Stephanie Cotta is a newborn and family photographer based in St. Louis, Missouri.  She also holds newborn mentoring workshops in her natural light studio in St. Louis.  The amazing Lilian.Grace and Trinket & Pixie are hosting Stephanie in Seattle, Washington for a one day workshop this summer.   Stephanie was voted Best Family Photographer in Nickelodeon’s Parents Pick Awards. Now, without further adieu, Stephanie Cotta!

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Back in 2001, Bill Gates delivered a speech to high school students in which he delivered eleven rules to live by, rules that they did not learn in school.  (See his list here.)  And not only do I wholeheartedly believe in these rules, but every time this lists surfaces Facebook and by email, I’m thankful that someone had enough guts to say it how it is.

And while I’m certainly no Bill Gates on many levels, I feel like my years thus far in the photography world have left me with enough insight and knowledge to provide beginning (or advanced) photographers with eleven rules to live by.  And as I would think Bill Gates must have thought, you certainly don’t have to agree with me…

So here goes:

1.  Be You.  With Facebook, Pinterest, Blogs, Twitter and every other bit of social media out there, it’s easy to get lost in everyone else’s style and not give yourself a chance to truly develop your own.  But do it.  Be bold and take risks and find the look that you love, the look that makes your photography yours.

2. You are not going to make 6 figures in your first year of business.  Accept that and move on.  Develop your clientele, do portfolio building sessions, become better.  Because the more practice you have, the better you will become and that’s when you can start charging the big bucks.

3. Safety first, people.  There’s a ton of really amazing poses out there (in the newborn photography world) and the majority of them are composites.  Don’t think you can attempt these during your first few sessions or even in your first few months.  Become comfortable with the new peanuts, then do your research or take a workshop to learn how to safely create these composites.

4. Don’t pretend you’re the first one to do it.  While newborn photography has been around forever, only in the last several years has it really become so popular.  It drives me crazy when even the top dogs in the newborn world claim to have done it first.  Chances are, it’s all be done before so instead of claiming the idea as yours and the rest of the population your copycat, just make it your own and rock it.

5. Don’t let the top dogs scare you off by telling you to be original.  Yes, I know it’s slightly contradictory of number one, but everyone needs to start somewhere and needs to look to something for inspiration.  I’m flattered when people email me with questions, comment on my facebook posts or just have to know where that one textured blanket is from.  If they don’t want people asking nor want people looking to them for inspiration, they shouldn’t be posting on social media sites.

6. A good camera and lens is not going to give you that perfect shot.  You need to take the time to actually learn about lighting, composition, white balance, MANUAL settings, posing, post-processing, etc, etc, etc.  Don’t think spending five grand on equipment will make you pro.

7.  Your fan base will come.  Don’t do crazy things on facebook like offering up your first child just for a few hundred more fans.  They will come, I promise.

8.  Hands off the thirty actions you just ran on that one images.  READ:  Don’t over process!  Actions are great and I absolutely use them.  But don’t run so many that you lose that awesome photograph you started with.  And remember, you should always be striving to take the best SOOC.

9.  Remember your customer service, please.  I don’t care how big you get, you should never be too much of a hot shot to say please and thank you and give your clients the customer service they deserve.  It doesn’t matter if they are spending a $150 or $1500 with you, remember to treat them as you would like to be treated… and throwing in a little something extra for each session (an extra print, some wallets, etc…) goes a long way.

10.  Spending thousands of dollars on props isn’t going to give you that ten thousand dollar shot. When I first started my newborn photography, I literally had only four blankets, a few hats and one basket.  And I made it work.  Fill your storage room of props down the road and over time.

11. Give a little.  I’m a big believer in this one.  Photographs are timeless, beautiful and become the best possible memories for people.  Whether they are sick, young, old or perhaps just don’t have the funds, so many, many people can be brought such joy by a gorgeous photograph.  Look up a nearby organization, ask around and make someone smile.  A little goes a long way and I believe it is so important to use your talent for good.

Website:http://stephaniecottaphotography.com/

blog: http://stephaniecotta.com/

faceook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniecottaphotography

Be sure to leave a comment below, thanking Stephanie for her knowledge and willingness to share!

I am very excited to introduce our next Featured Photographer, Jennifer of Jennifer Wilcox Photography. She is a fellow Washington Newborn Photographer that I have had the privelege of getting to know over Facebook and am thankful for her passion to product beautiful and SAFE newborn portraits! How long have you been photographing Newborns?

Two years.  I started out specializing with newborns and haven’t looked back.  I LOVE being a niche photographer.  I feel like I am able to focus all of my attention and assets at becoming “the best” I can be at what I truly love.  Before I ever picked up my camera to photograph a newborn I spent several years learning how to use my camera proficiently, studying software and learning not only how to be a business owner, but deciding what kind of business I wanted to run.  I think too many times people rush in.  I decided to be the Turtle in the race against the Hare.  I feel confident that my choice to produce slow and steady growth would help me win my race.

How did you learn to pose newborns safely?

