Your Client Journey with Sarah Fisher Photography
Every family is different, and every journey is unique—but when you book a session with me, you’ll always feel supported, informed, and looked after. This page is here to walk you through the journey from first thoughts to final portraits, so you know exactly what to expect.
Step 1: Thinking About Booking?
Whether you’re expecting your first baby or planning your little one’s first birthday, this is where your journey begins.
A relaxed studio session that celebrates your growing bump and the quiet anticipation of what’s to come.
A gentle, baby-led experience that captures those early moments of connection, detail, and love.
From first smiles to sitting tall, these milestone sessions capture your baby just as they are—full of personality and change.
Timeless studio portraits for families, couples, and individuals—calm, uncomplicated, and always centred around connection.
Simple, expressive dog portraits that capture the soul behind the wag—because they’re family too.
Whether it’s cake, bubbles or cuddles, these playful sessions mark your baby’s big milestone with fun and feeling.
Step 2: Booking Your Session
Once you’ve decided on the session that’s right for you, we’ll move forward with booking. You can easily secure your spot via my online booking system which will always have the most up to date version of the calendar. I’ll ask for a few details (names, session type, preferred dates), and you’ll receive a confirmation email with all the payment details you need. In terms of session payments, if your session is more than two weeks away, then you can choose to pay a £20 deposit with the balance due the week before your visit. I can accept payment via bank transfer, credit / debit card or PayPal s0 you can choose whatever works best for you.
Step 3: Preparing for Your Session
Once I have your payment, either your deposit or in full, your booking is confirmed and your confirmation email will be on the way to your inbox. In there, I’ll obviously have the date and time for your session but I also try to include any other information that you might find useful to have in advance. I want you to feel fully prepared for your session, so I’ll guide you through everything you need to know. so a few days before your session, you’ll receive another email with a little more info about what to expect when you come to visit. The day before your session, you’ll receive your session options form which will allow you to tell me exactly how you’d like your session to go and any props / backdrops / outfits you’d like for me to have waiting for you when you arrive at the studio.
Just some of the studio backdrops available for your photo shoots
A Little Extra Help with your Planning
Whether it’s your first session or your fifth, a little preparation goes a long way. Over the years, I’ve created a collection of helpful articles to answer common questions and ease any worries—so you can arrive feeling calm, confident, and ready to enjoy the experience. You can always browse my blog to find lots of useful information or here are links to some of my most popular articles. Of course, I’m always here to help so just get in touch if you have questions.
In my Studio
My studio is designed with comfort, calm, and flexibility in mind. It’s a welcoming space where you and your baby can take things at your own pace. There’s no pressure to perform, no strict time limits—just a quiet environment where little ones can be themselves and you can relax.
Whether it’s a newborn session, a cake smash, or a family portrait, every session is shaped around the people in the room. Some families like to chat throughout, others enjoy the quiet. I’ll meet you wherever you are.
Step 4: The Photoshoot Day
On the day of your session, we’ll meet at my studio where I’ll guide you through the shoot. You don’t need to worry about posing or having any experience of visiting a photographic studio before —I’ll make you feel comfortable and direct you for the best shots.
Your session will always be calm and baby-led if we’re working with small children. Whether you’re here for a newborn shoot, a first birthday, or a family portrait, we’ll go at a pace that works for everyone. There’s time to settle in, time to pause for feeds or snacks, and plenty of gentle guidance if you need it.
The session usually lasts 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the type of shoot. It’s all about having fun and, while I get that coming to a studio environment can bring on a few nerves if you’re not sure what to expect, the best advice I have is just trust the process, relax and enjoy it!
Step 5: After the Session
After your session, I’ll carefully select and edit a set of images that tell your story—honest, beautiful moments that reflect your baby or family just as they are. I’ll be in touch when everything’s ready, and you’ll be invited back to the studio to view your gallery and choose what you love most.
There’s never any pressure to buy a certain amount or spend beyond your comfort zone—just time to enjoy your photographs and decide what feels right for you.
About two weeks after your visit, you’ll receive an email with a link to your private online gallery, where you can view and select your favourite images. I’ll also provide you with information on how to let me know the digital images you would like that are included in your session fee, and how to order prints or other products.
Step 6: Ordering & Enjoy your Photos
Once you’ve chosen your favourite images, you can easily order prints, digital copies, frames or even canvas wraps. I offer a variety of high-quality products that will showcase your photos beautifully. Then there’s only one thing left to do which is simply enjoy your images whether you’re viewing them on your wall or digitally!
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re ready to book your session or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I can’t wait to work with you and help you capture beautiful memories!
Everything You Need to Know About Family Photography
Whether you’re preparing for your first family portrait session or looking for expert tips to make your photos shine, I’ve created a selection of helpful articles to guide you every step of the way. Dive into my comprehensive articles to find everything you need to make your family photoshoot a success! If you don’t find the answers to your question here, of course I’m always happy to help so just get in touch
Want to Know More about Baby Photography?
Your baby’s first year is filled with precious milestones that deserve to be celebrated and remembered forever. From their first smiles to their first steps, my baby photography services are designed to beautifully capture these fleeting moments. Discover how I can help you create timeless keepsakes by taking a look at my comprehensive guide to baby photography services. Whether you’re looking for a single session or a full year of memories with my Baby Club, there’s something perfect for every family. Don’t see the answer to your questions here? Just get in touch and I’m always happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about your session or need more details? I’ve compiled answers to some of the most commonly asked questions from my clients. Whether it’s about what to expect during your shoot, how to prepare, or how to order prints afterward, you’ll find everything you need to know in the FAQ section. Feel free to explore, and if there’s anything else you’re curious about, don’t hesitate to reach out!
I tend to keep family sessions simple and timeless, so props aren’t usually needed. That said, you’re very welcome to bring along a small personal item if it feels meaningful to you.
This might be something like a favourite book, a musical instrument, or an item that reflects a shared interest. If you’re unsure whether something will work well, just ask – I’m always happy to advise so the focus stays on your family rather than the props.
Yes. Family photo sessions aren’t just for young children – I regularly photograph families with older children and teenagers too.
Sessions are relaxed and age-appropriate, without forced posing or anything that feels awkward. I’ll guide things gently so everyone feels comfortable, and we’ll keep the focus on natural connection rather than overly staged setups. Older children often enjoy having a say in how the session feels, and that usually shows in the final images.
Yes, you’re very welcome to choose the colours or overall style for your session. The day before your shoot, I’ll send you an options form where you can select the colours you’d like, and you’re welcome to bring small personal touches if you want to make the set feel more “you.”
I keep the setups clean and simple so your baby stays the focus, but there’s lots of room for personal preference. If you’re unsure what works well, I’m always happy to guide you.
You don’t need to do much to prepare, but a few small things can make the session run really smoothly. Make sure your baby arrives well-rested and has had a good meal beforehand – hungry or overtired little ones can find the session overwhelming.
If you’re unsure how they’ll react to icing, you can let them try a tiny fingertip of buttercream at home beforehand, just so the texture isn’t a surprise. A comfy outfit and a relaxed morning also help enormously.
Other than that, there’s nothing special you need to do – I guide everything gently on the day.
Cake smashes are meant to be messy – that’s half the fun! However it does vary by baby and most don’t get too sticky actually. Either way, I set everything up in a way that contains the chaos, and once the session is over, I take care of all the clean-up. You don’t need to wipe down the floor, wash anything or help tidy.
Most families head home with a clean, happy baby thanks to the tub splash at the end, and I handle the rest. You can simply enjoy the experience without worrying about the mess.
Most babies are at their happiest in the late morning, once they’ve had a good nap and a proper meal, so that’s usually the ideal time for a photo shoot. However, every child is different, and the best time is always the one that fits your baby’s natural rhythm. If your little one has a very reliable nap routine, it’s worth booking a time slot when they’re normally bright and settled. A well-rested baby makes the whole session smoother, whether it’s a cake smash, sitter session, newborn-style photos or a family shoot.
And don’t worry – if your baby has an “off” morning or needs a little extra time, we take everything at their pace. A calm, flexible approach always leads to the best photos.
While I don’t provide the cake itself, you’re very welcome to bring any allergy-friendly or dairy-free option that suits your child’s needs. Many parents choose cakes made without dairy, eggs, gluten or nuts, and they work just as well for a cake smash — it’s all about texture rather than taste.
If your little one has allergies, you know best what’s safe for them, and you can choose a baker who specialises in free-from cakes or make your own at home. As long as the icing is soft enough for little fingers to play with, it will photograph beautifully.
If you’d like advice on what type of cake works well for smashing (free-from or otherwise), I’m always happy to guide you.
A cake smash session is a fun, relaxed way to celebrate your baby turning one, and I guide you through the whole experience from start to finish. Once you book, you’ll get access to my Client Hub where you can find all the planning advice you need. The day before your session, I’ll send you an options form so you can choose the colours and style you’d like for your photos – and you’re always welcome to bring along any personal bits to make it uniquely yours.
When you arrive at the studio, we start with family photos (and siblings too) while everyone is clean and happy. Then it’s onto the main event – the cake smash – where your little one can explore, taste and play at their own pace. Afterwards comes the tub splash, which is a lovely chance to capture fresh, smiley images while they have a warm bubble bath and get cleaned up.
Your edited photos will be ready in an online gallery around two weeks later. You can enjoy your three included images and, if you’d like to, order more from your gallery.
Yes, studio flash is safe for newborns. The light is very quick and no stronger than walking outside on a bright day. I’ve photographed hundreds of newborns in my studio, and flash lighting is designed for this kind of work. I always make sure babies are comfortable and calm, and the light never disturbs them.
Yes, studio flash is completely safe for children’s eyes. The light is bright, but it’s only for a tiny fraction of a second and is much gentler than natural sunlight. Some children notice the brightness more than others, but the flash itself doesn’t cause any harm. If I know your child is particularly sensitive, I’ll simply adjust my lighting to keep them comfortable while still creating beautiful images.
When it comes to photo shoots, one of the most common questions I’m asked is what should my baby wear?
I always recommend keeping outfits simple and comfortable. Soft, plain clothing in neutral or pastel shades photographs beautifully and helps keep the focus on your baby rather than bold prints or logos. Gentle textures like knits or little rompers can add lovely detail without being distracting.
If your session is for a newborn, there’s no need to worry about clothing at all — I have wraps and blankets here in the studio that photograph perfectly. For slightly older babies, two or three outfit changes are plenty. Think about bringing one classic outfit, something a little more fun or seasonal if you’d like, and maybe a favourite sleepsuit for relaxed shots.
Avoid clothes that bunch up or have big slogans, and remember that bare feet and tiny toes always look gorgeous in pictures. If you’d like to add accessories, a simple headband or hat can work, but less is often more.
No, there’s no sales or viewing appointment to attend. Your finished images are included in the session fee and are delivered digitally at full print quality. You simply download your favourites and use them however you like. No hard sell, no pressure – just straightforward, beautiful portraits without any extra appointments.
My photography studio is based in Crawley Down, near East Grinstead, and it’s easy to reach from Horsham, Crawley, Haywards Heath, Tunbridge Wells, and surrounding West Sussex and Surrey areas.
There’s free parking right outside the studio door, making your visit simple and stress-free.
I’ll send your finished images digitally, usually within a fortnight. They’ll arrive in your online gallery – ready to print, share, or turn into keepsake. Simple, fast, and stress-free
Yes, absolutely. These sessions are perfect for nursery-age children, home-schooled children, or anyone who may have missed their official school photo day.
