Covid-19 Changes in working practices.

Wow, it’s been a crazy strange time. Everyone has been affected one way or another, some unfortunately worse than others. As it stands at the moment, in my little home town of Wellington we seem to have not been too affected. Lockdown has been difficult for us all though in one way or another, not being able to see our family and friends, summer events and family holidays been cancelled, but, we have our health and that’s all that matters.

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I think most of us will have to change some aspects of our lives for a little while, and for me, it’s meant some changes in the way in which I will be able to work and that will ultimately change your experience with me a little, but, I am so pleased to be able to get back to the job I love so much!

Some of these changes may seem a little extreme but are necessary to comply with Government and my insurance company’s guidelines to safely get back to work. The health and well being of my clients has always been my top priority.

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WHAT ARE THE CHANGES-

Newborn sessions will be a minimum of 24 hours between each session to allow time for intense cleaning and washing of all props.

WHAT I’M DOING TO MINIMISE THE RISKS-

All the wipeable surfaces will be thoroughly sanitised before your session.

There will also be enhanced cleaning on other busy areas outside of the room I hold the session in, door knobs, bathroom, hand rails etc.

Props that can not be washed will be put into quarantine for 72 hours.

As usual, all blankets and wraps used will be washed.

I will be wearing a mask and will have these available for you to wear also if you do so wish.

As always there will be antibacterial gel to use throughout. I always use this during my sessions as standard, but I’ll be using it a lot more frequently.

Unfortunately, there will be no tea or coffee etc.

Due to the nature of newborn photography, keeping distance will be virtually impossible. As always only the parents (and a sibling) will be able to come to the session. No other family members or friends I’m afraid.

WHAT I ASK YOU TO DO -

I can not go ahead with the session unless the covid-19 waiver form is signed please.

As always, please do not attend the session if any of you are unwell. We can reschedule to a day when everyone is fit and healthy. 

l will be asking you to be as specific as you can with colours/images/props you would like as I will only be bringing limited items into the session. (There will still be choice for you but not in every single colour and shade that I own).

Please try and keep baby awake a little bit before you arrive at my home so baby is sleepy for the session.

Apply antibacterial hand gel and put on my disposable shoes covers on entry to my studio. (I will supply these).

Masks must be worn.

You are welcome to bring your own drinks and snacks, please take any rubbish home with you. 

Please leave anything not needed for your session in your car, coats etc.

WHAT IS DEFINITELY NOT CHANGING -

My high standard of service to you and of course stunning images for you to treasure always :)

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In the event of myself or a member of my household being ill with COVID-19 or displaying similar symptoms, I will self-isolate and follow the latest guidance from the Government.

Regarding a booked session, we can postpone until I am well and no longer contagious or if you would prefer we can cancel your session & I will refund you your deposit.

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It’s important to me that you feel safe and reassured throughout your photography experience with me. If you have any questions or concerns at all, please do get in touch.

Karen x

Tips for photographing your newborn baby.

So Covid-19 has most of us on lockdown, all non essential work stopped, so one thing we no can longer do is have professional newborn photos taken. So here are a few tips for photographing your newborn baby by yourself. 

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Light, light light! Good lighting is key. Find a large window with soft light, for example a north facing window or any large window on a bright but cloudy day, so avoiding placing your baby in bright sunlight.

Bright sunlight hitting your baby gives really harsh shadows on your babies face. If it’s a really sunny day, you could hang up a white shower curtain or a piece of sheer white fabric to help diffuse the light to give the softer light you need. 

Place baby so that the light is hitting baby’s head first or gently sweeping in at an angle down babies face, do not have the light coming up from babies feet to chin- this is what we call ‘ghoul lighting’ and is what we want to avoid. (Please take a moment to appreciate my skilled drawings here!)

If you can find a large piece of white card or even white fabric to place on the other side of baby, opposite to the light source , it will bounce some of the light back in towards baby & fill in some of the dark shadows.

It also may help if you are also wearing white or at least try to avoid wearing a very bright colourful top as this may cause a colour cast on your babies skin.

Babies are best photographed in very little to see all of those tiny features. Proper outfits tend to swamp newborns in photos & make them look a little bulky. A simple vest so you can see their hands & feet and those adorable wrinkly arms and legs. A tight fitting baby grow or try swaddling your baby for some cosy looking photographs.

If your baby is happy & the room is warm, just have the nappy on & drape a little blanket or fabric over and around it. 

