How to choose a baby-photographer
By Cynthia E. Brodrick • Bankrate.com

If the cutest little baby face lives (or soon will be living) at your house, here's what to look for in a photographer:

Attitude with kids -- Believe it or not, some shutterbugs might not want to take your baby's picture. Save yourself a lot of aggravation by going to someone who promotes himself as a child photographer. If the person behind the camera has patience and the ability to make your kid smile in time for the flash, that's worth the price right there.

"There's a lot of child psychology going on in the room," describes Scott Gastony, owner of Heritage Portraits Studio in Tempe, Ariz. "[Children skills] are not trainable. You either have the personality or not."

Referrals -- Ask other moms and dads where they had pictures taken. Other parents who've been through the baby photo trials will be able to advise you on photographers with short waiting times, good attitudes and reasonable prices.

"All the moms talk," says Gastony, whose business is all referral based.

See and enjoy their work -- Most photographers have samples decorating their studio or Web site. Sure, your kid is certainly more adorable than the children in those photos, but if you don't like the lighting, backgrounds or style, then move on.

Creativity and props -- Cute as your kid is, a straight-on portrait of that toothless grin won't always make for the best portrait time after time. A good child photographer will have plenty of props and lots of ideas on how to show off your bundle of joy in a new way.

Convenience -- Some photographers will come to your house or set up at a chosen location. In this case, you'll be paying for personal arrangements. National chains such as Sears or Olan Mills, which offer ease of location, a wide range of hours and low costs, provide another kind of convenience.

Budget -- To learn more about the range of fees and photo package deals, read "The cost of baby photos."

-- Updated: Aug. 4, 2003