FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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.

hat areas do you cover?

I am based in beautiful South Shields 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.

Do you have a studio?

I only shoot on location: your home or somewhere you love to spend time as a family. That could be your local park, out in the countryside or along the river. I want to capture real memories for your family in meaningful settings.

How does your pricing work?
I offer a bespoke experience for all my families; every single shoot is unique - just as every family is. My session fees start at £125. This covers the photo-taking time on the day and also some time in the weeks leading up to your shoot preparing: getting to know you via a consultation and ensuring space in my diary should your baby arrive earlier or later than expected. It also includes my time and artistry to create a gallery of beautiful images that tell the story of a morning in the life of your family. I will work in a digital dark room to enhance each photograph to the very best professional quality: working on colours, black and whites and any re-touching, if required.


The session fee does not include any of the photographs, printed or as digital copies. You have the freedom to choose from a selection of products and collections. I do not have a minimum spend but as a guide, most of my clients invest a further £450 - £3,000 on a range of beautiful, heirloom-quality, printed and digital products. For further details of my product pricing please

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 North East location photo shoots?

Absolutely! I love meeting families from all over the world and helping them to create happy memories of their time in the UK. I've had the pleasure to photograph families from the USA Canada, Singapore, Thailand, China, Saudi Arabia and Australia. I'll come with camera in hand and a whole host of location ideas, as well as tips and recommendations for your trip.

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.

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.

Wher 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 central London. 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 and when I arrive at your home I will look around to see w hat rooms have the best light and backgrounds.
How lonfg will the shoot last?
Most sessions take about 2 hours - although I don't work to a strict time limit. If you would like to be photographed at two locations (e.g. your home and a local park ) it may take a bit longer . 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?
In the lead up to your shoot I will keep a close eye on the weather forecast. If it looks to be wet we have a few options...


Change the location to your home and stay warm and dry indoors .

Make a feature of it - think welly boots and jumping in puddles!

If you really want shots outside, but the weather is very bad, I am more than happy to re-schedule for another date (please note this is subject to my availability - you may have to wait a few weeks ).

Please do not worry if the day turns out to be grey and cloudy, overcast skies produce beautiful soft light which is very flattering.

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).

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 two weeks 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?

Most of the children I photograph have a runny nose at some point during the shoot so I will I will re-touch your final selected photographs to clean up any dirt etc. I leave everything else as nature intended unless you have a special request. 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 24 hours of receiving payment, 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.

LET'S TALK

If you are expecting a new baby or looking to document your family's unique story please get in touch below, I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

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 0700 123456. You can expect a response within 2 business days.

INSTAGRAM

Follow along for more on motherhood and capturing memories on camera