They’re a lovely way to capture this stage, whether or not your child is in school yet.
School photo sessions are designed to be just like traditional school portraits – simple, child-focused, and quick. For that reason, parents aren’t included in these sessions.
If you’d like a portrait that includes you and your child together, I’d recommend booking one of my full family sessions instead, where there’s plenty of time to include everyone and create more relaxed, connected images.
School portrait sessions are short and sweet — usually around 10 minutes, perfect for little ones (or impatient older ones!).
No — school portrait sessions are available all year round. If you’ve missed school photo day or would prefer a professional studio portrait instead, you can book at any time.
No – all finished images are included in the £35 school portrait session fee as high-resolution, print-quality digital files. You’re free to print your favourites yourself and share them however you like.
Yes, absolutely. If you’d like a school-style portrait of siblings together, I’m happy to photograph them during the same session. It doesn’t matter whether they attend the same school or different schools — many families book specifically so siblings can be photographed together.
Each child will also be photographed individually, so you’ll receive both sibling portraits and individual school-style images.
Yes. I hold an up-to-date DBS check. This helps ensure parents feel confident and reassured when bringing their children to my studio, whatever type of child photography session they’re booking.
Sessions run back to back throughout the event days so timing is quite important. Arrive at your appointment time (or as close as you can to it) – there’s no need to arrive early as, if you do, I’m likely to be in the studio with another client. I ask that you wait in your car when you arrive and I’ll be down to greet you as soon as I can.
Yes – the studio sets are styled and ready for you, but clothing is down to you. Many families love to wear festive jumpers, pyjamas, or party outfits. Just bring whatever feels like your Christmas.
If you can’t make your session, please let me know as soon as possible. I’ll always do my best to reschedule you if there are spaces left, but as these sessions are very popular, I can’t always guarantee it.
Yes, if you’d like to! A quick outfit change or bringing along something personal (a favourite toy, a Christmas storybook, or a family heirloom decoration) can make your photographs feel even more special
As with all of my photo shoots, you can book your session online by either clicking the button on the screen or following the links on the website. Just enter your details to reserve your session and it will be confirmed when you send over your payment (there will be a link to do this in the confirmation email). The calendar opens 1st October – dates sell fast!
As with all of my photo shoots, you can book your session online by either clicking the button on the screen or following the links on the website. Just enter your details to reserve your session and it will be confirmed when you send over your payment (there will be a link to do this in the confirmation email). The calendar opens 1st October – dates sell fast!
Absolutely! Well-behaved dogs are welcome and look adorable at my Christmas photo shoots – just let me know beforehand. Costumes not obligatory but always welcome!
My Christmas mini photo shoot event is happening from November 9 – 17th 2025 and there will be three worlds you can visit to get into the festive spirit. Sessions includes your favourite digital image from your edited gallery and cost £35. If you’d like to order more images, you can select one extra for £15 or simply download everything for £50.
My cosy photography studio is based in the heart of West Sussex, in East Grinstead. I’m easy to reach from nearby towns including Crawley, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Tunbridge Wells, and Crowborough, as well as the surrounding villages. With plenty of parking and good transport links, it’s a relaxed, convenient spot for families travelling from across the county and beyond. For exact directions, click here for the Google Maps Reference.
When you book for a Christmas photo shoot at my studio, you’ll have access to all my sets, use of all the props and as much magic and sparkle as I can dream up for you. The session fee is £35 and this includes your favourite digital image to download, print and share as much as you’d like to. You can order extra images from your online image gallery – it’s £15 for a single additional image or £50 to download everything.
Whether you’ll need to attend a viewing session to see your photos after a Christmas photo shoot is a very common question I get asked. I totally understand it as this is what most photographers do and at the viewing session, there are quite often a range of sales tactics used to encourage you to spend more money. Whilst I fully support you spending more money, your session fee already includes one digital image. You simply select the one that you’d like from your private online gallery when you receive the code a few days after your session. If you’d like to order more, you do it online from there – it’s £15 for a single extra digital image or £50 to download and love everything in your gallery.
Absolutely! You have access to all three sets included in your session fee (as well as your free image) and also the chance to make a gingerbread house digital image if you’d like to.
Absolutely! If you like the idea of getting some cosy autumn photos with plenty of pumpkins, forest vibes and friendly creatures to meet, but also getting a bit more spooky in the Witches’ Cafe, then you can book to visit both sets while you’re at the studio. A visit to a single set costs £35 and it is £50 to visit both (those prices both include your edited images at print quality). If you’re visiting both sets, you’ll get an extended session time so you have time for an outfit change in between.
At the end of the day, you know your child best and I’d definitely recommend taking a good look at all of the images before booking to see if it would be something that they would find fun. All the props are designed to be on the cute side of spooky (unless you ask for the scarier set) but there is a definitely spooky side with spider sandwiches and skull cupcakes. The good news is that you can still capture all those autumn memories by taking a trip to the Pumpkin Forest instead – guaranteed scare free with lots of pumpkins and friendly woodland creatures.
A lot of my clients have been coming along to my Halloween photo shoots for a lot of years now and they’re getting to an age where they don’t want spooky and cute so much any more. So when I designed the Witches’ Cafe, I made a second set of props to change the narrative a little bit from the cupcakes to a bit of a darker Sweeney Todd vibe. There’s only one rule. Never ask what is in the pies.
Whether you’ll need to attend a viewing session to see your photos after a Halloween photo shoot is a very common question I get asked. I totally understand it as this is what most photographers do and at the viewing session, there are quite often a range of sales tactics used to encourage you to spend more money. Whilst I fully support you spending more money, it would be impossible to do with my mini sessions as your session fee already includes all your images at print quality! So there’s no viewing session for you to attend with this (or any of my other photography sessions as it goes) – you’ll simply receive a link to your private online gallery a few days after your session. Your images will be waiting for you there to download, print and and enjoy.
When you book for a Halloween photo shoot at my studio, you’ll have the choice to either visit the Pumpkin Forest or the Witches’ Cafe for £35 which includes your time in the set, use of all the props and as much magic and spook as I can dream up for you. It also includes all of your edited image gallery to download at print quality. If you’d like to visit both sets while you’re with me, you can do that for £50 – you’ll get an extended session time to allow for an outfit change between the two and all of your images are still included.
One of the most common questions I’m asked about these sessions is how long does it take to see my Christmas photos after I’ve visited?
I realise that, when you come to the studio for your festive photo shoot, you’ll be looking to do something with your images in time for the big day – make cards, create gifts, share and love them. So the turnaround for images from your Christmas photo shoot is very quick and you should receive your fully edited gallery to make your selections from within three days. With these photo shoots, you have one image included and there will be instructions in your gallery email on how to let me know the one you’d like. You’ll also be able to order any additional images that you want directly from your gallery – it’s £15 for a single image or £50 if you simply can’t choose and want to download them all.
My Halloween mini photo shoot event is happening from October 17-19 2025 and there will be two worlds you can visit to get into the Halloween and Autumn spirit. There will be the Witches’ Café is and the Pumpkin Forest. Sessions includes all of your edited digital images and cost £35 for one set or £50 to visit both worlds while you’re in the studio.
After you’ve been to visit for yourHalloween photos, you’ll receive a beautifully edited private online gallery within 3 business days. With these mini photo shoots, all your images are included so you will be able to download them direct to your device and print or share them as you’d like to.
My cosy photography studio is based in the heart of West Sussex, in East Grinstead. I’m easy to reach from nearby towns including Crawley, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Tunbridge Wells, and Crowborough, as well as the surrounding villages. With plenty of parking and good transport links, it’s a relaxed, convenient spot for families travelling from across the county and beyond. For exact directions, click here for the Google Maps Reference.
As with all of my photo shoots, you can book your session online by either clicking the button on the screen or following the links on the website. Just enter your details to reserve your session and it will be confirmed when you send over your payment (there will be a link to do this in the confirmation email). The calendar opens 1st September—dates sell fast!
A visit to the Halloween event is a mini session booked for half an hour but generally you’ll be taking photos for about ten to fifteen minutes. If you’re visiting both the Pumpkin Forest and the Witches’ Cafe, you’ll get a longer session so you’ll have time for an outfit change in between!
That’s OK! I work at a relaxed pace, and we can capture plenty of sweet moments, smiles or not. There are plenty of fun things to look at and even a friendly fox to keep them happy and distracted.
Absolutely! Well-behaved dogs are welcome and look adorable in the Pumpkin Forest or in the Witches Cafe — just let me know beforehand. Costumes not obligatory but always welcome!
These sessions are suitable for up to two children from an age at which they can sit up by themselves. Fur babies are also always welcome! Costumes are optional of course but always encouraged!
It’s really common for newborns to have dry or flaky skin – especially in the early days after birth. Understandably, many parents wonder if it will show up in their photos.
The short answer is: yes, it might be visible in the raw images… but no, you don’t need to worry.
I always edit newborn portraits with care and attention, gently smoothing any flakiness while keeping your baby’s skin looking natural and soft. I don’t blur skin into plastic or remove every tiny detail, but I do take the time to even out dry patches and reduce anything that would distract from your baby’s sweet little features.
You don’t need to do anything to try and fix it before your session—no special lotions or creams. In fact, I’d recommend not doing anything different to your normal routine, as some products can actually make flakiness more pronounced or irritate sensitive skin.
So please don’t stress. Flaky skin is a normal part of being brand new and I’ll take care of it gently when editing so you get the beautiful, natural images you’re hoping for.
Yes. I offer historical dog portraits that reimagine your dog as a character inspired by classical paintings, such as an 18th-century noble, a Victorian gentleman, or a Renaissance-style figure.
The process begins with a professional photo session in my studio to capture the right expression and pose. I then digitally paint the final portrait, carefully styling the clothing, textures, and background to create a finished piece that feels like a traditional work of art while still reflecting your dog’s personality.
Absolutely. Senior dogs and dogs with disabilities are very welcome in my studio, and sessions are always planned around their comfort and wellbeing.
We’ll work at your dog’s pace, with plenty of breaks, gentle handling, and poses that feel natural and supported for them. That might mean photographing them lying down, staying close to you, or keeping things short and calm. My focus is always on creating beautiful portraits without causing stress or discomfort.
If you have any concerns or specific needs, we’ll talk them through in advance so the session feels safe, relaxed, and right for your dog.
Yes. I keep styling simple and timeless, but I do offer lightly themed dog portraits where it suits your dog and the overall feel you’re looking for.
That might be something seasonal, subtly playful, or gently styled rather than heavily costumed. I focus on keeping your dog comfortable and relaxed, using minimal accessories and clean setups so the final images still feel classic and centred on your dog, not the props.
If you have an idea in mind, we can talk it through before your session and decide what will work best for your dog’s personality
While my dedicated dog photography sessions are just for dogs, you’re welcome to bring your dog along to any family or portrait session if you’d like them included in your images. Just let me know in advance so we can plan accordingly and make sure everything runs smoothly!
Yes. I have a small, carefully chosen range of studio backgrounds designed to keep the focus on your dog.
These include clean, simple backdrops for a timeless look, as well as darker or more textured options if you’d like something a little more dramatic. If you have a preference, just let me know and I’ll guide you towards what will suit your dog’s colouring and personality best.
Most dog photography sessions last around 20 minutes, but I always allow extra time if it’s needed.
Some dogs settle quickly and are happy to work straight away, while others need a little time to relax and get used to the studio. Equally, some dogs prefer short bursts before they get bored. I work entirely at your dog’s pace, adjusting the session to suit their personality so we get the best possible images without stress.
