PREPARING FOR YOUR SESSION

A little guide to help you feel relaxed, prepared and excited for what's to come.

Before We Meet

Firstly, thank you.

I’m so glad you’ve chosen me to photograph this little chapter of your story.

Those first weeks with a new baby are such a strange mix of everything. You’re getting to know this tiny new person while finding your feet in a completely new version of everyday life. The days can feel long, the nights even longer, and somehow, at the same time, it all changes incredibly quickly.

And amongst all of that, you’re changing too.

That’s a really important part of these sessions for me. Of course, we’ll photograph all of those tiny newborn details you’ll want to remember, but I also want you to be there. The way your baby curls into you, those sleepy cuddles against your chest, the way they settle in your arms and all the little things you’re already doing without even realising they’ve become part of your everyday.

There is absolutely nothing your baby needs to do for our session. They don’t need to be asleep, content or on any sort of schedule. There’s time for feeding, changing, cuddling and settling whenever you need it. And you certainly don’t need to arrive feeling completely put together either.

I’ll gently guide you throughout, so you never need to wonder what to do with your hands or where to look, but there will always be plenty of room for you to simply be with your baby too.

This page has everything you need to know before we meet, from choosing what to wear to what you might want to bring with you. Have a little read beforehand, and when the day comes, we’ll take everything else at your baby’s pace.

A little reminder...

You don't need your baby to sleep.

You don't need to worry if they need feeding, changing or settling.

You don't need to know how to pose or what to do in front of the camera.

And you definitely don't need everything to go perfectly.

You just need to turn up, exactly as you are.

I'll gently guide you through the rest.

For most of my early motherhood sessions, I’ll come to you.

There’s something really lovely about photographing these first days and weeks at home. It’s where you’re getting to know your baby, where you brought them home for the very first time, and where so many of those tiny everyday moments are already beginning to happen.

It also makes life with a newborn that little bit easier. Everything you might need is already there. There’s no packing a bag, worrying about forgetting something or trying to get everyone out of the door on time. If your baby needs feeding, changing or settling, we simply stop and take our time.

And please don’t worry about whether your home is ‘photo ready’. It doesn’t need to look like it belongs in a magazine, and you certainly don’t need to tidy every room before I arrive. I’ll look for the beautiful pockets of light and the spaces that work best, and we’ll usually only use a couple of areas of your home.

More than anything, I love that your home becomes part of these photographs too. One day it might not be where you live anymore, the nursery will change and the rooms will look completely different, but this was your baby’s first home. I think there’s something incredibly special about remembering that.

Prefer to head outside?

We absolutely can.

If an outdoor session feels more like you, we can head to the coast, woodland, moors or somewhere that already means something to your family. We can chat about what you have in mind and I’ll help you choose somewhere that works beautifully for this stage.

Where we'll photograph your story

Our Time Together

There really is no set way that our time together needs to unfold. Your baby will very much lead the way.

We’ll take things slowly, with plenty of time for feeding, changing, cuddling and settling whenever it’s needed. If your baby is wide awake, that’s lovely. If they sleep the whole way through, that’s lovely too. And if they decide they’re hungry just as we’re about to start, we’ll simply stop.

There’s no rush and no expectation for your baby to do anything other than exactly what they need to do.

I’ll gently guide you throughout, finding the beautiful light in your home and helping you into positions that feel natural and comfortable. Sometimes I’ll offer a little more direction, and other times I’ll simply step back and photograph what’s already happening.

We’ll make time for photographs of you all together, baby with each of you, siblings if there are any, and of course your baby on their own, if they allow us! But I’ll also be looking for all those smaller things in between. Tiny fingers wrapped around yours, the way they curl into your chest, their little stretches and yawns, milk-drunk cuddles and all the details you’re only just beginning to know.

And please don’t feel as though feeding, changing or soothing your baby means we’ve had to stop the session. Those things are part of these days too, and if you’re comfortable, they can become some of the most meaningful photographs we make.

There’s nothing you need to perform for me and nothing we need to force.

We’ll simply take our time and let your baby set the pace.

Choosing What to Wear

One of the things I really don’t want you worrying about before your session is finding the perfect thing to wear.

Your body has just done something pretty incredible, and in these early weeks it can still feel unfamiliar. The last thing you need is to stand in front of your wardrobe wondering what on earth you’re going to feel comfortable being photographed in.

This is exactly why I have a client wardrobe.

I have a carefully chosen collection of dresses, robes and softer pieces that work beautifully for these sessions and, importantly, have been chosen with postpartum bodies in mind. They’re comfortable, beautiful and chosen to work with your body during those early postpartum weeks, with several pieces that are perfect if you’re breastfeeding too.

You’re very welcome to wear something from the wardrobe. There’s absolutely no expectation to fit a certain size, hide your postpartum body or look like anything other than the woman who has just brought this little person into the world. I simply want you to feel comfortable and like yourself when you look back at these photographs.

