Session Information
FAQ’s
When is it best time to do the photo session?
It is best to book your baby’s session in for when they are 5-10 days old but sleepy newborn poses can be achieved with babies up to 4 weeks.
How early should I book in?
Make sure to book at least a couple of months in advance. Booking earlier is a great idea if you would like to pay off your session in instalments.
What if my baby is born late or early? Will you still be able to fit me in then?
Keep in touch with me about your baby’s arrival. If they are early or late I will try and book you in another day. I only book limited newborn shoots and certain days to ensure I have some flexibility for this reason.
Do you include family and sibling photos?
Yes, sibling and family photos are included in the newborn session however if you would like to have the family/sibling photos as a separate session it can be arranged for a fee.
What are digital backdrops?
Digital backdrops are used to create a composite image in photoshop. This is where the baby and the background are photographed seperately to create one image. This is usually done for a few reasons.
1.For the safety of baby. Some setups would be unsafe to attempt without doing a composite in photoshop. The most important thing during your newborn session is to make sure your baby’s saftey is never compromised. The hanging baskets are an example of composite images.
2. For the comfort of baby. Minimising the number of times a baby needs to be repositioned/moved will keep them more comfortable.
3. To make the most of the time we have. Changing setups and moving props around can be time consuming so I use digital backdrops to ultimately be able to give your more variety and a larger gallery of images.
What to do before your session:
- Give your baby a full feed before the session to get them nice and sleepy before the session.
- Have your baby ready in just a nappy and a wrap.
- Have a change of clothes ready for all adults as accidents can/do happen.
- Don’t have too many expectations, every baby is different and some babies don’t like certain positions so it’s best not to have your heart set on any particular pose.
- When I arrive I will ask that you turn the heating on after checking the room temperature.
- Please make sure to let me know if either your baby or anyone in the family is unwell so we can reschedule. I ask families to be mindful that I may photograph another baby in the same week and therefore need to be aware of any illness that is affecting anyone involved in the session.
- Please note newborn sessions take between 1-4hrs (average is 2 hrs).
What to wear
- Wear cool/light clothes as the room may be warm for the comfort of baby.
- For family photos pick either light or dark colours. Maternity dresses are also available for mum if needed (please let me know if this is the case).
- Outfits are provided for baby.
After your session
- Your gallery will be available for viewing approx. 2 weeks from the date of your session. If you haven’t already selected a package I am happy to meet with you so you can view your photographs and make your selections.
How to book
- Once you confirm you would like to make a booking you will be sent an invoice and contract. Your session is not secured until your contract is signed and retainer paid.
- A $200 retainer is required to secure your space.
- A date is set for a newborn session for approx. 1 week after baby is due but can be moved around if your baby arrives early or later than expected. For this reason I can only take a limited number of bookings each week.
Cancellations/ Rescheduling
- Where weather (outdoor sessions only), illness or due date is the cause of rescheduling, a new date will be negotiated. For all other reasons a rescheduling/cancellation fee of $100 will be incurred for each session rescheduled/cancelled.
Other
- Interest free payment plans are available upon agreement and finance is also offered through PayRight for 3, 6 and 12 monthly plans subject to PayRights approval process.
Baby sessions are generally for babies older than 6 weeks of age.
FAQ’s
What ages do you photograph?
I photograph babies at any age but I recommend sitting sessions around the time your baby can sit on their own (6-9 months of age).
Around this age your baby may be able to sit on their own for short periods of time. It’s a great time to capture their cheeky personalities and gorgeous smiles.
Other milestones are at 1yr and 2yrs of age.
Do you provide outfits for the session?
Yes, I have a range of outfits for your baby to use. If you would like to purchase anything particular to keep, you can do so from various vendors.
Here are a few of my favourites:
Session preparation
- It’s best to try and book your session around your baby’s sleep times. If your baby is tired during their session it will make it very difficult to get them to engage in the session and enjoy themselves.
- Dress your baby in clothes that are easy to remove particularly if your little one doesn’t like getting changed.
- Bring spare clothes.
- Bring a few of your child’s favourite items. E.g. favourite book or teddy.
- If the session is in your home I will ask that you tidy any areas where we will be taking photos if you don’t want clutter in the background.
- Please make sure to let me know if either your baby or anyone in the family is unwell prior to the session. If needed we can reschedule to a more suitable date.
- Baby sessions are usually around 45 minutes in duration.
What to wear
- Outfits are available for baby to use but there is a limited range so you are most welcome to bring anything you wish.
- Clothing/outfit changes will be limited to 2 changes in order to keep your baby happy and comfortable.
What to bring
- Change of clothes for baby.
- Snacks and drinks for older babies.
- All props and outfits are available to use.
After your session
- Your gallery will be available for viewing approx. 2 weeks from the date of your session. If you haven’t already selected a package I am happy to meet with you so you can view your photographs and make your selections.
