Linda Hewell Maternity and Newborn Photography FAQs
When should I book my newborn session?
I do suggest booking in at least 2 months before your due date to secure a session in my calendar. I do try to limit sessions to a manageable number per week. However I also get plenty of last minute enquiries and bookings and depending how my schedule looks in the following week or two ahead, can most likely fit in last minute bookings, however editing time may take longer than usual for later bookings
My Newborn is already past 3 weeks old, is it too late to have a “Newborn” photo shoot?
Absolutely not! In fact a lot of my newborn sessions are photographed beyond this time frame up to 6 weeks old. I love the older newborn! They have filled out a little more, tend to have more eye contact, have adjusted to life a little better, maybe even a real smile or two, and still find time to have a nap for those sleepy poses. As my poses do not really require deep sleep for babies to settle into a position, I have found there’s no difference between a 7 day old and a 6 week old. I’ve had amazing sleepy older newborns and at the other end, wide awake fussy 7 day olds. Every baby is different and there’s no guarantee how your baby will be on the day of the session.
How long does a newborn session take?
As my style of photography leans more towards the natural poses, my sessions do not need to take quite as long to complete and tend to be shorter than other newborn photographers. Most babies can be photographed in a Simple and Classic session in about 2 hours. However I want to make sure you get the full variety of poses and set ups for each package, so time may run over if baby is particularly unsettled.
What if my baby won’t sleep during my session?
Most babies do end up falling asleep for a few sleepy shots, however some babies just will not sleep but I can still get a great variety of awake images for your gallery if baby happens to be just that little bit too excited for their session. This can happen whether baby is just days old, or much older. Theres no guarantee your baby will fall asleep but I do give it a good try!
What if my baby is very unsettled and won’t stop crying?
Occasionally I do have a baby that is highly unsettled during their time with me and I may not be able to get a full gallery of images. If that should be the case with your baby, I am more than happy to invite you back for a short make up session. This is very rare. To ensure you get the maximum amount of time out of your session, please try to arrive on time.
Are you up to date with all your vaccinations?
Yes, I am a firm believer in vaccinations and I am fully up to date with all shots, including the yearly flu shot, Covid-19 and the whooping cough booster.
One of my family members is feeling unwell. Should I postpone?
Yes. If any of your family members attending the studio are feeling unwell for any reason, please do contact me to postpone your session to another date.
I also postpone any sessions should I feel ill. The majority of my clients are brand new newborns. You can never be too careful around the little ones.
What if I need to cancel my session?
I have a no penalty cancellation policy, you may cancel your session and move it to another day with no penalty if you or your family member wakes up sick on the session day.
How long does it take for me to receive my gallery?
Please allow up to 14 days for your gallery to be processed and edited. All gallery images are naturally edited. I do tone down any excessive redness on babys face but everything else remains untouched. White balance, exposure and density are also checked and corrected if needed.
What are “skin retouches”?
All images in your gallery are presented as a natural edit. I keep baby’s skin as close as possible to their natural state, toning down any excess redness. I want your baby to look like your baby. Additional skin retouches usually involves removal of the more noticeable flakes and spots, goopy eyes, dried milk around mouths, evening out skin tone even further and a subtle airbrushing if baby is extra spotty or bumpy. Some clients choose to have it, while others prefer the more natural edit of their gallery. Each package comes with a set number of skin retouches. There is an optional add on to have the entire gallery cleaned up. These are outsourced to another editor and further charges will apply.
How many photos will I get in my gallery?
The images noted in each package is generally the minimum amount of images you would receive. Depending on baby’s mood and modeling skills, you may end up with more. I shoot for the required amount of poses/setups for each session.
What should we wear?
Whites, creams, ivories, earthy tones and blacks all photograph well in my simple studio setting. Most clients choose to wear lighter colours for the white background and black/darker tones for the black background but it’s best you wear whatever colours you feel the most comfortable in.
Do keep all clothing as plain as possible i.e. no heavy patterns and definitely no T-shirt’s with printed pictures on them. Small patterned clothing is fine but generally the plainer the better.
Here are a few sample images of what has worked well with my style.
Do we need to bring anything for baby?
I have everything needed here for baby but you are welcome to bring any special gifts you would like included in a few shots. I do suggest a top up feed before leaving the house if baby needs it and definitely bring a dummy if bub uses one or a spare bottle if bottle feeding. Both these items can really help a session go much smoother.