Got Questions?
Have questions about your photography session? You’re in the right place! This FAQ section is designed to provide answers to the most common queries about my photography services, from booking and preparation to what happens after your session.
Simply use the headings to navigate to your area of interest so whether you’re planning a maternity shoot, newborn session, or family portrait, you’ll find helpful information to make your experience seamless and enjoyable. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to get in touch—I’m always happy to help!
- Baby photography
- Baby Photography Club
- Digital Backdrops
- Dog Photography
- Family portraits
- First Birthdays
- Gift Vouchers
- Maternity Photography
- Mermaids
- Newborn Photography
- Payments
- Pricing & Ordering
Yes, safety is my top priority. Using digital backdrops eliminates the need to place your baby in complex or potentially uncomfortable setups. Your baby remains safely on a soft, comfortable surface in the studio while the magic happens during the editing process.
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.
Strange question but sometimes people ask it. Yes they are. Obvs.
Deposits and session fees are non-refundable. However, I do recognise that life can be unpredictable and so if you need to reschedule, your payment can be transferred to a new date as long as you give me notice that you need to move your session. If you simply don’t attend your session without any notice, you won’t receive your refund although you can rebook your session subject to paying a £30 rebooking fee.
I have a range of props and accessories available for your dog’s session, but feel free to bring along anything that reflects their personality, such as their favourite blanket, toy, or collar.
The dog photography portrait service is exclusively for your fur baby but of course you can get photos with your dog if you book a full portrait session. This will allow you to mix and match family groups and get photos with your dog as well as them on their own. Find out more about booking a full portrait session here
Yes, you can! Let me know in advance so I can prepare the studio and plan the session accordingly to accommodate up to two dogs. I absolutely can have more dogs than that in the studio at one time but we’d need to book that under a family portrait session (and it would probably be smart to bring along more dog wrangling hands!)
I love dogs and they’re welcome at my studio. When you’re combining a dog and baby portrait, the only advice I have for you is to wait until your baby is able to sit up unsupported as otherwise it’s very difficult to pose them together. Probably don’t bring them if you are having a cake smash as that’s probably just a disaster waiting to happen – even the best trained dog is probably going to be unable to resist all that cake!
Absolutely, you should bring along anything you love to photographed in and to include in your finished images.
Absolutely! I have a curated collection of digital backdrops for you to choose from, ranging from whimsical and playful to classic and elegant. If you have a specific theme or style in mind, we can discuss it to find the perfect match for your session.
Of course, when you book a first birthday photo shoot, you are welcome to cake smash, tub splash, do both or do neither. Whatever works for you. I have some first birthday props such as number 1’s that you’re welcome to include.
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.
Yes, additional images can be purchased after your session directly through your private online gallery. Payment options are available from your gallery.
Absolutely! Let me know the recipient’s name and any special message you’d like included, and I’ll make sure the voucher feels extra special.
Sorry but no. Obviously you can use your phone for making and receiving calls but I don’t allow any videography or photography inside the studio. If you are caught recording or photographing the session, you will be asked to leave and the session will be terminated without refund. All in all, that’s a horrible situation for us all to be in so please respect my copyright.
Speaking as the mother to two 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.
Of course, parents and siblings are welcome to join in with your baby photography club sessions.
Of course. I’m happy to includes parents and siblings in images at the start of the session before the cake comes out. After that, they can relax and watch the fun unfold.
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. 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.
Absolutely – parents and siblings are welcome to join in with the photos.
Absolutely! You’re welcome to include your partner and any children in your photo shoot. If you have small children though, I’d definitely recommend bringing along another adult so you can focus on enjoying your session when it is time for you to pose solo.
Yes! When you order your gift voucher, you’ll pick a type of session that you’re choosing for the recipient but they can use it for any type of session of equivalent value offering them the flexibility to choose.
Yes, twins are welcome to share a cake smash and tub splash photo shoot and the price doesn’t change of course. I’ve done sessions where the twins have had a cake each but to be honest, it works better if they share otherwise they constantly want what the other one has!