How to book
- Once you confirm you would like to make a booking you will be sent an invoice and contract. Your space is not booked until the contract is returned and the retainer is paid.
- A $200 retainer fee is required to secure your session date/space.
Cancellations/ Rescheduling
- Where weather (outdoor sessions only), illness or due date is the cause of cancellation a new date will be negotiated. For all other reasons a fee of $100 will be incurred for each session rescheduled/cancelled.
Other
- Interest free payment plans are available upon agreement and finance is also offered through PayRight for 3, 6 and 12 monthly plans subject to PayRights approval process.
What to wear
I have a large selection of maternity dresses and materials that I use for sessions, however you are most welcome to bring anything you like from your own wardrobe as this will add a personal touch to your photos.
You can also rent dresses from various places. Here’s a link to Mama Rentals who have beautiful gowns for hire : Mama Rentals Click Here
Some of my favourite maternity vendors and rental services:
Baby Belly Wear Australia– Buy and rent.
Eden Elizabeth – (Australian) Buy
Tigercubs – (Australian) Buy and rent.
Hair and Makeup
I recommend sticking to a more natural look for hair and makeup. I am happy to make recommendations for a HMUA.
Location
Maternity sessions can be at your home or outdoors. Outdoor sessions are done just before sunset or late afternoon.
* Bring mosquito repellent for outdoor sessions.
When to book
- I recommend having your photos taken anywhere from 28-35 weeks. It really depends on how you are feeling.
- Bookings should be made a couple of months in advance so we have time to plan but I always try to accommodate last minute bookings where I can.
After your session
- Your gallery will be available for viewing approx. 2 weeks from the date of your session. If you haven’t already selected a package I am happy to meet with you so you can view your photographs and make your selections.
How to book
- Once you confirm you would like to make a booking you will be sent an invoice and contract to complete.
- A $200 retainer is required to secure your session date/space.
Cancellations/ Rescheduling
- Where weather (outdoor sessions only), illness or due date is the cause of cancellation a new date will be negotiated. For all other reasons a fee of $100 will be incurred for each session rescheduled/cancelled.
Other
- Interest free payment plans are available upon agreement and finance is also offered through PayRight for 3, 6 and 12 monthly plans subject to PayRights approval process.
The booking process
- Your initial consultation will be over the phone to discuss times and dates and answer any questions you may have.
- Once you confirm that you would like to book a session in I will send through a contract and invoice and organise a time for a full consultation.
- Before your session you will be asked to complete a questionaaire and we will have a 0.5-1hr phone or in person consutation to discuss your photography session. During this consultation we can discuss clothing/styling and what you want out of your photography experience. We will also discuss what you can expect both from the session and the process that follows the session.
Preparing for your session
- If you are having your session at home you should tidy the areas that you will want to use for photos if you don’t want clutter in the background as backgrounds will not be edited.
- If you are having your session outdoors then make sure to bring anything you may need for the session including a change of clothes, hairbrush, and insect repellent.
- A couple of days before your session I will contact you to confirm that everything is still ok to go ahead.
- If it is raining on the day and you are scheduled for an outdoor session I am happy to reschedule for another date or do an indoor session instead.
What to wear
- Keep it simple in regards to patterns and prints but don’t be scared to use a little colour. Avoid shirts with big logos as these can be distracting in the photos.
- Avoid having everyone looking the same but make sure your colours still blend well together. Wearing the same colour is fine but vary the tones.
- Wear clothes you feel comfortable or good in so you don’t have to worry throughout the session about your clothes. Bring spare clothes in case of accidents.
On the day
- Relax and be yourself. I will direct you as little or as much as needed.
- What to Bring:
- Baby wipes to wipe faces etc.
- Snacks for small kids
- Change of clothes.
- Insect repellent for outdoor sessions.
- Hair brush, lip gloss, hair clips etc
- Outdoor family sessions are usually 1-2hrs but will depend on the age of any children involved.
- Please trust me to work with your children, I will ask for guidance from you as required. The most important thing is not to pressure your child to smile. Often you may think your little one is misbehaving but it is a great opportunity for me to capture candid moments and their cheeky personalities.
After your session
- Your gallery will be available for viewing approx. 2 weeks from the date of your session. If you haven’t already selected a package I am happy to meet with you so you can view your photographs and make your selections.
How to book.
- Once you confirm you would like to make a booking you will be sent an invoice and contract and to complete.
- A $200 retainer is required to secure your session date/space.
Cancellations/ Rescheduling
- Where weather (outdoor sessions only), illness is the cause of cancellation a new date will be negotiated. For all other reasons a fee of $100 will be incurred for each session rescheduled/cancelled.
Other
- Interest free payment plans are available upon agreement and finance is also offered through PayRight for 3, 6 and 12 monthly plans subject to PayRight’s approval process.
