Category: Blog of a Portrait Photographer

New Parent Tips

Parenting is a minefield. Most of the time we are all making it up as we go along. There is a lot of trial & error and that is why I thought I would share some of my own experiences. Not just with my own daughter, but through all the information I absorb from my clients when they visit the studio. Over time I have built up an idea of what works and what doesn’t and I have picked up tips on products that I had never heard of. Often it is the companies with the smallest advertising budgets who are making the best products for your baby. Your midwife is not allowed to recommend particular brands but we are…. Here are a few random ones that come to mind. We normally have time during your newborn photoshoot to discuss many more and issues like tongue tie, mixed feeding….

Sleep

What did an NCT antenatal class and also the one at our local birth centre with the midwives. They both suggested this simple method of putting baby in the moses basket or crib with a blanket tucked in. It turns out this doesn’t work for most of us. The best success we had was with sleeping bags or grobags which we continued to use until she grew out of the largest size they made.

White Noise

We were given a Ewan the Sheep. It didn’t have any great affect in the beginning but by around six months it became a vital part of our bedtime routine. Other parents swear by apps that provide the noise of rain falling, a hairdryer or the washing machine. In the studio we use the Baby Shusher app mostly for distraction and to avoid complete silence.

Drugs

Our daughter suffered terribly with both colic and reflux. We never found out the cause nor the solution but believe that she eventually developed enough that she grew out of it. We experimented with diet, special milks etc. 

The medicine that seemed the kindest was Infacol. It is orange flavoured so doesn’t seem too mediciney.

If you do want to try Gripe water, bare in mind that the traditional stuff smells terrible. I doubt that you would want to drink it let alone give it to your baby. Luckily Boots make an own brand one that is apple flavoured.

Your GP is unlikely to prescribe you anything more useful until you have exhausted all the over the counter options. If you are tough enough the brave the screaming then your child will eventually grow out of it once their digestive system has finished developing. We eventually were prescribed Ranitidine.

Nappy Cream

For a long time we bought the brands that we got free samples of or vouchers for. Our daughter’s nursery and many people we know use Sudocrem, but when things got really bad there was only one thing that fixed it: Metanium. Make sure you get “the yellow one” not the white barrier cream. In the end we worked out that it was her diet that was causing the issues. Apparently girls get more affected than boys and it was the punnets of blueberries that she was ploughing through that were causing the problem.

I look forward to meeting with you one day soon and hopefully be able to share some thoughts and help you with the start of the beautiful journey that you are beginning.

Lockdown number 3

Well here we are, in the middle of lockdown number three, with the doors of the studio once again closed. We still of course have work to do. The problem with the on/off nature of these lockdowns is that we have been very stop/start. We spend the pre-lockdown time taking as many photos of babies as possible. Then use the lockdown time to process them. The post production side of things is really time consuming especially for the newborn photoshoots. And then, even once a client has seen their images and chosen what to order, there is still lots more to do. Ordering the frames, designing the albums, uploading the prints, packaging the order etc.

The first lockdown was a bit of a novelty. We didn’t know how long it was going to last and everyone was excited about was they could get done: banana bread etc. In our case, and given the time of year that it happened, the garden got plenty of attention. 

After the first lockdown however we swore that if and when we got locked down again we would make the most of it. Lockdown Two was all about potty training. No distractions of photoshoots, no nursery. Just potty training. 

Lockdown Three is different again. This time our daughter is at nursery still three days a week. She can’t go to her friends or grandparents so the rest of the time she is with one of us. So with the precious time that she is at nursery we are busy. Busy editing, ordering, posting on social media, writing blogs….. doing the accounts, making new props for the babies and so on.

Planning ahead

We have a long list of people to rebook when we are allowed to start work again. On top of that babies keep being born, people keep getting pregnant. So hopefully we will not have to wait for too long. Hopefully the numbers will start to go down and more people will get the vaccine. Many of our past clients work for the NHS and we have seen them receiving their jabs on social media which is good news.

How to persuade my husband to come to the family photography session?