Yes, if you’d like to add a newborn image so you have one from each of your four shoots with me, then the upgrade fee is £20.
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
You’re welcome to bring along your own props and accessories to personalise your session and create your perfect set of photos to remember the occasion by.
You’re welcome to bring along anything that you’d like to include in your photo shoot – including any props or accessories. In fact, it’s a great idea as it makes your session really unique to you. I’ll do my best to work with anything you bring along to create your personal images.
Yes absolutely! You can celebrate the milestone of your baby’s first birthday with both a cake smash and a tub splash (it’s all included in the £95 session fee) or you can choose to do just one – it’s entirely up to you.
Yes, we have time for at least one outfit change during a session so you can create lots of different looks.
After each of your sessions, you’ll see you images in your private online gallery and you can order any you would like at this point. At the end of the year, you can choose your images for your frame – it’s best to choose them all at once so you can make sure that they will look great together on your wall. Here’s the link to the prices for prints and digital images.
Of course! I call this a ‘mix and match’ session. For example, if you are attending a session as two parents and two children, we can easily take images of everyone together, kids together, kids separately, parents together etc The maximum amount of images from one easy, fun session.
My studio is really flexible and I have lots of different backdrops and lighting options to choose from. They’re very easy to switch between so we can simply create lots of different styles of images for you within one session – I recommend choosing three (you’ll be able to do this from your options form the day before your visit) to create a beautifully varied image gallery.
Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, giving the recipient plenty of time to book their session.
Yes, you can choose to pay a £20 deposit if your session is more than two weeks away (otherwise the full amount is payable on booking). The only exception to this are the mini sessions, where I need to take your £30 payment at the time of booking to guarantee your session.
Absolutely not. Lots of people choose to be photographed in their lingerie or partially nude and these can be some stunning maternity images. However, if that’s not for you, then that’s not an issue. We can create some equally beautiful images of your pregnancy whilst you’re fully clothed.
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.
It’s difficult to answer this because airbrushing means different things to different people. I edit each image to make sure it’s looking it absolute best and I’ll remove any temporary blemishes like scratches, marks or spots. I don’t remove any birthmarks of anything that is part of your because that’s who you are, I don’t digitally enhance your body shape (we’ll sure as heck be using flattering posing and lighting though) or change the contours of your face. That’s not what I’m about and you’re perfect as you are.
I will edit each of your images in your finished gallery to show you off to as your best self. As well as refining each image, I’ll also remove temporary blemishes and also stretchmarks if you would like me to, I’ll ask you what you would like at the end of your session.
Each of your images is edited to make sure everything looks at its very best – that’s why you have to wait a little while after your session before you see them.
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.
Bubbles are the ideal accessory with a tub splash photo shoot and I have a bubble machine that’s capable of producing loads of them at the time and saving us having to puff ourselves out doing it.
I have a clear perspex stand that is perfect for round cakes of 8-10 inches. You’re welcome to bring along your own if you prefer but a cake stand isn’t a necessity.
I have a range of maternity dresses that you are welcome to use as part of your maternity photo shoot. They are especially designed for photo shoots to be super flattering and create some lovely silhouettes in both lace and sheer fabrics. You will receive an options form the day before your session that will allow you to view the range and select a dress / dresses to include.
I don’t provide the cake as it would be too complicated to meet everyone’s design needs, not to mention the problems arising from allergies but of course, there are lots of cake makers out there that you can use. Alternatively, there are some supermarket bought cakes that can be great – you just need to look and see if the icing is soft enough to make it smashable or you can make your own – I recommend fresh cream or butter cream icing as having the best squish factor.
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.
Life is busy and especially so when you’re raising a small child. I’ll send you reminders the month before your next baby photography club session becomes due so you have a little prompt to make your next appointment.
All of my portrait work is studio based but luckily, my husband is also a professional photographer and he does shoot portraits on location. You can reach him at VisualChaos Studios and he’ll be happy to talk over your on location portrait requirements.
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 don’t need to do anything special to get ready for your photo shoot as you’ll already be glowing. However, a gentle exfoliation and lots of moisturiser the day before are a great way to get your skin camera ready and you’ll want your hands to be looking their best as they’ll definitely be featured on your bump.