I recommend bringing your dog’s favourite treats and a toy they love, as these really help them feel relaxed and engaged during the session.
If your dog has a special collar, bandana, or small accessory you’d like included in the photos, you’re very welcome to bring that along too. Other than that, there’s nothing special you need – I’ll take care of the rest.
Absolutely! Puppy sessions are a lovely way to capture those early months. I tailor each session to suit your puppy’s age, energy levels, and personality, keeping things relaxed, gentle, and stress-free.
Whether your puppy is full of beans or still finding their confidence, I work at their pace to capture natural, character-filled portraits.
That’s absolutely okay — many dogs are. I take a calm, patient approach and always work at your dog’s pace so they feel safe and comfortable.
There’s no pressure to perform. We can take breaks, stay close to you, use treats or toys, and give your dog as much time as they need to settle. Some of the most beautiful portraits come from quiet, gentle moments once a dog realises there’s nothing to worry about.
Absolutely. Bringing your dog’s favourite toy or some treats is a great way to help them feel comfortable and engaged during the session.
If they have a special blanket, collar, or small accessory you’d like included, you’re very welcome to bring that too. The aim is to capture your dog’s personality, so anything that helps them feel relaxed and at ease is encouraged.
Absolutely. It’s completely normal to feel a little self-conscious during pregnancy — and a maternity shoot doesn’t require you to feel “glowy” or confident to begin with.
My approach to maternity photography is gentle, relaxed, and led by what feels comfortable for you. We’ll choose flattering angles, simple styling, and poses that feel natural, with no pressure to perform or pose in a way that doesn’t feel like you.
Many mums-to-be tell me they’re surprised by how much they love their images — not because they suddenly felt perfect on the day, but because the photos show their strength, softness, and the quiet beauty of this moment in a way they hadn’t seen themselves.
A maternity session isn’t just about photos – it’s about marking a short but significant chapter of your life. Pregnancy can feel long while you’re in it, but when you look back, it’s a brief moment in your journey into motherhood. A maternity shoot gives you thoughtful, timeless images to remember this stage, whether you’re feeling excited, reflective, or somewhere in between
It’s an understandable worry, but the short answer is no, that almost never happens.
In my nearly two decades of photographing newborns, there have only been a handful of times where a session simply couldn’t go ahead and in those rare cases, it was usually due to a medical issue like colic, where the baby was truly uncomfortable.
That said, if for any reason your baby is unsettled and nothing we try is working, you should know that you’re always welcome to reschedule. Your newborn session isn’t a one-time-only opportunity – I can capture beautiful images at any stage in your baby’s first year. While newborn photos are wonderful, if nature isn’t on our side that day, we can still create stunning memories at a later time.
Absolutely. Once your images are ready, you’ll be able to purchase additional prints, albums, wall art, and other professional products directly from your private online gallery.
I offer a carefully chosen range of high-quality options, including fine art prints, frames, canvases, and albums designed to last. You can take your time deciding what you’d like — there’s no pressure to buy and no sales appointments.
If you’d like advice on which images work best for albums or wall displays, I’m always happy to help guide you.
If you need to reschedule or cancel your session, please let me know as soon as possible so I can manage studio time fairly.
I completely understand that illness and unexpected situations happen — especially with children. If your child is unwell on the day of the session, it’s usually best to reschedule rather than push ahead when they’re not feeling their best.
If an appointment is missed without notice, you’re very welcome to rebook, but a £30 rebooking fee applies before a new session can be scheduled.
After your session, you’ll receive a private online gallery where you can view your finished images at home in your own time.
From there, you can choose your favourites directly from the gallery. If you’d like help deciding, I’m always happy to guide you through the selection process and offer advice on what works best for prints, frames or albums.
I don’t show photos immediately after the shoot, as I want to make sure every image is carefully selected and edited to a high standard.
Within 1–2 weeks of your session, you’ll receive a private online gallery where you can view your finished images and choose your favourites. This gives me the time needed to prepare the photos properly so they look their absolute best.
It’s completely normal for children to feel shy, unsure, or a little uncooperative during a photo session – and that’s absolutely okay.
I take a calm, patient approach and allow children to settle at their own pace. Sessions are relaxed, child-led, and gently guided using simple prompts and encouragement rather than pressure. If needed, I work in short bursts to keep things light and avoid overwhelm.
My focus is always on creating a stress-free experience so your child feels comfortable – that’s when the most natural, genuine expressions happen.
Because my studio is a cosy space, I usually recommend sessions for up to two adults and three children, or four adults.
Extended family members — such as grandparents — are very welcome within those limits. If you’re hoping to include a larger group, it’s best to get in touch before booking so we can talk it through. In some cases, that might mean splitting the session or planning a different approach to make sure everyone is comfortable and the session runs smoothly.
This is totally normal and nothing to worry about. Most newborns have flaky skin or little spots to some degree.
I always use gentle editing to smooth out any temporary skin issues while keeping your baby’s features looking natural. In fact, you can read all about the editing process for newborn photography in this comprehensive article.
It’s completely normal for babies to need time to settle, feed, and cuddle during their session.
Newborn images that you see online can be a bit misleading because photographers are only ever going to publish the ones were babies are asleep or otherwise content. I can tell you that it is a rare occurrence that a baby arrives asleep and stays that way throughout their session! That’s why I allow plenty of time for comfort breaks and work at a gentle, baby-led pace. There’s no pressure—we take things as they come to ensure a stress-free experience.
After your maternity session, I’ll carefully edit your images to create a beautiful, cohesive gallery. This usually takes around two weeks, although I’ll always let you know what to expect at the studio on the day.
Once your gallery is ready, you’ll receive access to a private online gallery where you can view and choose your favourite images in your own time. There’s no pressure or sales appointment — you simply select the images you love. Your session includes three finished images, so your pregnancy memories are already covered, with the option to add more if you wish.
Booking your maternity photo shoot is simple. Just head to my online booking calendar to choose a date and time that suits you. Once you’ve entered your details, your session is reserved and you’ll receive a confirmation email with a payment link.
If your session is more than two weeks away, you can secure your booking with a £20 deposit, with the remaining balance due the week before your session. If your shoot is within two weeks, the full session fee is payable at the time of booking.
As soon as your payment is received, your session is fully confirmed and I’ll send you helpful information on what to expect, how to prepare, and how to get the most from your maternity shoot. If you have any questions or specific requirements before booking, you’re very welcome to get in touch — I’m always happy to help.
Feeling a little nervous before a maternity photo shoot is completely normal — especially if it’s your first time being photographed professionally. My studio is designed to feel calm, relaxed and welcoming, and I’ll gently guide you through the entire session.
You don’t need to worry about how to pose or what to do. I’ll help with positioning, expressions and movement in a natural, unforced way, taking everything at your pace. Many mums arrive feeling unsure and leave saying they felt far more relaxed than they expected.
The aim is for you to feel comfortable, supported and confident, so you can simply enjoy the experience and trust that you’re in safe hands.
I recommend booking your maternity photo shoot as early as possible — ideally during your second trimester — to ensure the best availability. Most maternity sessions take place between 28–34 weeks, when your bump is beautifully defined and you’re usually still feeling comfortable.
My diary can fill up quickly, so booking ahead helps secure your preferred date and gives you plenty of time to plan and look forward to your session. If you’re further along in your pregnancy, it’s still worth getting in touch as I’ll always do my best to accommodate you where I can.
This does sometimes happen and it’s absolutely nothing to worry about.
I usually recommend scheduling your maternity session between 28–36 weeks to reduce the chances of your baby arriving before your shoot. However, if your baby decides to make an early appearance and arrives before your appointment, your session fee can be transferred to another type of session instead.
You’re welcome to use it towards a newborn, baby, family, or even a first birthday photo shoot, so you won’t lose out. We’ll simply plan something that works for you once you’re ready to visit the studio.
Your maternity session is all about celebrating you, and I approach every session with care, respect and sensitivity.
I use professional lighting, gentle posing and thoughtful angles to create images that feel flattering and natural, while being mindful of any areas you’d prefer to minimise. There’s never any pressure to pose in a way that doesn’t feel comfortable – we’ll always work within what feels right for you.
When it comes to stretch marks or other body concerns, it’s completely your choice. If you’d like them softened or removed in your final images, that’s absolutely fine. If you love them and want them included, that’s wonderful too. I’ll check in with you during your session and again during image selection so we’re always aligned.
The goal is simple: to create photographs you feel confident, proud and comfortable sharing.
Your comfort is my top priority. I have over 20 years’ experience working with expectant mums, and I’m very used to adapting sessions so you feel relaxed, supported and at ease.
We’ll take breaks whenever you need them, and I’ll gently guide you through poses that feel natural and flattering rather than stiff or demanding. If anything doesn’t feel comfortable — physically or emotionally — we’ll simply change it. Nothing is ever fixed or forced.
Pregnancy can come with very real physical considerations, from tiredness to needing the loo more often, and the session is planned with that in mind. My studio has bathroom facilities, seating, and plenty of flexibility so you never feel rushed or awkward.
The aim is for you to feel looked after, listened to, and comfortable throughout.
Absolutely. My studio is very versatile, and I’ll always work with your style, not impose my own.
I see my role as collaborating with you to create images that feel like you. Whether you’re drawn to something elegant and refined, relaxed and natural, or more artistic and expressive, we can plan a session that reflects your personality and taste.
If you already have ideas in mind, you’re very welcome to share them ahead of time so I can prepare everything we need. And if you’re not quite sure yet, that’s absolutely fine too – I’ll guide you gently and help shape a look that feels right for you.
Absolutely. Including older children or siblings is a lovely way to document your growing family, and I’m very happy to include them in your maternity session.
I’ll guide everyone gently so the session stays relaxed and comfortable, allowing us to capture natural family moments alongside your maternity portraits. We’ll usually take a mix of images together and some just of you.
If your older children are still quite young, I recommend bringing along an extra adult if possible. This gives you the chance to fully enjoy your solo maternity photographs while someone you trust can keep little ones settled nearby.
I recommend booking your baby’s photo session around 4–6 weeks in advance to secure your preferred date and time, especially if you’re hoping for a Saturday appointment.
That said, if you’re looking for something sooner or have left it a little late, please do get in touch. I’ll always do my best to accommodate last-minute bookings where availability allows.
After your session, I’ll carefully edit your images and, within around two weeks, you’ll receive a link to your private online gallery.
From there, you can view all of your finished images in your own time, choose your favourites, and place your order directly through the gallery. Ordering is simple — just add the images or products you love to your basket and check out.
If you’d like help deciding which images work best for prints or wall art, I’m always happy to offer guidance, but there’s no pressure or sales appointment. You’re free to browse, choose, and order whenever it suits you.
Your baby’s safety is always my top priority.
I use only natural, comfortable poses, ensure all props and equipment are secure and stable, and keep the studio clean, warm, and calm at all times. I never rush a session and always work at your baby’s pace.
If you see images where a baby appears raised off the ground — for example on a chair or bed — you can be assured that a parent’s hands are always just out of shot, keeping them fully supported and safe. Nothing is ever done without hands-on supervision.
With over 20 years’ experience working with babies and young children, you can relax knowing your little one is in very safe hands throughout their session.
My studio is fully equipped with a wide range of props and accessories, but you’re welcome to bring items that hold special meaning to your family. This could include a favourite blanket, toy, or family heirloom – if you’re not sure if something would work, I always say to bring it anyway and we can work it out on the day. You’ll be able to let me know which, if any, of my props you’d like to include in your session when you receive your options form the day before your session. That way, I can have everything ready and waiting for you so we don’t waste any time!
