What Is A Newborn Photoshoot?
So What Is A Newborn Photoshoot?
Well I’ve got the answer to that question.. and all other questions you might have about a newborn photoshoot!
A newborn photography session is a photoshoot of your brand new baby. To parents, babies are newborns for their first few months if not, first year. To photographers, babies stop being newborn after week 3. The newborn window is small, and that’s why it’s so important to photograph your baby at this stage of their life!
When Should I Book My Newborn Photoshoot ?
Ideally as soon after your 20-week (or even 12-week) scan as possible. I only take on a select number of newborn shoots each month, so booking in a “floating date” (around 1 week after your due date) helps ensure I can fit you in when baby arrives.
When Will My Newborn Session Take Place?
Newborn photoshoots are best done within babies first 7-21 days to get those beautiful curled up poses. I’ll ask you a few questions to best determine the perfect time to get you booked in.
How Do I Prepare For The Session?
My clients receive a full preparation guide ahead of their session. This will tell you what to expect from the photoshoot, how to prepare the morning of your session and all the info you need to get the very best from your shoot.
What Do I Need To Bring?
As studio newborn sessions can last up to 4 hours, I recommend bringing everything you’re likely to need for your baby such as plenty of spare nappies, milk, changing matt and muslins. I also recommend parents bring a spare change of clothes just incase your outfit gets spoilt before we’ve done parent photos. There are refreshments available for you to help yourself to at the studio however please do feel free to bring any snacks with you.
How Long Does A Newborn Photoshoot Last?
Newborn sessions can last up to 4 hours. This is to allow plenty of time for feeding, settling, wrapping and posing baby. Getting babies in those beautiful poses you’ve seen isn’t as simple as you might think! It often takes some time for them to relax into the position. The pace of the session is determined by the baby, there’s no rush.
Can We Have Photos With Our Baby?
Of course! I always encourage parents/guardians to have photos with their newborn. I know you may not feel your most photo-ready so soon after giving birth but these images are often parents favourites and are so important! You’ll regret not having any photos with your brand new baby!
Are Sibling/Pets Allowed?
Yes absolutely. I offer sibling shots at the beginning or the end of the photoshoot. Children cannot stay for the entire session. The studio is not a safe place for children to be and I want your experience to be as relaxing as possible. Pet shots are always fun to include and I tend to do these with clever photoshop tricks so that there’s never any risk to baby.
What If My Baby Won't Settle?
It’s totally normal for parents to worry about this! But rest assured – I’ve been doing newborn photography since 2018 and haven’t had to reschedule a session yet! Some babies will be slightly less settled than others, but there’s usually always a workaround – I’ve got lots of tips and tricks for helping to settle and soothe baby. A lot of babies prefer to be swaddled so if that’s the case I end up taking a lot more wrapped shots than the naked ones.
What If My Baby Has Bad Skin?
Baby acne, flaky skin and marks from birth are really common so please don’t worry. I usually edit these things out but if you’d prefer them to be left in just let me know.
How Long Until The Photos Are Ready?
You’ll be invited back to the studio for your view and order session around 1-2 weeks after your newborn photoshoot.
Where Are You Located? Do You Travel?
My studio is located in Esholt woods, just off Apperley Bridge in North-West Leeds. I send out a detailed “how to find” me email ahead of your session so you know exactly where you’re going. There will be a parking space reserved for you at the studio. I only travel for at-home, unposed newborn sessions.
Want to know more about my newborn photoshoots? Click here > Leeds Newborn Photography
Woodstock Wedding Venue
Woodstock Weddings, York
Just a few miles outside York city centre you’ll find a pretty unique, rustic wedding venue. Woodstock Wedding Venue. It’s a former horse stud farm that has been lovingly restored, revamped and refurbished into Woodstock Weddings and Events. I have been lucky enough to shoot a few weddings there this year and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s fab!
If you’re planning a wedding that’s a bit different from the norm. If you’re looking for somewhere that’s less about tradition and more about enjoying yourselves (just like my photography) then you’re in the right place. Read on, Woodstock Weddings will be right up your street!
