Contact

LET'S TALK

Let me capture your story

Thank you so much for stopping by.

If you have any questions, would like to order a brochure or book a date for a shoot then I would love to hear from you. Fill in the form below, email me at stacey@lovelyphotocompany.co.uk or pop me a line on 07496614582. You can expect a response within 2 business days.

If you have a specific question, I hope to have answered it below, if you wish to scroll down to my FAQs.

Address

North East BIC, SR5 2TA

Phone

07496614582

Email

stacey@lovelyphotocompany.co.uk

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BEFORE THE SHOOT

When is the best age to have my baby photographed?
I love photographing new babies of all ages and I'm very flexible as to when the shoot takes place. My newborn session fee covers all new arrivals from birth up until 12 weeks. If you long to capture your baby while they still have that fresh "newborn look", you might want to schedule the session for 5 to 10 days after your due date. At this age you can expect your baby to sleep (and feed) for a good part of the session - just one of the reasons why I love to document these hazy, early days of parenthood so much.

If you'd rather give yourself a little more time to settle into new life as a family, then that is absolutely fine too. As the days and weeks unfold your baby will become more alert and awake for longer periods; allowing me to capture more connection and maybe even a few smiles. Whatever you baby's age, my promise is to create a wealth of beautiful and meaningful memories.

What areas do you cover?

I am based in beautiful Sunderland and cover the North East of England including County Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Northumberland, South Tyneside & Sunderland. I am able to travel further-a-field including overseas. Please contact me to discuss your location ideas. For wedding related photography and videography, check out my other site: https://www.thelovelyweddingcompany.com/

Do you have a studio?

Yes, I have a studio based in the North East BIC in Sunderland. New parents have enough to prepare on a daily basis with a newborn baby, having a studio gives parents one less thing to worry about when it comes to preparing their home for photographs. However, I do offer in home and outdoor sessions if preferred. I regularly do fun engagement and family photoshoots at the beach or parks and I offer lifestyle in home sessions for newborn shoots too. I want these memories to bring you joy every time you look at the images, so I am open to my clients suggesting where they would prefer the photographs to be taken,

How does your pricing work?
My cake smash and newborn in studio sessions are on my website. The price depends on your required package.
 
For family shoots I offer bespoke prices; every single shoot is unique - just as every family is. Often families have different sizes or requirements what they want from their photoshoots so please drop me a message with your needs and I will discuss a quote with you.
Do you sell gift vouchers?

Yes! I sell a limited number of vouchers each year. I always recommend contributing enough to cover the session fee, as well as one or two products.

Due to the level of investment involved I also recommend sharing my pricing guide with the gift recipients beforehand. Please see How does your pricing work?

Do you offer Nationwide location photo shoots?

Absolutely! I regularly travel for wedding photography and videography and would love to capture more births across the UK. I am happy to travel depending on what the requirements are.

Of course, if you'd like me to travel overseas to capture your family at home (or away) then, at certain times of the year, that can also be arranged and I look forward to hearing about your photography needs.

When should we book?
As soon as you know you want to have a photo shoot with me. I want to provide the very best service, and work, for each family I photograph, so I take on a limited number of sessions each month. As a result, I tend to get booked up 6 - 8 weeks in advance. At my busiest time of the year (October - December) it can be up to 12 weeks. For newborn sessions, I advise you book after your 20 week scan and for maternity sessions for when you are between 30-36 weeks gestation.

THE PHOTO SHOOT

How can we prepare for a photo shoot?

My biggest tip in preparing for a photo shoot is to relax. The less pressure you put on yourself, and your family, to get 'perfect shots' - the more likely we are to get them. I will send you plenty of information before the shoot with tips on how to prepare and we will also have a chat over the 'phone to go through any questions and ideas that you have.

What should we wear for our family shoot?
 

It's so important to be yourself so don't feel like you have to dress up for the occasion. I do recommend that you think about the colours of your family's clothes and how they work with the backgrounds we are shooting against. A good and simple rule is to coordinate but not match. For young babies I prefer simple items like vests but for toddlers and older children, feel free to play around with patterns, layers and accessories like hats. There will be more tips for what to wear in my pre-session guide and we will also have time on the day to talk through wardrobe ideas.

What if we are all camera shy?

Please do not worry if you, your partner or your children are camera shy. It is totally normal - I even feel the same way myself. I will spend some time getting to know you all better before I pull out my camera, and it will feel more like a play date with a friend, rather than a formal photo shoot. You won't even have to look at the camera if you don't want to. I want to capture natural and authentic moments, so just focus on having fun with your family and I will capture it all as it happens. You can read more about my style and my approach on my About page.

Where and when will the shoot take place?
The shoot will take place in your home or outside, somewhere you enjoy spending time as a family. I have photographed families in parks, out in the countryside, by the river and also in the beach. I am also happy to include both for older babies and children if you want to mix things up a bit, although I do suggest choosing somewhere close by. Most shoots take place in the morning before children get too tired and restless.
How long will the shoot last?
Most sessions take about 1-2 hours - although I don't work to a strict time limit as I know it can take some time for parents and children to relax and warm up to the camera. For newborn sessions, please set aside 3-4 hours. I always include time for bottle/breast-feeding and comforting for younger babies, and snacks and a rest from the camera for older toddlers and children.
What if the weather is bad?
For outdoor shoots - contrary to what most people believe, overcast is the best weather to have a photoshoot in. This gives a nice, soft light which is flattering. Also- no squinters!
 
If it rains we have options. We can either have a fun photoshoot in wellies and raincoats, move to an indoor space like a home or my studio. If the weather is really bad then there is potential to reshoot however, rebooking is strictly subject to my availability, which could be several weeks ahead.
Can we reschedule if my child is ill??
Absolutely, it's important that we get your baby or child is at their best in order to capture happy and joyful images. I am happy to offer one re-schedule free of charge due to illness. Please note that further re-schedules are subject to a re-booking fee (50% of the original session fee).*
*This does not apply to cake smashes. The booking fee is lost when rescheduling all cake smashes due to the costs to order in the cake and props, etc.

AFTER THE SHOOT

How do we choose our photographs?

Approximately two-three weeks after your shoot, I will send you a link to your private online proofing gallery. I am on hand to help you choose your photographs and provide recommendations for the different display options available. Your gallery will be live for one week for you to decide which photographs you would like to buy. You can order online, by email or over the telephone - whatever is easiest for you.

Can we buy digital files?

Yes, the digital files of your photographs are available to buy. The minimum is 10 photographs. Digital photographs are provided as high resolution jpg files and are available to download or presented on a USB depending on the package you choose. For more information on digital collections and other products or order a copy of my pricing guide.

Will the photographs be in colour and black & white?

The photographs in your gallery will be a mix of colour and black and white depending on what works best for each particular shot.

Do you offer retouching?

I will edit your chosen images to ensure there are no hidden buggers or dirt, etc. With newborns, I will do some editing to even out skin tones. However, I like to keep everything else as nature intended. I will consider special requests but please note additional retouching charges may be charged.

Do you provide RAW files?
I do not provide RAW files to clients. The type of RAW file differs by camera manufacture and model and a special software is needed to open them. I provide my clients with finished jpg. files that have been hand-edited to my personal style.
How long will it take to receive my order?
Digital files can be provided within 2 weeks of receiving payment if further editing I required, sooner if not, other products will take a bit longer. Prints approximately a week, wall frames two weeks and fine art albums approximately 4 weeks after the artwork has been approved.

INSTAGRAM

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