Babies have their own schedules, and that’s completely normal. I’ve been photographing babies for over 15 years, so I’m very used to working around unsettled moments.
Sessions are always baby-led. We’ll take breaks as needed, allow time for feeding, cuddles or settling, and move at your baby’s pace. Most babies just need a little time to adjust to a new environment before they’re happy to continue.
On the rare occasion that a baby is genuinely uncomfortable or having an off day — for example due to teething or illness — we can simply pause and arrange to continue another day. Your baby’s comfort always comes first.
Absolutely. Including siblings or parents in your baby’s photo session is a lovely way to capture those early family connections.
You’ll be able to let me know your preferences when you receive your session options ahead of your shoot. I’ll guide everything gently on the day, with simple, age-appropriate posing that works well whether siblings are toddlers, older children, or somewhere in between.
Sessions are always baby-led, so we’ll keep things relaxed and flexible — allowing time for cuddles, reassurance, and natural interactions to create meaningful sibling and family images without pressure.
Baby photo sessions are booked in my studio to last for an hour so we have plenty of time for outfit changes, different backdrops, and ensuring your baby is comfortable throughout. The session’s pace is entirely flexible to suit your baby’s needs. However, it’s worth knowing that most babies won’t tolerate taking pictures for more than twenty minutes or so (obviously it depends on your little one’s mood on the day) as they can quickly get overwhelmed with the new experience, flashing lights, new person and general excitement. Don’t worry though, I work fast and we can still generate an amazingly full gallery of images in this time frame – it is one of the first things I learned as a baby photographer!
Baby photography sessions can be tailored to any stage of your baby’s first year, but there are popular milestones to consider. These include 4 / 5 months (smiling and getting really strong at tummy time), 8 / 9 months (sitting up independently), and 12 months (standing or first steps). Each age captures unique moments you’ll cherish forever! Obviously all babies differ in the times that they hit these milestones so you’re always welcome to get in touch and talk through when is the best time to schedule your session to create the images that you want.
Choosing your baby’s outfit is an exciting part of preparing for their photo session. I recommend comfortable clothing in solid colours that won’t distract from their adorable expressions. Avoid logos and busy patterns to keep the focus on your little one. Generally (and it obviously does vary from baby to baby) little people aren’t the biggest fans of getting undressed and dressed, so I probably wouldn’t normally recommend more than three outfit changes per session and definitely bonus points if you can layer things up so we can remove one layer and be ready to go in the next outfit! Not sure what will work best? You’re welcome to bring a couple of outfit options, and I’m always happy to help you decide on the day!
After your session, I carefully edit the images and add the chosen digital backdrops, making sure everything meets my usual high standards.
This process typically takes around two weeks. Once complete, you’ll receive a link to your private online gallery where you can view and choose your favourite images.
Yes. I take great care when blending each digital backdrop with the original photograph to create a seamless, polished result.
While no one is meant to believe your baby was actually floating in a hot air balloon, the lighting, tones, and details are carefully matched so the final image feels natural, balanced, and beautifully finished rather than obviously “photoshopped”.
Yes. Your baby’s safety is always my top priority. Using digital backdrops means your newborn is photographed on a soft, safe, and comfortable setup in the studio, without the need for complex or potentially uncomfortable poses. The backdrop is added later during editing.
Digital backdrops are professionally designed images that are added during the editing process. In my studio, your newborn is photographed on a safe, neutral setup. I then carefully integrate the chosen digital backdrop during editing to create a polished, natural-looking image that fits your chosen style.
Yes. I have a small range of props and accessories available for dog photography sessions. You’re also very welcome to bring along anything that reflects your dog’s personality, such as a favourite blanket, toy, or collar or even a special outfit.
Yes. Please let me know in advance so I can prepare the studio and plan the session. Dog photography sessions can accommodate up to two dogs. If you’d like to bring more than two, this would need to be booked as a full portrait session, and it’s a good idea to bring an extra pair of hands to help on the day.
That’s completely normal – dogs can be unpredictable, and there’s no pressure for them to behave in a certain way. I have plenty of experience working with dogs of all ages, temperaments, and energy levels. Sessions are kept calm and relaxed, with breaks if needed, and I’ll use toys, treats, patience, and gentle encouragement to work at your dog’s pace.
Often, it’s those unplanned moments that show their true personality – and that’s exactly what I aim to capture.
Before your session, make sure your dog is well fed, has had some exercise, and is feeling comfortable. Bringing along their favourite treats or a toy can also help grab their attention during the session.
Session fees and deposits are non-refundable, as they secure your booking in my diary. That said, I understand that life can be unpredictable. If you need to reschedule and give me notice, your payment can be transferred to a new date rather than being lost.
If a session is missed without any notice, the session fee isn’t refundable. You’re still welcome to rebook, but this would be subject to a £30 rebooking fee to cover the lost session time.
If you’re ever unsure or something unexpected crops up, the best thing to do is get in touch as soon as you can and we’ll take it from there.
I accept a variety of payment options, including credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal. Please contact me if you need assistance with payment.
Yes. If your session is more than two weeks away, you can choose to pay a £20 deposit, with the remaining balance due closer to your session.
If your session is within two weeks, the full amount is payable at the time of booking.
The only exception is mini sessions, which require full payment at the time of booking to secure your slot.
Once the recipient has their voucher, they can book their session by visiting the relevant section of my website and using my online calendar.
Each voucher includes a unique reference number. They’ll just need to add this in the comments box when booking so I know it’s a voucher session. There’s no need to bring the voucher with them on the day.
Gift vouchers can be sent to you or directly to the recipient, either by email or by post. Emailed vouchers are ideal for last-minute gifts, while beautifully printed vouchers are available for postal delivery.
Yes. Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, giving the recipient plenty of time to book their session.
Yes. When you purchase a gift voucher, you’ll choose a session type for the recipient, but the voucher can be used for any session of equivalent value.
This gives them the flexibility to decide what suits them best when they’re ready to book.
You can purchase a gift voucher directly through this page or by contacting me.
Simply complete the order form on the gift voucher page and let me know:
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Your name
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The recipient’s name
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A personalised message (optional)
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How you’d like the voucher sent — by email or post
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The type of session the voucher is for
Once the form is submitted, I’ll take care of the rest and your gift voucher will be on its way.
Life can be unpredictable, especially during pregnancy, so if you need to reschedule your maternity session, that’s absolutely fine. Whether it’s due to a change in circumstances, how you’re feeling, or a health concern, just let me know as soon as you can and we’ll find a new date that suits you.
If your baby arrives earlier than expected and your maternity session doesn’t go ahead, your session fee won’t be lost. You’re very welcome to use it at any point during your baby’s first year instead – for a newborn session, family portraits, or even a first birthday cake smash. There’s no pressure and no rush; we’ll simply work out what feels right for you.
It’s a choice that you can make but I personally think that hair is best left down for these sessions. I will be offering your mermaid a choice of headdress to select from for their photo and these work best if hair is loose.
This is not a question that I thought of myself but one I was asked by a slightly concerned visiting mermaid. I would like to reassure all mermaids that they will leave with their feet still attached.
I provide the tail, bikini top and a choice of headdress for all visiting mermaids. We don’t really need the tail as it’s going to be blended into the digital image but it’s more fun if you wear it so that’s a good enough reason to do it as far as I’m concerned.
You can choose one of three styles of mermaid image.
Mermaid 1
Mermaid 2
Mermaid 3
It’s also a different type of session to others that I offer in that there is not a lot of flexbility when it comes to the posing – generally I like to keep things fluid in the studio and let your child have as much freedom as possible to have fun and express themselves. When it comes to these session, whilst I obviously still want them to have fun, they need to be able to follow the posing directions which is why I have a minimum age of five years old. If you’d like to do something for a mermaid younger than this, find out more about Mermaid Event Days.
It’s a different kind of session to those I normally offer which are designed to generate a choice of images for you to select from. Mermaid sessions are designed to create the perfect base image to allow me to make you a single piece of digital artwork. We’ll be taking more at the session to make sure that I have plenty to work with in terms of pose and expression. It’s not a case of dropping your child’s photo into a template, each image is handcrafted to ensure the best results which is why I only offer one of the mermaid images per session.
The digital backdrop is designed to only feature one mermaid at a time and because of the time it takes to create the image, there isn’t a discount to create two images in a single session. However if you have mermaid sisters, you are welcome to book two sessions and you could create two images with slightly different poses that would still look great on your wall together.
My mermaid images are mostly created in my editing suite so we focus in the studio on creating the perfect base image for us to work with. So your little mermaid will get dressed in the mermaid top, tail and headdress (we don’t really need the tail but it’s just more fun that way) and then she will lie on my trunk so she’s in the right position for the digital composite work. The rest of it is mainly just chatting about what we think that mermaids get up to – it’s a short and sweet session that takes about ten minutes of studio time. Below is a sneak peek behind the scenes at creating a Mermaid 1 image…
The session fee for creating your mermaid wall art is £45 which includes your time in the studio, use of my mermaid tail, top and headdress and of course your final image at print resolution.
This is a different kind of photo shoot to the ones I normally offer which aim to give you lots of photos to choose from. Mermaid photo shoots are focused on creating the perfect single image for your wall. There’s a lot of work that goes into creating each image so you get the best possible image to download and print.
Strange question but sometimes people ask it. Yes they are. Obvs.
As your mermaid needs to be able to take some direction and generally understand what we’re doing to create the perfect mermaid image, I recommend ages five and up for this type of photo shoot. That way, they are better placed to use their understanding and imaginations to create images that they (and you) will love.
My mermaid photo shoots are digital that’s for sure but I don’t use green screen technology as I don’t think it cuts the mustard when it comes to creating wall art for your home. We work to create the base picture in the studio with the right set up and lighting conditions and then the mermaidising takes place back in my editing suite. As your little mermaid won’t be able to see the final scene she’s becoming part of while she’s in the studio, it’s a good idea to show her one of my mermaid photos before she comes so she has an idea of what we’re doing.
My baby photography club offers you three photo shoots in your baby’s first year. For the sake of ease of communicating the package details, I say that these are at four, eight and twelve months old.
That’s not entirely accurate though and here’s why. For your first session, your baby is going to be very limited in what they can achieve from a physical point of view – that’s not a criticism, just a fact of four month old life!
Of course, all babies develop at different rate and I have occasionally had four month olds that can sit up by themselves, but most of them are still pretty flopsy when it comes to sitting without at least a little bit of support. I do have a special posing cushion that supports them while they are on my beanbag and allows them to ‘sit up’ so we can and will use that. Our second option is to take pictures of them as they lie down on their backs.
However, and this is the part where timing of your first baby photography club session comes into it, I think it’s really nice to have a third posing option in your finished image gallery. This is when your baby is on their tummy. For this reason, I recommend waiting to book your first Joe Club session until your baby can lift their head while they are having some tummy time.
They only need to be able to do for a short period of time and we do have a choice of ‘ramps’ I can give them to offer them a helping hand but my advice would be to wait until they can look up at your pretty consistently.
This will give you a lot more variety in your finished images and it’s a lovely set of shots to have in your finished gallery. You are also more likely to be able to get those cute ‘happy baby pose’ photos if you wait that little extra time for your baby to discover their feet while they are lying on their back.