A professional family photography session is a lovely thing to do. A lovely way to record this moment in time and preserve your memories forever. Often though, with these types of sentimental things, the dads aren’t quite so keen as the mums! We know it’s us mums that come up with all the good ideas, so here’s a few for you. A few ways that might help you seal the deal:

1.Pub Lunch on your way to the family photography shoot.

Being based in the beautiful Cotswolds means that we are lucky to have lots of lovely pubs to visit. Here are some of the ones nearest to the studio: The Tite Inn Chadlington, The Chequers Churchill, The Fox Chipping Norton.

Or you could plan your route with a stop half way. If mummy offers to drive he might even be allowed a cheeky pint too.

2. Jeremy Clarkson is our neighbour.

If dad is a motoring fan then he will be delighted to know that Mr Clarkson lives just over the hill on the same foot path as us. He has also just opened his new farm shop just a few hundred meters from the studio.

3. Tell him we retouch the images

And that we might be able to remove a few of those grey hairs/knock a few years off! Approach this one with caution. You know him best and whether this will work.

I hope that some of this helps. It’s meant to be light-hearted but who knows, it might work. Remember, when talking about newborns, it is very true that you only get one chance. They only stay this small for a very short time. I can speak from personal experience that I was in such a sleep-deprived haze that I can not remember what my daughter looked like at this stage. It’s certainly nothing like what she looks like now and I am very fortunate to have three pictures of her in a frame on the wall to look at everyday.

If you do manage to persuade dad that this is a great thing to do then take a look at this page for more information about newborn sessions, or if your children are older then have a look here for information about a family photography session.

Crochet Octopuses

They say that you learn something new every day. I thought that I had been doing this job for long enough now that I had heard almost all birth stories and baby related facts. I love meeting premature babies for a photoshoot. Their stories are always remarkable and incredible.

When we do the newborn baby photoshoot parents often bring some form of cuddly toy for baby to be photographed with. Often this is something that has been bought or given for the new arrival. Sometimes it is a family heirloom or perhaps the same toy that mum or dad had when they were a baby. More rarely it is an octopus. And these octopuses generally come with the babies who were born early or premature.
Only recently did one parent explain to me the exact reason for this. There are charities such as Octopus for a Preemie. They crochet these little octopuses to help premature babies through their first days of life. You can learn how to make one here.

“These little octopuses make babies, and their parents feel calmer and safer. The babies play with their tentacles as if it is their mother’s umbilical cord.
At the same time, parents can have the deserved little break, knowing their tiny precious ones feel more safe and calm with the tentacles in their little hands instead of pulling those life-saving tubes and cables out.”

Apparently it is quite a common occurrence for the alarms to go off in the intensive care unit. Baby pulls off one of the cables and this causes unnecessary concern for parents.

Isn’t my baby going to be too old?

If you are interested in booking a photoshoot for your premature baby do get in touch here. We understand that they may be older than babies normally are for a newborn photoshoot. Do not worry. We consider their suitability based on when they were actually due. If your baby was ten weeks early, then at six weeks of age they will still be very sleepy and very flexible. Still very suitable for a premature baby photoshoot and we would love to see them. We have many different props of different sizes for all sizes of baby. You can read all about a newborn baby photoshoot here.

Is is better to come to the studio or to have the newborn photoshoot it in my home?

This is a question that I am often asked. Of course there is a difference in price because we have to allow time for loading the car, driving to you and back. But I would advise that this shouldn’t be the deciding factor. There are many factors to consider depending on your circumstances. Below I have listed some of the advantages of each.

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Advantages of coming the our Baby Photography Studio

Choice

If you come to our baby photography studio you will have the choice of our full range of props, outfits, headbands, hats, blankets etc. If we come to you then we will have to make a selection to bring with us. We have a comfy sofa for you to sit on, outside space for taking photos and for your children to play.