It can be a busy time when you’ve just had a baby so there’s no a lot that you need to do before your newborn photo shoot. However, some things can be helpful
- Try to keep your baby awake for an hour before you come
- Dress them in just one layer and use blankets to keep them warm for the journey
- Leave feeding your baby until just before you come (or feed them here if you have a longer journey) so they are as full as possible for their session.
There’s a whole article here that you might find helpful – Preparing for your Newborn Photo Shoot
You can purchase a gift voucher directly through this page or by contacting me. You can fill in the form at the bottom of the gift voucher page to let me know the the following info…
- Your name
- The name of the recipient
- A personalised message
- How you’d like your gift voucher – either by email or post
- The type of session it’s for
Then all you need to do is submit the form and wait for your gift voucher to arrive.
Obviously you don’t usually know exactly when your baby will arrive but it’s best to book your newborn photo shoot while you are still pregnant to guarantee I have availability for you. We book your session for your due date plus seven days and then you just need to keep me posted if your baby arrives early so we can adjust it. I’ll be in touch with you the week before your session if I don’t hear from you to see if we need to move it to a later date.
Before your session, make sure your dog is well-fed, has had some exercise, and is comfortable. Bring along their favourite treats or toys to help grab their attention during the shoot.
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 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…
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.
Once the recipient has their voucher, they can simply go to the relevant section of the website to book their session through my online calendar. Each voucher will have a unique reference number so they just need to enter that in the comments field to let me know it is a voucher booking. No need to bring the voucher to the session!
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.
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.
We book the studio for an hour for a cake smash / tub splash session but generally speaking, sessions take about 45 minutes if you are starting with a clean shoot and doing both the cake smash and tub splash sessions. We move through things reasonably fast as your baby’s attention span is understandably pretty short lived at this age.
We have the session booked for an hour for a family portrait photo shoot. That’s actually a really long time to be shooting for so we don’t normally need all of that to get your images created but it means that we take things at a nice, easy and relaxed pace.
After your session, I’ll carefully edit the images to incorporate the digital backdrops and ensure they meet my high standards. This process usually takes around two weeks, after which you’ll receive a link to your private online gallery to view and select your favourite images.
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.
I’ve been a photographer for nearly two decades and photographing newborn babies since it first entered the UK market about six years ago. So I’ve probably seen a few hundred in my studio over that time and have lots of experience in capturing these tiny people.
We book the studio for an hour for a baby photo shoot although in reality, little people would never actually shoot for much more than half of that. When they’re really small, sometimes the window can be just 15 minutes before they’ve had enough – don’t worry though, we can still get lots of great images in that time. The rest of the time is there if we need extra for feeding, settling and getting changed.
For a Maternity Mini Session, we book the studio for half an hour and for a Full Maternity Session, we have an hour. Generally speaking though, we’ll only be shooting for part of this time, which allows us to take things at a relaxed pace.
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.
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.
This is quite a common question that I get when folk are booking their baby photography club photo shoots. The answer is as many as you want.
I’m down with creating whatever images you would like as part of your photo shoot – I don’t limit you to one style of photography. For some people, this means they have several outfits that they want to include so go right ahead as far as I’m concerned.
However, where this system can fall down is when it comes to your baby’s tolerance for getting changed. Therefore, if you have multiple outfits to include, we get them all out before we start the session and prioritise them. That also lets me see what I’m working with and get out any complementary blankets and props that I think would work well with them. When we have the in priority order, we then work out if we can layer stuff up to minimise the changing fuss. Then we get going and get through as much as we can before your baby gets the hump with us changing them! Simple as that…
My studio is quite small (but perfectly formed) and so family portraits are great for groups of up to two adults and three children or five children. If you have a group larger than this, just get in touch and we can talk over what options are available.
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.
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.
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.
A baby photo shoot includes your three favourite digital images and costs £95. There’s no sales or viewing session to attend – you simply view and order from your online gallery. Parents and siblings are welcome to join the session as well.
