Being a children's photographer is a dream job to me. It started as a hobby which I loved and developed into a serious love which I wanted to pursue as a career. I guess many people don't realise what actually goes into a profession like mine and assume that it's just picking up a camera and clicking a button. It is not. It is so much more than that. There is a lot of hard work that goes into not only the final result but also each and every session. I wanted to give you a little insight into all the details...

So, what makes a children's photographer?

creativity

You can be the best photographer in the world using a camera but if you have no creative ideas, you're really going to struggle. Each session I do has unique details. Although many sessions are similar, I never follow the same path every time. I have to use my creative skills on the spot as I go to know what will work and what won't. Sure, I can prepare some ideas beforehand and look back on other sessions for inspiration, however sessions don't always go to plan. It may be that baby is wide awake during a newborn session or a cake smash baby is approaching nap time and not as happy. I then have to be creative in switching things up to get the best outcomes. I constantly think up new ideas for images or setups and incorporate them into future sessions. I want to stay true to my style but also not become stagnant. I have always been very artistic and I think this really helps. I always think to myself, don't be afraid to try new things. They might not work... but then again, they just might.

FRIENDLINESS

This is a biggy for me. I don't treat my clients like strangers, I treat them like friends. I do my upmost to make everyone feel welcome and I treat people exactly how I would like to be treated. Nothing is ever too much trouble and I appreciate, especially those first couple of weeks after having a baby, it is a very emotional time. There is nothing nicer than being welcomed with a smile, a nice hot cuppa and some biscuits. It's the little things that really make a difference. The same goes for the children who visit me. I always try my best to make them feel as comfortable as possible before even picking up my camera. I am never afraid to sing songs, make silly faces and noises and generally get the real giggles. Being friendly costs nothing and I hope my clients get that vibe from me.

Patience

Oh boy do you need to have patience for this job haha, in the nicest possible way! Luckily I have a lot and you really have to put it into practice during some sessions. Unless you are a new parent who has visited me for a newborn session, you may not understand the level of patience needed to do this job well. I always set aside 2-3 hours for a newborn session and believe me, it goes very quick when you are settling a baby, adjusting poses, being safe and careful. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my work as well so I think that adds to my ability to take as long as is needed. Sessions just can't be rushed. They also can't be stretched out for hours and hours. It has to be the perfect balance and knowing when it's time to leave something and move on. Having a little patience works wonders though, it's always worth spending that little bit of extra time.

precision

By precision I mean attention to details. I have to really take note of all the tiny details before taking the photo. In relation to newborn photos, I have to take care to place baby's hands in the correct place, paying attention to finger placement, correct light placement, foot placement etc and going back to patience, if baby moves even a tiny amount during all of that placement, it is back to the start haha. Baby's can be fidgety and so ensuring I have every part of baby in the correct position before picking up my camera is like a military operation. One tiny movement or sound can send you right back to the beginning.

I also like to take care to place accessories correctly, even down to the strings on a hat! They all have to be placed in a perfect position to maximise the beauty of each image. Small adjustments and taking that tiny bit of extra time makes so much difference. If I look back on my camera and see something I am not happy with, I will try my best to change it before moving onto the next pose.

care

To do a job like this you really do have to care. A lot. I care about how my clients feel. I care about what my clients preferences are and will often ask during a session which things they would prefer for their images. I care about what my clients think of me. I care about what my clients think of their session and experience. I care about every baby and little person I work with. And I truly believe that caring leads to the best outcomes. I like to get to know every person who comes to visit me and I am genuinely interested in everything they are happy to share with me.

passion

This is a profession that needs to have passion behind it. I don't just mean 'love what you do' I mean actual full on interest and love for it. I love seeing other photographer's work and seeing their journeys. I spend time watching tutorials on various aspects and gathering ideas for my own work. I enjoy watching reels and videos from photography tutors around the world. It is more than just 'an interest' for me. It is a passion and I fall more in love with it every day.

organisation

This is a biggy, especially for me. I am huge on organisation and I couldn't run a successful business without being super organised. Everything has its place in my studio and as long as it stays that way, I have a clear head for working. It is so important, particularly for me as I work from a fairly small home studio and so making my space tidy and everything accessible is paramount. I am the same in my home, especially in my girls' bedrooms. All of their toys are in boxes dedicated to that particular type of toy e.g. Barbies in a box, arts and crafts in a box, Playmobil in a box, dolls clothes etc. It keeps everything neat and sorted and the girls know where things are if the toys are kept in their own boxes. I also have to be organised when keeping track of bookings and payments etc. I use electronic and paper records (as I don't fully trust electronics to not completely wipe things!)

Behind the scenes tasks

As well as actually taking the images, I do a lot of things behind the scenes. I have lots of records to keep, I have orders to make such as prints, wall art, gift boxes etc. I have to take care of my social media posts, newsletters, email correspondence, advertising, updating my website. The list really does go on. I also have to do all my editing which can take many hours as well as be a Mommy. I would never complain because I love all of it and feel lucky I can work it all around my daughters.

an urge to learn

A good photographer will want to keep on learning. There is never a moment when you can say 'I know all there is to know about photography' as there really isn't an end point. It is a continual process, the same as any education, the more you learn, the better you get. I go on training courses every year and the knowledge I gain is priceless. I do in person training and online training and the results speak for themselves. When I look back on my work from 3 years ago I see a huge change. I am learning how to perfect things, trying new things, being more creative. I will never tire of learning more, it is another aspect of my job that I love.

Safety Knowledge

This is one of if not THE MOST important part of what makes a good children's photographer. Many people have no clue about how careful you need to be when posing newborns. I undertook a full newborn safe posing course and Paediatric First Aid when I became a newborn and children's photographer. There are many risks involved when carrying out newborn sessions and I have to be aware of the signs to look for and position baby with the upmost care. I have to keep a check on baby's breathing, their temperature and circulation at all times. Your babies are the most precious beings in the world and it is my duty to keep them safe.

pride

I have the biggest sense of pride in my little photography business. I take so much pride in my work and value every client who walks through my door. I always put 110% into every aspect of my job, right from our initial conversation about booking, to the last time we meet when we exchange products. I'm not sure about you, but I always remember how somebody made me feel. Whether I felt welcome, appreciated, valued and whether I enjoyed my overall experience. When my clients return for more sessions, that fills me with pride.

Because I know I gave it my all and that is the best you can do.