You’ve made to 1 year, it’s been a bumpy ride but you wouldn’t change it for the world! What do you do to celebrate?! While your baby has turned into a real little person over the year they are not quite interested in a party yet- and presents?! expect them to be more interested in the box it came in! This is the reason a birthday photo shoot is so popular, not only do you get to bring baby along for balloons and cake and an hour of fun but you have beautiful images of this amazing stage to hang on the wall and show to family and friends.
When to book
You can book your session anytime in the first year- I aim to shoot the session on or just before the big day so I can edit and post a sneak peek for you on little one’s actual birthday. When booking your session give some thought to when baby is likely to be in the best of moods. For some little ones they are most fun after the mid morning nap, some babies are on top form after lunch. It’s best to try to fit your session around baby rather than your own schedule to make sure it goes as well as can be!
Before your session
Once your session is booked I will send over all the information you will need to get ready for the big day. Including information on how to get yourself and baby ready, what to wear and how to get to the studio.
I will also send you a questionnaire to fill in with your preferences on styling the session. Try to give as much information as possible at this stage so that I can create looks I think you will love. The best place to find inspiration is on my website or social media pages. This is where you will find my most up to date images- everything you see in the images belongs to me (apart form the baby of course.) and it will be available for you to use.
As standard at every birthday session I provide balloons and decorations. You can opt for a very simple session with the focus on getting some lovely portraits of your baby on her first birthday. We keep the set ups very simple and have some decorations and Balloons. If you go for a simple portrait session I suggest you bring along some of her own toys and belongings. It’s a lovely way to personalise the session and will give baby something to focus on, One year olds don’t tend to want to sit still and pose for the camera for very long. If you want more fun and messy play you can upgrade to cake or cupcake smash and splash. We will do some simple portraits and then pop baby in front of a lovely cake and let her do her worst, its such fun to see her reaction and watch her tasting and squishing that fluffy icing! We finish every cake smash session with a bubble bath to clean up and more splashing fun. I also have the option of a balloon Garland with colours of your choice.
On the day
When you arrive at the studio we will sit down together and have a chat. I’ll be asking more questions about what you want from the session and we will plan together on how the session will go. I will talk about set ups, colours and outfits you would like. (I have a range of outfits for all ages available for use.) I’m really trying to create a picture in my mind of your perfect gallery. I’ll then leave you to get baby ready and I’ll finish setting up. Before we start the session I will show you all the sets I’ve created for you. You can have input at this stage and let me know if there’s anything you don’t like or want to change.
During the session
Birthday sessions usually have to go quite quickly. Baby will have only a certain amount of patience for the strange lady with the camera and all the noise and movement. I will be getting the shots I want to get and moving on. I will direct you on how to help me get the shots and we can stop for outfit changes along the way.
Baby will tell me when she has had enough and that’s where we will all it a day.
After your session
Before leaving the studio we will schedule a date for you to come back to your ordering appointment and that’s when I spend time editing and preparing your gallery.
Your ordering appointment can be anything from 1-4 weeks after your session depending on how quickly you would like to come back in.
You will be viewing anything up to 30+ images and I have a range of packages to choose from. I always recommend you have a look through my package options before you return and have an idea of how much you want to spend and what types of products you want to purchase. It’s a great way to start the viewing appointment as it gives us something to work towards. I am not a salesperson- (I hate salespeople.) but I do have ideas on how images go together and good ways to display them so you can ask me for my advice and I’ll do my best to guide you.
After your ordering appointment.
Any digital images you order will come to you on that day. I will upload and send them as soon as you have made payment. Any printed images or wall art products will be ordered that week with orders going in on a Friday. The print lab I use usually has a few weeks turnaround on products so I aim to have your artwork to you within 4 weeks.
There can occasionally be delays but I do my best to minimise and I will let you know if they are delayed.
Contact me now for more information or to make a booking