CAPTURING YOUR LITTLE ONE'S UNFOLDING STORY WITH A BABY PHOTOSHOOT IN HAMPSHIRE
Hello there!
This post is about what to expect at your Little Smiler Session with Starspeckled Hearts Photography. My name is Yasmin and I am a specialist newborn and baby photographer, offering baby photoshoots to my lovely clients in Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire and the surrounding areas.
Whether you've already booked and have got an upcoming studio Little Smiler Session or if you're still thinking about booking and would just like to have more of an idea of what to expect on the day, please have a read through this post.
I hope you'll find it helpful!
Yasmin x
FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND
What is your background?
I am a trained Newborn & Baby photographer with safety being my main priority at all times. My expertise and years of experience in handling and photographing newborns and babies (and being a mum of 3 little ones myself!) will give you peace of mind that your little one is being carefully handled at all times and is in the very best of hands.
Are you up to date on your vaccines? I am up to date on all vaccines, including the whooping cough vaccine.
BEFORE YOUR SESSION
What is a Little Smiler session?
My Little Smiler sessions are suitable for babies between 2-6 months old that are not yet sitting up unaided. This is also a session intended for those that may have missed out on having a Newborn shoot done or for those that are just wanting some updated professional photos of their little one. If you have a 2-3 month old we can still attempt some of the more simple poses and set-ups that I go through in my Newborn sessions, however baby will very likely be swaddled for the majority of the "Newborn styled" part of the session.
Where do sessions take place?
All sessions take place in my cosy garden studio, located in Aldershot, Hampshire. The studio is kept at a nice and warm temperature - for newborn and smiler sessions I make sure the temperature is extra warm, at around 25C.
When is best time to book a Little Smiler session? As soon as you've decided you would like to book in! I tend to book up a few months in advance and it always breaks my heart to turn clients away. However, I always aim to keep a handful of spaces open for last minute bookings, as a lot of my inquiries are from families with babies that have already arrived. Keeping in mind, I often don't have many last minute spaces available during the busier months, so please get in touch early to secure your space!
My baby is already here! Is it too late to book?
On occasion I will have last minute openings so please feel free to give me a call or send me over a message and I'll see if I can fit you in! I've booked my session with you. What happens now? Ideally we will get you into the studio for your Little Smiler Session when baby is between 2-5 months old. So if you're still on the fence about booking your "older" baby in for a session, please get in touch to discuss your concerns and we can work out the best option for you and your family.
Do I have to bring any outfits for my baby along to the session?
You won't have to worry about bringing anything along. I offer a beautiful selection of high-end bespoke props, headbands, bonnets and wraps. I only use the best quality fabrics and super soft knits as I know you will want nothing but the very best for your little love! Occasionally, clients will bring sentimental items and keepsakes to include in the session. I'm always more than happy to accommodate my clients ideas so if there is anything you would like to incorporate into the session, please feel free to bring it along! It makes for a more personalised experience and those photos always end up being client favourites.
What else do I need to bring to the session?
Your baby changing bag with everything you would normally bring for a day out - milk being the most important one! I've got a baby changing table in the studio with plenty of wipes and nappies.
Can I request a colour scheme for the session?
Absolutely. Have you got a particular request in terms of colour scheme or overall style of the shoot? Vintage, lifestyle, floral, classic? If not, that's absolutely fine! Many of my clients have a clear vision of what they'd like to get out of their session, but others prefer to let me take the lead and set up something lovely for them on the day. Either way, please let me know prior to your session as I always set up the studio the night before. Click here to see some more work from my recent Little Smiler sessions.
ON THE DAY OF YOUR SESSION
What happens on the day of our Little Smiler Session?
Upon arrival at the studio — you will receive a warm welcome and be invited to relax in my seating area. Once you've all settled in, we will have a browse through my studio wardrobe together, to choose your favourite 2-3 outfits, headpieces and hats. I also have outfits available for children up to the age of 2, of which you will also have full access to during your session. How long will our Little Smiler Session take?
My Little Smiler Sessions are typically 1 - 1.5 hours long and in that time we can usually get through 3, sometimes 4 different setups.
How do I prepare my baby for their session? A full baby is a happy baby! I recommend feeding baby upon arrival at my studio to ensure baby is happy and content. The shoot is designed for us to take breaks for feeding and cuddles throughout - I always take baby's lead, as the most important thing is that you and your baby are as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Can parents and siblings get in front of the camera too? Of course! If you would like to include parents and siblings in the session, I suggest we start with the sibling portraits, followed by the family portraits. Once I'm happy with the variety of the shots, I recommend taking your older children out to the nearby park or out into my garden for the remainder of the session. It doesn't take long for young children to become restless and bored, which stresses the parents and in turn may end up stressing your baby!
AFTER YOUR SESSION
When do I get to view the finished images? After your session, I will go through the images and remove any images that may be out of focus, etc. The remaining images are then uploaded to an online, password protected viewing gallery and will be available for you to view. You can then select the images you wish to keep from your photoshoot. You can select as many as you like, with 6 images already included as part of your Little Smiler package. Additional images are available to purchase at £10/each. Once you have selected your favourite images, I will then add them to my editing list and will get started on them as soon as I am able. This process usually takes up to 14 days, in busy periods up to 21 days.
How will I be able to view the images? Once your images are ready for you to view, I will send you across a link and password to your viewing gallery and you can then choose the ones you like the best as part of your package. Once your images have been edited, they will be sent across to you straight away via a digital download. If your package includes photo prints or mounted prints, this is when you'll let me know which ones you'd like printed and sizes.
Can I purchase additional images? If you receive your viewing gallery and decide you would like to purchase additional images, you can do so at £10/image.
About Starspeckled Hearts Photography
Hello! My name is Yasmin and I am a specialist newborn, baby and toddler photographer based in Aldershot, Hampshire - servicing the greater Surrey and Hampshire area, including Farnborough, Farnham, Fleet, Camberley, Reading, Woking, Horsham and Bracknell.
I offer newborn photoshoots, milestone photoshoots, cake smash & splash photoshoots, maternity photoshoots along with seasonal mini shoots in my fully air-conditioned boutique photography studio in Aldershot, Hampshire. I've got a wide variety of unique props and beautiful, handmade outfits, of which you will have full access to during your session - each and every photoshoot is bespoke and tailored to your specific requirements.
If you would like to book your photoshoot with me, please get in touch via one of the links below. I would love to hear from you!
To submit an enquiry or to book your session, please send me a message through my contact form here or send over an email to starspeckledphotography@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Follow me on social media!