Safety & comfort for your baby...
As a mum myself, I was always quite concerned (anxious actually) about who was handling my newborn baby when my girls were so tiny. So, I thought I’d start off by sharing a bit about my high standard of care for your precious little baby. …It is my highest priority that your baby is safe and comfortable for the whole duration of the photo session! I have extensively trained & been educated by the leading teachers & medical advisers in newborn photography so that the care of your baby is the best. I always continue my education on this topic so that my knowledge is current and up to date. I gently move your baby into poses and am always baby led, meaning that I never ever force a movement that your baby might be uncomfortable with. I am constantly attentive to their circulation and breathing. The temperature in the room is always set for the baby (not for the adults) so that they are warm enough, even during set-ups where they don’t have much covering them. There is always a hand on or near your baby while taking the photos. A camera strap is always used when taking an image over top of the baby. I wash my hands and use hand sanitiser throughout the session to make sure your baby isn’t exposed to unnecessary germs. I have all vaccination and shots needed to safely work with newborns. Fabrics used are always clean. There are weights in larger props so that they are always sturdy. There are blankets in the props so that it’s soft on your baby’s skin. When needed, I do composite photos of the baby to ensure safety… meaning an assistant’s hand is holding your baby’s head securely in the photo, but then the hand is removed in Photoshop for the final image.
When to book your newborn session...
You can contact me at any time during your pregnancy, and we will make a tentative booking around your due date. This will give me a rough idea of when your baby might arrive. You can keep me updated, closer to your due date, to let me know if your baby has arrived or not. Then after your precious new baby is born, you can contact me to arrange the exact date for your session. My preferred time to photograph a newborn baby is when they are under two weeks of age. During this time, they are very sleepy and still use to being curled up in the womb. This makes it easier to pose them. After two weeks, babies can be harder to settle and things like colic and baby acne can start to flare up. I want to note that if you are reading this after you have had your baby, and they are already older than 2 weeks, please do not be discouraged! We absolutely can still do a beautiful photo session, to document this precious time, while your bub is so tiny. It just might change the kind of poses we can do, and your baby might need to be wrapped in a lot of the images.
Where and when your session is held...
When booking your photography session, we will have a 15-30 minute pre-session phone consultation. This gives me a chance to get to know your personal taste & home decor. I like to find out any themes or colour schemes that you prefer, so I can fully customise your family’s artwork & be prepared to make something special for your family. I like to discuss your end goal to know what heirloom products you would like created for your walls and display. This will also give you time to ask any questions you may have. Your actual photography session will take place at my home studio on Ocean View Drive in Wamberal (Terrigal end). I use natural light for photographing, so I always schedule the sessions for when the light is at it’s best in my studio area. Sessions normally start at 9:30am.
How long your session will take...
Each newborn baby is different, so the time of your session will vary. There are a number of different factors that determine the time. Some babies stay asleep for a long time & go into poses with ease. Others are very sensitive to touch & take a lot more time to settle. Some babies want to eat more frequently & need more nappy changes then others. A lot of families like to have parent & sibling photos, though some choose to only get photos of baby only. Please allow 2 – 3 hours for the session. This will allow plenty of time for choosing setups, settling, & as many feeds & snuggles as your little one desires. This will also allow time for any shy or younger siblings to warm up to the camera when needed. To help pass the time, when you are not needed for the images, there will be complimentary tea and coffee, snacks, & Wi-Fi. There are toys & TV to keep the siblings busy as well. I normally start the photo session with parents, family, and siblings set ups, so that dad & siblings can get off to work & school if needed.
What to bring to your session...
I will supply all the wraps, props, and accessories for your newborn photo session. If you have something very special and meaningful that you want to incorporate into one of the photos, then please let me know ahead of time. I want to plan accordingly so that I can help you get the best artwork possible. If you choose to use a dummy for your baby, please bring 2 (one is for a backup). This will help your baby to stay settled while posing them. If you bottle feed your baby, please bring enough milk supply to last them up to a 4 hour session (please keep in mind to add the time of the car ride as well). If you breast feed your baby, but use a pump and bottle as well, then please consider bringing 1-2 bottles of milk along with you. This will possibly help me feed your baby without moving them or taking them out of a pose, ultimately cutting your session time down. (Please note that if you do not use dummies or bottles, that is completely okay. Dummies and bottles are just a suggestion for settling the babies that already use them.) There will already be unlimited tea, coffee, filtered water, snacks, Wi-Fi, and a TV with multiple movies sites. If there is something specific that you want for food, drink, or entertainment, then please feel free to bring along whatever makes you most comfortable.
Proofs & Product Ordering...
The week after your session, I will come to your home for an ordering appointment. I will show you your unedited images so that you can choose which ones you would like professionally retouched for your final artwork. This is also where you will get to choose the products you would like (framed prints for your wall, albums, or a beautiful portfolio box with matted prints inside). Once you have chosen everything, & have paid in full, THEN the products & prints will be ordered. Once ordered, it will take around 3 weeks for me to receive all of your artwork. Once it all arrives, I will call you to arrange the best time for me to deliver your items. I am also happy to help you install/hang your artwork when I arrive. This way, you can start enjoying them on your walls as soon as possible!
Terms and Conditions
All of the images taken by Jess Roland Photography are subject to copy right, and are in no way shape or form to be edited by anyone other then Jess Roland Photography. They are not to be changed, cropped, or re-shaped in anyway (Unless Facebook has cropped the image automatically for profile picture/cover photo). They are also not to have filters (Instagram/ Facebook) applied to any of the images. They are not to be sold to anyone, or given away for stock image purposes. Watermarks are never to be removed. Jess Roland Photography is not responsible for any bad quality printing of images that anyone tries to reproduce. She strongly urges you to order prints only through Jess Roland Photography who will order from her professional printing lab.
Say Hello!
Complete the form below to reserve your photography session or ask Jess for more information.