As a newborn photographer, there are so many things I feel are important to being successful, not only as a business person but as someone who is handling precious new life. Newborn Photography is like no other. It is so much more difficult than I expected it to be when I started three and a half years ago. One thing that has really sunk in was that a newborn photographer needs to have a certain level of education. Newborn safety, posing and physiology training are so important, not to mention the technical aspects of your camera and lighting and basic business skills. I have completed so many courses online and was able to attend a Newborn Safety & Posing class with an industry professional last year. That experience was amazing and so important.
In person mentoring or workshops are another way to really learn and grow. Even seasoned photographers benefit from continuing to participate in classes and mentoring. I do not ever want to stop my education and growth. I have some in person mentoring coming up in the next couple of months with someone I really admire and I am so excited about it.
Who to Mentor with? My top 3 Photographers
Choosing a mentor is such an important decision any photographer can make. There are so many things to consider. The photographer’s style. Their business and safety practices. Location of the mentor (as many won’t mentor someone who would be their competition). What you want to learn etc. Research is so important. I have a ton of woman that I admire in this industry that I would love to mentor with. Picking my top choices was actually harder than I thought it would be as I have so many favorites. So here is my list of a couple and why. In my opinion they are some of the best newborn photographers n the industry.
Kelly Brown of Little Pieces Photography
Kelly is definitely my number one for so many reasons. Not only is her work amazing but her style really speaks to me. It is posed yet natural and cozy. I love how she portrays each newborn and creates these images that are timeless and unique. Her use of textures and lighting really adds to the beauty of her work.
I have had the privilege of meeting Kelly when she was teaching a class at Creative Live downtown Seattle which she does every so often. I was chosen to be in the studio audience last year for her Newborn Safety & Posing class. (To read that blog post click HERE.) Kelly is amazing to say the least. She is talented, knowledgeable, kind, funny and down to earth. She truly believes in community over competition which is something that really matters to me as well. I admire the way she runs her business and I think I have taken every online class from her I can find.
Her knowledge of the industry and and everything newborn continues to amaze me. She is truly my inspiration to keep learning, creating my own style and growing as a photographer and business person.
Ana Brandt of Ana Brandt Photography and TAoPaN: The Art of Pregnancy and Newborn
One of Ana Brandt’s TAoPaN gowns. Isn’t it gorgeous?!
Ana is another photographer/business person that I really admire. She is also a fellow member of The Motherhood Society with Beauty & Lifestyle Mommy Magazine. I have never had the pleasure of meeting Ana in person but we have chatted just briefly over Facebook posts etc and the thing that really stands out for me is her realness. (Is that a word?) She is just so down to earth and has no problem just giving of herself and being exactly who she appears to be. She is also really giving of her time and knowledge she has gained over her years of experience. And I do not need to know her personally to know that. Her sense of community and love of teaching is so apparent.
The thing that draws me the most to Ana Brandt (besides her teaching) is her maternity images. They are beautiful and feminine and inspiring. She has so much variety in her maternity images and I just love seeing them online. She really knows how to pose all women and bring out each one’s natural beauty. Ana also has a line of maternity gowns which I love and own a bunch of. They are so well made and soft. Almost makes me wish I was pregnant again and could wear them. Almost. LOL The best thing about these gowns though is that they look beautiful on everyone.
Lisa DiGeso of Milk & Honey Photography
Lisa is an amazing teacher. I have not attended her in-person mentoring class, even though I would like to one day. But I have taken numerous classes that she has created on-line from her Maternity and Newborn Retreats she has done the last couple of years to her Illuminate (lighting) courses. Every single one has been invaluable to me. I have learned so much. She is a huge (and I mean huge) advocate for newborn safety and that is so important to me as well. I love how she is always giving tips and reminding all about safety when working. Her bubbly personality and love of her craft is so apparent when she teaches.
Lisa’s work is gorgeous and her use of light is just amazing and soft. Her babies are always so beautifully posed and with just the right amount of color and texture.
Finding my Own Style
It is so hard when you are first starting out to define who you are as a photographer. It takes time to develop that and get your images to be where you want them to be. I am still working on that but I am really enjoying the process. There are so many talented photographers out there with beautiful images and styles and colors and textures. The gals that I would love to mentor with are amazing photographers and business women but as much as I love their style, I want my own. I want my images to look like they belong to me and not like someone else’s.
I still have a ways to go to get my style to be the way I see it in my head. My style has certainly changed over the years. (You can see that in all the props etc that I never use and am getting rid of LOL) But it’s getting there and I’ve been so excited seeing the minor changes that have been happening. I have vendors I love that create items that I feel represent me and my business from wraps to backdrop cloths to client product and more.
Old wooden structures like barns, bridges and churches are a few of my favorite things and I love rich, earthy colors and neutrals too. All of these things I try to incorporate into my work. Not to mention the earthy, rustic and cozy feel I want to see in my newborn images. Being able to create all this for a session is so much fun for me. I really have the best job!
It is never to early to book your newborn session. Contact me now to secure your date.
www.stephanierubyorphotography.com
Custom, boutique portrait photographer specializing in Newborn, Maternity & First Years photography serving the Seattle, WA and Eastside areas.
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This is a great read!
Such a great read and very informative!
You are so right, there is always something to learn at any level!!!
I love the style that you have created for yourself! It is amazing and so are you! Local Seattle people are so fortunate to have a newborn photographer like you!