Maternity FAQ | Do you have any questions about having a maternity photoshoot?

What can I expect at your session?

Firstly, I will introduce myself and offer you a drink, then we can go through what you have bought and if you have any questions, ideas and so forth. Then when you’re ready we will start our photoshoot, where I will do a variety of different poses and you can change into a different outfit. If you feel uncomfortable at any time, you must let me know.

After your photoshoot I will show you the products I have, if you have not already seen these in a consultation, then you can have a rough idea of what you want with the poses and images we did at your session. Then we’ll get you booked in for your ’Reveal and ordering session’ where I’ll invite you back to the studio to see your pictures and make your order.

Sessions usually take around 30 minutes if your by your own and around 45-60 minutes if you have a partner and siblings.

When shall I book?

If your wanting to capture your maternity journey, then book your photoshoot around 6-8 weeks after your ‘booking session’ with the midwife if your wanting to have a pregnancy announcement photoshoot.

If your wanting a gender reveal, that’s best to be booked after you find out when your 20 week scan will be, then we can get you booked in as soon as possible after to create a gender reveal photoshoot/live video ect.

If your just wanting to capture your maternity bump, any time after your 20th week aiming for when your around 30-36 weeks pregnant is ideal, then your bump is noticeable and ample size, yet you’re not too uncomfortable in the end couple of weeks, where mobility is restricted for posing.

If you’re having multiple babies it’s properly best to aim for week 26-28 as twins and triplets tend to come early.

If your already about due, don’t hesitate to get in contact; I may have availability to get you booked in. I have photographed women as late as 39 weeks with beautiful results.

What shall I wear and bring?

The clothes that you wear during your session will play a vital role in how you feel during the shoot and about your photographs. I want you to chose clothes that you are comfortable and confident in, however we really want to show your beautiful form, so choose a few outfits that accentuate your beautiful body!

• Don’t wear anything too tight, which will leave marks on your skin if you are wanting fine art photographs.

• I suggest that you choose at least 3 outfits: Such like bold coloured dress, or a flowy dress. Dark blue jeans or black trousers with a lace bandeau, or a nice white shirt and matching lingerie set. A comfy oversized cardigan with jeans, or long socks.

• Don’t wear any large logos, patterns and try to coordinate your wardrobe with a maximum of three colours; for example you and your family all wear white, grey and blue.

You can bring your baby scan, anything that you have personalized, or sentimental that you’d like photographed like a lost loved ones photograph.

If this is a rainbow baby, please let me know if you’d like to add anything rainbow in, or personalized for the memory of your angel baby.

How much skin is on show? I’m not keen on the idea of having my belly out!

I understand that completely, some women are happy to be fully nude, whilst others choose not have their baby bump out and showing their skin and that’s fine. The choice is yours on how you’d like to be photographed and if you don’t want to show any skin and be fully clothed, that’s not a problem. If you want some light editing to soften up stretch marks, I can do that and my studio is private and you can have as much privacy for changing as you need.

Can I take behind the scenes photos whilst your working?

Absolutely, I believe in you having a full experience and memories, I know that people love to share these with their friends and family too (Because, I do too!) So feel free to and do tag my social media pages in your photos – But please don’t take any close up photos of the sets as these won’t be any justice and that’s what your hiring me for. Please also don’t use flash as this might distract me or disrupt my light when working. Getting the right light is so important in portrait photography.

My camera takes pretty good photos, why should I hire you?

Yes, mine does too as a Google Pixel phone, however taking your own photos sometimes don’t quite have the same effect as hiring a professional photographer. For example, you will get an experience, you can be in the photos (All without the stress of getting a decent photo) I will choose the right lighting and angles to show you at your most photogenic, I can edit your photos so they are aesthetically pleasing. Using the right lens to get the right proportion and details, using my experience to really capture your personality and having a high quality that will print into sharp and beautiful large photos, whilst providing lovely heirloom products. It’s ok to take plenty of pictures with your phone (I do too!) But hiring me with my patience, training, experience and artistic eye will give you long lasting beautiful photos that you can cherish, stress free!

How long to we have to wait before we see our photos?

Not long at all, I don’t overbook myself, so I can give my clients a real experience and getting everything right in camera with my experience and training allows me to edit your photos within 24-72 hours. There are no long waiting times at Victoria Louise photo studio, because I understand how excited you will be to see your photos (I’ve hired many professional photographers myself and been through the same process!)

I’ve had clients come in for their shoot on a Friday, view their photos the very next day, I’ve ordered the photos straight away before the print lab closes, the prints have arrived on a Monday, I’ve checked them over an packaged them and they have picked up the prints Monday night.

I have an efficient workflow and dedicated work ethic to give my clients the very best. I never rush editing either, because I would hate to produce substandard work. Every photo is carefully hand edited by myself; getting it right in camera really helps make things quick and easy and that’s what paying a professional is all about.

How do we receive our order?

If you choose that you’ll collect, I’ll contact you when your order is ready and we can set a time and a date for you to pop round to collect your order.

If you have selected postal delivery, this is charged additional; £2.99 for prints and £6.99 to £9.99 for bigger products.

Prints take 24 hours to 5 days to arrive, whilst canvases and photobooks can take up to a month to arrive.

Will you share my images online?

Due to GDPR that was introduced in April 2018, I ask you if you want a ‘sneak peek’ image and if you do not want your images online then I won’t put them online.

I occasionally put images on my social media stories for ‘behind the scenes’ photos; these will be non-identifiable (No face pictures or names) and discussed with you prior, because some people are happy to have the ‘snippets’ of their photoshoot shared, just not their faces and names. If you don’t that’s fine too.

I respect your privacy and I won’t put your image online if you don’t want me too, I am also a member of the ICO which I have been since 2018, to show my dedication to respecting your privacy.  

All images since 2018 have been discussed with my clients and they have allowed me to share, or share the ‘snippets’ images online.

If you wish for me to remove your image from online, I will happily oblige.

If you wish for me to delete your gallery after you have seen your images and made your order and for me not to keep the back-ups, that’s ok too – Just ask.

Can we have photos of my partner, or/and our other children in the photos too?

Absolutely.

Do you edit our images and do we get to choose them?

Yes, I do edit your photos, but only lightly though. I choose the best photos from your photoshoot, edit them and they are the images I present to you in your ’gallery’ then you can choose which ones you’d like printing, in your album or product.

I never show my clients the ‘raw’ images, because as a professional photographer I want you to see your photos at their highest potential, and you are choosing me for my style and artistry. Then you can choose which photos you want from your gallery (However, many of my clients want them all!)

Do I have to have photos in your studio?

Nope, we can have them outdoors, at your home, or at a chosen location. However I require travel expenses for anything outside a 30 mile radius of Gainsborough of 40p per mile.

Still got questions?

That’s ok you can either ask me at our free consultation, or you can use the contact page to get in touch with me.

Want to book?

That’s great I would love to meet you - Book online here.

Want to know more about my Maternity photography? Read my blog post here.

Want to know about my Newborn photography? You can read about it here.

I hope that covers everything and thank you for reading.

Love and light, Victoria Louise.