Like I say, all babies develop at different rates – some babies will be doing all of this at three months and some will get to it a little later. The four month age suggestion for your first baby photography club photo shoot is just a guide – hit the ‘tummy time confidence’ development stage for the widest range of images from your session.
This is a really common question, especially for Baby Photography Club sessions.
You’re welcome to bring a few outfit options along – I don’t limit you to just one look. Different outfits can give you a lovely variety of images, and I’m always happy to work around the style you have in mind.
That said, babies have very strong opinions about being changed. To keep things calm and enjoyable, we’ll lay everything out before we start, prioritise your favourites, and work through them in a way that minimises outfit changes wherever possible. Layering pieces often works brilliantly and lets us create different looks without too much disruption.
We’ll always go at your baby’s pace and get as much variety as we comfortably can – happy baby first, outfits second.
There’s never any sales process or meetings with any of my photography – you simply and view your image gallery online and make any orders that you’d like to directly from there.
My online gallery should be fairly familiar to you if you shop online but in case you need a bit of extra assistance, you can click on the button below to access a help document that walks you through how to access your gallery, choose your favourite images and place an order. Of course, if you are having problems, just get in touch and I’m always happy to help.
Payment is due when you booked your photo shoot but if it is more than two weeks away, you can choose to pay a deposit of £20. The balance is due the week before your booking.
I don’t like to talk about it as it makes me feel quite old but about I’ve been a professional wedding photographer for about 18 years.
A 6–8 inch cake is perfect for a cake smash session. Babies don’t usually eat very much of it – the fun is in exploring, squishing and tasting – so there’s no need to go larger unless you want leftovers to take home. The design and style are completely up to you, and anything in this size range works brilliantly in the studio.
Absolutely – your first birthday session can look however you want it to. You’re welcome to include a cake smash, a tub splash, both, or neither. Some families prefer a simple portrait session at this milestone, and that’s completely fine. I also have a few first-birthday props, such as wooden number ones, that you’re welcome to use if you’d like to add a little birthday detail.
Yes! I know how quickly time disappears when you’re raising a small human.
I’ll send you a reminder around a month before your next Baby Photography Club session is due, giving you a gentle nudge to get your next visit booked in at a time that works for you.
Absolutely – and I’m always happy to talk things through in advance so we can make the session as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.
My studio is a short walk from parking and does involve several small steps, so unfortunately it isn’t wheelchair accessible. I want to be upfront about that so you can decide whether it’s the right space for you.
If someone in your group needs a little extra support – whether that’s more time, a quieter approach, sensory considerations, or flexibility around how the session runs – please get in touch before booking. Every family is different, and a quick chat helps me tailor the session so everyone feels comfortable and included.
You’re not alone. This is one of the most common things people say to me – often alongside “I’m not very photogenic.”
If you’ve made it to the studio, you’ve already done the hardest part. From there, my job is to guide you through everything. I’ll tell you where to stand, how to sit, how to hold yourself, and I’ll keep things moving so you never feel awkward or stuck wondering what to do.
The first couple of minutes can feel a bit strange – that’s completely normal – but it passes very quickly. Most people relax faster than they expect to, and many end up enjoying the process far more than they thought they would.
And if it helps to know: the worst-case scenario is simply that you decide the photos aren’t for you. There’s no pressure, no obligation – just a calm, supportive session designed to make things as easy as possible.
This can mean different things to different people.
I carefully edit every image so it looks its absolute best. That includes colour correction, gentle toning, and removing temporary things like scratches, spots or marks that won’t be there next week.
What I don’t do is change who you are. I won’t remove birthmarks, scars or features that are part of you, alter body shape, or change the natural contours of your face. My approach is about flattering light, thoughtful posing and careful editing — not digital reshaping.
The aim is for you to recognise yourself and feel comfortable with what you see.
Absolutely – this is incredibly common.
Most children, if you ask them to smile or say “cheese”, will pull a face that looks nothing like their real, natural smile. For that reason, I don’t usually ask children to “perform” in the studio.
Instead, I focus on helping them relax and have fun. That might mean chatting, playing, moving around, being a bit silly, or saying something unexpected at just the right moment. Natural expressions tend to appear in the gaps — and those are the moments I’m looking for.
There’s no pressure for your child to behave or smile in a particular way. I’ll work at their pace and capture them as they are.
Yes, there’s time for up to three outfit changes during a family portrait session. I’ll guide you on what works best together so we can make the most of the time and create a good variety of looks without the session feeling rushed or bitty. Often one outfit feels enough, but if you’d like a mix of styles (for example something relaxed and something a little more polished), we can absolutely do that.
If you’re unsure what to bring, I’m always happy to help you decide in advance.
Yes – natural, relaxed photographs are very much my style.
I’ll always guide you into flattering positions and make sure the lighting works beautifully, but that doesn’t mean your photos will feel stiff or overly posed. I usually start by getting everyone settled together and then let things unfold naturally, capturing the moments in between.
With children, I work in a gentle, playful way. Rather than asking them to sit still and smile, I’ll give them something to do and encourage interaction, which leads to expressions that feel genuine and full of personality.
You don’t need to worry about being “good in front of the camera” – I’ll take care of that part (and I’m not above a bit of silliness if that’s what it takes).
Family portrait sessions are booked for up to one hour. That gives us plenty of time to work at a relaxed pace, allow children time to settle, and create a lovely variety of images without anyone feeling rushed.
In reality, I often don’t need the full hour – but having that time built in means sessions stay calm and enjoyable, which always leads to better photographs.
Yes — my studio is set up to be flexible, with a range of backdrops and lighting options that are quick and easy to switch between.
Within one session, I recommend choosing up to three backdrops. This gives you a beautifully varied gallery without rushing, and ensures each setup has time to really work. You’ll be able to make your backdrop choices in advance (from the options I send before your session), so everything flows smoothly on the day.
Absolutely. I often describe this as a mix and match session.
For example, if you’re visiting the studio as two parents and two children, we can capture a lovely variety of images — everyone together, children together, individual children, parents together, and different combinations in between. This approach makes the most of your session time and gives you a really well-rounded gallery from one relaxed, easy session.
If anyone in your family is unwell, please don’t worry – you’re very welcome to reschedule your session.
If you’re able to give me as much notice as possible, that’s always appreciated, but I completely understand that illness (especially with children) can come on suddenly. I don’t offer refunds on sessions, but I’m happy to hold your session fee as a credit so you can rebook for a more convenient time once everyone is feeling better.
I’d always rather photograph children when they’re comfortable and well, and it helps keep everyone in the studio healthy too.
This is one of the most common worries parents have – and honestly, it’s never a problem. Children don’t need to “behave” in a studio to get lovely photographs. Lots of children feel shy, cautious, excitable or overwhelmed in a new environment, and that’s completely normal. I always allow time for children to settle in at their own pace, and sessions are relaxed, playful and led by them rather than forced poses or expectations.
Some children warm up quickly, others need a little longer – both are absolutely fine. Gentle encouragement from parents helps, but there’s no pressure to perform. Often the best images come from real moments in between the silliness, movement and curiosity.
If your child has additional needs, sensory sensitivities or anything you’re worried about, you’re very welcome to let me know in advance so I can make the session as comfortable as possible for them.
When you buy a digital file from me, the copyright stays with me as it would with pretty much all other photographers out there. However, that’s just a legal term that I retain as the creator of the image. You’re able to print and share the image as much as you’d like to – the only things that you can’t do is sell the images or claim that you took them. Other than that, they are yours to do as you wish with.
PS – Back them up!
This is question that I get asked a lot and it’s a really tough one to answer as it depends on so many things. If I’m photographing a baby and they’re in a great mood, then you have lots of photos where if they are finding things a bit difficult then you get less. Gun to my head, if I had to offer an average image count, then I’d say that you can expect to find about forty fully edited images in your finished gallery but that can vary wildly so it’s probably not a very useful statistic for you.
Coordinating outfits can make a real difference to how your finished images feel, but it doesn’t mean everyone needs to match exactly. I recommend choosing colours and tones that work well together rather than identical outfits. Soft, neutral or muted colours tend to photograph beautifully, while bold patterns and large logos can be distracting and date more quickly. Plain fabrics usually create a more timeless look and help keep the focus on faces and connection.
If you’d like more detailed guidance, I’ve written a full blog post with outfit ideas, colour palettes and practical tips to help you choose what works best for your family.
And if you’re ever unsure, you’re always welcome to get in touch – I’m very happy to help you decide.
All of my portrait sessions take place in my studio, where I can control the light, temperature and environment to create calm, consistent images.
Working in the studio also means sessions are weather-proof, relaxed, and designed around children and families without the unpredictability of outdoor locations
My studio is quite small (but perfectly formed), so family portrait sessions work best for up to two adults and three children, or up to five children.
If you’re hoping to include more people than this, just get in touch before booking and we can chat through what might work best.
A family portrait session in my studio costs £95 and includes three digital images of your choice.
There’s no sales appointment or viewing session – you’ll simply view your images in your private online gallery and choose your favourites in your own time. If you’d like additional images or prints, these can be ordered directly from the gallery.
Of course, parents and siblings are welcome to join in with your baby photography club sessions.
No, there’s no extra charge for adding a cake smash and tub splash to your final Baby Photography Club session. It’s a lovely way to celebrate your baby’s first birthday as part of the club.
You’ll just need to bring along a cake, bubble bath, and a towel – everything else is taken care of in the studio.
Your final Baby Photography Club session is designed to celebrate your baby’s first birthday, so any time around then is perfect.
If you’d like the images ready for the birthday itself, I recommend coming in a couple of weeks beforehand to allow time for editing and ordering. This session can also be turned into a cake smash and tub splash if you’d like – there’s no additional charge for this.
The best time to visit the studio for your second Baby Photography Club session is when your baby can sit unsupported but hasn’t quite started crawling yet.
That said, it’s absolutely not a problem if your baby is already on the move – it just means a little more chasing and resetting. When babies aren’t fully mobile yet, we have a wider range of props we can safely use and it’s often a calmer session overall.
I recommend booking your first Baby Photography Club session once your baby has good neck control and can lift their head while they’re on their tummy. For many babies this is around four months old, but it does vary from baby to baby.
If you’ve already missed that stage, don’t worry – the club is designed to be flexible, and we can tailor the remaining sessions around where your baby is developmentally.
If you’ve chosen the wall frame as your included Baby Photography Club item, you’ll choose the images once all of your sessions are complete. At that point, you’ll be able to see all of your images together and select the ones that work best as a set.
It’s best to wait and choose them all at the same time rather than picking one after each session, as this helps ensure the final frame looks balanced and cohesive on your wall.
If you’ve chosen digital images instead, you’ll receive one included image from each session, with the option to purchase more if you wish.
Yes. After each session, you’ll be able to view your images in your private online gallery and order any additional digital images or prints you’d like at that point.
If you’ve chosen the wall frame option as your included Baby Photography Club item, you’ll choose the images for the frame once all of your sessions are complete. It’s best to choose them together so they work beautifully as a set on your wall. If you’ve chosen digital images instead, you’ll receive one included image from each session, with the option to purchase more if you wish.
You’ll always have access to the full price list for prints and digital images via your gallery.
Yes. If you choose the wall frame option as your included Baby Photography Club item, the frame includes images from your Baby Club sessions.
If you’d like to add a newborn image to the frame as well, this can be done as an upgrade for £20.
That way, you can include an image from your newborn session alongside your Baby Club images, all in one frame.
If you choose the frame option as your included Baby Photography Club item, the wall frame holds one 5×4 inch image from each session. The overall frame size is approximately 42 × 23 cm and it can be displayed in either portrait or landscape, depending on the images chosen. It comes as standard in a simple black frame that suits most homes.
