Question for Baby Photographers!

[Karebear98]

Ok...I wasn't sure where to post this but I have a friend who I am going to take pictures of her baby for practice. The baby is 4 1/2 months old and we have been trying to schedule this for awhile. She said it was too cold a couple months back and I understood her concern. Now we have a shoot tomorrow and she is just now messaging me and thinks 50 to 60 degrees at 8 a.m. is possibly too cold to get her baby out in. I'm a mom so I understand the concern but am getting frustrated because I don't see those temps as cause for concern.

So my question is...how do pro photographers that regularly photograph babies during the year, deal with winter months? Do you often have concerned parents who pose their concerns about the weather to you? Do you instead shoot in the home or in a studio during the entire winter/fall months? How does your business operate with regards to this issue?

Thanks!:

[Howard Barlow]

"...she is just now messaging me and thinks 50 to 60 degrees at 8 a.m. is possibly too cold to get her baby out in."

Do you mean taking the baby outside of her house to the car, or outside for a session? I imagine the baby has been outside the house since coming home from the hospital, so I don't see how that could be the concern. Then again, if this is her first... Otherwise, I do all my baby sessions in the studio in winter.

[Phisch]

Why not shoot in their home? That would eliminate the cold issue.

[pbyd]

".how do pro photographers that regularly photograph babies during the year"
I really am not trying to start anything but as a full time photographer that has a large "Baby" client list, all of the Pro Photographers I know work out of studios. I do understand that most of todays shooters do it part time out of their bedrooms, and that is just find, but I still stand by the old belief that to be in business you must have a business.
Just saying,
Wayne
Photography by Design

[Karebear98]

I could very well shoot in her home I'm sure...I'm just worried about having appropriate background and lighting. I haven't experimented with my new lighting kits and was hoping to get the baby outside for more of the natural light photography I have been doing.

I'm not a pro yet, so just looking for answers while I am doing these free sessions for friends. I see so many baby portraits done outside and figured it would work now that it is warming up.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by pbyd

".how do pro photographers that regularly photograph babies during the year"
I really am not trying to start anything but as a full time photographer that has a large "Baby" client list, all of the Pro Photographers I know work out of studios. I do understand that most of today's shooters do it part time out of their bedrooms, and that is just find, but I still stand by the old belief that to be in business you must have a business.
Just saying,
Wayne
Photography by Design

Everyone starts somewhere, and sometimes that's in a home studio or in the client's home. Not everyone can afford to take out a huge loan to start up a store-front studio from scratch.

[Phisch]

This is for a friend and for practice, right? Then go practice at her house :)

It shouldn't be too tough to get baby near a window along with a reflector or your lights. They should have pretty blankets you can use for a backdrop (with mom's help), making the images more personal. If you want to do them outside, maybe arm yourself with a big bean bag and an electric blanket set to low...and a loooong extension cord.

Having had 2 babies I would consider it an invaluable service if the photographer came to my home for a newborn shoot.

[Howard Barlow]

Let me add, I do work in a client's home, if they so desire.

[suerenee]

I do all baby portraits in home. I would be uncomfortable posing for photos in 50/60 degree temps--but I'm a big baby and get cold easily. Besides the temp a 4 1/2 month old isn't sitting up. Not many spots outside that would be great to lay a baby. At 8 a.m. the grass will be wet too. Laying the baby by the window on a beanbag will get you a better picture IMHO. Good Luck!

[tc95]

+1 with Susan...I would wait till it warms up...I know my 10 month old does not like temperature extremes....

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by JohnT

Everyone starts somewhere, and sometimes that's in a home studio or in the client's home. Not everyone can afford to take out a huge loan to start up a store-front studio from scratch.

John,
Ask anyone who knows me and look at my past post and you will see that I have said many times we all start in the same place unless you are retired with a large income, from a wealthy family or have a spouse with a large income. The OP asked what do the Pro Photographers do and I was only giving her the answer from my experience. I have old and new photographers in my studio every week looking for answers to their many questions and unlike some many photographers I have never charged for my help. I do not claim to know everything it is just that over 41 years of doing this for a full time living I have made every mistake and tried to learn from them.
Wayne
Photography by Design

[Karebear98]

I did what all of ya'll suggested and did it in her home...she had a great front room with dark wood floors and a nice tan wall for a back drop. There were two very large windows and we used the light coming in.

It went much better than I had expected, I don't know why I started second guessing everything and freaking out. I know better now! I will post some pics tonight in the portrait/people forum section to show and see what everyone thinks. We used positioners and blankets, bumbos, the floor, etc. Thanks for all the advice!