LITTLE SITTER SESSION GUIDE
HOW TO PREPARE AND WHAT TO EXPECT
So your session can run as smoothly as possible, I have compiled a prep guide to help us get the most out of your session!
Booking your session
Little Sitter Sessions are suitable for babies aged at least 6 months old, who are confidently sitting unaided – the best time is usually around 7 to 9 months old.
Your session will be focused on images of your little one sitting in some of my cute props (and quite possibly crawling!), so please do ensure that you baby is sitting at the time of your session, so we can get the most out of your time with me.
However, if your baby is a little delayed in their sitting and you still want to capture your baby in all their cuteness, please just let me know beforehand and I will happily make adjustments to your session wherever possible.
How long does a Little Sitter Session last?
Little Sitter Sessions last around one hour. Occasionally your session may last a little longer, depending on how quickly your baby get’s into the swing of things!
What should I bring to the session?
Please bring your usual change bag supplies – nappies, wipes etc. Feel free to bring one or two well-fitting items of clothing or outfits (i.e. not too big!) with you – try to pick items that won’t swamp your baby with too much fabric – less is more. This could be anything from a pair of jeans, a little dress or a pair of dungarees (always cute!). If your baby uses a dummy, please bring at least two sterilised dummies with you in case we need them.
Please bring milk and/or a snack for your baby.
Wear thin layers yourself as the studio will be warm!
Please feed baby just before you set off from home.
This is really important and helps the session to run as smoothly as possible! A full tummy will help your baby to be settled, so we have the best chance of capturing a beautiful set of images. Remember to bring milk & a snack for your little one too!
What about nap times?
You are advised to book a session time that is suitable time to work around your baby’s naps. Please ensure baby’s have a good nap directly before their session wherever possible, even if that means taking the long way round in the car! This is the single most important thing you can do before your session, to ensure the best chance of success on the day.
What should I dress my baby in to arrive at the studio?
Please just dress your baby in their usual clothing – I’d suggest changing them into any clothing you’d like them to be photographed in upon arrival at the studio, to avoid any dribble/spills on their clothing.
Can I have photos taken of my baby with their siblings/with us?
Yes! If you would like your baby to be photographed with their sibling/s or with you all as a family, please let me know before your session and I’ll be happy to take a few images to add to your gallery.
I take sibling and family photographs at the end of the session and ask that wherever possible you arrange for your partner, a family member or friend to arrive with or drop sibling/s off for the last 20 minutes of the session. This is to allow me to focus on capturing the best photographs of your baby, in a quiet and calm environment during the first portion of your session. If older children will be joining us after school, please discuss this with me upon booking, so we can set the start time of your session to accommodate this.
Please ensure that young children arrive to the session fresh from a nap and that all children are fed beforehand, to ensure the best outcome.
I highly recommend following this advice on siblings joining your session towards the end, as baby sessions can be pretty boring for small children and siblings can distract little one’s from having their photos taken, so I recommend you follow this advice if at all possible.
How should I prepare older kids?
Please ensure that young children arrive to the session fresh from a nap (if applicable) and that all children are well fed. This is really important to help the session run as smoothly as possible. Children should arrive in clean clothes (or with a change of clean clothes if you intend to change them on arrival). Please ensure that any chipped nail varnish and/or temporary tattoos have been removed prior to the session (including adults!).
My advice would be to say very little to your children about your planned session! By all means, mention you are going for a photo shoot and that it’s going to be fun, but please don’t worry about telling kids that they must listen and smile, as it’s often counter-productive. The best possible thing you can do is to ensure that young children have had a good nap before their session and that all kids have something to eat beforehand.
What should we wear?
If you plan on being in some of the photos with baby, I suggest wearing plain, well fitting clothing that you are comfortable in. Please avoid patterns, logos and prints and instead opt for two or three colour tones that compliment each other and please avoid wearing black wherever possible. Although you might not generally like dressing ‘matchy-matchy’ as a family, for photo shoots, this actually looks great! I always ask that shoes & socks are removed, as honestly, they never look good, so pleased be preparaed to pop these off!
Below, I’ve put together a PDF to download, for some colour ideas and options for you to consider. These are only guidelines, but from experience I would suggest for family portraits you choose from the cool, neutral tones palette or the warm, earthy tones palette.
Download the PDF colour guide here; Studio Sessions What To Wear.
For a brief visual guide on clothing ideas, check out my Pinterest board here.
Can I bring my extended family or friends to the session?
Only immediate family (i.e. those participating in the session) should accompany baby to a session in my studio, due to limited space. Having other’s there can be very distracting for little ones!
