The Baby-Photography Niche - A Case Study

Is Baby-Photography a photography niche for you? It is for many photographers for a number of reasons. One of the reasons is that babies are born all of the time and baby photos are valued within most families. Usually, most family photos include baby photos, kids photography and even newborn photography. So, it’s clear that this particular niche can be very lucrative and there is always a place for baby pictures.

As a photography niche, baby photography is a very promising niche, especially for those photographers looking to make some side money with their photography. But, as with any niche, it is critically important that you approach in an intentional business manner – and not like someone with a camera.

Prepare

First of all, do your research. Visit baby-photography websites and online galleries. Do online searches for "baby-photography" and visit the websites and blogs. Research magazines that contain baby pictures and family photography because they will give you plenty examples of what families expect in their baby photographs. Be “artsy” if you want to. But, shoot the standard (expected) baby-photography shots first!
Photographing children is challenging enough. But, baby-photography, as a niche, brings an entire set of different challenges. One of them is speed. You have to work very fast. Babies won’t pose for you. The ‘cutesy’ posed babies that are in some magazines and other baby photos are unnaturally posed, in my opinion. (For example, baby photo with the baby holding a hand under the chin isn’t a natural act for a baby. But, some photographers attempt to pose children and babies in adult-like poses. They look very unnatural to me.)

Be Prepared For Those Moments - Case Study

Clearly, Charlie was 'ready!' And, in this case, someone with a (video) camera. Lesson learned: be prepared for 'moments,' be 'ready' and move quickly.

Baby Photography Niche Case Study

This video contains a baby photographer that is not a very good one, in my opinion. I found this video from my research on the internet and I have no idea who this photographer is. But, this video contains a few lessons that I want to share with you if you enter the baby photography niche.
Watch the less than 2 minute video and then read the rest of this page for my critiques and lessons learned, for me, from this video.

Baby Photographer Mistakes In This Video

• The photographer handles the baby as if the baby was a work boot – very, very rough.
• He places his hands in the baby’s face (unsanitary and unprofessional)
• He is too loud in the noises he makes to get the baby’s attention
• The first pose is an unnatural pose for babies and he leaves the baby in that position too long

First of all, I have to confess that I’m biased. I work in the Child Development field full time. I’m fully aware of how babies should be handled. And, of course, I’m hypersensitive to seeing babies handled in an inappropriate manner. So, my critiques of this photographer are very subjective.

But, as a photographer, I would handle the baby more appropriately. In the video, you can hear another voice that I’m guessing is the baby’s mother – she has a very nervous laugh as the photographer handles her baby. There is also a 15 year old sister of the baby that the photographer interacts with.

If I’m photographing this baby, I make it a point to be very, very gentle with the baby. I DO NOT put my hands or fingers in or on the baby’s face. The baby-photography props that I use would be secured and packaged so that when I pull it out to use to pose the baby, it looks as if it is the first time I’ve used the prop (this is similar to going to a doctor’s or dentist’s office, although they re-use equipment, it always appears that they are unwrapping new equipment).

I would be more gentle with the baby not just because I’m a child development professional, but because I would want to be known as the baby photographer that knows how to handle babies – and that makes great baby photos (actually, the point is that all babies are cute to their parents and so are the photos of them). My gentleness with babies would be part of my baby-photography marketing message. Chances are, the babies’ mothers will tell other mothers about my gentle touch and how good I am with babies – and show them the cute baby photos that I’ve made for them. I’ve found that many successful baby photographers are women. It’s probably because they’re good photographers. But, it is also probably because most women recognize the need to be sensitive and attentive. Or it could be that they are better at the art of being an in-demand baby photographer.

Just My Opinion

My comments about the video are only my opinion. I don’t offer it to be mean, harsh, negative or hurtful, but, to be helpful as a learning tool. One, it offers an example of what not to do when photographing babies. And, two, it offers a valuable lesson about the photography business and competition. For example, I don’t know this particular photographer or where he operates his baby-photography business. But, if he was in the same city as where I market for photography business, I’m pretty sure that I would be able to do better business than him. Unfortunately, many photographers that try to make some money with their photography don’t take it seriously enough as a business. Too often, we just act like someone with a camera. Make sure that this isn’t you!

There are many other photography niches than the baby-photography niche. A little research and testing will help you find them and how to determine if they will work for you.

New! Comments