Frequently Asked Questions
General
How do I book a photo session? Simply use the contact form or email me directly at
enquiries@JudithStewartPhotography.co.uk
How long is it before I receive my Gallery to view? I guarantee your Gallery will be with you within
2 weeks of the session taking place.
Is there onsite parking? Parking is directly outside the studio door where you have a guaranteed space when you arrive.
How long do you keep my images on file? Once you receive your Gallery your images are then available to view for two weeks, in this time you simply choose your image package before your Gallery expires. Once you have chosen and paid for your image package, again your images will be available for two weeks before going into the archive where they are held for a few months before being permanently deleted.
Do Digital Files include a Print Release? Yes. If you purchase the Digital Files this does include a Print Release enabling you to print your own copies.
What should I wear? When you book your photo session we will discuss the kind of images you would like and the styling you would prefer then I can help to guide you as to what to wear, what to bring and what to expect based on the type of Session you have booked.
What happens if my children/pet don’t co-operate or behave on the day? All of my sessions are longer than they actually need to be. The extra time takes the pressure off you if we need that time to encourage children to participate and relax. I also have a toy box with toys that can be used in the images as a distraction, and as a Mum and pet lover, I have oodles of patience.
At what age does a Newborn Session become a Children’s Session? Newborn Session fees apply to 0-6 weeks, if your little one is older than 6 weeks, you would be booking a Children’s Session. Please note that Newborn Sessions should ideally be done within those first few weeks to ensure a more sleepy and curled up baby, but I am aware that this is not always possible.
Do we have to return to view our photographs and place an order? No. The reason I provide online galleries is so that you get a chance to choose the images in your own time rather than asking you to come back out again, or being put under pressure to make a decision. I don’t give you the hard sell and my aim is for the images to sell themselves instead!
How will I see my edited images? Once your images are fully edited I upload them to a password protected online Gallery which is then emailed to you with an access pin. The gallery is easy to use, you simply look through the images on your own computer and decide which image package you would like to choose.
Will images be in colour or black and white? At the time of booking, we will discuss the kinds of images that you like, background colours, clothing and the styling that appeals to you. Some background colours lend themselves beautifully to black and white, others don’t, but we can discuss this so that the session is tailored to meet your needs.
Newborn
What is a Newborn Session? A newborn session is a calm, gentle and slow paced session where we will start by getting baby sleepy and happy, then .I will persuade your sleeping baby to curl up into gorgeous poses to create adorable images. I will get to know your baby and what baby likes to do, what baby doesn’t, and will ensure baby is happy and safe throughout.
When should I book my Newborn Session? