What should I budget for newborn photography? | Portland, Oregon

This is often one of the first questions I get from expecting families. And while I wish there was a one size fits all answer, there simply isn’t. Every family’s vision, style, needs, wants, and wishes are different.

I’d like to start off by saying I know without a doubt that there is a newborn photographer for every budget in the Portland metro area. Newborn photography can range anywhere between $0 (yes I said free - generally those learning the craft) to well over $10,000. Now that’s a huge range….so what exactly should you consider as your looking for a newborn photographer and setting your budget.

1) Years of experience and consistency of work - newborn photography is a highly specialized field of photography that requires training and practice, lots and lots of practice.

2) Reviews - we all love reviews right? If you read reviews before checking out on amazon, it’s probably a good idea to research your photographer and learn about their past customers’ experiences.

3) Style of Portfolio - photography is an art, and every photographer is a unique artist. Make sure your photographer’s style matches your vision because you want these captured moments to make your heart sing!

4) Products offered - most high end photographers offer luxury products. Why? Because they want their work to look even more beautiful in person (on walls and/or in an album) than they do digitally on a phone. They also want their clients to enjoy their investment daily instead of having a couple memories pop up on facebook each year.

5) Convenience - life is busy with a newborn (or newborns) in the house. Let your photographer take care of all the planning, procurement, details and overall make the session easy and enjoyable for the whole family (I’m looking at you Dads and toddlers, lol)

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but a full service newborn photographer with experience, a beautiful and consistent style, as well as high end products is going to be more expensive than the person just starting out with a brand new camera. Does that mean it’s out of the budget? Not always. Many photographers, myself included, offer smaller packages and payment plans so families with varying budgets can still have the newborn experience they desire as well as the lifelong memories and images to cherish. Your investment into your newborn session will only continue to appreciate over time as these moments can not be recreated. Life changes, people change and circumstances change, being able to remember and celebrate our life story is priceless.

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital/birth place fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

M Family | Downtown Waterfront Maternity Session | Portland Oregon

As I look back on this maternity session from February, before the coronavirus pandemic, I can’t help but be filled with a longing to see my wonderful clients again. The saying you don’t know what you have until it is gone, rings so true right now. I can’t tell you how much I miss capturing all these incredibly special times for families!

I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family several times, including this “big boy’s” maternity and newborn session, as well as for his first birthday. When I found out they were expecting again, I couldn’t have been happier for them!!! And as always, this mom knows how to pick a session date! The farmer’s almanac could probably learn a thing or 2 from her! You may not remember, but February was full of rain, and in January, she picked a seemingly random Thursday for our urban outdoor maternity session…I probably commented a dozen times that we may have to be flexible on dates, or consider moving to an in home maternity session if needed. But for the third time in a row, she picks a date that is beyond perfect weather wise!

We had so much fun and were able to capture so many wonderful memories as they get ready to welcome little sister! Here are just a few of my favorites!

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is a maternity, in hospital (or birth location) fresh 48, and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

R Family | In home maternity session | Portland, Oregon

Every winter when the weather turns, I have several client families that decide against a maternity session based on the weather alone. I mean Portland in known for rain so I can’t blame people for not wanting to have an outdoor maternity session. That said, I ADORE in home maternity sessions!!! The warmth that radiates, that intimate feeling, and all those personal touches in the background <3 They just fill my heart and I can’t get enough.

I was beyond thrilled when this adorable couple shared my vision for a beautiful maternity session from the comfort of their home. Plus, it was super easy to incorporate their pup, another favorite for me!

Here are a few of my favorite images from their SE Portland Maternity Session

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an in hospital (or birth location) fresh 48 and in home newborn photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.

R Family | Outdoor Beach Maternity Sesssion | Portland Oregon

I can’t tell you how excited I was when I found out one of my favorite clients (turned friend of course) was expecting again!  Honestly, they are just one of the sweetest families I’ve ever met, and I always enjoy capturing their special moments.  We met back in 2017 when they contacted me about an outdoor maternity, fresh 48 hospital, and in home newborn session for their son.   Now that they are expecting a baby girl, they wanted to document all of these special moments in a very similar way.

Water has always been a theme that we’ve incorporated with their maternity sessions.  This year we chose one of Portland’s beautiful hidden beaches as the backdrop for our family of 3 maternity session.   While 2 year olds aren’t always cooperative, this little guy knows how to always turn on those smiles at exactly the right time.  And mom and dad planned perfectly to have a friend pick him up about halfway through our session, so we could include him in the images right at bedtime.

Here are just a few of my favorite images from our session earlier this month.

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an on location maternity photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities

L Family Outdoor Maternity Session | Portland Oregon

Now that it seems like the rain will never end, it’s time to go back in time and blog about a beautiful maternity session late last summer. Now, I may be a little bit biased, since this is my gorgeous sister in law, but I absolutely adore their session images!! Having met in Denver in college, the outdoors is a big part of both of their lives. They are both extremely active from snowboarding, to running, and everything in between. When we first started talking about their vision, I listed off some of the more popular outdoor spots around Portland, but they already knew that they wanted maternity session in a forest setting.

Their session was full of laughs, love, and warmth from the setting sun. Here are just a few of my favorites I’ve been so excited to share!

P Family | Portland Oregon Maternity Session

It's always such a pleasure to capture a family before the arrival of their little one!  Next month this family's adorable pack will grow by one and their hearts will be filled with more love than they even knew was possible.  I can't wait to meet this little guy when he arrives and capture all the fleeting moments and memories that fade so quickly.

Based in Portland Oregon, Danielle of Four Jays Photography is an on location maternity photographer serving the greater Portland area including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, and other local cities.