Your newborn photography session is such an exciting time for my clients. The birth is over, you’re home from hospital, and you’re getting to capture your new little baby’s brand new face, expressions and toes. Almost all of my clients want to have the digital files to keep forever, but what should you do with those files once they arrive?
STEP 1: BACK UP YOUR FILES!
In this digital age, it’s so easy to take photographs. We have them on our phones, our iPads, on tiny little cards. At the end of the day, those tiny little bundles of data are just that. They can be so very easily lost or destroyed in the blink of an eye. Whether it’s because you lose your phone, your hard-disk dies (it’s not a matter of if it’s a matter of when this will happen), or you’re the victim of theft. The heartbreak for people losing precious photos is real! And it is so very common. I don’t want my clients to feel that pain!
The very first thing you should do with your digital files is back them up in multiple locations. Download them to your computer, a spare hard-drive, send a copy to your parents, upload them to a cloud backup system (there are so many cloud options that are inexpensive – I use Smugmug for my own personal photographs). You can never be too careful. And while you’re at it, make sure that you back up all those happy snaps on your iPhone as well. Mobile phones are so easy to lose! I use an app called PhotoSync which automatically backs up all my new photos on my phone to my Smugmug account. Easy!
STEP 2: PRINT THEM OUT!
You just can’t beat printed photos. No matter how advanced we are becoming in the digital age, there’s something timeless about flipping through a photo album of prints. There’s also a great reason to make prints of those digital files too. Over time, data degrades. Whether it’s on a USB, a CD, a hard-drive, digital data deteriorates over time and eventually becomes corrupt. If we don’t make physical prints of our images, what will happen to them in 30, 40, 100 years time? Our children and our grandchildren will have no photographs to look at from our era. It’s quite ironic – in an age when we’re taking more photos than any time in human history, we’re going to have so little to show for it in the future.
I understand how time poor new parents are. Making prints is not a high priority in the busy daily life with a baby. This is one of the reasons that I provide complimentary prints with all of my digital file packages. I want my clients to have a printed photograph that will stand the test of time. I provide my clients with a list of recommended consumer labs who will make quality prints of your images. The quality difference between professional labs and “el cheapo” labs is astounding!
STEP 3: TURN YOUR PHOTOS INTO SOMETHING YOU CAN ADMIRE EVERY DAY
As a photographer, there’s no prouder moment for me than when a client contacts me with a photo of their new canvas or frame hanging on their wall in their home. When I take photos of your new baby, I take them with the hope that they will be something that you will want to display to remind you of this special time every day. There’s nothing sadder to a photographer than knowing that digital files will stay on the USB and put in a drawer somewhere. This is the reason why my higher-end packages include complimentary canvas wall art which arrive ready to hang on your wall. I use only the best suppliers who give a 75 year warranty on all their products. You can’t get much better than that!
STEP 4: KEEP CLICKING!
Everyone says it but it’s so true – “they grow up so fast”. Despite all the sleepless nights, the anxiety, the dirty nappies, make sure you keep taking photos and videos of your little one. The early months will fly by and they will change so fast. Believe me. You can never have enough photos of your precious baby.
>> You might like to read my article about How to Take Better Photos of Your Baby for some tips on how to get some beautiful shots to treasure forever.
STEP 5: BOOK YOUR ‘LITTLE SITTER’ PHOTO SESSION
It feels like such a long way off, but in only a few months your baby will be sitting up all by themselves with sweet smiles and cheeky expressions. The sitting stage (usually around 7 to 9 months) is hands down the most adorable age within the first year for photos (after the newborn phase of course!).
As I tend to book out several months ahead of time, I really encourage my clients to reserve a place in my calendar for when their baby will be about 7 or 8 months old. I typically pencil babies in and then get in touch with parents closer to the date to ensure that they’re sitting confidently – we can adjust the dates if we need to.
Enjoy your new addition!!
Amy xx