What One Member and Her Clients are Saying about the QNP Certification

Sep 4, 2017 | APNPI Community, For Photographers, Hiring a Professional Photographer

Written by: Heather Glude – Owner/Photographer of Itty Bitty Bug Photography
This article first appeared on the Itty Bitty Bug Photography blog.

CERTIFICATION AS QUALIFIED NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER

The world’s first international newborn photography association, Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International, has just certified Heather Glude of Itty Bitty Bug Photography in their second group of Qualified Newborn Photographers. Heather is honored to be selected to be part of this elite group of photographers dedicated to elevating the art of newborn photography. APNPI was founded to help clients discern the difference among photographers and build a comprehensive educational curriculum to continue to drive excellence in imagery and safety.

“When looking for a newborn photographer, there were so many choices, but skill level seemed to vary a lot, and I didn’t know how to assess their ability to work with newborns. I’m so glad I found Heather anyway, but something like this would have been so helpful!”

In today’s over-saturated market, parents are faced with an overwhelming amount of choice, but have few tools to determine who to trust with the most precious thing in the world – their newborn baby. APNPI’s certification program evaluates the quality of the photographer’s images, their business practices, and their knowledge of and dedication to newborn safety, giving parent’s peace of mind that their baby and their memories are in excellent hands. Jennifer Johnson, a new mom, explained, “When looking for a newborn photographer, there were so many choices, but skill level seemed to vary a lot, and I didn’t know how to assess their ability to work with newborns. I’m so glad I found Heather anyway, but something like this would have been so helpful!”

Newborn photography has been on the rise since the Anne Geddes calendars and books in the 90s. Today, it seems like everyone is booking a photographer to capture their babies’ first moments, and now there’s a photographer for everyone, whether you want documentary-style in your home, whimsical themes and costumes, or fine-art studio style. What has been missing is an organization to evaluate and ensure quality. Amy Kenny, a Snohomish mom, noted that a certificate like this would “make me feel assured that the photographer is well versed in working with newborns, who are so fragile and special.”

“make me feel assured that the photographer is well versed in working with newborns, who are so fragile and special.”

As part of the recognition process, Heather submitted images from dozens of recent sessions for evaluation by a panel of judges, who . Her clients agree with the judges’ assessment. “Heather was kind and patient with my newborn, and has a wonderful eye for composition not all photographers possess. She really listened to what I wanted, while also creating beautiful memories that will last a lifetime,” said Ms. Kenny.

Heather Glude offers maternity, newborn and milestone sessions in her cozy studio in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. Contact her for more information on her sessions.

Certified Newborn Photographer Marcela Limon

Aug 6, 2017 | APNPI Community, For Parents, For Photographers, Hiring a Professional Photographer

Written by: Marcela Limon

APNPI

Earlier this year I learned about a photographers association called APNPI (Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International). This association was created by talented and experienced newborn photographers – including Stephanie Robin (the queen of newborn safety) – with the purpose of making our industry better and safer.

As of today, newborn photography is not regulated at all and anyone with a camera and a basket can call themselves newborn photographers. The reality is that newborn babies are the most fragile human beings, and handling and posing them means there’s a lot of responsibility in our hands. Sadly, there are some photographers who don’t take newborn safety seriously. Newborn physiology, their reflexes and their inmune systems, newborn posing and image compositing (like the example to the right) should be part of every aspiring photographer’s learning agenda.

That’s where APNPI comes in. In an effort to educate newborn photographers in best practices and new parents in how to choose their photographer, this association is the new go-to place to find all the resources you need regarding your newborn photography session.

Can I be a little braggy for a sec?

