Newborn photography in Peterborough
What to expect from your newborn photography studio session with me
The first few weeks of your baby’s life are going to be incredible. The hourly feeding, the sleepy cuddles, the overwhelming love. Not being able to take your eyes off them for even a second! But babies are impatient for life. And in the blink of an eye your baby will grow into a tiny little human, and that wonderful newborn phase will be a memory. And that’s why I love newborn photography. Because it’s the perfect way to freeze time.
And so being your newborn photographer is a huge responsibility for me! Because I’m not just taking pictures. I’m capturing one of the most fleeting, precious chapters in your life with photos you’ll look at for decades to come.
And that’s why I do everything I can to give you an experience you’ll never forget. A blissful oasis of comfort and calm to look forward to in the first few whirlwind weeks of parenthood.
But I know the prospect of leaving the house with a newborn baby can seem a little daunting. So I’m going to tell you all about my newborn photography studio sessions. So you can read all about the experience, and decide if it’s the right choice for you and your child.
How my studio is set up for newborn photography in Peterborough
I want my studio to be like a home away from home for you. A little haven of comfort and happiness where you can just relax and enjoy the newborn photography experience. So I’ve done everything I can to make sure you have everything you need, and my studio is perfectly suited to your baby’s comfort.
The studio temperature will be around 25-28 degrees, the ideal temperature for newborn babies to feel warm and comfortable. There’s underfloor heating, a super-comfy sofa and changing and feeding facilities all on-hand as well. All-in-all, it’s a supremely comfortable place to spend a few hours.
There’s even chocolate biscuits!
The baby is the boss!
The most important thing is that your baby is happy and safe, right? So my newborn photography sessions are entirely baby-led.
We won’t force them to do things they don’t want to do, or into positions that make them uncomfortable. This can mean that sometimes the sessions take a little longer. But I’d much rather overrun a session than risk upsetting or distressing your child. So we’ll let the baby be the boss!
In the interest of safety, I always ask for a minimum of two adults to come to the studio session. Because for some setups, I’ll need an adult as a ‘spotter’. Their job is basically to stay just out of the shot and make sure the baby is safe while I’m taking photos.
Whilst usually being a ‘spotter’ is mainly a just-in-case spectator role, it’s still best if it’s someone other than the mother. Because giving birth is physically very draining and recovery can take a few weeks, especially after a C-section. So better to get someone who’s at full strength, so that mum can relax and enjoy the experience without being uncomfortable.
You’ve gotta love a bean bag!
One of my favourite newborn photography setups has to be the bean bag! The uncluttered nature of the shot allows me to focus on those beautiful little newborn details. The frog legs, the cupid bow lips, the peach fuzz on their cheeks. All those little details that make newborn babies so heart-meltingly cute!
The bean bag is also incredibly comfortable! And so usually your baby will be more than happy to settle in and have a snooze while I take the photos. Sleepy newborns who are happy to be moved around while they nap are perfect for what we call ‘flow posing’. This is where I move your baby into different positions while they sleep. And it gives you a wonderful variety of images to choose from.
This is very dependent on the baby though. Because some newborns aren’t as sleepy as others! But don’t worry, I’m a professional! If we’re unable to settle them, we can still use the bean bag to get some nice relaxed images of your baby. We’ll just allow them to wriggle around as they please (with ‘the spotter’ keeping an eye on them, of course!)
We will also use the bean bag to create some images with your hands in as well. And little knitted outfits and hats can also be used in this part of the session to get those utterly adorable shots
Newborn photography prop set ups
During the session I will use at least two different prop set ups. These are images of babies with, within, or on items. This is where ‘the spotter’ springs into action again, keeping a hand on the baby at all times to make sure they don’t get startled by the props. Don't worry though, supporting hands won’t be included in the final images.
To make sure your baby is safe, I’ll only position them on props if they’re sleepy and don’t wriggle around too much. Any babies who are wriggly but liked being wrapped can be wrapped up and placed into any relevant props. This helps to keep them calm and still while positioned within a prop.
Looking for newborn photography in Peterborough?
Newborn photoshoots are an unforgettable experience. Time set aside purely to bond with your beautiful new baby, take it all in and celebrate this new amazing chapter in your lives.
And the photos will be so precious to you in the future. Photos that in just a few months time, will make you say ‘look how small they were! I’d forgotten they looked like that!’ Photos that will be framed on the walls of every house you’ll ever live in. Because they’ll bring back all the emotions of first few weeks when your life changed forever.
You’ll find my studio in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire. So if you’re looking for newborn photography in Peterborough, I’m only a short 20 minute drive away. If you love my work and would like to book yourself in for a newborn photoshoot, I’d be delighted hear from you.
Please get in touch today.
Checklist of things to remember for your newborn photoshoot
Leaving the house with a newborn baby (potentially for the first time ever!) can seem complicated. So I’ve put together a checklist of the things you should remember and items to bring. Just to make it easier for your sleep-deprived mind when the time comes around!
Try to hold off feeding your baby for a period of time before you arrive at the studio. This can help them drift into a deep sleep when you arrive.
Bring bottles and formula if you are bottle feeding. I have a bottle warmer in the studio you’re welcome to use.
If you use a pacifier/dummy please also bring this as it can be used to help to settle your baby when posing.
Bring a blanket so that you can keep your baby snug between set ups.
Any personal props or favourite toys you’d like me to build into the images.
Changing things (nappies, wipes etc).
A Change of clothes for the baby in case of any nappy-related accidents!