Newborn Session Guide

1. WHAT I PROVIDE FOR YOU:

• A nappy change area, nappies, wipes, hand sanitiser and nappy bin bags to change your baby.
• Baby hair brush
• Outfits, blankets, wraps and props for your baby.
• Client wardrobe
• Snacks, water, soft drinks in the bar fridge, coffee and tea. Please help yourself to anything in the bar fridge and snacks area.
• Kettle + microwave

2. WHAT TO BRING:

• Set aside 4 hours for your session. The average session length is 2.5 hours but sometimes your baby may require extra time.
• Optional but so helpful: A bottle of expressed milk if you are breastfeeding. It can cut down your session time significantly and reduce cluster feeding.
• Patience. It’s normal for your baby to want to feed, burp, stretch, burp again, cry, repeat. Only a short amount of time is spent with camera in hand. This is normal. Occasionally your little love needs to stay close and wants to be cuddled or fed for the entire time.
• Please remember: Every baby is different. I am not in the business of upsetting little babies. I am no magic “baby whisperer”. All I can do is recognise baby’s cues from years of experience and give baby what they need – and that isn’t always getting them into a pose that you may have set your heart on.

3. HOW TO PREPARE

• A gentle, warm bath at home in the morning before your session can help relax your baby's tummy and any tension in their little body and promote calm later on
• A big feed before you leave and another top-up or full feed when you get here so your baby has a nice and full belly and feels happy and sleepy. This is the part we don't want to rush and where we set the foundation for a calm, successful session.
• Please dress your baby in a simple zip up onesie only and nothing else (no singlets etc.) to disturb your baby as little as possible when we change them into their outfit for the shoot.
• Hands are a big focus of my newborn sessions, but you don't need a full manicure. Clean and neat fingernails are perfect.
• Please view my styling-advice on how to dress for your shoot.
• Browse through my client wardrobe and let me know if you would like to borrow any dresses for your newborn session
• Please fill in your questionnaire so I can get to know you a little before your session
• Please share this guide with everyone who will attend the newborn session to make sure we are all on the same page.

4. DURING YOUR NEWBORN SESSION

• Once you get to my studio you can make yourself comfortable on my couch. Please help yourself to snacks, soft drinks and water in the fridge.
• You and your baby can get started by changing into your outfits for the shoot
• Usually baby is ready for another feed by now or at least a top-up
• Once baby has a happy, full belly I wrap your baby in a blanket and help settle them to sleep. I LOOOVE this part. Holding your baby is not only the best thing ever but it helps me get to know your baby and how they like to be settled. This makes it easier for me to work with your baby (they are all so different!) and also gives you a well earned break.
• Family photos are first, followed by individual portraits of your baby
• Please let me know if there are any particular image requests beforehand so I can incorporate them into the workflow of our session together

WHAT IF MY BABY IS FUSSY ON THE DAY OF MY NEWBORN SESSION?
Every baby has fussy days or fussy, unsettled phases throughout the day. Growth spurts, establishing breastfeeding, wind, colic, reflux or just a bad day – there are many reasons for fussy newborns.

There are no magic solutions to settle a fussy baby. There is only patience, a calming environment and most importantly, reading baby's cues.

This is what we can try:

• Another feed (milk drunk baby = sleepy baby) It's impossible to overestimate how much babies can drink during a newborn session (it's always more than at home!) and sometimes a growth spurt hits just on time for our session.
• Turn up the warmth (toasty baby = sleepy baby)
• White noise/shushing sounds
• Wrap baby nice and tight (to simulate that cosy womb feeling)
• Rocking and holding Bub (to calm their immature nervous system)

If most of the session is spent settling/feeding baby – don't panic! - that is completely okay.

As a general rule, babies LOVE being held, so if your baby is fussy on the day, the focus will be on snuggle photos, including beautiful close-ups of their face, hands and feet.

I understand that you may have hoped for all the cute poses and setups you’ve seen on my portfolio/socials. Please remember that we are working with a little human, one that you only just met, and who is changing and surprising you with new traits, needs and developments every day. All babies have their own personality, their unique preferences and their own ways to express them.

At the end of the day, your baby is in charge – always.

Remember your reasons for booking this session: to document your baby’s beautiful features and to have these memories forever.

Trust the process.