What about the comfort and safety of my baby?
My studio will be warm and cosy, so baby will be comfortable throughout. I have 19 years experience as a full-time professional photographer photographing people (14 years of which as a medical photographer), and 7 years experience of photographing newborn babies. I am fully aware of cleanliness requirements and hand hygiene protocols when handling babies. I have also undertaken posing, photography and safety training with some of the top baby photographers in the country.
What if my baby doesn’t settle well?
It’s really important that you read this prep guide in full before your session to ensure we get the best outcome possible. It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to ensure that these guidelines are followed (feeding/sleep advice etc.) as I can only capture images of your baby when they are settled.
The main reasons babies of this age might be unsettled is due to tiredness, hunger or teething. Please do your best to ensure baby has a good nap and is well-fed before their session. I will always do my best to capture a lovely range of images for you, but I can only capture what I can depending on babies mood on the day. If I feel we have achieved a full gallery of images then I won’t offer a reshoot of your session. Any offers of a reshoot are at the sole discretion of the Photographer, are subject to availability and subject to a charge being made for additional session time.
If baby is going through a particularly unsettled spell with teething, just before their session, please get in touch with me beforehand, allowing as much notice as possible (and at least 24 hours notice). If your baby seems poorly or under the weather, please contact me to reschedule your session. My studio policy is not to undertake sessions where any of the participants (or myself) are ill. I have regular contact with newborn babies and children and therefore I will always advise we reschedule if baby is poorly.
Please ensure that young children (i.e. siblings) have had a good nap before the session and that all children are well fed. The Photographer cannot be held responsible for the co-operation (or lack thereof) of children and we highly recommmend that our guidelines are followed as closely as possible to ensure the best outcome.
COVID-19
We will continue to maintain the hygiene and cleanliness of our studio and props to a high standard and hand washing facilities/hand sanitiser will be available throughout appointments for the Photographer’s and Client’s use.
Face coverings: We are no longer wearing face masks during appointments, but if you would prefer that we wear them, this is no problem whatsoever. Please mention this either during the booking process or upon arrival at the studio.
Please read the information below regarding our sickness policy and Covid-19.
Our Sickness Policy
If you (or anyone in your party) have been feeling unwell in the days prior to your appointment, please contact me to reschedule your appointment. Where an illness is viral, contagious or involves sickness and/or diarrhoea, please observe the 48 hour free from symptoms rule.
Covid-19; Should you (or anyone in your party) develop Covid-19 symptoms or test positive for Covid-19 in the 7 days prior to your appointment, please contact me to reschedule your appointment (unless you have taken a lateral flow test to confirm a negative result).
Need to reschedule?
If you need to reschedule your session, please let me know as soon as possible. If you need to reschedule within 48 hours of the start of your session, please contact me by calling me or sending me a text or a message to my Facebook page, as I may not always be able to pick up emails at short notice.
Your session fee is non-refundable, so if you cancel your session you will not receive a refund, but I do allow rescheduling of your session once within 14 days of your original session date if the reason for reshcedule cannot be avoided (for example, due to genuine illness or emergency) – the date of reschedule is subject to availability.
If you do not arrive to your session or are more than 30 minutes late, then you’ll need to pay a new session fee to book a new date. You can contact me on 07956114916.
When will I see my photographs?
At the end of your session we will arrange your viewing & ordering appointment to take place in approximately 2-3 weeks time and this is when you will view your beautifully edited and enhanced gallery of around 25 images, choose your package and wall art and place your order.
Payment for an order is due at your viewing & ordering appointment. I always advise that all decision makers are present at the viewing & ordering appointment, as you may find you need help choosing your portraits! I also recommend that children (with the exception of babies) do not attend viewing appointments, so you can relax and choose your photographs without distractions.
When will I get my order?
Once you have placed your order at your viewing and ordering appointment, you can expect your digital download containing your purchased digital images to be sent to you via a link in an email within 1 week, whilst USB/Print orders will be ready for collection from our studio in approximately 3 weeks time. If you have ordered wall art or an album then these will be ready to collect in around 4-6 weeks time.
Where is your studio?
You can find me at; First Floor, 29 Station Road, Steeton, West Yorkshire, BD20 6RL (above Imagine Hair & Beauty Salon).
Please enter via the front door on Station Road and head up the stairs, where you will find my studio on your right. There is no on-site parking at the studio, but I will advise you of close-by on-street parking options before your session. Please try to arrive on time, but if you are running late, please message me on; 07956114916.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all and as always, if you have any questions, please just ask!