You wouldn’t expect to find a countryside wedding venue just a ten minute drive from York city centre. Especially one that is set amidst 20 acres of idyllic and secluded woodlands and fields. The location makes it so easy for friends and family, as well as the couple, to find accommodation nearby. Always an added bonus! Anything that makes wedding admin a little easier gets a thumbs up from me!
As it’s exclusive use - you get the venue to yourself for the whole day - couples get undivided attention from the fantastic wedding coordinators at Woodstock. I always tell my Woodstock couples that they are in excellent hands with Janice and her team. I honestly don’t think anything is too much trouble for them.
Unique Wedding Venue In Yorkshire
Ever since I heard about Woodstock Weddings and Events I knew I wanted to photograph a wedding there. It’s got everything I love in a wedding venue. A rustic barn, a super cool bar area, incredible countryside that’s just perfect for exploring for wedding portraits and it’s got such a relaxed vibe to it. It’s a blank canvas so couples can do things their own way and really make the space their own. Hollie and Gemma kept things simple with lots of dark green foliage, wooden LOVE letters and candles. In contrast Abby and Jamie added a touch of glamour to the barn. White blossom trees adorned the tables, their chairs were draped with sheer white fabric and white roses, just like Abby’s bouquet, were dotted about the tables. Both weddings looked absolutely amazing and it just showed how versatile the barn is.
One of my favourite areas of Woodstock is the courtyard and outdoor seating area, it’s perfect for drinks receptions (when the weather plays ball!). Guests love mingling in the sunshine and lots of couples provide lawn games for entertainment. Although be warned, I’ve seen things get very competitive when Jenga or Connect4 are out!
If the weather is a bit more typical for Yorkshire (if it’s raining!) then everyone heads inside to either the Stable Bar with its eclectic decor or into the Barn which is lovely and light thanks to the huge picture windows. It’s always a good idea to have a wet weather plan for weddings in the UK!
Weddings at Woodstock Weddings and Events
One of the great things about Woodstock is that you get a choice of ceremony locations. It is licensed for outdoor ceremonies or you can say your vows inside the restored barn. Gemma and Hollie went for the latter option and held their wedding ceremony in the barn. They both loved the space with its oak beams, reclaimed wood panelled walls and views across the Yorkshire countryside.
Alternatively you can hold your ceremony elsewhere and then head to Woodstock for your wedding reception. Jamie and Abby had amore traditional church ceremony in York city centre and then they hired an open top bus to pick up their friends and family from outside the church and transport them to Woodstock. What a trip! Their guests were so excited, cheering and waving to everyone they passed on the way through the city!
There’s no shortage of places to take couple’s portraits at Woodstock. As guests are enjoying canapes (the food is amazing FYI) and maybe playing those aforementioned lawn games, I’ll whisk you both off for twenty minutes and we’ll go exploring. Use this time to spend some time together. I always encourage you both to chat away to each other, try to forget I’m there, as you don’t actually see a lot of each other on your wedding day. There are so many people to talk to and catch up with! One of my favourite spots is under the weeping willow tree. I love how the sunlight shines through the long green branches. At this point in the day I keep things nice and relaxed. I don’t want to spend hours posing you or keeping you away from your wedding. It’s all about you two having a bit of time away from the mayhem and getting photos that you’ll treasure forever.
Woodstock, Yorkshire Wedding Photographer
As a wedding photographer I’ve travelled all over Yorkshire and I know there is no shortage of amazing venues. From city centre boutique hotels to amazing converted barns and everything in between. Every now and then though I’ll find a venue that really stands out from the crowd. One that makes me super happy when I look back through the photos and one that I drive away from praying to the wedding gods that I’ll get to work there again soon. Woodstock Weddings and Events is one of those venues. Have a scroll and take a look at some of my favourite images from there.
If you’re planning your wedding and have booked Woodstock Wedding Venue for your day then I would love to hear from you. Let’s have a chat about your plans!
Still looking for your wedding photographer? Visit my page >Yorkshire Wedding Photographer