If you’d prefer something different, there are upgrade options available – I can talk you through those and provide pricing if needed.
The Baby Photography Club includes four studio sessions to use across your baby’s first and second year.
You’ll have three sessions during your baby’s first year, plus a fourth bonus session that can be used at any point during their second year – perfect for capturing that slightly older, more confident stage.
From each session, you can choose either:
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a complimentary digital image, or
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a frame with your favourite image.
If you’d like to purchase additional images from any session, you can do so easily via your private online gallery.
That’s completely up to you. The most important thing is to bring outfits you love and would be happy to see your baby photographed in.
If more than one family member will be in the pictures, it can work well to coordinate colours or tones, but there’s no need to match exactly unless you want to. I also have a small selection of simple outfits at the studio that you’re welcome to borrow.
Some parents prefer very minimal clothing – or even just a nappy – while others enjoy a couple of outfit changes. There’s time during the session to change outfits if you’d like, and I’m always happy to advise if you’re unsure.
Other than your usual baby bag (the one you’d never leave the house without!), you don’t need to bring anything special to your session. I have everything we need here at the studio.
You’re very welcome to bring a change of outfit for your baby or any small props or keepsakes you’d like included, but it’s completely optional. The aim is to keep things relaxed and easy – especially for you.
Not at all. Once babies are on the move, it can be harder to convince them that sitting still for photos is a brilliant plan, so there’s usually a bit more chasing and resetting once the novelty of the studio wears off. That said, it’s still great fun and we can absolutely capture lots of lovely images.
If you’re keen to use a wide range of props or more styled setups, the sweet spot is often when babies can sit confidently on their own but before they start crawling. However, a mobile baby is never a problem in the studio – it just means the session has a slightly different (and often very joyful) energy.
Yes, absolutely. I have a large beanbag for babies to lie on, along with specially designed cushions that allow them to be supported safely and comfortably. This means we can still create lovely images even if your baby isn’t sitting independently yet.
That said, if you’ve missed the short newborn window and your baby doesn’t yet have good head control, you may get more variety from your session by waiting until they can lift their head confidently during tummy time – even if it’s just for a few moments. I’m always happy to chat things through and help you decide what will work best for your baby.
Absolutely! Photography gift certificates make a wonderful and thoughtful present – perfect for birthdays, baby showers, new arrivals or just because.
You can choose any session type (newborn, family, maternity, baby club, cake smash, or even seasonal minis) and I’ll create a beautifully designed certificate for you to give.
Gift certificates can be supplied as a printed version, ready to wrap and hand over, or a digital version, perfect for last-minute gifting. Each one comes with full details on how to book, and the recipient is free to choose a date that suits them.
If you’d like to order one, just click on the button below. It’s a lovely way to give someone the gift of memories that last a lifetime.
Yes – dogs are very welcome at my studio. If you’d like to include your dog in your baby’s first birthday photos, it’s best to wait until your baby can sit confidently on their own so I can pose them safely together. For cake smashes, it is possible to bring your dog, but I recommend bringing an extra pair of hands so someone can keep an eye on them while we’re doing the cake and tub splash. Even the best-behaved dogs can find all that icing a bit irresistible!
I completely understand that little ones can become poorly at the most inconvenient times. If your child is ill on the day of your session, just get in touch and I’ll happily rearrange it for you. There’s no problem at all — it’s far better to wait until they’re feeling well, comfortable and ready to enjoy themselves.
Children rarely look their best when they’re under the weather, and you’ll get much nicer photos when they’re bright and happy, so rescheduling is always the right call.
I book the studio for an hour for a baby photo shoot, but in reality most babies only want to be photographed for a short window of that time. Often it’s around 15–30 minutes – sometimes even less – and that’s absolutely fine.
The rest of the session time is there to allow for feeding, settling, cuddles and nappy changes. There’s no rushing and no expectation for your baby to perform. Even with a short shooting window, there’s plenty of time to create a lovely set of images.
The best time for a photo session is when your baby (or child) is at their happiest – usually after they’ve eaten and had a good nap. For many families, late morning works really well, often around 10–11am.
Afternoon sessions can also work beautifully, especially after an afternoon nap, with typical start times around 2–3pm. That said, there’s no single “perfect” time – babies don’t read the rulebook, and routines can change overnight. I’m always happy to work around whatever time of day suits your child best.
Absolutely – parents and siblings are very welcome to be included in your baby’s photo shoot. I’ll always make sure we capture some lovely images of your baby on their own as well as a few natural family shots if you’d like them.
If you have very young siblings joining in, I’ll usually photograph them first so they can relax or play once we’ve got those images safely captured. Everything is kept calm, flexible and baby-led.
A baby photo shoot costs £95 and includes your three favourite digital images. After your session, you’ll receive a private online gallery where you can view your images and choose your favourites in your own time.
There’s no sales or viewing appointment to attend – everything is done online, simply and without pressure. Parents and siblings are very welcome to join the session at no extra cost.
Babies cry – it’s completely normal, and it’s something I plan for in every baby session.
When you book a baby photo shoot, I allow plenty of time so there’s no pressure. Although the actual photographing part is often quite short, the session time includes space for feeding, cuddles, settling, and taking things at your baby’s pace.
Most babies do settle once they’ve had what they need, but occasionally there are days when a baby just isn’t happy – and that’s okay. If your baby becomes very unsettled and clearly isn’t enjoying themselves, we won’t push on and make it stressful for either of you. In those rare cases, we can simply arrange another session for a different day when your baby is more comfortable.
Your baby’s wellbeing always comes first, and there’s never any pressure to “push through.”
There’s something special about every stage of your baby’s first year, so there isn’t a single “right” time – it really depends on the kind of images you’d love most.
If you miss the newborn stage or decide it’s not for you, I usually recommend waiting until your baby has a little more strength and can lift their head during tummy time. Around this stage, babies are more alert and expressive, which gives us much more variety in your final images.
Before babies have good head and neck control, they’re quite limited in how they can be posed, but once they’re a little stronger, we can capture more interaction, expressions, and personality as they begin to emerge.
If you’re unsure which stage might suit you best, I’m always happy to talk it through and help you choose.
I keep your images for 18 months following your session date and after this point, they are permanently deleted so if you are purchasing digital copies, I can’t stress enough to back them up safely.
When they go online following your session, they will be on there for a month for you to order from (although I can extend that if you need a bit more time to choose – you just need to ask!)
My studio (located in Crawley Down, just a short drive from East Grinstead, West Sussex) is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm.
I welcome bookings within those hours, and if you have special scheduling needs or want an evening or Sunday option, feel free to ask – I’ll always do my best to accommodate when possible.
I present all of your images in colour and then I’ll add in black and white copies of some that I think particularly suit it. Of course, if you’d rather have an image in black and white then just ask and I’m happy to switch it over for you.
Not all babies want to dive straight into the cake, and that’s completely normal. Some don’t like getting their hands messy or simply need a little time to warm up. You don’t need dramatic cake destruction to get lovely photos – gentle interaction works just as well.
I always start with patience and let your baby explore at their own pace. I also have tiny wooden spoons in the studio, which are brilliant for babies who prefer not to touch the icing. If needed, we can hide a few familiar snacks behind the cake to encourage them to reach in, or at least look like they’re getting involved. However your baby approaches it, we’ll get sweet, relaxed images that suit their personality
Lots of parents prefer to avoid sugar for a first birthday session, and that’s completely fine. Babies rarely eat much of the cake during a smash – it’s mostly about exploring the textures – but you’re very welcome to bring a sugar-free option. Some families choose a naturally sweetened sponge or use fresh cream with fruit such as blueberries or strawberries instead of icing. These alternatives photograph beautifully and have been really popular.
Whatever you decide, we can adapt the session so it suits your family’s preferences.
Yes – I use a bubble machine during tub splash sessions, and it produces plenty of bubbles without anyone needing to blow them by hand. Bubbles are a brilliant way to keep little ones engaged in the bath and they always add a lovely sense of fun to the photos.
I have a range of backdrops you can use for your session, and you’re welcome to browse the range I have in advance of your session and let me know your choices on your session options form (you’ll receive this the day before your session) and I’ll have everything ready for you when you arrive for your photo shoot.
Yes – every image you receive is fully edited so it looks its very best. I take care of colour balance, exposure, skin tones and any little distractions, while keeping everything natural and true to the moment. This is why there’s a short wait after your session before your gallery is ready; I hand-edit each final image with care.
Yes – twins are very welcome to share a cake smash and tub splash session, and the price stays the same. I’ve photographed twins with one shared cake and with individual cakes, and in my experience a shared cake usually works best. It keeps things simple and stops the constant swapping because they always want whatever the other one has! But whichever option you prefer is absolutely fine – we can tailor the session to suit your little duo.
For a cake smash session, you’ll need to bring your baby’s cake, the outfit you’d like them to wear for the smash, and a towel if you’re adding the tub splash at the end. I provide the set, props and bubbles, and you’ll get access to my Cake Smash Client Hub as soon as you book, which walks you through everything step by step. There’s also a detailed guide on my blog with extra tips if you’d like more ideas before your session.
Yes – you’re very welcome to bring your own props and accessories to personalise your session. Whether it’s a special toy, a birthday item or something meaningful to your family, we can include it in your photos. I’ll blend anything you bring with my studio props so everything works together beautifully.
I have a growing range of props and accessories for first birthday sessions, including large wooden number ones for the clean portraits, a selection of tub splash accessories, and lots of bunting you’re welcome to borrow. I’m always adding new items to the studio, so if you have something specific in mind, feel free to get in touch and I’ll let you know what’s currently available.
I have three miniature baths you can choose from for your tub splash: a vintage-style tin tub, a modern miniature claw-foot bath, and a clear tub that’s perfect for milk bath photos. You’re welcome to pick your favourite on the day, and you can see examples of all three in my cake smash posts on the blog.
It’s completely up to you, but it’s worth choosing something you don’t mind getting messy. Cake smash outfits tend to get covered in icing – especially if the icing is a darker colour – so it’s best to avoid anything precious. Some parents prefer their little ones to be fully dressed (I always recommend bare feet), some choose trousers or a pettiskirt, and others go for a simple nappy with a nappy cover.
There are lots of specially designed cake smash outfits available now, and places like auction sites, Facebook Marketplace and Etsy often have lovely options. Whatever you choose, aim for something comfortable that suits your baby’s personality.
Yes — I have a clear stand, a wooden stand and a log-slice style stand, all perfect for round cakes of around 8–10 inches. You’re also welcome to bring your own if you prefer, although a stand isn’t essential.
It’s worth knowing that cakes are more likely to get tipped onto the floor when they’re on a raised stand (the log slice is the exception as it sits low). This can be cute and chaotic in photos, but it depends on the look you’re after. I’m happy to chat through what will work best for your session.
You can choose any cake you like – some families order a professionally made one, others prefer a homemade cake or something simple from the supermarket. The main thing to look for is soft icing. Buttercream or fresh cream icing works brilliantly because it’s easy for little hands to squish and explore. Royal icing is much firmer, so babies often find it harder to break into.
For the cleanest, most flattering photos, I recommend avoiding very dark cakes. Decorations are completely up to you – from simple cake toppers to colourful sprinkles or fresh fruit. Whatever suits your style will look lovely in the photos.
