Creating Beautiful, Safe, and Profitable Newborn Portraits

PPAM Photopalooza 2026

Creating Beautiful, Safe, and Profitable Newborn Portraits

Elaine Freitas, CPP

 LOCATION: 2352 Main Street, Suite 200, Concord, MA 01742

Newborn photography combines artistry with responsibility. Creating beautiful portraits begins long before picking up the camera and requires an understanding of newborn safety, baby behavior, lighting, posing, workflow, and client communication. In this educational program, Certified Professional Photographer Elaine Freitas will share the complete approach she uses to create a calm, efficient, and profitable newborn photography experience.

Attendees will learn how to prepare families before the session, create a studio environment that helps babies settle naturally, and build a posing workflow that minimizes handling while maximizing variety. Elaine will demonstrate safe posing techniques, discuss how to recognize a baby's comfort level, and explain how her experience as a birth doula has influenced her approach to newborn photography.

The class will also cover lighting techniques using both natural and studio light, camera settings, lens selection, composition, and the subtle details that elevate an image from good to exceptional. Participants will gain practical knowledge they can immediately apply to improve consistency and confidence during their own sessions.

In addition to the creative and technical aspects, Elaine will share the business strategies that have helped her build a successful newborn photography studio. Topics include creating an exceptional client experience, guiding parents through the process, presenting printed artwork, conducting in-person ordering appointments, and building lasting relationships that naturally lead to maternity, milestone, and family photography.

Whether photographers are new to newborn photography or looking to strengthen their skills, this presentation offers practical education, real-world experience, and proven techniques that will help them create timeless newborn portraits while building a business centered on safety, service, and lasting client relationships.

Bio: PPA and PPAM member, owns Elaine Freitas Photography, a portrait studio in Concord, Massachusetts, specializing in newborn, maternity, family, and women's portraiture. Her work is known for creating timeless images that celebrate connection, emotion, and the beginning of life's most meaningful chapters.

Originally from Brazil, Elaine has spent more than 17 years behind the camera. Her photography journey began with weddings before she discovered her passion for newborn and family portraiture. She also worked as a birth doula for 4 years, giving her a unique understanding of newborn safety, infant behavior, and the needs of growing families. That experience continues to shape her calm, baby-led approach and has become one of the foundations of her newborn photography.

As a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP), Elaine believes that mastering the technical side of photography is only part of creating an exceptional client experience. She is passionate about education, continuous learning, and helping photographers develop the confidence to create beautiful images while maintaining the highest standards of newborn safety.

Her studio serves families throughout New England and is known for providing a relaxed experience where parents feel cared for and babies are always the priority. Beyond creating portraits, Elaine is committed to preserving family legacies through printed artwork that will be enjoyed for generations.

When she is not in the studio, Elaine enjoys traveling, exploring nature, paddleboarding on Walden Pond, riding motorcycles with her husband, and skiing. She believes every photograph tells a story, and that the images we create today become the memories future generations will cherish.

Lunch: Bring your own or can participate in ordering takeout

What to Bring: Camera

All PPA member attendees will receive 1 Merit.

PPA # Must be provided at time of registration.

Class limit: 5

DATE: November 2, 2026

Class Hours: 10:00 am– 4:30 pm

Payment must be made upon registration

Location: 2352 Main Street, Suite 200, Concord, MA 01742