If baby is sleeping, try and gently move him or her so their body is not just straight up and down, a little curl is often pleasing to the eye but remember to keep the light coming down the face or across the face, not up.

If you have baby laying on a blanket, sometimes rolling up a couple of little hand towels/ flannels and gently placing it under their head and legs can help keep them in these ‘curly’ womb like positions.

Try and get some detail shots, if your camera will allow, get in close to their face, hands and feet etc.

Don’t forget to ask your partner to take some of you holding your new baby too. I know you don’t always feel your best just having given birth but you won’t regret having these photos done, I can absolutely assure you of that! One day those photos will mean the world to you & your child. Again sit by a window & make sure you are holding baby in the light too but with the light falling down the face not up. 

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So now you can take lots of photos of your new precious bundle, learning as you go, creating lasting memories of this fleeting stage. Enjoy! x

A Pigeon pair!

I had the great pleasure of photographing my fifth set of twins not very long ago. Both mum and dad have several sets of twins in their own families, so it was inevitable really they would be blessed with their own, and a pigeon pair at that!! Gorgeous little Woody and Phoebe :)

Here’s some of my favourite shots of them together.

I hope to meet you soon!

Karen x

Potato sack & other funny names in newborn photography!

So I’ve been rubbish yet again with the up keeping of the blog! As a lot of you will know, running your own business means you are often everything, the craftsman, the marketer, the accountant, the secretary, the cleaner, the list goes on, and the work pile NEVER seems to end! So my little blog always takes a back seat. Lets see if 2020 will my year to get back on top of blogging! (Did you know, I was once awarded with the top 10 of newborn blogs in the UK award!! :D)

Within newborn photography different names for certain poses have been made up, have caught on and are now what us newborn photographers around the world use regularly, there are a few variations of some, but these seem to be the most popular names within the trade.

So I thought I’d kick start 2020 with a fun blog post as I’ve often wondered if my clients know the names for the different poses and wraps I use. Some are very obvious, some not quite so much, but make sense once you’ve seen them!

I don’t do all the ‘newborn poses’ such as ‘froggy’ & ‘taco’ as my style is more relaxed but just for fun I thought I’d show you some of the poses and wraps along with the names.

1. Potato sack pose/wrap -

2. Tushy up pose -

3. Tucked in pose -

4. Huck Finn pose -

5. Side lay pose -

6. Egg wrap -

7. Full wrap -

8. Pretzel wrap -

8. Lion king pose -

9. Flokati -

10. Babe in arms -

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And that completes some of the posing/wrapping names used in newborn photography.

Here’s hoping the next blog post isn’t another 12 months away!

Karen x

Beautiful new baby boy!

Another lovely returning family again came to me for their newborn photography session.

It’s such a pleasure to meet so many lovely families doing this job, and of course having cuddles with teeny tiny beautiful new humans!

Here are a few images from this newborn session.

I look forward to meeting you and your new bundle of yumminess!!

Karen x

Rupert's newborn session.

I had already met Rupert’s lovely family as they bought their first son to be photographed by me. All returning clients that have already had a newborn session with me get £50 off any newborn collection when they welcome a new edition to their family.

Rupert was a little dream and slept really well through his session, just like his big brother did!

Here are a few of my favourite images from the newborn photo session.

I look forward to meeting you!

Karen x

Baby G's newborn session.

Another beautiful little boy with equally beautiful parents came to visit last week for their newborn photography session. 

Have I ever mentioned before how much I love my job?!

At 18 days old already he took some time to get off to sleep but when he did we were able to get some lovely sleepy shots. Mummy and daddy preferred the more natural, unposed  style of photography, which is one of my favourite styles of newborn photography. Simple and timeless!

I love the wide awake images too and when I get that eye contact, just fabulous!! 

Looking forward to meeting you! 

Karen x

Archie's Newborn session.

Gorgeous little Archie came to me with his lovely mummy and daddy for his newborn photography shoot at 9 days old. 

He definitely fought sleep as best he could! But after lots of top ups of milk, cuddles and patience he eventually fell to sleep for a little while to get some sleepy posed shots. 

There are still poses we can do if baby is awake and it's just as lovely to get those open eyes too. 

Archie's mummy asked for a set-up to include a fox theme. The fox bonnet is one of my favourites! 

Here are a few favourites from the photo shoot. 

Karen x