About your session

Recommendations for various ages.  If your baby or child is unwell or unsettled on the day, we are happy to rearrange.
 
Please remember that your children can make as much mess as they like in the studio!
 
Newborns
Our newborn sessions are very popular, because we really take the time to get those curled up, sleepy shots - so please allow either a morning or an afternoon to dedicate to this.  It's very important that, if you want this kind of specialised newborn shoot, your baby is less than 14 days old.  This is because newborns very quickly lose the ability to curl up and stay curled, and to remain asleep while we get the poses we need.  For much of the session, your baby will be naked, but we have plenty of warm blankets.  Don't worry about any kind of mess, we're used to it.  Please try to avoid feeding your baby in the 2 hours before the session.  If your baby is bottlefed, please bring several feeds.  If you are nursing, we have a comfortable sofa.  Rachel will ask you to feed your baby on arrival, this helps to get them "milk sleepy".  Bring along any outfits or toys you want to feature, but at this age we tend to focus just on the features.  Mum and Dad should be in light coloured tops, but not white, plus jeans or trousers.  Don't worry if you still feel haggard after the birth, our lighting and poses are very kind!
 
Babies up to 6 months

If not doing a dedicated newborn session, it's probably a good idea to wait until your baby is smiling at around 6 weeks.  We'll be doing a lot of "nappy time" where your baby is naked except for their nappy, so if you have any dressy cover-pants bring them along (although we do have some).  Dress your baby in light colours (but not white) and bring along more than one outfit, plus anything else you want to incorporate - hats and a favourite stuffed toy for example.  If you are bottle feeding, bring along a feed in case your baby needs settling during the session, as well as a dummy if they use one.  The session usually lasts about one hour. 

Babies six months plus, but not walking

If you have booked the session to celebrate their first birthday, consider bringing something to identify this, such as a balloon or a cake that they can smash.  We'll be doing some "nappy time" photos, where your baby is naked except for their nappy, so if you have any dressy cover-pants bring them along (although we do have some). Dress your baby in light colours (but not white) and bring along more than one outfit, plus anything else you want to incorporate - hats and a favourite stuffed toy for example.  If you are bottle feeding, bring along a feed in case your baby needs settling during the session, as well as a dummy if they use one.  The session usually lasts about one hour.

Toddlers, pre-school children and children up to 8 years

For girls, please bring along a dress/skirt outfit as well as a trouser/jeans outfit (unless she never usually wears one or the other).  Your child should be in light colours (but not white).  We may be doing some messy activities with them, so please bear this in mind when selecting their outfits.  A drink and a snack is recommended as they may get fidgety during the session.  We have boxes of raisins in the studio, please let us know if you don't want us to offer them to your child.  As with babies, bring along favourite toys and comfort items.  Please allow around one hour for the session.

Older children and teenagers

Your child should be in a light top (but not white).  Please bring any activity items which are important to your child which they think defines who they are, such as musical instruments, books, bikes.  The sessions for older children and teens take longer, because we do half the session in the studio and half on location nearby.  If it's cold, please therefore bring warm outer clothing.  Please allow around two hours for the session.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rachel Walkden is a wedding and portrait photographer (portrait photography at our studio in London, close to Surrey and within easy reach of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire), we also cover weddings across the whole of the UK and abroad.