10 Questions With – Hobart Baby Photographer, Lauren Vanier

Hobart Baby – Featured Local Business

10 Questions With: Lauren Vanier

Business: Lauren Vanier Photography

Location: Hobart – Mount Rumney 

Perfect for: New & Expectant parents in Hobart!

Website: https://hobartbaby.com/newborn-photography-hobart

Instagram: Hobart.Baby.Photo

1) Tell me all about you!

I’m a wife and mum to 3 fabulous girls – it’s such an honour to be able to grow alongside them and nurture their unique personalities. I grew up in Hobart and lived here until I was in my 20s, when itchy feet took over and I travelled Europe and lived in London for over 10 years. I met my wonderful Husband Phil in London and we had our children there, before deciding that Hobart was the best place to be to raise 3 little girls. I have a background in health care, with many years experience as a healthcare professional before taking a leap of faith and focusing on my passion for photographic art and portraiture.  I believe deeply in supporting the health and well-being of all in our community-especially new mums and the very tiny and very vulnerable! 

2) How did your business start and what was the inspiration behind it?  

Well if we go back far enough, I have always had a love for all things photography! My dad had a dark room and used to develop his own film photographs back in the 1980s – so our walls were always plastered with huge printed photos of our childhood and those photos are so precious to me now! When I was at school, my favourite day of the year was school picture day and I remember on special occasions being able to take a little film camera along to capture (read: torture) my friends in countless happy-snaps. I was also one of the first of my friends to invest in a digital camera all the way back in the 90s – and I was always sure to print out those photos from our special occasions, milestone birthday parties and big nights out in the noughties! Then once my eldest daughter was born in 2014, I realised the true importance of photography for capturing ALL the tiny fleeting details before they passed. In the blink of an eye, my baby was changing and growing and I wanted to hold on to every little detail. My good friend Ammy, from AmmyLamPhotography captured beautiful newborn images of my daughter Eloise, and from that moment, I was determined to really immerse myself into photography and gain the skills necessary to capture every detail of her babyhood! Since then, I have taken many courses, spent countless hours studying the art of baby photography and really ensured that I invested in the very best equipment and education to elevate my skills to award winning level. I have won multiple awards internationally for my newborn and maternity photography work and I continue to invest my time and energy in learning, developing and teaching the art of newborn photography.

3) Tell me about the products and services that you offer

I offer bespoke Maternity Sessions, with an amazing selection of specialist outfits and couture gowns – so expectant mothers can look and feel fabulous at their Maternity Session without having to try to source an outfit they will only wear once. Maternity Sessions are the perfect opportunity to really pamper yourself and I generally schedule sessions between 28-32 weeks, so mums-to-be are still feeling comfortable and can enjoy the experience.

I also offer Studio Newborn Photography Sessions to capture all the tiny and beautiful details of your baby in that sleepy newborn stage. As an award winning, highly qualified newborn photographer, you and your precious baby are in safe hands!  I have photographed countless babies throughout my career and am an expert in soothing, handling and safely posing your baby for the perfect newborn photographs.  I offer a range of options for newborn photography sessions and have a bespoke range of specialist newborn photography props, wraps and outfits.  I love to photograph newborn babies on beautiful, minimalist sets to capture their delicate details.  I am also an expert at capturing older siblings with their newborn baby! The sibling and newborn photograph is the unicorn image of a family newborn photography session and I am a pro at capturing this and have even included fur-siblings! 

4) Why are newborn photography qualifications so important? Can’t anyone take a baby photo?

Posed newborn photography images, the type that you see on instagram and pinterest, are often heavily post-processed and created using special techniques in photoshop. When you see photos of newborn babies sitting up on their hands or dangling from a swing – these images are *not* real! Artistic images of newborn babies in all sorts of unusual positions and sets look amazing, but are generally crafted using composited images and photoshop magic – not great balance and contortionism! Trying to pose a tiny, delicate newborn baby in unnatural positions and on high surfaces can be absolutely dangerous if the person undertaking the photos is not trained. I recommend that you make sure anyone attempting to pose your baby for a photograph knows what they are doing. Of course anyone can capture a snapshot of a baby – but to really capture the details of your baby at that moment in time, in a timeless piece of photographic art – that takes skill and training. Don’t miss out of having a professional capture your baby’s special milestones.

5) Where in Hobart are you located?

My studio is on the Eastern Shore of Hobart in Mount Rumney. It is less than 15 minutes drive from Hobart CBD, but I always suggest you use google maps or sat nav, because there are a few tricky corners!

6) Someone is shopping for a baby shower gift…. What do you recommend and why?

I always suggest that you invest in something that the parents will really value. A photography session to capture their precious bundle and have a piece of photo art to hang in the baby’s nursery is always a great bet! Other things that mums-to-be really appreciate are things that they might not think to buy themselves – a massage, a pedicure (it’s really hard to paint your toenails when you’re late in your pregnancy!) or even some vouchers for their favourite takeaway for after bub arrives.

7) Running a small local business can be challenging – what motivates you to keep going?

I love photography and the reactions I get from my clients when they see their photos! It is definitely a juggle being a mum, running a business and keeping up with life in general, but it is so very worth it to capture memories in works or art. I also love the autonomy of being my own boss and being able to move my business in whichever direction I choose. I am really motivated to grow my business and really support and uplift other local businesses through my new website venture!

8) Tell me your number 1 goal for 2023

For 2023, my number 1 goal is to really grow my photography education program and expand my teaching into Masterclasses and photography courses for local Hobart enthusiasts. I can’t wait to share my photography skills and knowledge with others! https://laurenvanierphotography.com/photography-education

9) What is your top tip for any new Hobart parents?

Hobart is a wonderful place to raise children – namely because of the beautiful, kind and caring community! Use your village!! It takes a village to raise a baby, and in a lovely community like Hobart, you are never alone.

10) Is there anything else that you would like to share with Hobart Baby?

I really want to tell mums out there to get in the picture and to be present in photographs with their children. And for dads to take pictures of their children with the mums in them…. and if you don’t know how to take awesome pictures of your kid’s with their mum – then come to one of my workshops!! https://laurenvanierphotography.com/photography-workshop-for-dads