5. HYGIENE AND SAFETY

• Vaccines: Everyone in my household is vaccinated for whooping cough and all our immunisations including the flu vaccine are always up to date. We are also 4x vaccinated for Covid-19
• I wash my hands/use hand sanitiser before and multiple times during your newborn session
• The change mat, backdrop blankets and wraps are machine washed after every session
• I don’t photograph babies when I feel like I’m about to get sick. If that happens I will text you and reschedule.
• Please let me know if you or your baby are sick (to keep myself and other families protected from spreading germs)
• All blankets and wraps are washed with OMO Sensitive detergent. It is very gentle on baby’s skin.

6. BREASTFEEDING/BOTTLE FEEDING

• Breastfeeding: You are of course absolutely welcome to breastfeed your baby (and older siblings) at my studio before, during and after the session. Please don’t feel self-conscious. I breastfed my baby in public too and remember how awkward it used to feel at the start. The last thing I want is for you to stress about breastfeeding at your Newborn session. Please don’t feel uncomfortable letting me know if you would like some extra privacy while feeding your baby. You can store expressed milk in the fridge. 
• Bottle Feeding: Please bring all your equipment, - you can warm up a bottle anytime.

7. HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR NEWBORN SESSION WITH OLDER SIBLINGS

• Family and sibling photos are completed first
• Please read my styling advice for kids.
• Prepare older siblings for the session: Tell them they’ll have a fun and relaxing time and we can listen and dance to their favourite music (if that sounds fun to them) during the photos. Let them know you'll be there with them the entire time.
• Avoid putting expectations and pressure on siblings ("do what the lady says", "listen and behave", "say cheese", "you have to stay still for the camera", "remember to smile when the lady asks"...)
• Avoid talking about "having to get photos taken" altogether. Instead say "We'll spend time here together", "We'll have fun".
• Kids LOVE positive attention. Act like they're the ones who are the star of the show (not your newborn). Often a newborn shoot makes them realise that they're not the centre of attention anymore so we want to shower them with extra attention.
• Sometimes it can be really tricky to peel your child off a screen to get their photo taken. My suggestion would be to try and go for a little walk or find other sources of entertainment (books, toys) until all photos involving siblings are done.
• If no partner is present consider bringing a support person who can mind the older sibling while we are photographing your Newborn.
• Avoid chocolate or other messy foods
• Things to do with siblings while waiting for your session to finish: Walk to Menai Park/Menai marketplace (10 min walk) or to the Fern Circuit reserve playground (2 min walk).
• Lastly, and most importantly: Keep it lighthearted and fun! I completely understand how much it means to you to get images of your kids together but it is quite common and very normal for little kids to feel shy, unsure or just wanting to play! A new baby is a huge change for them and sometimes they don’t want to be anywhere near your newborn. That is completely normal too. It is so important to avoid pressure or expectations. I ask you to please be realistic when you come to my studio to avoid disappointment. You know your children best and how they are adapting to the changes around them.
• Please share this section with your partner

8. DIGITAL IMAGE DELIVERY AND FILE HANDLING

• You will receive your watermarked viewing gallery via email invitation within 2 weeks after your session. 
• From there you will be able to select your images or upgrade your package. 

• Important: Your viewing gallery will only have received a “soft edit” so far. This means that only exposure, white balance and colours have been adjusted.

Retouching will only be applied to your chosen images:

• adjustment of skin tones (newborn babies often have red/yellow/blotchy/flakey-dry skin or newborn acne that requires extra editing to achieve beautiful, creamy and even skin tones). 
• background retouching (like wrinkles in the bean bag)
• Parent’s skin freshen up (smoothing blemishes and wrinkles).

Please let me know in advance if you require any additional retouching.

The unedited or half-edited images from the viewing gallery are not available for sale.

• Your viewing gallery is open for selection for 10 days (An admin fee may be payable if your gallery has to be extended)
• Your viewing gallery will go offline once you have completed your selection
• Images that don't make your selection may not be kept on file
• You will receive your final, fully edited images via a new gallery within 4 weeks after your selection has been completed or your package upgrade has been paid for.
• You can now share and download your final images from this new gallery, as well as order prints and albums through the attached online shop.
• Your gallery expires after one year. Please download your images and use any print credits before your gallery expires. 

No images from your session are kept on file after your gallery expires.