Another wonderful family came to visit me recently for their newborn portraits. They just welcomed a beautiful little girl into their hearts. Sometimes it takes the newborns awhile to settle for their newborn portraits. Babies have a natural instinct to be with their moms and supposedly they can smell their mothers up to about 20 feet away. The moms are always in the same room as me and can see everything that happens during their baby’s newborn portraits but I do ask the moms to sit on the far side of the room.
I love my job.
I am an artist. I have tried mini-newborn sessions. I have tried time and talent only newborn sessions. Those limited sessions are not in my nature as an artist. It takes away from my art and my love and passion for photographing newborn babies. What I offer to my clients is a full service newborn session. I do not watch the clock at all during my newborn sessions. Your baby determines how long the session will last. There are so many things that are out of my control when I photograph your baby. Things like gas, bowel movements, upset tummies. When you come to Chandra Lee Photography you will get only the best for your baby. The images must be just a certain way and I will sit there and wait patiently until things are just perfect. Almost every single one of my clients that comes to see me says that they had no idea just how involved my newborn photography is until they witnessed it for themselves. I have been on a lot of newborn photography forums recently and I hear over and over again from other photographers things like “I get what I need in 3 hours” or “time is money”. Well statements like that do not exist at Chandra Lee Photography.
These memories cannot be redone. I have a little girl and she turns 4 on January 7th. I don’t have one single image of her like the ones I take today. That makes me really sad. I think about all the things I have spent money on – cars, appliances, painting, vacations, clothes (because a lot of us know how much a trip to Yorkdale Mall can cost you on your credit card). Even aeration and overseeding for your lawn can run you $300 or more.
I have honestly worked about 80 hours to 100 hours per week since the day I started my photography business of photographing newborn babies.
I am a single mom and what I value is spending time with my little girl.
For that reason, I have made a very personal decision to cut back on my photography of newborn babies. The number of sessions I photograph in a week will be limited going forward and I will not be able to take on as many last minute bookings.
No I do not sell all of the digital images on CD from your session fully edited for a reduced price. That is not offering you quality or everything I have to offer as an artist. That would be taking time away from my little girl while I spend countless hours in front of the computer monitor editing to make your images just perfect. My prices are non-negotiable. I do not barter. I recently had a potential client tell me that they could find the same product I offer for $400 all inclusive. No you cannot. I know that.
I value my work as a newborn photographer and I appreciate all of my clients who value my work as well. There will be no more 80 hour work weeks at Chandra Lee Photography.