Yes, absolutely. You can celebrate your baby’s first birthday with both a cake smash and a tub splash in the same session, or you can choose to do just one — it’s entirely up to you. Most families like to include both because the tub splash is a lovely way to finish, and it means you get a beautiful variety of photos from one visit.
A tub splash photo shoot is a fun, bubbly mini-bath session that works beautifully on its own or as the perfect follow-on to a cake smash. You choose one of my miniature tubs – the tin tub, the claw-foot bath or the clear tub for milk bath images – and I fill it with warm, bubbly water so your little one can splash and play.
If you’ve just had a cake smash, it’s a lovely way for your baby to get clean while we capture fresh, happy photos. The result is a set of bright, joyful images that babies always love.
A cake smash photo shoot is a fun way to celebrate your baby turning one. You simply place a birthday cake in front of your little one and let them explore, taste, squish and play. It’s all about capturing their natural reactions – whether that’s big smiles, tiny finger dips or full-on cake chaos.
The photos are bright, joyful and full of personality, making it a lovely way to mark the end of your baby’s first year. Every baby approaches a cake smash differently, and that’s part of the magic – I simply follow their lead and photograph the fun as it unfolds.
Absolutely. I’m very happy to include parents and siblings in a few photos at the start of your session before the cake comes out. After that, you can relax, enjoy the moment and watch the fun unfold.
Each of your images is professionally edited and so there will be a bit of a delay before you can see your images while I get everything ready for you. This can vary according to a number of factors but generally, it’s about a two week wait before your images are uploaded to your private online gallery. I’ll be able to advise you better on exact waiting times at your session.
I always do my best to fit in last-minute requests, but the studio can get busy – especially for Saturday appointments. You can book up to three months ahead, and I recommend securing your date early to make sure you get the time that suits you.
If you’d like your photos ready for your little one’s actual birthday, it’s best to book the session for a couple of weeks beforehand so I have time to prepare, edit and upload your gallery.
I don’t provide the cake, as it’s impossible to meet everyone’s design preferences and to safely manage different allergy needs. Most families choose to bring a cake from their favourite baker, but supermarket cakes can work brilliantly too – just make sure the icing is soft enough for little hands to squish.
If you’re making your own, I recommend fresh cream or buttercream icing for the best “smashability.”
My studio is based in Crawley Down, West Sussex, conveniently positioned between Crawley and East Grinstead and just a short drive from nearby villages like Copthorne and Turners Hill.
Most newborn, baby club, and family sessions take place in-studio, where I’ve set up a calm, warm, and safe environment for babies and families. I’ve designed the space for comfort, safety, soft light, and a full wardrobe of props and wraps.
You can find out more about it including the address and directions at My Studio Page.
I book the studio for an hour for a cake smash and tub splash session, but most sessions take around 45 minutes. If we’re starting with a clean portrait before the cake comes out, and then moving on to the tub splash, that timing works really well.
We keep things flowing at a comfortable pace – little ones have short attention spans at this age, so the session is designed to keep them happy and engaged without overwhelming them.
A cake smash and tub splash session (you’re welcome to do both within the same appointment) is £95 and includes three of your favourite digital images.
After your session, you’ll receive a private online gallery where you can choose your favourites in your own time. There’s no in-person viewing or sales appointment – everything is done online, and you can order additional images directly from your gallery if you wish.
Absolutely. You don’t need any experience at all to look and feel great in your photos. I’ll guide you through everything – from where to stand and how to hold yourself to simple prompts that help you relax and look natural. Whether it’s a maternity session, a family portrait, or individual photos, I’ll shape the poses to suit you, your comfort, and the style you love. All you need to do is turn up – I’ll take care of the rest.
Yes – absolutely. Your privacy is always respected. At your session, I’ll ask whether you’re happy for me to use a few images in my portfolio, website, or social media, but there is never any pressure to say yes. The decision is completely yours. If you prefer your images to stay private, that’s no problem at all – they’ll only appear in your secure online gallery, and nowhere else. I also never share partially nude or nude maternity images unless you’ve given explicit permission. Your gallery is stored safely for you to download, and your images are permanently deleted from my system after 18 months.
Your finished images are usually ready within around two weeks of your photo shoot. This can vary slightly depending on how busy the studio is at the time, but I’ll always let you know what to expect and keep you updated along the way.
I know how exciting it is to see your images, so I work carefully but efficiently to get them to you as soon as possible.
I carefully edit every image in your final gallery and will remove stretch marks and any temporary blemishes unless you ask me not to. Some people love seeing their stretch marks and consider them part of their story, while others prefer a smoother finish – both choices are completely valid.
I’ll always check your preference with you, so your images reflect how you want to see yourself.
Absolutely not. There’s no expectation to undress at a maternity photo shoot. Some people choose lingerie or partially nude images because they love that style, but it’s entirely optional.
If that doesn’t feel like you, that’s completely fine. We can create beautiful, flattering maternity images while you’re fully clothed, using outfits that highlight your bump and feel comfortable and confident for you. Your session is always guided by what you’re happy with.
Yes — I have a small, carefully chosen selection of maternity dresses available for you to use during your session if you’d like.
They’re designed to photograph beautifully, with soft fabrics and flattering shapes that work well on camera. You’re very welcome to mix studio dresses with your own outfits, or skip them entirely if you already have something you love.
Ahead of your session, I’ll share more information so you can decide whether you’d like to include a studio dress, and I’m always happy to help you choose on the day.
If you’d like to see examples of the dresses and how they photograph, you can find more details in my maternity styling guide.
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and like yourself. You’re welcome to bring outfits you love, and we can talk through what will photograph best when you arrive.
For maternity sessions, outfits that gently skim or cling to your bump tend to work beautifully. Simple dresses, soft fabrics, or jeans with an open shirt or knit can all photograph really well. I also have a small selection of maternity dresses available in the studio if you’d like to borrow one.
If you’re considering more intimate or lingerie-style images, well-fitting, simple underwear works best. I always recommend wearing loose clothing before your session to avoid marks on your skin.
If you’re unsure what to bring, don’t worry – I’m always happy to guide you and help you choose on the day.
Yes. Every image in your final gallery is carefully edited to reflect my signature style and to show you at your very best, while still looking natural and true to you.
Each photograph is refined for colour, tone and consistency. I’ll also gently remove temporary blemishes or marks if you’d like me to. When it comes to things like stretch marks, scars or other permanent features, I’ll always talk this through with you – nothing is removed unless you specifically ask.
My aim is not to change how you look, but to create polished, timeless maternity portraits that feel like you, just beautifully finished.
Absolutely – bringing items you love is a wonderful way to personalise your maternity photos. You’re very welcome to bring along outfits, accessories, or small props that feel meaningful to you, whether that’s a favourite dress, jewellery, a cosy cardigan, or items connected to your baby such as scan photos or tiny keepsakes. I also have a small selection of maternity-friendly pieces here in the studio, so you’re free to mix your own items with anything you’d like to borrow.
Absolutely. You’re very welcome to include your partner and children in your maternity session – these images often become some of the most meaningful from the whole shoot. If you’re bringing young children, it can be helpful to bring an extra adult along. That way, once we’ve captured your family photographs, your little ones can relax or play while we focus on your solo portraits, keeping the whole session calm and enjoyable for everyone.
I keep a small, carefully chosen selection of props and accessories for maternity sessions – things like fabrics, wraps and a few simple pieces that add gentle texture without taking the focus away from you. You’re welcome to use anything that feels like the right fit for your images.
If you’d like a closer look at what’s available, I’ve put together a blog post with examples and ideas.
You don’t need to do anything special before your shoot – you’ll already have that gorgeous maternity glow. A little gentle prep the day before can help you feel your best: a light exfoliation and plenty of moisturiser will make your skin camera-ready, and it’s worth giving your hands some extra care too, as they’re often featured resting on your bump.
On the day, arrive in something loose to avoid clothing marks and bring along any outfits or accessories you’d like to include. Everything else will be guided for you, so you can simply relax and enjoy the experience.
You don’t need to bring very much at all, but a couple of outfit options can be really helpful. Something fitted to show off your bump and something softer or more flowing both work beautifully. If you prefer to keep things simple, a classic jeans-and-shirt combination always photographs well. I also have a selection of maternity dresses in the studio that you’re welcome to borrow, so you don’t need to shop specially unless you want to.
If you’d like photographs that include your bump uncovered, a well-fitting neutral underwear set is ideal. You’re also very welcome to bring any small personal touches – scan photos, baby bootees, or a special blanket – but this is completely optional. I keep things relaxed and guided, so you only need to bring what makes you feel comfortable and confident.
I recommend booking your maternity photo shoot for when you’re around 28–36 weeks pregnant. By this stage, your bump is beautifully rounded, but you’re usually still comfortable enough to move and pose without feeling too tired. If you’re expecting twins or multiples, it’s best to book a little earlier – ideally before 32 weeks – as babies often like to make an early appearance.
If you’re not sure what timing will work best for you, just ask and I’ll help you choose the perfect point in your pregnancy.
There’s no minimum spend or nasty pricing surprises with any of my photography. You’ll already know the price of your photo shoot and what’s included and if you’d like to order more, you simply do so from your online gallery.
A maternity photo shoot takes around an hour.
We won’t be shooting the whole time – this gives you space to change outfits, get comfortable, and move at a relaxed pace. The session is designed to feel calm and unhurried so you can settle in and enjoy the experience.
I believe in complete transparency when it comes to pricing so you won’t get any nasty surprises. You’ll already know what your session fee includes in terms of images, and you can simply order more from your online gallery if you’d like to – there’s no sales or viewing session to attend.
Here are the prices for additional digital images and prints.
About two weeks after your session, I’ll have your images edited and uploaded to your private online gallery. There’s no sales or viewing session to attend. I’ll email you a link and a password and that will take you straight to your finished images.
My maternity photo shoot is £95 and includes a relaxed studio session with up to three outfit changes and full use of my backdrops and accessories.
Partners and children are welcome to join in too if you’d like family images.
Your session fee also includes three digital images, delivered at print quality in your private online gallery
You’re always welcome to be part of your newborn photo shoot and those early days family photos can be ones to treasure. In terms of what to wear, I recommend keeping clothes plain and neutral and coordinating tones if you’re both going to be in the images together as it will give you a nicer feel to the the finished images. It’s worth bringing along your chosen outfit to change in to (I have a changing area) as the studio will be really warm so you might be more comfortable in something else whilst you are watching your images being created. Here’s an article you might find useful – what to wear for your newborn photo shoot.
Each of your finished images will have been edited by me and this takes at least as long as the session itself and most of the time, a lot longer.
Whoever said that someone had skin as smooth as a newborn had obviously never actually looked at a newborn. So I work on their skin a lot to smooth out the colour and texture (without making them look waxy – you still want to be able to recognise that they are little people). I will remove little scratches and spots and other temporary blemishes but I would never take out any birthmarks as that is part of your baby. If you have special requests regarding image editing, then just need to let me know and we can talk it over.
If you’d like to read more about editing, then check out this full article – the Art of Newborn Editing
I will happily use a dummy at your newborn photo shoot if you’d like me to.
I wouldn’t ever use a dummy on your child if it didn’t already belong to you and I’m certainly not going to wade into the dummy / no dummy debate. If you have one, it can be a useful tool in terms of soothing a baby to sleep so I will use it if we think it will help. If you don’t want to give your baby a dummy, then that’s no issue with me, we’ll get there by other means. These are your parenting decisions and I’m not going to have an opinion either way.
