I was so excited to do Max’s newborn session as a few years earlier I also captured his big sister Eryn’s newborn photos.
It’s always so nice to welcome back my previous clients and see their family grow!
Max was a little older than an average newborn session due to lockdown (he is 7-weeks-old here) but we still managed to capture lots of lovely images and even some awake pictures.
Here are my favourites…
Lucie Xx
How long is a newborn photo shoot?
My newborn sessions usually last between 2 and 4 hours.
That may seem like a long time! But when you factor in how many feeds your baby might need but also how long those feeds can take, it really isn’t that long.
Sometimes newborns can drink milk for an hour other times it can just be 20 minutes!
Also babies are naked during my sessions which means they often poop or wee on me. Sometimes I need time to clean up or get changed, 2-4 hours goes by quickly.
I also need plenty of time to capture all the different poses involved in a newborn photo session, I like to give you a wonderful variety of pictures.
Sometimes a baby sleeps all the way through and a newborn photoshoot only takes 2 hours, but I like to prepare parents to expect to be at my studio for up to 4 hours. But don’t worry - I have a comfy sofa, hot drinks, breakfast pastries and biscuits available for you to relax.
What happens in a newborn photo session?
Before your session I will have chatted to you about baby’s sleep routine and we will have planned so that you arrive with a super sleepy baby. Once you get to my studio it really is time for you to relax while I capture beautiful images of your little one.
There are two rooms in my studio - one where I take my photos and the other for parents to chill out in. Parents are also welcome to sit and watch me work but sometimes I find new mummies and daddies are glad for the rest and even fall asleep on my sofa!
What happens if my baby gets upset during a newborn session?
All my sessions are baby-led. That means whenever they need feeding, winding or just want a cuddle we will take a time out. You pay for the whole newborn experience and that means not rushing. Newborn babies are precious and it is important to read their signs and take the session at their pace. Even during the trickiest sessions I have done, when a baby just doesn’t want to settle for more than five minutes, I’ve captured plenty of images.
What do I need to bring to my newborn session?
I provide all the props and outfits needed, as well as food and drink. You just need to bring yourselves, baby and a book or ipad to take advantage of a few moments when you are able to relax!
What is the best age to have newborn pictures taken?
My newborn sessions usually take place between 5-14 days after baby is born.
This is as babies are the most womb-like in this time so I am able to get those curled up squishy poses, but also as babies are the sleepiest in this time so we have a bigger window of opportunity to take sleepy pictures.
In saying this, I have done newborn sessions up to 6-weeks-old which have also gone well and have resulted in a lovely gallery. It is never too late to get beautiful pictures of your baby! :)
But what I do ask is for parents of “older” newborns is to have a realisic expection as to what we may get from an ‘older’ newborn photo session.
Is my baby too old for newborn photos?
As babies grow and drink lots of milk they start to build their baby rolls and chunk (which is gorgeous), but it can make it a little harder to get some of those curled up womb like poses so often I may need to use a wrap to keep baby in place etc.
Also, as babies get older they are more alert and are disturbed much easier when moving from pose to pose so more settling time during the session can be expected. Both of these differ from session to session and baby to baby so I couldn’t really predict how the session might go.
I have done many a ‘older’ newborn sessions and got what I usually get from a newborn session and I have done some where the baby is alert and so we captured those wide eye images also.
SEE MORE OF MY NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A 5-WEEK-OLD GALLERY
Can I have baby pictures taken if my baby is past newborn stage?
It is never too late to capture beautiful pictures of your baby. I offer several photo sessions beyond newborn pictures.
Some of my newborn parents choose to sign up to a milestones collection, which is three photo sessions capturing baby’s first year. Newborn, then a milestones session at around 6-7 months old when they start sitting followed by a 1st birthday cake smash.
All of these sessions are available individually too. Milestones sessions can be done at any time past the newborn stage, whether baby is 3 months old or 3 years old! I’ll adapt each session depending on baby’s age to give you the best possible picture selection.
You can contact me to find out more, have a chat about your options and get my full price list.
How much do newborn photo shoots cost?
Newborn photographers tend to charge anywhere between £250 and £700 for a newborn photo shoot. My sessions start at £199.
Each photographer will of course offer various packages too, often including more photos, wall art, canvases or albums.
Like most things, you very much get what you pay for with a newborn photographer. You might find a fantastic photographer in the early stages of their career who offers great value, but most established newborn photographers will have worked out a price that makes it possible to offer you the best possible experience.
What am I paying for when I book a newborn photo session?
There is much more work that goes into a newborn photoshoot than just the 2-4 hours when you are in my studio.
Beforehand
I style the session having discussed colour schemes with parents.
I keep in constant contact with parents and speak on the phone to go through the best way to prepare on the morning of the session.
The session itself
The session involves 2-4 hours of intense work where you are paying for my skill, creativity and expertise. Also for my experience and training to make sure baby is perfectly safe at all times.
After the session (this is where more magic starts)
I edit your full gallery, often more than 50 images, which generally takes at least a full day.
I edit them to a consistent colour plalate to make sure your pictures will print to a professional standard.
I remove any blemishes on baby - often newborns have blotchy skin, jaundice or even baby acne.
I then present you with your finished gallery at a photo reveal session back in my studio, where you choose which package you would like to go for.
What hidden costs are there in a newborn photoshoot?
We’ve all heard horror stories of people going for a photoshoot and finding out they have to pay much more for their photos afterwards.
My sesssions are an all-in-one package. I have two basic packages and I offer various larger packages that include either wall art or albums (or both) and the price is spelled out.
Click the button to contact me for my full price list and the find out more.
What do I have to pay up front to book a newborn photoshoot?
I take a £99 deposit which is deducted from your final price. This guarantees your place in my diary, whether baby is early or late. We don’t set a date for your session. We wait until baby arrives and then schedule you in.
Because I only take a certain amount of sessions each month, I am able to offer you that flexibility.