Three things: study, workshops and forums.  First I read and watched every single thing I could get my hands on.  TAOPAN makes an excellent online magazine that was very helpful.  I watched endless YouTube videos and purchased tons of educational material.  I swear, after these last four years that I have put into learning I could start my own photography library.  I have SHELVES of books!  I purchased Jodi Otte’s newborn book and CD and learned tons from her.  One day I would love to attend a workshop with her in person.  I have had the pleasure of attending a “Baby As Art” workshop and that has been huge for me.  Watching Carrie and Brittany slowly and patiently pose their tiny models was a major spring board for me.  I came home from that workshop with a new goal to pay better attention to the details.  Not only does paying attention to little fingers, toes, and ears lead to more beautiful portraits, it adds to the comfort of your little clients.  Being a member of forums like “Click’n Moms” and “Learn Shoot Inspire” has been very educational too.  Often times they have offered step by step tutorials on how to safely accomplish tricky composite poses.  Education and patience is the key.  I promised myself as I started down this path that I would never put a baby in harm’s way.  If I was uncomfortable with a pose I would not do it.  I am a firm believer that you cannot practice on your clients as a professional.  When I try something for the first time, I have had many wonderful friends volunteer their little newborns to be my tiny models.  Working with them I learned how to safely pose using new props.

Is photographing newborns as easy as it looks?

NO!!!  Putting all safety measures aside…it is exhausting work!  After every session I head to the shower, take an Advil (it’s hard work on my bad back) and weigh the pros and cons of taking a nap!!!  Maybe I’m biased because it is my niche, but I feel like newborn photography is the most complicated in the field of portraits.  You are responsible for the safety and well-being of a tiny little person that can’t speak up for itself.  If you are a cutting off the circulation in his arm he can’t tell you.  If you are rotating her arm uncomfortably she can’t say a word.  And most parents won’t say a word either.  They trust you as a professional to not only photograph their newborn perfectly but to keep them safe and comfortable.  There is so much responsibility!  There are several poses out there that are popular with parents that are not safe unless they are done as a composite or with lots of preparation and assistance.  You cannot let parents dictate the session.  Unless you are prepared to take that unsafe pose and break it down until you have found a way to accomplish it safely, possibly as a composite, you have to have the strength to say no.

What would be your suggestion / recommendation to aspiring newborn photographers wanting to enter the field?

First, don’t let yourself become a slave to peer pressure, either from the parents of your clients or your fellow photographers.  You know your capabilities and limits.  If you know you haven’t reached the level necessary to create a certain pose, own up to it and have some integrity.  For example I cannot for the life of me create a “baby in a sling” shot where the baby looks comfortable.  So I don’t offer it to clients yet.  I continue to practice it with my models, but when I have a parent specifically ask for that pose, I am honest and we work on other ideas.

Second, stay true to yourself.  I know a few photographers who only do bean bag poses with their newborn clients.  This is the style they love and have chosen for themselves.  I admire that.  In a field where it has become increasingly popular to do all sorts of crazy antics with a brand new baby these friends and fellow photographers stay safe and classic.

Third, love it!  There is so much work that goes into newborn photography.  Staying current and educated is so important.  Props should be carefully selected for style and safety.  Marketing to a very specific demographic when the market is saturated is stressful and difficult.  To put it plainly, being a newborn photographer is a lot of work and will cost you a pretty penny (especially if you lack self control and have a prop addiction like myself).  Make sure you LOVE it, that it fulfills you and that it makes you happy.

Fourth, seek education and mentoring positions with tried and true professionals.  I have noticed an increasing trend for photographers to start offering mentoring sessions and workshops after only having just hung up their own shingle.  This is disturbing to me.  It seems like everyone is throwing in their hat for a chance to make a dime.  Being taught by professionals is invaluable!  Carefully and thoughtfully choose who you approach to be your mentor.

As a final thought, let 2012 be a year of kindness and generous towards each other.  One thing I learned this past summer from my mentor, Jamie Schultz, is that you don’t have to be cut-throat in order to be successful.  My wish for all professional newborn photographers, including myself, is to help or continue to help educate aspiring newborn photographers on safe newborn practices.  Sometimes all someone needs is education and helpful advice to steer them towards a safer course.  We all want to be part of a healthy, thriving and enriching professional community.  So follow the golden rule, even with those that really are causing us to raise our hackles!

Below are some helpful tips on how I go about my newborn sessions:

I always start with my newborns on a bean bag. This is usually when my little clients are most cooperative. I pose them very slowly while they fall into a deep sleep. I always think that poses with props are what parents are really going to want. I think that those artistic images are more what we photographers love.

Almost always parents pick simple bean bag poses like these as their favorites.

Then I move on to props. I try to select props were baby can either lie on his tummy or on his back. Posing a baby in simple props like this is safe and simple. I have mom or dad sitting within arms reach of the baby at all times. I switched to using a 50 mm lens specifically so that I could be at arms reach of the baby at all times too.

I also really love buckets and baskets like this. I can pad in blankets in and around the baby to keep them snug as a bug.

Sometimes they can not keep their head just where I want them and I have Mom or Dad keep the baby’s head in position with a finger towards the back of the baby’s head so that it is easier to clone out.

Finally I capture images with Mom and Dad. These are my favorite. Mom and Dad make perfect props and can keep baby safe and sound at the same time. Plus I find that creativity for these kinds of shots is endless.

It has been a pleasure to share some little tidbits that might help you on your way.  Remember to find joy along the way and always be professional in every step of your path. ~ Jennifer

website: www.jenniferwilcoxphotography
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferWilcoxPhotograpahy

all images © copyright jennifer wilcox photography
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