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Safe Newborn Practice

Your babies safety is always the top priority for me, and sessions are baby lead. Your baby will never be forced in to any pose which I do not feel is safe or comfortable for them. My studio is heated prior to your arrival so that it is warm and cosy, and I allow 3 hours for a newborn session, so we have plenty of time for feeding and settling.



A few commonly asked questions and session information below.

DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?

Yes, absolutely! It’s vital to not only protect myself but also you, the client too. It should be a necessity for all newborn photographers, unfortunately it is not. Please do check when shopping around for your newborn photographer.

WHAT IS THE PERFCT AGE FOR A NEWBORN SHOOT?

It is best to photograph newborns under 2 weeks of age as they are still sleepy. All babies is different though. I do however, photograph newborns up to 6 weeks. Please bear in mind that after 2/3 weeks babies become less flexible, less sleepy and for longer periods, and a little more needy of mummy time, making it difficult to get them into the deep sleep, which is needed to create the images you see on my website.

WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY NEWBORN SESSION AND HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH BABIES NOT ARRIVING ON TIME?

Once baby arrives, please contact me as soon as you can, we will then arrange your session date and time.

DO I HAVE TO PAY A DEPOSIT? / WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM ILL ON THE DAY?

Yes, there is a 50% booking deposit of £47.50 required at the time of booking to reserve your spot in my diary. The £47.50 deposit is non-refundable as this partly covers my loss of earnings for the day if you are unable to come. If you, or your baby is ill on the day of your session, please let me know at least 2 hours before your session begins. We can then move the session to the next available day.

HOW LONG ARE THE NEWBORN SESSIONS?

I allow 3 hours for a newborn session to allow for feeding and settling. If your baby feeds and settles to sleep well, the session will take much less time.

CAN I CHOOSE THE STYLING OF THE SESSION?

Yes! Your session will be bespoke to your preferences. Once the deposit has been paid, I ask that you send me some images from my website that you would like for your session and then I tailor your session around your favourite images. (I strive to provide you with images as close to your favourites as possible, but ultimately I work with how your baby is on the day and respect the signals they send).

On your session day, there will be lots of different colour choices of blanket backgrounds, wraps and headbands etc to choose from.

WHAT PACKAGES DO YOU OFFER?

I offer a range of high end Wall Art products which are available with my Wall Art packages, or available to purchase as separate items. When purchased as part of a Wall Art package these work out at incredible value. I pride myself on the quality of these products.

Alternatively I offer Digital Image packages to suit a lower budget.

In addition to both of the above, I supply keyrings and magnets, using the same high quality print in these items.

To ensure professional print quality, it is strongly recommended that any prints are ordered through Helene Simpson Photography.

WHAT IF MY BABY DOESN’T SLEEP?

Most newborn babies under 2 weeks should fall asleep sometime within the 3 hours. My studio is very warm to help them feel sleepy, that combined with lots of top ups of milk should send them off to sleep for at least some of the session. There are still lots of images we can get if baby doesn’t fall straight to sleep. The posed images however, will need your baby to be asleep for, so the session prep below is very important to help towards a sleepy session.

CAN I BRING ALONG GRANDPARENTS / AN EXTRA FRIEND?

So that key members of the session, your baby, myself and Parents, are most comfortable, no-one else is accommodated throughout a newborn session. If siblings are to be included in some photos, please arrange for a family member or friend to drop them off towards the end, or daddy/mummy/partner could take them off for a portion of the session. Thank you.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR NEWBORN SESSION

Newborn sessions are offered Monday-Friday and commence at 11am. Sessions are baby-led and I allow plenty of time for feeding and comforting. I only do one newborn session a day, therefore, there will be no rush.

Newborn safety is my top priority. The studio will be heated so your baby is kept warm, but this will appear hot to you, so please dress accordingly.

I will be playing white noise in the background to help get baby off and hopefully stay in a deep sleep.

I may ask you to ignore a strict feeding schedule rule for the couple of hours at the session. The only way we will achieve these images is if your baby is happy, full and sleeping deeply.

Prior to your session, please complete and return your Newborn Questionnaire which will be included in your booking confirmation email.

You are requested to send me your favourite 5 images from my website. I will tailor your session around your chosen images, and hope to achieve some extras along the way.

I will have a range of props, blanket colours, hats, headbands and wraps etc available at the session for you to choose from.

Parent and sibling shots (if applicable), will be photographed at the end of the session.

