When is the best time to photograph a newborn?


Newborn photography is ideal in the first 4-10 days of the baby’s life. However, it is possible to take the photographs of them up to 28 days old. During the 4-10 day period babies tend to sleep longer and will more easily retain some of the natural curl from when they were in mommy’s tummy, which results in the cute shots you can see in my newborn gallery.
 


When to book a newborn photo session with you?


Ideally before the baby is born, anytime after your 20 week scan. Once you book your photography session with me, I will add your expected due date to my book and usually pencil you in for a session approximately 5-10 days after your due date. Obviously babies tend to be less predictable than that and so depending on when the baby decides to make his/her debut, we will decide a final date for the session accordingly.


Once baby has arrived, please contact me within 2 days of baby being born, in order that we can set a final date for your newborn photography session.


If however, your baby is due fairly soon or has already arrived, feel free to reach out to me, as I may be able to fit you in. In order to provide my clients with the best service possible, I shoot a limited number of newborn sessions a week. To avoid disappointment, it is best to book as early as possible.
 


Is there anything I need to do to prepare for our newborn photo session?


Since my studio is portable, I just need a small space to work in near a window as I use natural light.  This can be your living room, bed room, baby's nursery, wherever! Try to keep your little one awake for at least an hour prior to your session and if possible, your home slightly warm so when baby is nude, they are nice and cozy. It is advisable that if you have older siblings who will be attending the session that anyone who needs a nap has one prior to your session so they are happy and content too!
 


What can I expect from my newborn photography session?


My aim is to provide a relaxed session for you to sit back and enjoy, while I encourage your baby off to sleep and place them in various poses to create some beautiful keepsake images. It is very difficult to predict how long your session will last for. Babies are so unpredictable and so are baby photography sessions.


On average newborn photography sessions with me and last between 2 and 3 hours but this always depends on the baby. I allow time to sooth, feed and pose your baby. There is absolutely no rush.
My approach is not to set a time. You will have all the time necessary for me to create the most beautiful images for you to treasure forever.


But most importantly you will see that your baby is never put at any risk. The most important part of the photoshoot is ensuring your baby’s safety at all times.


 
Can other members of the family join the photo session?


Absolutely! The session aims to capture not just your baby but also the connection between the new baby and the family. So I will encourage you to have some shots with your baby too. Believe me, these are the most precious ones when you will be looking back to the pictures in few years.


Siblings shots can be included too depending on your package, though siblings may be better joining us at the very start or towards the end of a newborn photo shoot only. A few hours can seem a very long time to a toddler! If you wish to have any other family members who wish to be photographed with your new addition, please speak with me in advance.
 


What if my baby has an accident?


It is perfectly normal (and expected!) that your baby will go potty during his/her newborn photography session. Please don’t be worried. I have plenty of blankets and props should we need to change the setup due to an accident. And please rest assured that all my blankets are washed in organic/hypoallergenic/unscented  detergent after every newborn session, regardless of whether there have been any accidents.


 
What happens if my newborn doesn’t sleep?


It is unlikely that we will not be able to get your baby to sleep at all – I’ve got a lots of techniques for trying to get your baby to drift off! And during the times that baby is alert and awake, I will still continue to take photographs of them. We do aim for those precious sleepy shots, but some parents really enjoy seeing baby's eyes too!


 
Do I need to buy any props for the newborn photography session?


No, I have a large selection of blankets, backgrounds and photography props that we will use based on the feedback I recieve from you during our consultation. However, if there is a particular hat, bonnet, blanket or soft toy that you want your baby to be photographed with, then of course, please feel free have it ready and we will incorporate it into some of the images.


 
Why is newborn photography more expensive than other photography?


I limit the number of newborn photo shoots to a maximum of just a few shoots a week. There are many hours of editing to be undertaken after the newborn photography session and to ensure the highest quality to my work I do not book more.


I understand that a specialised newborn photographer can be considered expensive if compared against the casual hobbiest photographers. However, please try not to compare us in the same way.


Many photographers base their businesses on quantity and therefore they need to book as many photography sessions as possible which means you will be allocated 30 minutes and not more and the photographer will try to get the most out of that time. This is not what newborn photography is about. Newborn photography is about taking time to create wonderful pieces of artwork of your baby. It is not about rushing for the best shot possible in the shortest amount of time.


My newborn sessions are relaxed and enjoyable. It is about capturing your little bundle of joy who is only that tiny for such a small period of time. 
 


Do you sell digital files?


Yes, all of the best high quality images are included in your package. However, please understand that taking the photographs is only a part of the process in creating the art which will hang in your home. I do I enhance the images by removing scratches, marks and flaky newborn skin, tweaking colours and using other post-production techniques