Many people have questions about a newborn sessions, so here I’ve tried to answer the most common ones. If you have others, please do get in touch.

WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY NEWBORN SESSION?

Before your baby is born! It is so important to plan ahead. Capturing your newborn within the first two weeks of life while they are still sleepy and curled up, can make all the difference in your newborn portraits. My studio diary fills up around four to six weeks in advance so please call to schedule your newborn appointment before your baby is born. Since we never really know when your little one will arrive we will pencil your due date in the studio diary. When your baby is born we will schedule your appointment accordingly.

If your baby came early or if your baby is already born, don’t panic! We always do our best to squeeze newborns into our schedule and older babies take beautiful portraits too

IS ONE WEEK TOO EARLY FOR MY SESSION?

Absolutely not! Newborn babies photograph best between 6-10 days old. At this point they are still very sleepy and like to curl up as if they were still in the womb. We take around two to three hours for a newborn session and leave plenty of time for feeding, nappy changes and cuddles. Come as soon as you are ready. We can’t wait to meet your new little one!

WHAT SHOULD BABY WEAR?

Newborns photograph best without any clothes at all. I also love to photograph newborns swaddled in blankets with lots of texture and snuggled up tight in bowls and baskets, so if you have a special blanket or two bring them. I have an extensive supply of newborn hats, wraps and headbands that coordinate beautifully with our blankets and props that I will use to style your images. Baby’s modesty will of course be protected in all images. I encourage clients to bring special, personal items which make the session and images especially meaningful.

CAN WE BRING OUR OWN OUTFITS AND PROPS?

I have developed my own style, and a huge part of that is the outfits and props I use in the session. I prefer to only use my props, and hope that as you booked me for my style, that you’ll be more than happy with that. However, if you have a special item of sentimental value you’d like me to include in a few images, please do bring it along. I’ll do my best to include it for you.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR MY NEWBORN SESSION?

We recommend that you bring baby to the session well rested and plan to feed baby as soon as you arrive. Sleepy babies photograph perfectly, so we will ask you to undress and swaddle baby before the feeding so as to not disturb them by undressing them after they have fed. We take several breaks for feeding baby during the session to ensure that baby is happy and has a full tummy. We ask that you not be too concerned with scheduled feedings during the session and that you feed baby on demand or when they get a bit fussy to ensure their comfort and a smooth session. 

WHAT IF MY BABY MAKES A MESS ON YOUR THINGS?

I’ll be photographing your baby without a nappy, so I am amazed when baby doesn’t mess on me or my things. This is totally normal, and it really isn’t a problem

WHY DO NEWBORN SESSIONS ONLY HAPPEN IN A MORNING?

Generally speaking new babies are awake a lot in the night and sleep well  in the morning. This helps me a lot, as baby needs to be asleep for me to achieve the best images. If we did your session in the afternoon your baby will have slept all morning and is more likely to wake and become unsettled as I work with her.

CAN I BE PHOTOGRAPHED WITH MY BABY?

Absolutely! I love to capture the emotion of those special first days with your new little one and believe that there is no greater image than of new parents cuddling with and admiring their newborn child. Skin on skin images are a beautiful way to capture the purity of these relationships, but we also ask parents to bring a neutral coloured top so that they may serve as a backdrop for baby for some of the images.

CAN I BRING MY OTHER KIDS TO THE NEWBORN SESSION?

Of course you can! Older siblings are always welcome, but if you would like a chance to relax and concentrate on the beautiful images and products that we will creating for you, then you might want to arrange for a family member to bring your older children nearer the of the session, this is when we usually do the sibling shots. The studio is very warm for newborn sessions (typically 28 degrees) which can become uncomfortable for older siblings and with the average session taking around 2 hours this can become tiresome for toddlers.

WHEN DO I GET TO SEE THE IMAGES?

If you are comfortable with your images being shared on social media I will post a sneak peek on Facebook within a few days of your session so you don’t have a long wait to see how gorgeous your images turned out! Your full gallery of images will be posted on my website within 14 days of your session.

WHAT IF I WANT TO ORDER PROFESSIONAL LAB PRODUCTS?

As well as providing you with all of your edited images on USB for home printing I am more than happy to offer an ordering service to my clients. Ordering is very easy – simple email me with your choices and image numbers and I will take it from there! Samples are available to view in the studio but if you don’t spot something you were interested in please just ask! I order from professional labs that offer exceptional quality products compared to high street print labs.

WHAT IF SOMEONE GETS SICK?

Working with brand new babies and children we understand that sometimes the unforeseen can happen. We ask that if someone in your household has symptoms of a D&V virus that you reschedule your session as soon as possible. We operate a 48 hour policy and ask that your house is free of symptoms for at least 48 hours before you visit us to ensure that no nasty bugs can be passed on to our tiniest of clients. Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any concerns.

DO YOU OFFER MATERNITY PORTRAITS?

Yes we do! Pregnancy is such a beautiful and exciting time for couples and what better way to remember this time than to capture beautiful images! Mums-to-be who choose to have a maternity photo shoot love to celebrate this magical time and the changes to their body.

It is advisable to book in for when you are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant and most people secure their booking after their 20 week scan. Most people also book their newborn session at this time. If you are expecting twins or multiple we may schedule your session slightly earlier to ensure you feel comfortable throughout.

For location sessions bright colours and layers work especially well. For in studio a simple vest top and maternity jeans or maxi dress look beautiful along with anything that helps to accentuate your beautiful bump! I can also advise on semi nude, nude and implied nude maternity posing for a stunning fine art pregnancy portrait. I have a selection of maternity gowns and fabrics at the studio to make sure you look and feel as fabulous as possible!

DO YOU REQUIRE A DEPOSIT?

Yes we take a £25 deposit to secure your booking with us, but this comes off your final balance that is due on the day.

WHY DOES IT TAKE 2-3 HOURS?

Unlike a more traditional studio photo session that might take an hour, we do things very differently. Baby runs the show, and everything is done at her pace. We take time to settle, feed, change, cuddle and soothe. Then when I start the posing its all done slowly and gently and I don’t clock watch, and I won’t rush baby.