A cake smash and tub splash session (you can do both in a single session if you want to) includes your three favourite digital images and costs £95. You simply select your favourite images form your private online gallery – there’s no sales or viewing session to attend – you can order more if you’d like to directly from this gallery.
A family portrait photo shoot in my studio includes your three favourite images and costs £95. There’s no sales or viewing session to attend, you simply view your images and order what you would like from your private online gallery.
There are three types of maternity photo shoot for you to choose from.
- Mini Maternity Shoot – including a single outfit and backdrop and focusing on the mother-to-be only. Includes one digital image £45
- Full Maternity Shoot – includes three outfits and backdrops and can also include partner and other children. Includes three digital images £95
- Progressions Maternity Shoot – a series of maternity shoots designed to create a single piece of artwork at the end of it to showcase your pregnancy journey. Includes the sessions and the finished artwork as a large, print resolution file £195
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 three additional sessions in your baby’s first year, one each at roughly four, eight and twelve months (which can be a cake smash / tub splash session if you’d like it to be). At the end of the year, you pick your favourite image for a triple aperture wall frame. The normal cost for the Joey Club is £39.95 for the year.
Newborn photography ideally takes place when your baby is between five and ten days old as this is when they are at their most sleepy and poseable. After two weeks, they get much more aware of their surroundings and harder to keep asleep, or in a tucked up position. Multiple births (which tend to be a little early) and babies that come along significantly before their due date have a little longer so it’s always worth getting in touch to talk things through.
Usually your photos are ready about two weeks after your photo shoot. That time can vary a little according to how busy the studio is but I will let you know when they will be ready at your session.
Gift vouchers can be sent to you or directly to the recipient via email or post, depending on your preference (and the time you have before you need your voucher which means that emailed vouchers are perfect for last minute gifts!). Beautifully printed vouchers are available for postal delivery.
It’s understandable that you don’t want your little one to have too much sugar if they’ve not had it before. They actually don’t usually eat a great deal of the cake during a cake smash (sometimes they do but usually not) as it’s more about exploring the textures of it. However, you can make cake with a sugar free alternative and I have had some clients use fresh cream flavoured with fruit like blueberries and strawberries as an alternative to icing and that’s definitely been very popular.
This is one of two things that people regularly say to me, this and ‘I’m not very photogenic’.
Well, you’ve got to the studio and so it was obviously important enough for you to get the pictures and so you’ve already done the hard part. All you need to do when you get into the studio is just relax and let me guide you through the process of creating your images. I’m going to tell you everything you need to know to create great images, I’ll tell you how to stand, sit and pose and gently walk you through everything you need to do. It might feel a bit weird for the first couple of minutes but I promise, it will be much worse in your head and after a really short period you’ll be right in the swing of it. You might even (eek) have fun – pretty much everyone does.
Plus, as I always say, the very worst thing that can happen is that you look at the photos and don’t like them enough to look at them again. That won’t happen but if that’s the very worst case scenario, then it’s no big deal right?
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.
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.
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.
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.
No, you’re welcome to celebrate your baby’s first birthday with a cake smash and tub splash session as your last visit as part of the baby photography club. There’s no extra charge for this – you just need to bring along a cake, bubble bath and a towel.
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.
Yes of course, I have a giant beanbag they can lie on and a specially designed cushion that allows them to sit up. If I’m being entirely honest, if you’ve missed the newborn window of two weeks, then I think you get better value from a session if you wait until they have good neck control and can get their head up when they are on their tummy (even if it’s just for a moment or two).
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.
Once your baby is crawling, it does get harder to persuade them that sitting still for photos is a fun idea so there is definitely a lot of chasing and resetting once the initial surprise of an unfamiliar environment has worn off. That said, it’s a good work out for us and there are still tons of great photos to get. If you’re interested in using a lot of props, then it’s best to get in while they can sit unsupported but before they crawl but a mobile baby isn’t an issue at all in the studio.
Your baby’s cord can still be attached for your newborn photo shoot and it doesn’t cause much of an issue. We’ll use fabrics and posing to hide in the finished images and it can 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 normally cause an issue.
