Frequently Asked Questions – Baby Photography Edinburgh
WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY NEWBORN SESSION?
Before your baby is born! It is so important to plan ahead. Capturing your newborn within the first two weeks of life while they are still sleepy and curled up, can make all the difference in your newborn portraits. My studio diary fills up around four to six weeks in advance so please call to schedule your newborn appointment before your baby is born. Since we never really know when your little one will arrive we will pencil your due date in the studio diary. When your baby is born we will schedule your appointment accordingly.
If your baby came early or if your baby is already born, don’t panic! We always do our best to squeeze newborns into our schedule and older babies take beautiful portraits too.
If your baby came early or if your baby is already born, don’t panic! We always do our best to squeeze newborns into our schedule and older babies take beautiful portraits too.
IS ONE WEEK TOO EARLY FOR MY SESSION?
Absolutely not! Newborn babies photograph best between 6-10 days old. At this point they are still very sleepy and like to curl up as if they were still in the womb. We take around two to three hours for a newborn session and leave plenty of time for feeding, nappy changes and cuddles. Come as soon as you are ready. We can’t wait to meet your new little one!
WHAT SHOULD BABY WEAR?
Newborns photograph best without any clothes at all. I also love to photograph newborns swaddled in blankets with lots of texture and snuggled up tight in bowls and baskets, so if you have a special blanket or two bring them. I have an extensive supply of newborn hats, wraps and headbands that coordinate beautifully with our blankets and props that I will use to style your images. Baby’s modesty will of course be protected in all images. I encourage clients to bring special, personal items which make the session and images especially meaningful.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR MY NEWBORN SESSION?
We recommend that you bring baby to the session well rested and plan to feed baby as soon as you arrive. Sleepy babies photograph perfectly, so we will ask you to undress and swaddle baby before the feeding so as to not disturb them by undressing them after they have fed. We take several breaks for feeding baby during the session to ensure that baby is happy and has a full tummy. We ask that you not be too concerned with scheduled feedings during the session and that you feed baby on demand or when they get a bit fussy to ensure their comfort and a smooth session. You will be sent a preparation guide and in advance of your newborn session so you will know all of the things we recommend to have the best chance of achieving those gorgeous sleepy curly poses.
CAN I BE PHOTOGRAPHED WITH MY BABY?
Absolutely! Rachael loves to capture the emotion of those special first days with your new little one and believes that there is no greater image than of new parents cuddling with and admiring their newborn child. Skin on skin images are a beautiful way to capture the purity of these relationships, but we also ask parents to bring a neutral coloured top so that they may serve as a backdrop for baby for some of the images. We can also bring in a make up artist if Mum wants to look and feel extra special for these once in a lifetime portraits, please just ask at the enquiry stage and we can arrange that for you.
CAN I BRING MY OTHER KIDS TO THE NEWBORN SESSION?
Of course you can! Older siblings are always welcome, but if you would like a chance to relax and concentrate on the beautiful images and products that we will creating for you, then you might want to arrange for a family member to take your older children away after family shots have been taken. The studio is very warm for newborn sessions (typically 28 degrees) which can become uncomfortable for older siblings and with the average session taking around 3 hours this can become tiresome for toddlers.
Frequently Asked Questions – General
WHAT IF SOMEONE GETS SICK?
Working with brand new babies and children we understand that sometimes the unforeseen can happen. We ask that if someone in your household has symptoms of a D&V virus that you reschedule your session as soon as possible. We operate a 48 hour policy and ask that your house is free of symptoms for at least 48 hours before you visit us to ensure that no nasty bugs can be passed on to our tiniest of clients. Similarly Rachael and her assistants will not work with your family until their household has been symptom free for 48 hours. Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any concerns.
DO YOU OFFER MATERNITY PORTRAITS?
Yes we do! Pregnancy is such a beautiful and exciting time for couples and what better way to remember this time than to capture beautiful images! Mums-to-be who choose to have a maternity photo shoot love to celebrate this magical time and the changes to their body.
It is advisable to book in for when you are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant. Most people secure their booking after their 20 week scan. You can also book their newborn session at this time. If you are expecting twins or multiple we may schedule your session slightly earlier to ensure you feel comfortable throughout.
For location sessions bright colours and layers work especially well. For in studio a simple vest top and maternity jeans or maxi dress look beautiful along with anything that helps to accentuate your beautiful bump! I can also advise on implied nude maternity posing for stunning fine art pregnancy portraits. I have a selection of maternity gowns and fabrics at the studio to choose from. I want to make sure you look and feel as fabulous as possible! We can also arrange for a make up artist to come to the studio to help you look and feel your most beautiful for these once in a lifetime portraits.
For more information and to view examples of my maternity photos click here.
DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH OLDER CHILDREN?
Yes of course! We love working with families of all ages and stages from bumps through to teens and multi generational family portraits. Depending on your requirements we can plan a either a relaxed outdoor session within the Edinburgh area or a more formal posed family portrait session in the studio. Outdoor sessions are perfect for active children who want to explore and run free rather than be confined in the studio and allow for a more relaxed natural portrait. Alternatively if you would rather have a more traditional family portrait in the studio we have full width studio backdrops available and enough space to welcome grandparents and other family members too! If you are unsure which would best suit your family please just ask! Based on the number of people in your family and the ages of those involved we can advise on what we think would be the best fit for you.
WHAT IF THE WEATHER IS TERRIBLE?
Sadly in Edinburgh we can never be sure of the weather regardless of the season! If we have planned an outdoor session and the forecast changes against our favour we will simply reschedule. That said, the weather does not have to be bright sun and t-shirt warm, crisp winter days are equally gorgeous on camera so as long as the wind and rain aren’t too bad we can usually still go ahead. If you are unsure please just call!
CAN I PAY BY CREDIT CARD?
Yes we accept all major credit and debit cards in the studio including American Express and from non UK banks. No card fee will be charged regardless of the kind of card you pay with.
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If you’d like to arrange a chat with Rachael
Please let me know when would be best for me to give you a call. I can answer any questions you have and you can find out if I am the right photographer for you.
