’s even in Chicago where photographers are expensive!

Answer

$300 for 5 photos!!! heck no, I wouldn’t pay that. I’d expect wayyyyy more photos then that for $300...

Answer

I paid 250 for session, digital rights, and a beautiful photo book.

Answer

We are paying $300 for 50+ photos and a 4 hour session in our home. Photographer is also a labour and delivery nurse at my hospital and might be helping deliver our twins

Answer

Wow! Our was about that price, a little more, but we got all of our images with that. I think there were 70ish? We used probably 20 or so for photo books.

Answer

That’s incredibly pricey

How many newborn photos do you need?

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