Most kids if you ask them to smile or say cheese will pull a face that is nothing like their normal, natural smile. For this reason, I don’t generally encourage you to do this in the studio. Instead, we will work to have some fun and get them to smile naturally – this can involve, singing, dancing, saying silly things, shouting ‘poo’ or ‘knickers’ – whatever works to get your little one giggling.
My studio is a short walk from where you park and up several small steps. As such, I’m sorry to say that it’s not wheelchair friendly. I’m happy to help in any other way that I can though so if you have someone in your party who needs a little special attention to make the session fun for them, then just get in touch and we can talk over what I can do to make things work for you.
That’s quite a common thing that I hear at the studio and I guess it stems from a fear of those old fashioned portraits where everyone looks very stiff and formal. There’s always going to be an element of posing in the studio as I’m there to make you into great shapes and I also need to light you but that doesn’t mean that the resulting images need to look unnatural. In fact, I quite often set you up as a group and then we just let the action unfold and capture it as it goes. When it comes to kids, because of the requirements for good lighting (after all you’ve come to me for professional images), it means they can’t just run around and play with each other. Quite often this will result in lots of photos of the tops of their heads anyway so we take the same approach. We set them up with a location and then give them an activity and encourage them to interact. Don’t be shy in the studio – we will sing, dance, shout ‘poo’ and do anything it takes to get the fun going!
Digital backdrops are professionally designed images that are digitally added to a photograph during the editing process. In my studio, I photograph your newborn on a safe, neutral setup, and then seamlessly integrate the chosen backdrop to create a customised, polished image that fits your vision.
I have a range of backdrops you can use for your child at a photo shoot and you can make a choice on what you would like when you arrive at the studio. However, if you’d like to take a look in advance…
You can choose one of three styles of mermaid image.
Mermaid 1
Mermaid 2
Mermaid 3
Other than your normal baby bag (like you’d leave the house without it!), you don’t need to bring anything to your session. You might like to bring along changes of outfit and any props and accessories that you’d like to include but it’s not essential, I have everything we need at the studio.
It’s a good idea to bring along a few outfits, one that is clingy that shows off your bump, and maybe one flowing one too – although I do have maternity dresses that you are welcome to borrow. A front buttoning shirt and jeans make a great combination along with a skirt and camisole tops. If you’re planning on being photographed in your underwear then bring along a well fitting matching set. You are welcome to bring along any accessories that you’d like to include such as first toys, first blankets, scan pictures or baby bootees.
I have plenty of props and accessories at my studio for you to choose from at your photo shoot so you don’t need to bring along anything other than your usual baby bag and maybe some drinks and snacks for yourselves. However, if you’d like to bring along items to include then you’re welcome to. There’s an article you might find helpful here – What to Bring to your Newborn Photo Shoot.
You need to bring along your cake, an outfit to smash in and bubble bath and a towel if you are adding in the tub splash portion of the session. There’s an article on my blog with much more information about other things you might like to think about here – What to Bring to your Cake Smash Session
Life can be unpredictable, especially during pregnancy, so if you need to reschedule your maternity session, rest assured that I’m happy to accommodate. Whether it’s due to an unexpected change in circumstances, health concerns, or simply feeling like a different day would be better, we’ll work together to find a new date that suits you. I understand the importance of capturing this special time and will do my best to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. Just let me know as soon as possible if a change is needed, and we’ll make the necessary adjustments.
Of course, if your baby arrives before your session is booked, then you’re free to use your session at any time in your first year as a new family. Book in for a newborn session, take some time to create family portraits or even commemorate a first birthday with a cake smash – it’s totally up to you!
We won’t get good pictures if your baby is ill or unsettled and so it’s normally best to cancel if you know that your baby is under the weather. If you could give me as much notice as possible then that’s always appreciated although you can’t always tell in advance of course. I don’t offer refunds for sessions but you’re always welcome to reschedule if you need to when your baby is not feeling their best.
Don’t worry—dogs can be unpredictable, and I have plenty of experience working with all kinds of temperaments. The session will be relaxed, and I’ll use toys, treats, and patience to capture their personality.
