A couple of days ago, I shared some thoughts on what the maternity photography experience is like when you work with a photographer who is properly trained and committed to their craft. The same is true for professional baby photography, and in fact, when it’s your baby who is being photographed, the outcome for choosing to work with someone whose specialty isn’t professional baby photography could be much more serious than poor quality portraits.
Every day, it seems someone else has set up a studio and started advertising baby photography services. The age of digital imagery has changed photography forever. Whereas in the past a person who wasn’t entirely committed to being a professional photographer wouldn’t invest the large sums of money required for cameras and equipment, now virtually anyone and everyone can purchase a DSLR camera from a local electronics store and create a website to advertise their services.
Without any form of regulation for baby photographers, Toronto residents have no way of really knowing that what they’re paying for is, in fact, professional baby photography, unless they do a little investigating to determine the photographer’s credentials and experience. There aren’t any licensing requirements for baby photographers in Toronto or any other part of Canada, for that matter, and this has led to an over-saturation in the marketplace. Unfortunately, this has only made it more confusing to the people who want the type of experience and quality portraits that are only made possible with professional baby photography.
The lure of ‘cheap baby photography’ is typically what draws parents to these studios, but it isn’t just poor quality portraits that they’re at risk of receiving. In some cases, babies and children are even at risk of injury when they’re photographed by amateur photographers.
When Choosing Baby Photographers, Toronto Parents Should Keep the Following in Mind
With a little digging, it’s possible to differentiate between the true professionals and those who decided to start snapping pictures of babies to make a quick buck. While it can be difficult to tell a photographer’s credibility from the props they use or even how sophisticated their website looks, professional baby photography is always performed by those who have made it their passion and who show their commitment to perfecting their craft through continued learning.
Here are a few things to look for or keep in mind when choosing between baby photographers in Toronto or any other locale:
• What, if any, accreditations and/or awards does the photographer have?
• A professional will reinvest in their business, updating and adding to their equipment and props, as well as improving their skill-set through further learning in order to offer their clients better quality imagery
• Baby photographers in Toronto and beyond, who are truly committed, will work to stay ahead of the competition, finding ways to differentiate themselves from the rest 
Professional baby photography is an investment and just like any other investment you make, you want to ensure your money is spent well. When they choose properly trained and experienced baby photographers, Toronto parents are guaranteed to have a much more positive experience in the studio and will go away with high quality portraits that are worthy of a place in their home.
As a photographer who is committed to providing the best quality experience to her clients, I know the amount of skill, time and dedication it takes to produce the types of images that I’m truly proud to say were my creation. Professional baby photography is my passion and I’m dedicated to making it my business for the long-term.
To learn more about professional baby photography or to book a session at my studio, please call me at (905) 449 2200.
