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 utmost 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, never ever forcing 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 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 and blankets in them 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...

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 used to being curled up in the womb, so 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  them. You can contact me at any time during your pregnancy to give me an estimated due date  and we will make a tentative booking around that date.  (This will give me a rough idea of when  your baby might arrive and once your baby comes the date will be changed accordingly.) There is  a $50 non-refundable deposit to secure your appointment spot, as I only take a limited amount of  appointments each month. (This deposit will go towards your package cost later, it is only collected  early to hold your spot). Once your appointment is secured, 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  has arrived, you can contact me to arrange the exact date for your session.

Where and when your session is held...

After booking your session, we will have a 15-30 minute pre-session consultation over the phone.  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 of what  products you would like created for display & heirlooms. This will also give you time to ask any  questions you may have. Your actual newborn session will take place at my home studio on  Ocean View Drive in Wamberal just a couple of blocks from the Terrigal Lagoon. 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 can vary. 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. Please allow 2 1/2 – 4  hours depending on which package you choose (see Prices & Products tab  for session details). It may not take this long but planning for 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 unlimited tea and coffee,  snacks, complimentary Wi-Fi, plus an iPad and a TV with multiple movies  sites. 

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 I can help you get the best image 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, complimentary Wi-Fi, plus an  iPad and a TV with multiple movies sites. If there is something specific that  you want for food, drink, or entertainment then feel free to bring along  whatever makes you most comfortable.

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Proofs & Product Ordering...

Each client gets a Foundation Package to start with.  This needs to be paid for by  the time of your session (cash, bank transfer, PayPal, or Visa/Master/American  Express credit cards are excepted).  Payment plans are available if needed.  Your $50 deposit will be deducted from your  total cost. You can add as many other prints and products as you like to your  foundation package. Please have a look at the Products & Prices page to get a full description of  everything. 

Two weeks after your session, I will come to your home and show you your images so that you can decide which images you want printed for your artwork. Once you let me know & have paid in full, the products & prints will be 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. So allow 5-6 weeks for you to get your final artwork.  I am also happy to help you install/hang your artwork when I arrive (for an additional fee).  This way, you can start enjoying them on your walls as soon as possible!

***If paying with the payment plan, please note that this time might be a bit longer. Your products will not be ordered until your account is paid in full.