Hey-ya southern MN! Yeah, you down here in Rochester, Albert Lea, Austin, Hayfield, Owatonna, Northfield, Faribault, Mankato, and more! Now that my Blooming Prairie studio is 98% ready, I'm excited to get more clients in the door! It's been a big couple of months for me with selling a house, moving hours away to another house, moving studios, continuing sessions at the old studio while having the new studio, etc, but I'm finally settled. Tell your friends and family all about me because I want to take photos of every baby out there!

Now, let me dive right in to selecting the perfect for you newborn photographer. Here's a list that might help you out.

• Style - When searching for that perfect baby photographer, look for someone that fits the style that you like. Look through all of their photos on their website and social media accounts. If you fall in love, great! If not, time to move on and keep looking. Helpful hint, if you don't like their style but you want to book them based on something else you love about them be careful. Meaning, don't expect that photographer to have a light and airy look at your request when their entire portfolio is moody.
• Safety - This is huge! Don't over look it. Everyone was new at one point or another, right? Whether you're a new or seasoned photographer, safety should be your top priority. I personally think newborn photographers should be BLS (basic life support) certified for that just in case moment. Going through the course to become certified helps you become aware of what to watch for should an emergency arise. Being a nurse, I know more than the average person but even if I wasn't a nurse I would require myself to be certified. I also think it's important to know how to pose a baby safely. Moving their little parts around is no easy task because they are so delicate and must be handled safely. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions about this. I have taken various classes on newborn safety. Also, I have years of experience in handling everything from a newborn baby to an adult. haha!
• Prop & table posing - When you're looking at newborn photography photos, are you drawn to prop poses? Or possibly table poses? Props are things such as a basket, bowl, bucket, or a little bed. I love props and table posing so I do both for every session. Getting down to what type of prop is used comes later once you've booked with me, as I ask you in a newborn questionnaire what you would like. A bonus for anyone that books with me is that I'm a prop hoarder so I have lots to select from.
• Colors - Although this could be up there with style, I wanted to toss it in the ring. Color could be simple, right? Well, not so much. There are so many different colors and patterns that I feel as if I'm constantly buying more items to keep up. Rest assured if you're my client, I have several different whites, creams, greens, reds, blues, pinks, etc. Some people just say what the main color they want and then I go from there. Not only do I have an amazing amount of posing fabric with matching wraps, I have coordinating headbands, bonnets, layers, etc. I also have a bunch of little stuffed toys for tiny baby hands.
• Final products (digital image files and prints) - What do you want to do with your photos from your session? Is the nursery begging for a large canvas over the crib or do you want an album for everyone to enjoy the highlights of the newborn session? Either way, find out what you're getting with the photographer you select. With me, you get to select from a variety of products or you can select digital image files alone.

There ya have it, some of the main things to look for when finding the perfect for you newborn photographer. Good luck on your search and congrats on your baby!!

Hugs and love, Michelle