Newborn FAQ: Do you have any questions about having a Newborn baby photoshoot?

Don’t worry, I know all too well how daunting it is to find the right photographer and have anxiety about not knowing, because I’ve done it all myself. Here are the all the frequently asked questions I get and more information about how I work.

My baby has already been born, can I still book a Newborn photoshoot?

Absolutely, I always keep a couple of slots in my diary free for last minute bookings, because I know how busy life can be as a mum – I’m a mum too and it’s a juggle, especially when you’re working too!

If you’ve missed the newborn posed baby window, don’t worry we can always have a naturally newborn session up to your baby being 3 months, or an older baby session of your baby is 3-6 months old. Learn about my older baby milestones sessions here.

Can we choose props and color scheme?

yes, you can request a color scheme that matches your babies nursery, the aesthetics of your home, or your favorite color in the booking form. I ask so that I can set up prior to your session with what you want. However, I may not have your chosen color, because I am not a heavy prop user, but if you look at my portfolio you can see what I offer.

How do you handle our baby and what shall we do when you are photographing our Newborn?

I am very careful with your newborn, it’s important for me to get to know them and they get to know me, so once you are in the studio and we have made introductions and drinks, I will ask to cuddle your baby; this way they can get to know my voice and my smell, and this should help with a smooth session.

You can relax when I’m photographing your newborn, bring a book or magazine with you, or even have a nap – I know all too well how tiering those early days are! I treat all babies like I would my own, carefully and with love. Your baby is in experienced and safe hands. I even have Free Wi-Fi, should you need it, so take some time out and chill whilst I capture you baby.

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 please 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.

What if my baby doesn’t settle?

That’s fine, if you’re your baby is having a growth spurt they maybe in pain and sometimes babies have bad days, so I offer a free re-shoot session if I feel like the session isn’t going well.

However, with my experience I am usually able to calm and sooth babies, and with a bit of patience I can generally settle most babies. If your baby has a dummy we can use that and just have some time out – this is why newborn sessions are longer than average photoshoots as they factor in settling, feeding and changing time.

My baby has scratched themselves, has flakey skin, spots ect, is this ok?

Yes absolutely, I generally take out scratches and spots in my editing process. Babies often get milk spots on their face, have red rashes and flakey skin, it’s all normal and I will tidy up your newborns skin all within my workflow, this will look natural and not overly edited. Unless of course you don’t want me to edit your baby.

I hate having my photo being taken, do I have to be in them?!

Nope! I want you to be happy and comfortable. I get it, I don’t like having my photo being taken too (Or like the way I look after gaining 80 lbs!) However, I do encourage you to have at least one photo with your baby, this is just for you. You don’t have to show it to anyone, just something for you to have memories with your baby during this time. You can also not display your image up in your home, but just have it in your memory box – just so you don’t regret missing out on not having a photo of you and you baby.

Having done this a long time, the amount of mums that say to me of ‘Oh I don’t have any real good photos of me in the early days’ its outstanding! I get it, it’s a super sensitive time, but let’s just have one photo for the future (And trust me when I say this; your kids don’t give a crap what you look like, all they want is a loving parent that’s there!)

We can also just use your hands for some posing, so you’re in them, but not in them a such.

Do we have to choose a package before our photoshoot, or before we see the images?

Nope! I get it, you don’t know exactly what photos you’d like yet. I require £20 deposit to secure your session at booking, then £99 session fee on the day of your photoshoot. When you come to see your photos, you can then choose what package you want and deduct the £99 you have paid for. However, if you want to get ‘A La Carte’ from the pricing menu and not a select package that is fine, these will be at the cost you see on the menu.

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 Newborn 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 leaving you having a high quality photos that will print into sharp and beautiful large pictures, providing lovely heirloom products for your future family legacy.

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 and beautiful photos that you can cherish, all stress free!

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

Not long at all, I don’t overbook myself, so that 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, then the prints have arrived on the Monday. I’ve checked them over and packaged them, and my clients have picked up their prints by 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 sub standard 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 to 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.

Do you share our 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 us, or 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, 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 Newborn photography? Read my blog post here.

I hope that covers everything and thank you for reading.

Love and light, Victoria Louise.