Firstly congratulations! And thank you so much for thinking about booking a session with me. I am so excited to work with you and your family and to capture some beautiful, natural moments that you can cherish. This session guide will tell you everything you need to know about a photoshoot with me and how you can prepare.
I take a very relaxed approach to all my sessions. My main aim is to make everyone feel comfortable and is very much led by baby. My style is a hybrid between lifestyle and documentary. This means that I do a mix of standing back and capturing what unfolds in front of me as well as offering little prompts here and there and directing you into the best light. I do minimal posing but I may ask you to sit or stand in a certain spot or light and ask you to hold and hug each other to get some detail and family photos but that will be all.
“Leanne is such an incredibly talented lady who has captured the most natural candid images of our family!"
what to expect
I find that newborn babies are happiest when they are being held and so most the session will be focused on capturing your connection with your new bundle and telling a story of these early days together. However if the baby is happy to, I will try and get some of them on their own in their cot or lying on the bed. This is perfect to get details shots of hands, feet and hair.
When I first arrive I will chat to any older children a little and perhaps ask them to show me their toys and their room so that they get to know me and feel comfortable. I will take a little tour of your house and find which rooms I think would be best to do the photos in. Usually these are just the rooms with the best light. Please don’t feel you need to tidy up or clean too much as I take a documentary approach it’s all about capturing your family for who you are and how you live so you can look back in years to come and remember exactly how it was at that time.
Don’t worry if the baby needs feeding or changing as I allow plenty of time to get all the photo’s we need and we will take the baby’s lead.
WHAT TO WEAR
I would advise that baby just wears a vest or an outfit that shows their hands and feet so that we can easily get detail shots of those. We can wrap them up in swaddles or blankets so they don’t get cold but I find it best not to do outfit changes and to keep it simple. For the rest of family, the most important thing is that you must feel comfortable, otherwise it will show in the photos. However if you need a bit of guidance here are a few tips:
Do's
Mums - if you are feeling body conscious or in any discomfort, wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Leggings/baggy tops/floaty dresses all work well.
Soft and neutral tones will always photograph well, e.g. pastels or greys/beiges/whites (not all white though)
Earthy tones will give a more vibrant feel and look great together (burgundy/greens/mustards/blues/burnt oranges)
Use variation in colours for each person as well as mixing up different textures (denim/cotton/wool/linen, etc) this will add depth and texture to your images
Layering looks lovely in photos and can give you variation (scarfs/shirts/hats/cardigans/jackets – depending on weather)
Dont's
Ideally stay away from too bright or overly patterned clothes as this will take away from what is happening in the images
I would also advise to stay away from big logos/brands printed as this will takeaway from the timeless feel of the images.
Don't all wear the same item of clothing or same colour, e.g. all jeans and all white shirts. This will look too contrived. We want each personality to shine.
During our pre-photoshoot discussions I am more than happy to help you with your outfit choices further and you are more than welcome to email me some ideas or any options that you have already in your wardrobe. Ideally I wouldn’t want you to spend where you wouldn't need to. I want you to feel comfortable and confident!
"Leanne not only creates beautiful photos and memories, she is so friendly, relaxed and accommodating. She makes an ordinary situation look magical and I would recommend her to every single one of my friends and family. Love all our photos.”
how you can prepare
If you have older children, talk about how you are meeting me to take photos of your family and let them know why, e.g. we want nice photos for you to look at when your older or because we would like nice photos of you on the wall. Tell them it will be fun!
What to have ready - a favourite book for any older children to read to the baby, any items or blankets you would like included, a snack and a drink for all of you!
What to do - Lots of cuddles with baby, being close to one another, stroking babies hair and gentle kisses, enjoy spending some time together. If you have older children, smile lots and try to stay calm (even if things are a little stressed) this will rub off on the little ones. Offer them lots of cuddles and tickles.
wORRIES/CONCERNS
My house is a mess! - I know how hard it is to get on top of housework with a newborn. I honestly don’t want anyone to stress before a photoshoot. Just work on getting yourself ready and we will work around any clutter or I will move it out the way of any shots for you. Some clutter I feel also adds to the story, such as, cards in the windowsill, baby bottles on the tables or muslins draped over the sofa.
What if my baby is unsettled? - Luckily with lifetstyle and documentary photography, lots of time will be spent taking pictures with the baby where they should be, in your arms. This usually helps with unsettled babies. I use a storytelling approach, so if they are a little unhappy that is all part of the story! For newborn sessions I also allow up to 3 hours so this allows time or feeding, settling, changing etc. If you and your baby are feeling a bit stressed, I am happy to rearrange or come back another day to try again.
What if my older children aren't interested? - don't worry, I have lots of tricks and games to engage older children that they wont even know they are doing it. Don't forget this is all about your family as they are, so if they aren't too interested in their new sibling that is all part of the story. We absolutely will not force anything they don't want to do. A disinterested toddler is better than an unhappy one!
I'm feeling body conscious - don't worry, I know all the angles that will compliment you. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and you will look comfortable in the photos. You will not regret being in these photos with your brand new baby when you look back on them in a few years, I promise!
What happens if my baby is early or overdue? - I keep 2 weeks free around your due date for this reason. As soon as your baby is born, let me know and we can pencil in a few options. Then just let me know when you are ready. You might be up for a photoshoot straight away or you might want more time until you feel ready. The beauty with this type of photography is that the baby doesn't have to be any particular age. A newborn is classed as anything up to 6 weeks but if your circumstances change we can even go older. If you are much earlier or later, I am flexible so just contact me for a chat!
what's next
If this all sounds like it suits you and what you are looking for I would love to hear from you! I will then contact you to discuss a date and location and will send you the booking details which includes a pre-photoshoot questionnaire, along with my contract and booking invoice. I would advise getting in touch when you have had your 12 week scan so that I can book you in around your due date. I will then keep 2 weeks around your due date free and then you just let me know once your beautiful bundle is here.
Nearer your due date, I will give you a call to discuss any questions you may have and so you can get to know me a little more before we meet.
Please contact me with any questions at all! There is a contact form on my website or you can email me on leanneelizabethphoto@gmail.com or my number is 07758833962. I am always up for a chat!