Obviously these have been an exceptional four months – life changing and world changing in so many ways. The least of which was me having to close down my newborn photography business when the risk of Covid was at its height.

The government allowed me to reopen for business on the 15th June where I could do so safely and a great deal of my time, thought and effort in the last month of lockdown was in giving consideration to how this could be accomplished.  I’ve put in place new procedures and equipment that allows me to work as safely as possible while still delivering you great photographic results.

One area that was a little more difficult to think through and accommodate was newborn photography.  The rest of my photography can be accomplished with no physical contact between me and my subjects.  It simply means that I ask parents to move and pose their kids where I would probably have normally done it myself.  However, newborn photography requires that I touch and handle your newborn in order to move and pose them in the way that’s required.  So how does newborn photography work in the age of Covid?

Firstly, there’s actually not a lot of change to my hygiene procedures as they were pretty strict anyway but…

• The first one is a no-brainer but anyway, I’ll be in touch the day before your session to reassure you that I’m fit and well and symptom free and to check that you are. Obviously if you are suffering from any symptoms or have recently been exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with Covid, then I’ll ask you to reschedule.  Yep, it’s a no-brainer like I said.
• The day before your session, I’ll also send you a link to a page that details all of my newborn props and asks you to complete a short form to let me know the colour schemes and photos that you have in mind.  That way I can have everything set up and ready for you on arrival to minimise your time in the studio.
• The studio is cleaned and sanitised before each visit. This includes an airing period after the previous session (it doesn’t normally apply to a newborn photo shoot as they are usually the early ones), floor mopping, spraying sanitiser on props and seating that can’t be wiped and cleaning of all contact points such as light switches, door handles, sinks and toilet flushes.
• All fabric items including blankets and outfits that are used during a session go straight into a laundry basket to be immediately washed with sanitiser before they are returned to the studio.
• You’ll be asked to use my contactless hand sanitiser when you enter the studio and I’ll do the same (I’ll also sanitise again before putting on my mask and at regular periods throughout the session if I’ve adjusted my PPE)
• I’ll be working in a mask, apron and gloves and have on fresh clothes for each session
• My paper photographic consent form has been replaced by a digital version which you can complete on your own phone at the studio while your photos are being taken
• Both parents are welcome to attend the photo shoot, I’d recommend that young siblings attend only the last part of the shoot so you get dropped off with your new arrival and then dad and big brother or sister go off to entertain themselves for an hour or so while we get most of the photos done.  Actually that’s what I normally recommend so they don’t get bored and they’re ready for photos when they come back to join us.
• Other family members aren’t allowed to attend the session for the time being.  Proud grandparents will just have to wait and see the photos when they’re ready!
• I’ll be remaining two metres away from you as far as possible throughout the session, it’s only your newborn that I have to touch you’ll be relieved to hear.
• As always, you won’t be asked to visit the studio to view your images. You do this in your private online gallery the same as always!
• Of course I am closely monitoring the government advice and if there are changes that need to be made, then you can rest assured that I’ll be making them.

As a general note, my studio is a private building away from my house which only I have access to.  My whole family work at home – that’s not a Covid thing, that’s just how we roll – and so our contact with the outside world is very limited.

Anyway, I’m confident that these measures will allow me to keep delivering those precious newborn photos in a safe manner although if you do have any questions, then just get in touch and I’m happy to talk things over.

Incidentally, the little girl was my first newborn back in the studio after reopening and it seemed only fitting that she have a little rainbow picture to mark the time that she was born.