Newborn Photography in West Sussex
Bringing your baby into the world is such a special, fleeting time — and capturing those tiny details, soft expressions, and early moments of connection is something you’ll treasure forever. My newborn photo shoots are designed to be calm, relaxed, and completely baby-led, so you can simply enjoy the experience while I create beautiful images of your little one.
If you’re looking for a newborn photographer in West Sussex, you’re in the right place — my cosy studio near Crawley is perfectly placed to welcome families from across the county.
A Newborn Session That’s All About Your Baby
Every baby is unique — some snooze peacefully through their session, while others are wide-eyed and curious about the world. That’s why my newborn sessions are completely baby-led, with plenty of time for cuddles, feeds, and settling, so there’s never any need to rush.
In one session, you’ll get:
- Timeless, sleepy posed portraits of your newborn
- Natural, relaxed family and sibling photos
- Close-up details of those tiny fingers, toes, and expressions
- A calm, comfortable environment where your baby’s needs always come first
The result? A beautiful gallery of images that capture just how small and perfect your baby is in these precious early days — memories you’ll cherish forever.
Where I’m Based
My dedicated baby photography studio is in Crawley, perfectly placed for families across West Sussex. I welcome families from Horsham, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead, Worthing and beyond — all looking for a fun, relaxed first birthday experience for their little one.
There’s plenty of parking, space for you to sit back and enjoy the session, and all the props and outfits you need are included.
What does a Newborn Photo Shoot Cost?
Your session includes three fully edited digital images to download, print, and share as you’d like. The cost is £95, with the option to purchase additional images from your private online gallery if you wish. There’s no sales appointment—everything is done simply and online.
Book Your Newborn Photo Shoot in West Sussex Today
I’d love to welcome you and your baby to my studio. Click the button below to check availability and book your newborn session now (we book for your due date plus seven days and then just adjust it as needed according to your baby’s arrival date). Alternatively, you can get in touch if you have any questions.
I welcome families from across Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead, Worthing, and beyond — wherever you’re coming from in West Sussex, you’re very welcome here.
Everything You Need to Know About Newborn Photography
Welcoming a newborn is one of life’s most incredible moments, and capturing those early days with professional photography ensures you have beautiful memories to cherish forever. Whether you’re wondering when to book, how to prepare, or what to expect at your session, I’ve created a collection of helpful guides and resources to answer all your questions.
From safety in newborn photography to including siblings or pets, explore these expert articles to help you plan the perfect newborn photo shoot. Click below to find out more! If you don’t find the answers to your question here, of course I’m always happy to help so just get in touch
Frequently Asked Questions about West Sussex Newborn Photography
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.
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.
It’s an understandable worry, but the short answer is no, that almost never happens. In my years 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.
This is totally normal and nothing to worry about. 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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
My studio is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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…
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.
Natural fabrics – cotton, muslin, or other breathable materials that are comfortable against baby’s skin. Avoid anything scratchy, stiff, or shiny.
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.
Layers & easy changes – zips and 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 meaningful (blanket, knitted hat, soft toy)
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,
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.
Feed & settle. A well-fed, sleepy baby tends to be more comfortable — try feeding just before we start.
Give yourself extra time. On the day, leave room for delays. A calm start helps everyone relax.
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.
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:
A favourite outfit if you have one — keep them 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 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 Newborn Session Blog Posts
Snoozing With a Buddy – West Sussex Newborn Photography
This little one snoozed soundly with their giraffe buddy — special toys always make sessions extra sweet.
A New Generation of Engineers: A Special Newborn Session
A beautifully personal newborn session, celebrating two generations of engineers in one family with thoughtful, story-filled props.
What Can Your Baby See in Their First Year?
What can your baby actually see? Here’s a simple guide to visual development in the first year — from soft blur to bright, curious eyes.
Newborn Photography – Capturing Tiny Details
There’s nothing sweeter than tiny newborn toes — and they grow and change so fast. Newborn photography captures all the little details you’ll never want to forget.