I’ll bring a small selection of pieces from my client wardrobe along to your session, so you can have a look through them when I arrive. There’s no need to decide anything beforehand, and absolutely no pressure to wear something from the wardrobe if you’d prefer your own clothes.

For baby

I also have a little collection of beautiful baby clothes, blankets and wraps that you’re welcome to use, so you really don’t need to go out and buy anything especially for your session.

For newborns, I tend to keep things beautifully simple. Soft knits, natural fabrics and neutral, muted tones photograph wonderfully and allow all those tiny details to take centre stage.

Of course, if there’s something of your own that you love, perhaps a favourite babygrow, a hand-knitted cardigan or something that has been passed down through your family, please use it. Those pieces can bring so much meaning to the photographs.

And for everyone else...

If your partner or older children are joining us, think complementary rather than matching. Soft neutrals, earthy colours and natural textures work particularly well at home and sit beautifully alongside the pieces in my wardrobe.

Try to avoid large logos, very bright colours and busy patterns, simply because they can pull attention away from you.

And if choosing everyone's outfits still feels like another job on an already very long list, send me a photograph of what you’re considering. I’m always happy to help pull everything together.

A little tip...

Keep it simple. You don’t need to buy anything new or plan perfectly coordinated outfits for everyone.

Soft, neutral tones and natural textures photograph beautifully at home, and if you’re unsure, have a couple of options nearby when I arrive and I’ll happily help you choose.

There really isn't much you need to do before I arrive. In fact, the less pressure you put on yourself to prepare everything perfectly, the better.

Your home

Please don't feel as though you need to deep clean or have every room looking immaculate before I arrive. I promise I'm not coming to inspect your house!

We'll usually only use a couple of spaces with the best natural light, often your bedroom, the nursery or living room, so there's absolutely no need to worry about the whole house.

If you do have a few minutes beforehand, a quick sweep of the spaces we might use is really helpful. Things like cups and glasses, hairbrushes, phone chargers, bottles or anything sitting on bedside tables can easily be popped into a drawer or moved out of sight. It's not about making your home look perfect, just removing some of those little distractions so the focus stays on you and your baby.

Opening curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible is always helpful too.

And please don't worry about the signs of real life. A muslin over the sofa, a Moses basket in the corner or a pile of baby blankets are all very much part of these days. Your home should still feel like your home.

What to have nearby

You really don't need to prepare very much. Everything you normally use for your baby will already be close at hand, which is one of the reasons I love photographing these sessions at home.

It can be useful to have a spare nappy, muslin and anything you usually need for feeding nearby, along with any sentimental pieces you'd particularly like photographed. Perhaps a special blanket, something handmade or an item that has been passed down through your family.

But please don't feel you need to buy or prepare anything especially for me.

Timing

These sessions usually last around 60–90 minutes, but we'll always work around your baby rather than trying to stick rigidly to a schedule.

There will be plenty of time for feeds, nappy changes, cuddles and settling. If we need to stop for a little while, we stop. Nothing has gone wrong and we're not losing time. It's simply part of having a newborn.

You don't need to try to keep your baby awake beforehand or time their feed perfectly around my arrival either. We'll work with whatever they need on the day.

Pets

Pets are part of the family too, so if you'd love yours included, absolutely let me know.

We can bring them into a few photographs where it feels right, and there's no pressure for them to sit perfectly or suddenly develop impeccable manners just because I've arrived with a camera!

A Few Things Before I Arrive

When Your Gallery Arrives

Within four weeks, I'll send you a link to your private online gallery, where you'll be able to look through all of the carefully edited photographs from our time together.

My advice?

Don't rush it.

Pop the kettle on, curl up on the sofa and give yourself a little uninterrupted time to look through them.

Those early weeks can pass in such a blur. When you're right in the middle of the feeds, broken sleep, cuddles and figuring out this tiny new person, it can be hard to see just how much is changing, or even to see yourself within it all.

I hope these photographs let you do that.

To see how tiny they really were in your arms. The way they curled into you. The little details you were so busy living that you might not have realised you'd want to remember.

And perhaps, most importantly, to see yourself there too. Right at the beginning of this little part of your motherhood story.

From there, you'll be able to download the photographs included in your collection, choose your favourites and, if you wish, order additional digital images, prints or artwork.

See You Soon

Thank you for trusting me to photograph such a special little part of your story.

I can't wait to meet you and your baby, to hear all about these first few weeks and to create something that will always take you back to just how little they once were.

Most of all, I hope you can come into your session knowing there is nothing you need to get right. We'll take our time, follow your baby's lead and create something beautiful from exactly where you are right now.

If you think of any questions before I arrive, no matter how small, just send me a message. I'm always happy to help.

For now, enjoy those newborn cuddles.

I'll see you very soon.

Georgie x