Participants in our October image competition are NOT required to attend the business meeting to earn points toward Photographer of the Year.
We will be meting at Valerie Steinkoenig's studio on October 20th and there is space for 15 people to attend. An audio connection will be set up so people can join the business meeting virtually.
Competition submissions will be accepted on the printcompetition.com website starting October 9th.
A Practical Guide for Non-Newborn Photographers...
Newborn sessions can be intimidating if you don’t specialize in them—but they don’t have to be! In this class, Valerie Steinkoenig will break down the essential skills every photographer needs when photographing a newborn, without overcomplicating the process. Whether you're a family photographer capturing a client's newest addition or a wedding photographer suddenly asked to photograph a best friend’s baby, you’ll walk away with practical, easy-to-implement tips that will help you deliver a solid newborn gallery.
What you’ll learn:
✅ The must-have basics—what to bring (and what to skip)
✅ Simple, stress-free swaddling and posing techniques
✅ How to use studio strobes and umbrellas for soft, flattering light
✅ The perfect parent prep guide to set expectations before the session
This class is designed to help non-newborn photographers approach these sessions with confidence while keeping props, styling, and setups simple. Valerie’s straightforward, no-fluff teaching style will leave you with actionable takeaways you can use right away.
About Valerie Steinkoenig
Valerie Steinkoenig is an award-winning newborn and maternity photographer with over a decade of experience capturing the tiniest details of a baby's first days. As the owner of Valerie Kay Photography, she has photographed nearly 1,000 newborns and built a reputation for creating timeless, heirloom-quality portraits. Valerie holds PPA's Master of Photography and Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) credentials and studied professional photography at Austin Community College.
Beyond her work in the studio, Valerie enjoys helping other photographers navigate the unique challenges of newborn photography. She understands how overwhelming it can be for non-newborn photographers to approach these sessions and is passionate about sharing simple, effective techniques to make the process easier.
https://www.valeriekayphotography.com/
https://www.instagram.com/valerie.kay.photography/