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.
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
When you book a baby photo shoot, we have the studio for an hour where, in reality, a baby wouldn’t usually shoot for more than 20 minutes or so. We have that extra time for allowing for feeding, settling and generally gently encouraging them. That said, if your baby is really inconsolable (and days can happen when they just won’t settle down), we simply reschedule for another time. Trying to pursue photography with a baby that has really had enough of the whole affair is just stressful for them and for you, so if it comes to it, know that we can book another day to take care of things when they will no doubt being in a happier mood.
You would think that babies would automatically be keen to dive into the delicious treat in front of them and have a good old play but quite a lot of babies don’t like to get their hands dirty. The good news is that you don’t need total cake devastation to have great cake smash photos and there are a few tricks that we can use to get them interacting with the cake. Firstly, patience – they just need some time to get used to the idea. I also have miniature wooden spoons at the studio which are great to encourage interaction without having to get messy hands. We can also hide some familiar treats at the back of the cake as that can help to get them diving in – or at least looking like they are!
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.
It’s wonderful when children are really excited to have their pictures taken but of course it’s not always the case. Lots of kids feel a bit shy or nervous of being in an unfamiliar environment, and so sometimes it takes a little while for them to warm up. Gentle encouragement from you as parents, and any amount of singing, dancing and silliness generally gets the job done.
If someone in your party is ill, then you’re welcome to reschedule. If you can give me as much notice as possible then I appreciate it but of course that’s not always possible. I don’t offer refunds on sessions but I’m happy to hold your session fee as a credit so you can rebook at a more convenient time when everyone is back to full health.
A cake smash photo shoot pretty much does exactly what the name would suggest. You put a birthday cake in front of a one year old and let them just explore, play and occasionally eat until their heart’s content. The resulting images are bright, colourful and fun and the perfect way to celebrate and commemorate the important milestone of reaching the end of your baby’s first year.
A tub splash photo shoot is the perfect companion to a cake smash session although it works just as well on its own if your baby enjoys bathtime. You choose one of my two miniature bath tubs, we fill it up with warm bubbly water and let your little one splash and play. If you’ve had a cake smash just beforehand, it’s a great way of them getting clean as well as creating some fun photos.
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.
I accept a variety of payment options, including credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal. Please contact me if you need assistance with payment.
I have a small range of props and accessories that you are welcome to borrow in incorporate into your session. You can find out more about them here.
My range of props and accessories is growing all the time, but I have a large pink and blue number one that is perfect for the clean part of the shoot. I have a range of tub splash accessories to choose from, and a good selection of bunting that you are welcome to borrow. If you have specific ideas, it’s always worth getting in touch to find out what I have and how we can create your perfect set of pictures.
My prop and accessory collection do change a bit over time as I like to keep things fresh but to give you an idea, I have a ton of bunting (and that really does keep on growing as people come up with new ideas), some very cute miniature chairs, an ivory vintage suitcase and a whole Harry Potter themed mini set (complete with owl) if you are a little bit of a Potterhead.
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. 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.
When deciding what to wear for your maternity photo shoot, the most important thing is to choose outfits that make you feel comfortable and confident. Clothes from home, like a well-fitted dress, a cosy cardigan, or a pair of maternity jeans paired with a simple top, can be perfect for creating a natural and personal look. Fabrics that flow or cling to your bump, like soft knits or stretchy materials, photograph beautifully. Consider solid colours or subtle patterns to avoid distractions from the focus of the photos—your baby bump. If you’re including your partner or children in the session, coordinating but not matching outfits can add harmony to the images.
In addition to your own wardrobe, I offer a range of stunning maternity gowns designed specifically for photo shoots. These dresses are specially designed and crafted to highlight your silhouette while providing a touch of elegance and drama. From soft, flowing chiffon gowns to figure-hugging lace designs, there’s a style to suit every taste. My studio collection includes a variety of colours and textures to ensure we can create the look you want for your portraits. You’ll be able to browse the selection online and select any that you want to include when you receive your options form the day before your session so they’ll be ready and waiting for you when you arrive.
