how to prepare

There's absolutely no need for the house to be spotless for my arrival (trust me, mine isn't!) but do try to declutter some key well-lit areas. You want the background to your images to be minimalist, clear and neutral if possible. The most important factor is light - we need a nice bright room, without direct sunlight. Pull up all the blinds as far as they will go and throw open all the shutters.

Put a neutral, light-coloured doona on the bed in your master bedroom (that's normally where you have the best light). Clear the clutter from your bedside tables. Fresh flowers always look beautiful in the background.

When I arrive you'll show me around every room.  If we need to rearrange some furniture to create the best space for your images, we will do that. My style is very natural, but we are aiming to capture images that you want to look at for years to come, so let's show your home at its best!

prepare your home

That's ok! I've had two of my own, and I know as well as anyone that things don't always go to plan. If baby does fall asleep before I arrive, make sure they are just in a fresh nappy and wrapped warmly in a neutral blanket. If they are put to sleep in a onesie, it's likely I will wake them up when undressing them. If, despite all your best intentions, baby is awake and ready to party when I arrive, we will just start with a different section of the shoot.

if it goes 'wrong'

In an ideal world, baby will be fed and ready to fall into a nice, deep sleep when I arrive. Try to keep them up for an hour or more before the start of your session, and start the feed around 20 minutes before I get to you. If you need to stretch their awake time, a bath is a good trick. They should be in a fresh nappy and nothing else - undress them for their feed and wrap them in blankets to keep them warm.  

fed and sleepy

Things with a new baby rarely run to schedule. If you aren't all ready when I arrive, that's ok. Take a little uninterrupted time to finish your hair and make up with a cup of tea. I can start with baby's portraits, sibling shots, or photographs with Dad. 

Newborn babies are unpredictable. I don't for one minute expect them to work to any particular schedule. They will need to be fed and comforted, and changed and rocked to sleep at various times during our session. We follow their pace and cues. There is no time pressure; I will stay with you until we have captured everything we need to capture.

be flexible

Organise your clothes the night before (or even earlier!). This includes underwear, shoes, socks, and accessories. This is also a great opportunity to check all your outfits work together. Can you do your hair while your partner takes the kids out to the park or while they are napping? Don't leave it til the last minute. Better still, book to have those things done for you.

be organised