F A Q s on my Newborn Photography
Here are the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) I often receive before a newborn photography session. I decided to summarise them for easy to read information, when you are browsing my website. This should give you a good overview of what to expect during your newborn photography sessions.
However, please feel free to contact me if I have left any questions unanswered for you.
When is the ideal time to have a Newborn session and how long before birth should I schedule this in?
The ideal time to have a newborn session is within the first 10 days (max up to 14 days) from your baby’s birth. During this time, your little one still has the “curl”, which simply means their arms and legs still curl up easily. After two week he or she will make a big jump in growth and her arms and legs will stretch out more. Also within the first 10 days, your baby falls into this so-called “choma sleep” after being fed. This means we can move her arms and legs around without disturbing her too much. They sleep for much longer periods as well. After a few weeks your baby will start to be more active and tries to look around as it is starting to develop their sight more and more. Don’t get me wrong, after 2 weeks you can still get gorgeous images, however, the typical newborn poses most likely won’t be possible. But there are other ways advantages to photographing a slightly older baby and your images will be equally as beautiful.
To schedule a session it is recommended to call/get in contact during your pregnancy. That way we can pencil book in your due date within a provisional session date in my diary and then closer to the time whether you are early or late to re-arrange the exact timing of your session.
How long will the Newborn session last? If a session takes longer, what happens then?
All Newborn sessions for one baby normally last up to 1.5 hours and for twins up to 2 hours. As you simply cannot direct a small newborn, we adapt to his or her schedule. So if she doesn’t want to sleep or is a bit cranky and you will need to attend to his/her needs, then that is more than ok. We will have plenty of time to capture your precious one. In the rare occasion that the session does take longer than 1.5 hours for one baby or 2 hours for twins, you will be given the option to make a decision if you’d like to add additional time at £35 for 30 minutes and £55 for an hour.
Where will the photoshoot take place?
At my studio.
I have a studio based in Midhurst, West Sussex which has all my props, outfits, backdrops, and professional lighting etc. My studio is warm and welcoming for your session with comfortable seating area and relaxing atmosphere.
What is included in your Bronze Package?
– 3 digital files (more available at your private viewing for purchase)
– Three matching 7”x5” professional prints
– The session time of up to 1 hour 30 minutes
– Use of my studios props, outfits, blankets, etc..
– Parents and siblings portraits
– Professional editing of your sessions photographs
– Editing – each image will be touched individually to make the basic adjustment of enhancing the colours, the contrast, or any other necessary fine-tuning to ensure the optimal quality for your photos. Baby’s skin will be retouched of red skin, jaundice, smoothing etc (I will edit out small blemishes but if your baby has severe eczema this will be done on your chosen 4 photographs by my editing company but additional choices will be more). However, any additional retouching of the babies skin or other family members will be charged at £10 per image
– A private in person viewing – you will be invited for a private viewing back at my studio once your photos are ready. You’ll select your digital file choices from what you receive and take your matching print choices away with you same day as the viewing. You can also choose if you would like to purchase any additional digital files with the matching 7”x5” print at £25 each and prints starting at £6.00 depending on size.
For further details on each of my packages, please refer to my pricing section.
What should I pay attention to prior to the session? How do I prepare?
I recommend feeding your little one just before you come to the session with me and have plenty of milk available for during the session (if breast you’ll have this covered but if bottle at least 1 extra prepared bottle is perfect).
Similarly, please do not dress him/her in anything that needs to be pulled over their head, otherwise she/he will wake up when we try to undress them.
What kind of props/equipment do you provide and what will I need to provide?
I provide all the necessary equipment such as backdrop stand, fabrics to use as backdrops, a bean bag to lay your baby onto, a wicker basket, a vintage suitcase, a vintage style bed, an old apple crate and much more. I let all my clients choose which props they prefer to use during the session when we reach that stage as I start with the beanbag for the session for the first 40-50 minutes.
I provide a selection of outfits, throws, little blankets and hats, and headbands, we can dress your newborn in.
Also please have a think about any kind of prop that might have sentimental value to you and that you would like to incorporate into the images. Maybe an old family heirloom. This could be a specific blanket your grandma made or an old jewellery box that could act as a prop inside the image…anything really. Have a think about this. Or even anything particular a family member has knitted for your little one.
Newborns often have skin problems i.e. dry skin or spots/blemishes, will you be retouching these out? Or will this cost extra?
Each image will be touched individually to make the basic adjustment of enhancing the colours, the contrast, or any other necessary fine-tuning to ensure the optimal quality for your photos. Baby’s skin will be retouched of red skin, jaundice, smoothing etc (I will edit out small blemishes but if your baby has severe eczema this will be done on your chosen 4 photographs by my editing company but additional choices will be more). However, any additional retouching of the babies skin or other family members will be charged at £10 per image
How long after the session can we expect the images?
You will be invited to a viewing at my studio around 4-6 weeks after your session depending on time of year to choose which photographs you receive and have the opportunity to purchase any extras at the same time for a special promotional price available at viewing only. If you are unable to attend a viewing please let me know after your session up to one week after your session before I order your prints of the photos I have edited from your session you’ll receive an online gallery that will remain live for 48 hours before expiring for you to choose your choices any extras you may like to purchase also. After the prom have been ordered an online gallery option instead of private viewing is no longer available. After you’ve been to your viewing I will email you your purchased digital files over or alternately if you had an online gallery one I have your order I will email you your choices. At the viewing you can take your chosen prints away with you same day in 7″x5″ unmounted unless you purchase the mounts or your upgrade package includes the mounts as in your package details when contract was signed but if you had an online gallery the prints will be unmounted that you receive unless you upgrade your package or your purchased an upgraded package included will be ready within 14 days for collection or be posted out. If you choose at your in person viewing to purchase a USB (with some digital files or full gallery) this will be ready same day and I will arrange it for you whilst you are here but alternately if you receive an online gallery and if you decide to purchase a USB or additional prints these will also be available within 14 days after payment has been received.
This depends on the amount of images and when the session is held (during the summer months it might take a bit longer than during the winter months due to the increased workload during the wedding season). I will try to get images out to you as soon as possible. However, I will provide you with one or two sneak peek images shortly after the session, so you have something to share with your family and friends immediately.
I would like to use an image or two for my birth announcement card, would this be possible?
Of course! If you let me know in advance that this is the case, I can make sure to retouch and provide you with one high res image for your birth announcement cards shortly after the session. I will generally provide you with one or two sneak peek images shortly after the session anyways, so you can use those as well.
I would like my older son/daughter to be part of the shoot, is this possible?
Of course, absolutely! I do encourage this even. I want you to see this photoshoot as a potential family shoot as well. Capturing the interaction of your first born with your newborn can be quite emotional and unique, so this is a very important part of my style and this happens towards the end of the session.
Do we, the parents, need to be in the photographs? I don’t feel ready to have my picture takes as yet.
I completely understand that so shortly after giving brith, you might not feel ready to have your picture taken as yet. However, I do encourage you to think about this anyways. The images in which you and your partner are interacting with your little baby can be the most precious images of them all. You might regret it afterwards not having taken any images with your child. Despite the fact I completely understand that you might feel a bit uncomfortable, I would like to encourage you to throw on a little make-up and choose a nice outfit. We can just capture a few towards the end of the session when I do the sibling photographs. You might be surprised how much you grow to love them in the end.
What are your terms and conditions?
Please have a read here for my newborn photography terms & conditions.
If you have any other questions or would like to have a chat please feel free to contact me. I will update this page regularly to add any new questions that might come up.
If you would like to book a session please click the link here and select a date with 2 weeks after your due date