You should wear whatever you would like to be photographed and, depending on the type of maternity session that you have booked, we may have time for several outfit changes during your session. I also have some maternity dresses that you are welcome to borrow. I recommend an outfit that clings to your bumps so you can show it off, jeans and shirt that buttons at the front is also a great classic combo. If you’re having lingerie images then great fitting matching underwear is perfect. It’s a great idea before your session to wear loose clothing that doesn’t leave any marks on your skin.
It’s completely up to you although obviously it’s likely to get covered in icing and so I don’t recommend anything that you aren’t prepared to say goodbye to if the stains won’t come out (that’s particularly the case where the icing is a dark colour). Some people prefer their little ones to be full dressed (although I do recommend bare feet), some wear just trousers or a pettiskirt, or some smash in just a nappy although a nappy cover can look a bit nicer. There are lots of specially designed cake smash outfits available now that they have become so popular so auction sites, Facebook marketplace and Etsy can have some beautiful things. Unfortunately, I don’t let you borrow my outfits from the studio for the actual cake smash as they would quickly get ruined so just bring along something that you love.
A lot of newborn photos are taken with your baby in just their nappy or naked (although they may be swaddled or wrapped). Multiple outfit changes can be tricky as most babies don’t tend to like getting changed and so it is hard to do it whilst keeping them asleep so I don’t recommend bringing along a lot of clothing changes. If you have an outfit that you’d like your baby to be photographed in, then I would suggest bringing them along already in it so we can get that done at the start of the session without having to change them. It’s really helpful to me if you don’t bring them with lots of layers on as that just means I have to strip them off again and potentially disturb them so I’d suggest one layer and use blankets to keep them warm and toasty on their journey over.
That’s totally up to you – you just need to bring along things that you love that you’d like to see your baby photographed in. If you’re having more than one family member in the pictures, it’s a great idea to coordinate – even if its just in colour or tone (you don’t need to twin, though you’re welcome to). I have some outfits at the studio (think pettiskirts and rompers for girls, and nappy covers and knitted trousers for boys) that you’re welcome to borrow and some people like to have photos of their little ones wearing nothing but a smile. It really is about whatever works for you. There’s always time for outfit changes if you want to.
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.
It’s a good idea to coordinate outfits for your family portrait session as that makes a real difference to your finished pictures. Of course you don’t have to all wear the same (although twinning is quite in at the moment), but it’s a great idea to match colours or tones. Avoid bold patterns and logos as they can be distracting and also they tend to date quite quickly – plain colours can give you a more timeless feel. In the finished photos, you want the eye to be drawn to your faces and so long sleeves can help with that. If you have any questions, then you are always welcome to get in touch and I’m happy to help.
Any digital images that you purchase will be sized at 10×8″ at 300ppi so 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).
Your choice of size and design of cake obviously totally depends on the style you like. Babies tend not to eat that much cake really although there have been exceptions so it’s not necessary to get anything too big (unless you fancy cake to take home with you and I’m not ever going to discourage that!). 6-8″ is fine.
The wall frame holds your favourite image from each of your sessions sized at 5×4″ and the overall size is approximately 42cm x 23cm. It can be hung on your wall with either portrait or landscape images and comes with a flat black frame as standard. There are a range of upgrade options that you can look at if you’d like to increase the number of images, or change the frame which I can give you a price for if you need it.
You should aim to bring your baby along when they are at their best so have napped and eaten – though babies are notorious for changing their schedule just when you think you’ve got it nailed. Quite often that means that a start time of 10 or 11 is ideal and after lunch and afternoon nap means the afternoon sessions start at 2pm and 3pm. That said, there’s no fixed start time as far as I’m concerned – just whenever is best for you and your little one.
I have a choice of two miniature baths for your tub splash – a vintage styled tin tub and a more modern miniature claw foot bath. You can see both if you take a quick flip through the cake smash category on my blog.
Some people prefer to get a cake professionally made, some people bring their own or some buy one from a supermarket. Whichever you choose, I don’t recommend chocolate cake as it can look a bit like poo in the finished images. Buttercream or fresh cream icing is ideal for the maximum squish factor – royal icing can be a bit tough for little fingers to get into. Any kind of decorations are great from personalised cake toppers, tons of colourful sprinkles or fresh fruit – whatever suits your style.
