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 gives a nicer feel to the finished images. It’s worth bringing along your chosen outfit to change into (I have a changing area), as the studio will be really warm, so you might be more comfortable in something else whilst you’re watching your images being created. Here’s an article you might find useful: what to wear for your newborn photo shoot: 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 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’re little people). I’ll remove little scratches and spots and other temporary blemishes, but I would never take out any birthmarks, as that’s part of your baby. If you have special requests regarding image editing, just 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’ll happily use a dummy at your newborn photo shoot if you’d like me to.

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 or no dummy debate. If you have one, it can be a useful tool for soothing your baby to sleep, so I’ll use it if we think it will help. If you don’t want to give your baby a dummy, 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 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 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 your baby already dressed 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’s 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 we get the best success rates when sessions start at 10.30 or 11am.

This is because your baby won’t tend to sleep all that well at night (which seems like poor planning for everyone involved!), so they’re at their sleepiest during the morning. Sessions that start later can result in your baby being more wakeful, although of course it isn’t an exact science.

The latest session start time I’ll take for a newborn is 1.30pm. After this point, we’re edging towards the ‘witching hour’, which traditionally gets very poor results for a photo shoot.

It’s more than likely that your baby will need feeding at some point during your session, and that’s no problem at all.

We have plenty of time built in for feeding and settling. Breastfeeding is completely fine, it would be quite strange if that were 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, that’s not an issue.

If you take a nappy off a newborn, it’s more than likely that they’ll 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 whatever 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 it in the finished images, and it can sometimes mean I have to work a little harder to get your baby comfy when they’re tucked up on their tummy (depending on the clamp placement), but it doesn’t cause an issue and their comfort won’t be affected at any point.

Most newborns 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 session 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 your 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 that’s 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’re still pregnant, to guarantee I have availability at my studio for you. However, if you’ve already had your baby and decided you’d like a newborn shoot, I’ll always do my best to fit you in if I can.  Just get in touch. 

It’s completely 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’m very experienced at handling newborns.

Your session will be totally baby led, and I’ll always be watching to check that your baby’s temperature is right, their circulation is good, and that they’re comfortable at all times. Of course your baby will sometimes cry during their session, but I’m skilled at knowing whether they’re just having a bit of a grumble or whether we need to make adjustments to get them comfortable.

All the poses 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’ll ask for assistance from a parent and use digital compositing to create a lovely image in a situation where it wouldn’t be safe to leave your baby unsupported: an example of this would be a picture you might have seen showing a newborn in a hat or helmet, or resting their head on their hands. In cases like these, there’s 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 for a newborn to turn up fast asleep and remain that way throughout. We have plenty of time to feed, settle, and soothe your baby back to sleep, so if they wake up or are unsettled, we just work through it until they’re 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 dogs are definitely part of the family!

You’re welcome to bring your dog along to a newborn photo shoot if you think they’ll be happy to attend and able to settle relatively well. It’s helpful for me to know in advance, along with the size of dog you’ll be bringing, so I can make sure I’m 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.

Here’s an article you might like – Newborns and Dogs

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 they join us at the end of the session so they can be in photographs without getting bored waiting around. If you’re bringing them along for the whole of the shoot, 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 anything you want before you come if you’re planning to use phones or tablets to play movies or games.

I’ve been a photographer for more than 20 years, and I’ve been photographing newborns for more than ten of those, since it first became popular in the UK. I’ve never counted, but I must have done hundreds of sessions in that time, so I’ve got lots of experience in capturing these tiny people!

For a lot of a newborn session, we’ll be working on my giant beanbag, but I do have a range of props 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 I have via 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 or on props does require them to be fairly settled, so I don’t recommend using more than two in a session. You can find out more about my props by taking a look at my blog, and there’s an article that might be helpful here: Newborn Props.

Your baby’s outfit plays a big role in how relaxed and natural the images look. Here’s what I recommend:

• Soft, neutral tones: cream, beige, soft greys, gentle pastels. These hues keep the focus on your baby and work well with studio props and wraps.
• Natural fabrics: cotton, muslin, or other breathable materials that are comfortable against your baby’s skin. Avoid anything scratchy, stiff, or shiny.
• Minimal details and simple designs: avoid heavy prints, logos, or busy patterns that can distract. Small texture like a knit is fine, but keep it subtle.
• Layers and easy changes: zips and a single layer of clothing make it easier to change during the session without fuss.
• Bring extra options: a second outfit, a wrap or swaddle you like, and a simple prop if it means something to you (blanket, knitted hat, soft toy).
• Keep your baby comfortable: if you’re travelling with your baby, it’s really helpful to 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’re 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, newborns are typically sleepier, more flexible, and easier to pose gently and comfortably.

That said, every family and newborn 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:

• Try to keep your baby awake. Keeping them awake for an hour or so before your session can help them 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 is genuinely uncomfortable, or you’re not planning any naked shots, it’s best to avoid nappy cream before you come to the studio. Most creams leave a sticky white mark that’s hard to digitally remove. Not that you needed telling, but make sure you bring along plenty of spare nappies in your bag.
• Feed and settle. Your baby will tend to be more comfortable when they’re well-fed and sleepy, try feeding just before we start.
• Give yourself extra time. On the day, leave room for delays. A calm start helps everyone relax.
• Keep your baby warm, but not layered. If possible, dress your baby in a single layer and keep them snuggly with a blanket. It just makes it a bit easier for me when it comes time to get them undressed, so I don’t have to wriggle them out of too many layers.
• Trust me. I’ve done this a lot of times over more than 20 years, 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.

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:

• A favourite outfit if you have one: keep it simple, comfy, and in tones that mix well with your family’s style
• Favourite toys, books, or props that mean something to you and your child
• A dummy, if your baby uses one, plus bringing a spare is a great idea just in case!
• Milk and newborn essentials (nappies, wipes, extra clothes) for comfort breaks
• 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 session, you usually don’t know exactly what date your baby will arrive. In fact, only 5% of newborns arrive on their due date, so we keep it flexible. With the target newborn photography window of 5 to 14 days old, we schedule your session for your due date plus seven days, and then we just stay in touch nearer the time and adjust it as we need to.

I’d definitely recommend booking your newborn photography while you’re still pregnant, any time after your 20 week scan is ideal.

This ensures I have availability for you in your baby’s first two weeks, as the studio can get quite busy. If you’re late booking, I’ll always do my best to accommodate you if I can, but booking early means you don’t have to worry about it when you’re just home from the hospital.