How to choose a safe newborn photographer

Your baby is the post precious thing you will ever hold – nothing is more important than keeping them safe – so it makes sense that you want your newborn photographer to be an expert. After all, there aren’t many people who will be responsible for your baby for several hours in the first couple of weeks of their life. They need to be a pair of safe hands!

So it may surprise you to know that the newborn photography industry is unregulated. Anyone can pick up a camera, advertise their business and start photographing babies without any training in safety. And that scares me.

Trusting someone with your newborn is a huge deal, it’s a responsibility I take extremely seriously and one I invest in continuously.

So what should you look for?

A highly trained newborn photographer

Newborn photography training is extremely expensive, but the best photographers invest in their knowledge and expertise on an ongoing basis.

Best practice evolves all the time, which means it’s important to keep refreshing knowledge to ensure the safest possible experience. We all know that a baby’s head and neck should be supported at all times, but newborn safety goes far beyond that.

Every photographer should be able to tell you things like signs that baby is getting too hot, that their circulation is restricted, or they are uncomfortable. And they should know which positions and techniques are appropriate to avoid these from happening.

There are also lots of images on the internet which look amazing, but are safely produced by compositing two images together, with baby properly supported at all times. Again, training is a key component in knowing how to do this safely!

Here at Helen Carpenter Photography, I am First Aid qualified, and I have trained extensively with some of the best photographers in the country, and the world. I continue to invest in additional training every year – I don’t believe you can put a price on baby safety.

Despite Covid-19, I have trained this year alone with four exceptional newborn photographers with decades of experience and thousands of babies photographed between them. I have done specific training with Elli Cassidy on how to work with babies who need extra care and consideration, and I’ve also spent two days working 1:1 with safety pioneer Maddy Rogers.

I also believe it’s important not just to know the theory, but to have experience putting it into practice. That’s why I specifically select training that includes significant hands-on elements. It’s very different watching someone else than doing it for yourself.

So what else should you look for?

A fully insured newborn photographer

Suitable training is a huge component of working safely with newborns, but it’s not the only factor.

You don’t want your photographer to ever need to claim on their insurance. But the professional who purchases cover demonstrates their commitment to safe practice, and underlines their investment in making your newborn photography experience as safe as possible.

Before I became a newborn photographer, I worked in insurance, and in liability insurance specifically. I have seen some horror stories, and I know firsthand the way insurance companies assess the risk of a business before offering insurance.

For me, being comprehensively covered was an absolute no brainer. I want to demonstrate my commitment to doing everything I can to care for you and your newborn baby and ensure your comfort and safety.

As such, Helen Carpenter Photography is fully insured through PolicyBee.

When it comes down to it, your baby’s safety is exponentially more important than any image. There are many conscientious professional newborn photographers who practice their craft safely and competently, with due care and attention to the most important person in the room – their tiny client.

Looking out for a photographer who invests in their knowledge and expertise, and their business, is one way you can reassure yourself that they are taking the safety of your beautiful baby as seriously as you yourself. I’m always happy to answer any questions parents might have about how I keep my babies safe – it is the single, most important aspect of my photography and it underpins every single thing I do.