Your £39.95 Baby Photography club fee includes your three sessions in your baby’s first year and the frame with your favourite image from each at the end of the year. If you’d like to order more images from your session, you’re able to do this from your private online gallery.
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.
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.
You need to pay for your photo shoot when you book it. If your session is more than two weeks away, then you have the option of paying a £20 deposit with the balance being due the week before your session. Otherwise the full balance is due on booking.
At the end of the year, you will see all of your images from your sessions so you can choose your three favourites to go in your wall frame. It’s best to wait to choose them all together rather than choosing one after each session so you can make sure that they will all go together and look great on your wall.
Your last baby photography club session is designed to help you celebrate and commemorate your baby’s first birthday so any time around then is perfect to come and visit. If you’d like to have the images for the birthday itself, then just come in a couple of weeks before so I have time to get everything ready for you. You’re welcome to make this into a cake smash and tub splash session if you’d like to – there’s no additional charge for this.
I recommend booking your Joey Club when your baby has good neck control and can lift their head up when they are on their tummy. This can often be around the four month old but of course it varies from baby to baby.
The best time to come and visit the studio for your second baby photography club session is when your baby is able to sit unsupported but they haven’t yet started to crawl. It’s not too much of a big deal if they are already mobile but there’s a lot less chasing and resetting if they aren’t on the move plus we have a wider variety of props that we can safely use.
This is a tricky one as there is something special about all of your babies development stages. However, if you miss the short window for newborn images or just don’t fancy them, then I recommend waiting until your baby can lift their head when they are on their tummy before coming to visit for photos. Prior to this stage, they’re very limited in terms of what they can do (I’m not criticising!) and although I have a specially designed pillow that allows them to sit up, until they have good neck control they tend to just slump. If you wait until they’re a little bit stronger, then you’ll get much more variety in your finished images.
The final balance is due on or before the day of your photography session. Payments can be made in advance online view the links on the Payment page.
My studio is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm.
I’ll always do my best to accommodate last minute session requests but the studio can get busy, especially if you need a Saturday appointment. You can book your session up to three months in advance and so I recommend booking early to make sure you get a session date and time that suits you. If you’d like your photos to be ready for the big day itself, then book in a a couple of weeks before so I have time to get everything ready for you to see and order.
I recommend booking your maternity photo shoot when you are between 28 and 36 weeks pregnant or before 32 weeks if you are expecting a multiple birth. That way, you will still have a nice rounded belly and you won’t be too uncomfortable. You also don’t run the risk of missing the opportunity to have a photo shoot if your baby makes an early arrival.
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.
Sessions take place at my warm and cosy studio in Crawley Down, West Sussex. You can find out more about it including the address and directions at My Studio Page.
Photo shoots take place at my warm and welcoming studio in Crawley Down, West Sussex. Here’s how to get to it.
For newborns, I find that we get the best success rates when sessions start at 10 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 2.30pm as much later than that, and you are in the baby witching hour of 5pm when they can be very unsettled no matter what you do.
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.
At your session, I will check with you if it is OK to use some images from your session as part of my social media, website and portfolio. There’s absolutely no pressure there and, even if you give me permission, I would never use any partially nude or nude ones unless you expressly tell me that I can. If you don’t want any images to be shared, then they will only be uploaded to your private gallery for you to view, stored in a secure digital environment and then permanently deleted after 18 months.
I edit each of your images and I will remove any stretchmarks or temporary blemishes unless you ask me to leave them in (some folk like to see their tiger stripes). I’ll check what you would like at the end of your session.
Absolutely! I take great care in blending the digital backdrop with the original photo to create a seamless, realistic result. My years of experience ensure that lighting, angles, and details align perfectly to produce a high-quality, natural-looking image.
Absolutely. You don’t need to have any experience to get amazing maternity images, I will guide you through exactly what to do at your photo shoot so you just need to turn up and be yourself.