Newborn baby Etosha at 3 weeks.

Etosha is the name of a Great National Park in Namibia and is home to some of the most stunning creatures on this planet.

It is also the name of this beautiful little girl whose delicate nature shone through during my newborn photography session with her and her family in Perth.

Little Etosha was an absolute pleasure to work for and even when things did get a bit too much and it was time for a cry, the tiniest little murmer of a weep was heard from this little toot.

Mum and Dad (well Mum mostly) made fab models and even Nanna got in on the action, making the entire shoot a really family-oriented occassion that was a complete pleasure.

And just look at the shots!

Not only did little Etosha pull off the  ‘Hands n’ Cheeks‘ pose but she also slept so beautifully that I was able to do a lot of natural light and flash photography around her with not even a stir.

If you would like to book a session for your newborn or baby, click here.

Or you can call Richard on 04300 50558.

And if you haven’t already, have a look at Richard’s Facebok page which is where most special offers are announced.

I regularly have people calling me – often in tears – as they tell me their experiences with ‘budget’ newborn photographers.

Whilst price is a consideration we all need to think about when buying anything from a computer to a home, newborn photography is something quite different because there is only a very small window of opportunity to get those incredibly special shots of your baby.

Get your choice of newborn photographer wrong and you will never get that opportunity back.

A client from my recent ‘Baby Day’ event, contacted me regarding some photos she had taken of her precious newborn and how upset she was when she considered the decisions she’d made based on the costs.

I thought it would be something for people to consider before choosing their newborn photographer. Here’s the email the client sent me:

Unfortunately I have learned the hard way that you should never let price be the deciding factor when choosing something as important as a photographer for your newborn.

I started searching for a photographer during the weeks leading up to my second child’s expected arrival. Rather than booking a shoot with a reputable photographer as I had done so for my first born, this time round I decided to cut costs. I opted to have photos taken by a local photographer who provided all images to disc at a very low price and by a professional photographer willing to do a free shoot as she was seeking newborn models to build up her portfolio.  I figured between the two of them I would end up with a decent selection of images.

Baby arrived and it was time to get snapping! Just my luck, the professional photographer backed out.  I gathered I scared her off by saying my baby had jaundice which would require additional editing. That left me with the cheap local photographer.

I knew moments after arriving at her home studio that I had made a big mistake and even more so when I received my disc. She was unable to give me clear directions on how to pose and did not assist with positioning my baby. Her camera skills were not much better than her interpersonal skills. To my dismay all of our family portraits were out of focus and the photos of my baby simply do not appeal to me. I honestly think I could have done a better job.  Funny enough I was more disappointed that I wasted my time than the money I wasted attending the session.

I had intended to locate an alternative photographer and book another session but I procrastinated. I held off a few days for her jaundice to dissipate further, then a few extra days for her heat rash to go. The thought of getting the family picture perfect again felt like a task and a half and before I knew it she was not longer tinny tiny. Today she is only 8 weeks young and I have realised by being tight with my money I threw away my opportunity for a talented artist to do a full photo shoot of my daughter in the adorable newborn poses. If only I could turn back time.

I am grateful that I was lucky enough to take part in Richard Barry’s Baby Day during October 2011. I have 5 treasurable images of my daughter taken at 3 and a half weeks. Had I not been so lucky I would be without invaluable images of my daughter and I would be beyond devastated.  I’m convinced years from now I will still be kicking myself for not booking my newborn session with Richard.

Richard’s work speaks for itself so there is no need for me to go on and tell you how talented he is. Instead I want to emphasise to not follow in my footsteps. Don’t cut costs, if you have the funds pay that little bit extra to have your newborn photos taken by someone great.  If you truly can’t afford it suggest family and friends give money as a birth gift or purchase a gift voucher. Trust me you will regret it otherwise.

Let’s face it, wouldn’t one adorable image of your bundle of joy be worth cracking open the piggy bank for?

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If you are considering having newborn shots taken make sure you follow these simple steps:

1                     Check the photographer’s latest work on their website gallery

2                    Visit their Facebook gallery too and see what people are saying about their work

3                    Do a search on the photographer’s name – that should reveal what people are really saying about their experiences with the photographer

If you are concerned about pricing, contact me and ask about my installment options. For more information on pricing, please click here.

I will always try to help you get the best photographs possible, whatever your budget.

Richard