A few days back, I announced through a Facebook Live Video that I had passed my QNP (Qualified Newborn Photographer) application and that I am now a Certified Newborn Photographer through APNPI. This is a big deal! There are just 19 of us for now worldwide! Obtaining this Certification was not easy at all; it requires photographers to be licensed and insured; to prove that we know our lighting, composition and posing techniques; that we have been trained by experienced photographers; that we know how to pose a baby alone, with siblings and with parents; that we can work in different scenarios with consistency in style and that we have happy clients telling their friends about our services. For this I had to submit very detailed paperwork along with tons of images that showed my experience. It was an extensive application process! And I’m very proud to share with you this press release:

And as much as I’m in celebration mode right now, there’s still a lot to do next. I’ll continue working to get accreditations in different areas of photography, like maternity, posed newborn and macro. This will take time, but every challenge requires hard work, patience and perseverance. As I have said before, this association is not here to charge us a membership fee and give us a seal. We have to earn our professional levels. And that’s what I’ll do.

The importance of YOU taking action too

You, as a parent, can help in making the newborn photography industry better too. When looking for a newborn photographer, don’t settle for one that does not take it seriously. You might put your baby at risk without even knowing it! Ask your photographer about their business and their practices. He or she should have no problem in answering these questions (based on this APNPI’s blogpost):

How many years in business and approximately how many babies has she handled up to this point?
Where has she trained and with whom?
What are the safety practices she takes into consideration during her sessions?
Will your newborn be supported by human hands in all upright positions as well as any poses requiring suspension?
Does she work with an assistant or provide spotters at her newborn sessions? Or will she allow you to spot your baby during a session?
What will happen in the case of illness, the photographer’s own or otherwise?
Is she up to date with vaccinations?
Is her business licensed and insured?

You should invest enough time, thought and research when looking for your newborn photographer. Make sure you are giving your baby to someone that understands newborns and that will treat your little treasure with all the delicacy and respect that they deserve. If you want to find a Certified Newborn Photographer in your area, make sure to visit apnpi.com.

Marcela Limon is a newborn and maternity photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She began taking photos of bellies and babies in 2013, but Lemonshoots wasn’t born until 2015. Since then she has trained in person with some of the best photographers in the industry, including Ana Brandt and Paloma Schell. She’s committed to newborn photography safety, that’s why she has been learning about baby physiology and recently joined APNPI. Marcela considers herself very lucky to capture her clients’ happiest memories with her camera and immortalize them in beautiful photos to decorate their walls. Every mama and every baby she has met has left a little mark in her life and in her heart.

See more of Marcela’s beautiful imagery at www.lemonshoots.com

Hiring an APNPI Certified Newborn Photographer

Apr 15, 2017 | Hiring a Professional Photographer

Enjoy peace of mind knowing you are placing your baby in the hands of a Safety Educated APNPI Photographer.

Our directory listings will connect you with APNPI Newborn Photographers. Each listing identifies the skill level of the photographer, so you will know what you can expect from them and from your session.

Each photographer listed has been Safety Educated in the unique needs of infants.

Currently the APNPI has three main levels of certification that comes after the Safety Education. All members are Safety Educated and have attained their QNP before they can market themselves as APNPI members. The three levels are as follows:

Qualified Newborn Photographer (QNP) – this certificate demonstrates proficiency as a photographer skilled in lighting, camera functions, artistic composition, and working with a range of family scenarios including multiples, siblings, and family portraiture. You can expect that a QNP photographer is either well established in business practices, or emerging in that area, have successfully passed an extensive business portfolio review, and are striving toward, or have completed levels of Accreditation. They are capable of taking on a wide range of photography challenges, and have demonstrated competence and proficiency in producing a well rounded and satisfactory gallery for any given client. This certificate is an excellent indicator that separates a skilled professional from the hobbyist.

Accreditations: At the accreditation level, photographers are now taking their art to a higher level with the fine tuning and honing of their specialties within their field. They must achieve a minimum standard in order to earn their accreditation in specific accreditation categories. Hiring an APNPI Accredited Photographer will give you peace of mind that you are hiring an educated, experienced and professional photographer competent in both their craft and in business.

Masters Designations: The Masters Designations level indicates a newborn photographer who has achieved outstanding results in photography and business, and is now starting to give back to the community in various leadership and mentorship roles. Hiring a photographer of this level is nothing short of a real treat.

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