Siblings

If you already have children you may want to consider how they are going to behave during the session. Depending on their age they may not see going to a baby photoshoot as the most exciting activity of the week. Often though, by bringing them to a new environment, they are on their best behaviour and we can get the best out of them. We try to get the family photos and the photos of them with their little brother or sister taken at the beginning of the session. Then they are free to go for a walk around our woods with dad, or play on our swings or talk to our chickens.

Tea

When you come to the studio you do not need to worry about a thing. Just turn up with your children and relax. We will put the kettle on. We will change their nappies and get them dressed. Also we will clean up after them. If you bottle feed we will take care of that too. You can sit back and enjoy the experience. We don’t even mind if you close your eyes for a minute or too. Just remember that if you have any sentimental items that you want to include then you need to bring them with you. And you might want to bring a change of clothes in case your baby has a little accident during the session.

Advantages of not coming to our Baby Photography Studio

The number one advantage has to be the fact that you are already there. You have just given birth. You might not have left the house yet with your little one. We could be coming to you anytime from day 5.  We like to capture those precious moments when they are still newborn. When they are still super squishy and still curl up like their were in your womb. So if you chose this option all you have to do is open the door to let us in. We are happy to move furniture around as required to make an ideal space for photographing your beautiful family. 

Siblings

If you read my comments above about how bringing your older children to the studio could be beneficial you must remember that the opposite can also be true. Only you know your children and how they are likely to behave. Sometimes parents decide that they are best off staying at home in a familiar environment and with all their toys to hand. Again, we try to get their involvement dealt with as early in the session as possible. Then they can run back upstairs once we are finished with them. We can always call them down again if we need them.

Tea

Unfortunately you will be responsible for putting the kettle on and you might need two extra cups 🙂 At the same time we like to remind you that you do not need to worry about tidying up, getting dressed or making an effort on our behalf. We understand that you have just given birth. We have been there and we just want to come and take some beautiful photos of your new baby.

Booking a Baby Photoshoot

You can follow this link to book either the studio or the home option for your newborn photo shoot.

 

Is Outdoor or Studio better for a Pregnancy Photoshoot?

This is a big moment in your life. You’re pregnant! Your body is amazing. It is doing amazing things. And you look great. Obviously your want to record this special moment and an outdoor pregnancy photoshoot is a great way to do it. Plus you get to come and have a fun chat and a giggle with us whilst getting dressed up. It’s a perfect excuse to go and get your hair and make up done. Perhaps you are on maternity leave already and have decided to pamper yourself before the arrival of your new precious baby.

So you’ve decided you’d like some photos. You’ve decided that you love the style of our work (you have good taste). But where to have them done? Here are some of the advantages of being on location and of coming to our studio.

Outdoor Location Pregnancy Photoshoot

We will come to you at any location within an hours drive of the studio (further by arrangement – I hear the south of France is nice at this time of year – but remember you might not be able to fly if you are too many weeks along). It could be your garden, a park, somewhere with beautiful cherry blossom, or the lovely colours of autumn leaves.

We will bring a selection of our dresses and gowns with us. You can bring whatever you want to wear too. It’s worth having a think about where you might get changed.

Let us know and then keep your fingers crossed for the weather.

Studio Pregnancy Photoshoot

Alternatively you may decide that you prefer the idea of coming to our studio. It cosy and warm, with cups of tea and all the facilities that you might need. We have a selection of different backdrops to provide you with a beautiful varied gallery of images and you won’t have to worry about privacy when you want to show off your bump.

On top of all this we are blessed with lots of outside space to use too. Immediately outside the studio is a gravelled courtyard, so if the weather is a bit hit and miss we can dash out and grab a few quick shots before rushing back into the warm. Beyond the Cotswold stone wall is 6 acres of woodland planted with 2000 British native trees so there are lots of different opportunities for beautiful backgrounds. What this means is that by coming to the studio you have the benefit of being able to combine the studio style photos with outdoor photos and without the need to pay the extra for us to come to you. Plus we will have all the dresses here for you to choose from and somewhere to get dressed.

Milk Bath Photoshoot

For the icing on the cake. Or the milk in the bath. We also offer, to those who fancy it, the option of having a milk bath. Not as a spa treatment but as a different photo opportunity. Here you lie in a bath of milk with beautiful flowers placed around you. Read here for more information.