PREPPING YOUR BABY BEFORE THE SESSION

Here are a few little things that will help prepare for the session & help things run smoothly:

  1. If your baby has slept solidly for 3 hours prior to your session then we may spend too long trying to get baby to sleep and not get many posed, sleepy shots. If you can, on the morning of your session, try and keep little one awake for a bit with a little interaction and try also to time a feed on arrival at my home. Obviously this may all go out of the window as these things are always easier said than done! But this little bit of prep really can make a difference to your session if they arrive nice and sleepy. A bath may help keep them awake.
  2. Dress baby in a simple loose baby grow that doesn’t have to be lifted off over the head just incase baby is sleeping soundly on arrival. No tight socks to avoid lines on their skin.
  3. If you are using or considering using a dummy please bring it along. It can be a huge lifesaver when baby continuously wants to feed/suckle for comfort. Sometimes it really is the difference of getting that shot or not.
  4. Any eye gunk or boogers are to be removed where possible please.
  5. If you are breast feeding, it may help to not eat spicy or acidic foods or drink caffeine in the 48 hours prior to your session as this could possibly make baby unsettled.

ON ARRIVAL

A full baby means a sleepy baby so a top up of milk before we begin is usually a good idea.

If baby is awake when you arrive, it is best to undress them first, loosen the nappy and then wrap them in a blanket before that extra top up. Otherwise your baby may get upset at being undressed when they are nice and cozy.

OUTFITS AND PROPS

I will be mostly photographing your little one in his/her birthday suit. I will pay careful attention to ensure babies privates are not exposed in any photos. If at any point you feel uncomfortable with a pose or position, please let me know straight away and we can move on to the next pose. If you would rather your baby wasn’t naked, we can wrap baby in different wraps or in some of the specially made newborn outfits I have sourced. Please let me know if you would rather baby was covered at all times before the session begins.

You do not need to bring any outfits with you unless there is something special you would like me to try and include in the session, however every day clothes do tend to swamp babies, look bulky and awkward. I do have a few special little newborn prop outfits that look so sweet if you would prefer your baby in something. Newborns really do look best photographed in very little.

FAMILY PHOTOS

I’m afraid due to my small space, large family portraiture is impossible. But mum & dad and other siblings with baby is fine, if siblings are to be included please notify me upon paying your deposit.

Please keep your clothing simple. Personally, I think plain tops work best, skip bright and busy patterns & large logos where possible.

If you would like to try and achieve some skin to skin shots, consider a strapless top or vest.

For more artistic shots, dads may choose to remove their shirts if they are comfortable in doing so.

SIBLINGS

Please let me know ahead of time if you would like to include another child in the photos. A simple plain top in white or muted colours without patterns or logos work well for little boys or T-shirt off can also look lovely. A simple pair of jeans look great.

Girls again, pale, muted colours work best. Pretty dresses without busy, colourful patterns look adorable. The more texture the better, lace and frills work particularly well with bare feet.

Again please check for grubby faces, boogers and eye gunk!

FEEDING BABY

Please know that I do not mind waiting for you to nurse or for nappy changes, or just taking a break to soothe your baby at any point. You and your baby’s wellbeing is more important to me than getting a shot.

If you are bottle feeding your baby, please bring along more than you think you’ll need!

POOP!

When doing the poses where the baby is undressed, it is normal (and okay!) for baby to poo or wee on my backdrop… or anywhere else. I can assure you this happens all the time and I am not bothered by it in the slightest! Please bring with you baby wipes and extra nappies. After each newborn session I launder all of my backdrops and wraps.

An extra set of clothes for the parents is a good idea, just in case. Someone always gets wee’d or pooped on, it’s usually me, but sometimes you!

A RECAP OF WHAT TO BRING

Babys change bag with extra nappies, wipes and a spare baby grow.
Extra formula if bottle feeding.
A dummy.

Spare clothes for you just in case your baby poops on you (Yes, that’s happened too, many times!).

If you use or are considering a dummy, please bring it along, it can be a HUGE life saver during the session. Some babies just need to suck something for comfort.

A simple white vest (smaller the better) for if baby is awake and does not like being without clothes on and one spare in the bag just in case of poop explosion (It’s happened!)

Snacks.

AFTER YOUR SESSION:

The balance of your collection must be paid on the day of your session. Once this has been paid, I will begin editing your images. You will receive you fully edited watermarked images within 14-21 days from the day of your session, sometimes sooner.

You will then be invited to make your selection and choose a package which best compliments your images. After 7 days have passed from your watermarked images being received, your images will be permanently deleted.