Maternity & Newborn Mobile Studio Behind-The-Scenes | Vancouver, BC
What does “in-home” or “mobile photographer” even mean? How do we produce quality photos that artistically document your pregnancy and baby without a brick and mortar studio location?
When clients welcome us into their space, we want them to feel completely comfortable and at ease, and we want you to know all about the kind of relaxed yet professional vibe you can expect. This is why we’re sharing an unfiltered behind-the-scenes look into our work as a mobile photography studio, in hopes that it will help to illustrate our answers to the most commonly asked questions we get.
#1: Do I need to buy outfits for my baby, or is this provided?
Your baby needs nothing - not even a diaper for many of the photos! We provide all the wraps, blankets, and accessories, and will pack a selection to bring to your photo session depending on your style and requests that are determined beforehand during our consultation. This includes specialized equipment such as a beanbag poser, backdrops and other equipment we may need for specific styles of photos.
#2: What if my home doesn’t have the right look or setup for family portraits?
Honestly, most homes are not ideal for the simple, classic family portraits, since there are objects in the background that can be distracting. This is why we have simple, neutral studio backdrops to set up specifically for these photos.
Sometimes, we luck out with a wall in your home that has just the right lighting and space! This is our lovely assistant Iris, pretending to hold a baby during a lighting check.
#3: Will you tell me how to stand, where to put my hands etc?
We will never let you stand there awkwardly wondering what to do. Our clients are often pleasantly surprised at how much direction we give, and how we step in to style hair and move things around until you look your absolute best. There is an art to posing and lighting with intention, to achieve an organic photo that not only shows your connection, but doesn’t look staged and overly posed. This is one area where we can confidently say we shine!
We’re not afraid to look silly to get some natural smiles out of you! We even bring a variety of squeaky objects to get baby’s attention if we’re able to capture a moment of them being awake.
#4: Do you provide maternity gowns and/or outfits for the parents?
We do have a selection of gowns for clients to borrow: View Client Closet. The benefit to in-home sessions is that you have the opportunity to capture more intimate shots of your belly. In-home sessions also offer a more casual and cozy vibe for those that like lifestyle photography. We provide wardrobe consultation prior to your photo shoot, and can provide some great suggestions for achieving certain looks.
Robes, kimonos, cardigans, body suits, cozy sweaters or sweater dresses, sheer fabric, or your hubby’s button up shirt are just some of the many pieces we’ve worked with. We love to get creative to make sure you and your bump look their best!
#5: What if my baby cries the whole time and we don’t get any good photos?
Never in our four years of specializing in newborn photography have we had this happen! Even if your baby cries or has trouble settling, we take all the time needed to soothe and comfort them. One of the biggest benefits of hiring a photographer who specializes with newborns is that we have many tricks up our sleeves, and we can read babies like the back of our hands. Working with 1000+ babies has taught us a few things! A space heater, white noise machine, wrapping techniques, and a calm and patient demeanor are just a few of our assets for helping your baby get comfortable for the photos.
#6: What can I do to get my home photo shoot ready?
A light coloured duvet can brighten up any space and create the perfect setup for those cuddly, casual family photos. If there isn’t good light in the parents’ bedroom, we can create a setup in another part of your home. Staging the scene is a huge part of our job.
#7: What kind of health & safety precautions do you take?
We follow a Health & Safety Plan that we developed in response to Covid-19, in accordance with recommendations from the provincial government and the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC). We also require all clients to sign a Health Screening Questionnaire prior to entering their home. We’re happy to answer all your questions on the many steps we take to minimize the spread of germs, and to maintain a safe and sanitary work environment.
It’s imperative to have a second set of hands to keep your baby safe while your photographer is busy with the camera, this is why we even bring an assistant to our newborn sessions. Many of those cute poses you see in newborn photography are safely achieved with an assistant’s hand supporting baby’s head, and the hand is photoshopped out later.
#8: Are socially distanced sessions an option for us?
Outdoor sessions are available year-round, and can be done with 6 feet of distance between photographer and client. Newborn sessions are a little trickier, since the baby needs to be handled for safe posing. However, a more casual hands-off lifestyle session is always an option.
What else would you like to know about our in-home photo sessions? What other behind-the-scenes footage would you like to see? Make sure to COMMENT below if you enjoyed this article!