You’re welcome to bring along anything that you’d like to include in your newborn photo shoot to make it personal to you. Over the years, people have brought all sorts of things including sports equipment, team colours, toys, blankets and even a giant duck. I’ll try to work in anything that you want to have in your finished images. Multiple outfits can be difficult to manage whilst keeping your baby asleep so I’d recommend bringing them already in your favourite outfit if you’d like them photographed in it. If you’re bringing along a prop for your baby to lie on or in, I’ll work with it if I think it is safe to do so and doesn’t pose any risks to them. Here’s an article that you might find handy for inspiration – 5 things to bring to your newborn photo shoot
For newborns, I find that we get the best success rates when sessions start at 10.30 or 11 am. This is because babies don’t tend to sleep all that well at night (which seems like poor planning for everyone involved) and so they are at their sleepiest during the morning. Sessions that start later can result in a more wakeful baby although of course it isn’t an exact science. The latest session start time that I will take for a newborn is 1.30pm. After this point, we are edging towards the ‘witching hour’ which traditionally gets very poor results in terms of a photo shoot.
More than likely that your baby will need feeding at some point during your session and so that’s no problem at all. We have plenty of time built in for feeding and settling. Breast feeding is perfectly fine obviously (would be quite weird if that was going to be a problem). It’s a warm and safe space where you won’t be interrupted by anyone so if you’re new to it and want to take your time, then that’s not an issue.
If you take a nappy off a newborn then it’s more than likely that they will pee or poo at some point during their session. I expect it to happen and it doesn’t bother me in the slightest – everything in the studio is washable including me. We clean them up, change the stuff that got messed up and just carry on.
Your baby’s cord can still be attached for your newborn photo shoot and it doesn’t cause an issue.
We’ll use fabrics and posing to hide in the finished images and it can sometimes mean that I have to work a little harder to get them comfy when they’re tucked up on their tummy (depending on the clamp placement) but it doesn’t cause and issue and their comfort won’t be affected at any point.
Most baby’s have dry patches on their skin after a few days, especially if they’ve been born past their due date. It’s not a problem at all for your sessions though, I’ll use posing to minimise how much is on display and then editing to reduce (if not remove) the dry patches. I don’t actually over-process a baby’s skin in your finished images as I don’t like images that make them look waxy and unreal. They’ll still have their skin texture which may include some little flakes and dry spots but then that is part of who they are at that moment in time.
If you’d like to read more about Newborn Editing then you can check out my fuller article – The Art of Newborn Editing
It’s best to book while you are still pregnant to guarantee that I have availability at my studio for you. However, if you’ve already had your baby and just decided that you’d like to have a newborn shoot, I’ll always do my best to fit you in if I can. Just get in touch.
It’s perfectly natural to be protective over your brand new baby (or your child of any age for that matter) but you can be assured that I am very experienced at handling newborns.
Your session will be totally baby led and I will always be watching to check that their temperature is right, their circulation is good and that they are comfortable at all times. Of course babies will sometimes cry during their session but I am skilled at knowing whether they are just having a bit of a grumble or whether we need to make adjustments to get them comfortable.
All the poses that I use are safe for your baby and I would never leave them unsupported or able to startle and fall. Where poses require extra help, I will ask for assistance from a parent and use digital compositing to create a beautiful image in a situation where it would not be safe to leave a baby unsupported – an example of this would be picture that you might have seen with a baby in a hat or helmet or resting their head on their hands. In cases like these, there is always a parent supporting them from different angles and then the images are stitched together to remove the parent from the final image.
One or both of those is pretty likely to happen during the course of your newborn photo shoot as it’s very rare that babies turn up fast asleep and remain that way throughout. We have plenty of time to feed, settle and soothe them back to sleep so if they wake up or are unsettled, we just work through it until they are happy to nod off again. Here’s an article you might find useful – What if my Baby cries at their Newborn Shoot
Speaking as the mother to fur babies myself, I know that dogs are definitely part of the family!
You are welcome to bring your dog along to a newborn photo shoot if you think that they will be happy to attend and able to settle relatively well. It’s helpful for me to know in advance and also the size of dog you will be bringing so I can make sure I am set up for them to join in some of the pictures. I recommend bringing along a lead, treats, and a favourite toy to keep them engaged and if you want to bring along a natty bow tie or other outfit, well, I’m certainly not going to object.
Of course parents and siblings are welcome to be in the photos – although it’s not obligatory as sometimes new mums and dads don’t feel particularly camera ready – it’s totally up to you.
Where siblings are still young themselves, I recommend that they join us at the end of the session so that they can be in photographs without having to be bored by having to wait around. If you’re bringing them along for the whole of the shoot, then definitely bring them something to keep them entertained. Just as a note, we don’t have very good mobile phone signal here so it’s worth downloading things that you want before you come if you are planning to use phones or tablets to play movies or games. There’s an article below that you might find helpful.
I’ve been a photographer for nearly two decades and photographing newborn babies since it first entered the UK market about thirteen years ago. I’ve never counted but I must have done hundreds of sessions in that time and so I’ve got lots of experience in capturing these tiny people!
For a lot of a newborn session, we will be working on my giant beanbag but I do have a range of props that you can select from as well if you’d like to – from miniature beds, to bowls and even a little vintage style trolley.
You’ll get a link to the full range that I have on your options form the day before your session so you can let me know exactly what you’d like, and I’ll have everything ready for you when you arrive at the studio so we don’t waste a moment!
Working with newborns in / on props does require them to be fairly settled and so I don’t recommend using more than two in a session. You can find out more about my props by taking a look on my blog and there’s an article that might be helpful to you here – Newborn Props.
Your baby’s outfit plays a big role in how relaxed and timeless the images look. Here’s what I recommend…
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Soft, neutral tones – cream, beige, soft greys, gentle pastels. These hues keep the focus on your baby and fit beautifully with studio props and wraps.
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Natural fabrics – cotton, muslin, or other breathable materials that are comfortable against baby’s skin. Avoid anything scratchy, stiff, or shiny.
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Minimal details & simple designs – avoid heavy prints, logos, or busy patterns that can distract. Small texture like a knit is fine, but keep it subtle.
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Layers & easy changes – zips and single layer of clothing make it easier to change during the session without fuss.
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Bring extra options – a second outfit, a wrap or swaddle you like, and a simple prop if meaningful (blanket, knitted hat, soft toy)
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Keep baby comfortable – if you’re travelling with baby, it’s really helpful if you dress them in just one layer and use blankets to keep them warm and snuggly on the journey. That way I don’t need to disturb them too much when we are shooting and take them out of multiple layers (the studio will be toasty!)
If you have a special outfit or heirloom item you’d like included, absolutely bring it, we can always incorporate it.
The ideal time for a newborn photography session is within the first 5 to 14 days after birth. During this window, babies are typically sleepier, more flexible, and easier to pose gently and comfortably.
That said, every family and baby is different – if you miss that window, don’t worry. I still love photographing slightly older newborns, though the session might be more about capturing personality, expressions, and family connection rather than lots of curled poses. When you book, I’ll keep your due date in mind and reserve space so we can choose the best day once your little one arrives.
Preparing ahead helps your newborn session flow more peacefully, here are my top tips,
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Try and keep your baby awake – keeping them awake for an hour or so before your session can help to ensure they sleep better at the shoot. It’s not essential and it’s virtually impossible in the car but if you can build it into your routine that day, then great.
- Nappy Changes – unless your baby really is uncomfortable or you’re not aiming to get any naked shots, then it’s helpful if you don’t use nappy cream on the change before you come to the studio. Most of them make a sticky white mark that is hard to digitally remove. Oh, not like you wouldn’t but just make sure you bring along plenty of spare nappies in your bag.
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Feed & settle. A well-fed, sleepy baby tends to be more comfortable — try feeding just before we start.
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Give yourself extra time. On the day, leave room for delays. A calm start helps everyone relax.
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Keep baby warm but not layered. If possible, dress baby in a single layer in terms of clothing keep them snuggly with a blanket – it just makes it a bit easier for me when it comes time to get them undressed if I don’t have to wriggle them out of too many layers.
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Trust me. I’ve done this a lot of times over nearly two decades so I’ll guide you every step, handle the props, and help soothe when needed.
A little preparation goes a long way – and my goal is for you to relax and enjoy the experience while I capture those early days you’ll treasure forever.
There’s a whole article here that you might find helpful – Preparing for your Newborn Photo Shoot
You don’t need to stress — I’ll provide most of what we need in the studio. But here are some helpful things to bring along:
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A favourite outfit if you have one — keep them simple, comfy, and in tones that mix well with your family’s style
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Favourite toys, books or props that mean something to you and your child
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A dummy if your baby uses one, plus bringing a spare is a great idea just in case!
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Milk and newborn essentials (nappies, wipes, extra clothes) for comfort breaks
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Blankets or wraps you’d like included in the session (if you have them)
If there’s something special you want included – a beloved teddy, a passed-down blanket, or a prop – absolutely bring it. I love weaving personal touches into your photos so they feel unique to your family.
When you book your newborn photo photo session, you usually don’t know exactly what date your baby will arrive. In fact, only 5% of babies arrive on their due date so we do keep it flexible. With the target newborn photography window between between 5-14 days old, we schedule your session for your due date plus seven days and then we just stay in touch nearer to the time and adjust it as we need to.
I’d definitely recommend booking your newborn photography while you are still pregnant, any time after your 20 week scan is perfect.
This ensures that I have availability for you in your baby’s first two weeks as the studio can get quite busy. If you are late booking, I’ll always do my best to accommodate you if I can but booking early means that you don’t have to worry about it when you’re just home from the hospital.
When you’ve booked your session, it’s normal to wonder how long a newborn photo shoot is? The answer is that we schedule the studio for two hours although I never take back to back appointments so we are not rushed if we need a little extra time. How long the actually photography takes depends entirely on how your baby is feeling, but we have plenty of time for feeding and settling if we need it. Very often, they don’t take that long but it’s great to have plenty of time so we can relax and enjoy it.
A newborn photo shoot is £95 and that includes your two hour studio session, plus your three favourite digital images to download at print quality and share as much as you would like.
You also receive free membership to my baby photography club which you can find the full information on here. With this, you get four additional sessions in your baby’s first two years. In the first year, you schedule them at roughly four, eight and twelve months (which can be a cake smash / tub splash session if you’d like it to be) and then you will have a voucher for one extra session that you can use any time within your baby’s second year. You can either choose to have a free digital image from your first three sessions or your favourite from each in a wall frame at the end of the year. From the fourth session, you receive a free digital image.
Any digital images that you purchase will be sized at 10×8″ at 300ppi in JPEG format as standard. This is perfect for printing up to this size or slightly larger (you have more flexibility on size when it comes to canvases as they are printed at a lower resolution).
If you know you want to print significantly larger than this, you can upgrade your digital images to be larger file sizes and they will be sent to you on USB drive – just check your gallery pricing for the options here.
One little note though – always back up your USBs – they’re aren’t the most reliable technology for long term storage.
I kindly ask that you don’t take photos or videos during your session. Your booking includes my time, skill and copyright, and recording in the studio can interrupt the flow of your shoot. If anyone is seen filming or photographing, the session will need to be stopped and will end without refund – and that’s not a situation any of us want to be in. Please relax, enjoy the experience, and let me take care of creating the images for you.
Recent Blog Posts
Stay informed and inspired by checking out my recent blog posts. From tips on preparing for your photoshoot to photography trends and client stories, my blog covers a wide range of topics to help you get the most out of your experience. It’s a great place to get to know me better and gain helpful insights to make your session even more enjoyable!
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