Do get in touch if any of this sounds of interest. I’d love to chat to you, put you at ease or hear your exciting ideas.

Family Photography Studio

When we were choosing where to locate our family photography studio we always new that we didn’t need a high street location. The level of service that we offer means that we are not expecting newborn babies to be knocking on our door. So instead we choose a rural location offering us many of the things that we were looking for.

Reasons for a countryside location

The best part about where our family photography studio is located is the peace and quiet. Apart from the birds chirping we can go about our business without disturbance. Another plus is having ample free parking. A definite plus compared with clients having to struggle with car seats and changing bags in a busy town centre location. On top of that we have a beautiful woodland which we can use for photographs when the weather allows. We can either use the trees as a backdrop or we can wander along the paths. When we reach the other side of the woodland we can lose ourselves in a field of barley. It is really suited to maternity photoshoots, to family photoshoots and to toddlers who love to explore.

Reasons against a countryside location

There aren’t many really. Our family photography studio can sometimes be hard to find. To help we send out directions before the day and sat navs are pretty good these days. The internet speed isn’t the greatest but that is due to improve shortly. In fact I only thought to write this blog because the other night we had a power cut and because they could not find the problem they turned up at 4am with a generator as pictured. So all in all we love our location and fortunately so do our clients. I hope you get to visit it soon. To find our more about what we do you can read our other blogs here or look at our Instagram page here.

How many hours work go into a newborn photography session?

Some people are unaware how much work goes in to a newborn photoshoot. They assume you can just pick up your i-phone and take a few pics. Of course you can and there is a time and a place for these photos. Those spur of the moment photos; those special, private, intimate moments; the feeding in the middle of the night photos. What we are talking about is the photos on the coffee table photos, the photos on the wall of the nursery photos, the photos on your desk at work photos. So just to give you a little idea, here goes:

Before the newborn photography session

Before the day that we photograph your newborn baby there will have been plenty of emails shared between us. You will have let us know your due date so that we can reserve sufficient space in our diary. You will have decided whether you are going to come to the studio or whether we are going to come to your home. Once baby has made an appearance we will have sent you a form to fill in with your details and preferences. We will then have spent a couple of hours planning which different set ups we are planning attempt. Also, we will be matching colours and textures according to your requirements, your baby’s size and sex. We then get everything packed up or set up for the big day.

The day of the session

If we are coming to you, then the two us (two of us for safety reasons – one to hold the camera, one to hold the baby) will jump in the car with all of our equipment. We drive anywhere within an hour of the studio (further by arrangement). If you are coming to the studio then we will have tidied up and put the kettle on.

We tell parents to allow up to 4 hours for the session. The main reason for this is so that everyone is relaxed (keeping baby relaxed). We don’t want anyone feeling that they have to rush off for anything. The other reason is to allow plenty of time for feeding, cuddling, changing, accidents etc. Oh, and the occasional cup of tea.

After the session

Anyone keeping tabs will see that we are already up to potentially 16 man hours. Next Pamila heads to the computer to see what gems we have captured. She will make a selection of the finest images and retouch them to her unique style. This will be at least another full day’s work. Then we invite you back to the studio to watch a slideshow of the images and to decide how you would like to keep and display them. This may also involve coffee and biscuits.

Overheads

That’s all the fun stuff. As you can see we devote a lot of our time to your precious little bundle. You only get one chance as the newborn window is very small and we want to do our best for you. On top of all the hours we have had a lot of training from some of the best in the industry primarily focusing on your baby’s safety. We have public liability and professional indemnity insurance. We have spent thousands of pounds on top of the range equipment from iMacs and backups to cameras and lenses to studio lights and backdrops. Oh and a few hundred headbands, bonnets, blankets and props.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this article and that it might go some way to help you understand what is involved. To find out more or to make a booking click here or send us an email here.

Stay up to date with our latest photography sessions by following our Instagram feed here.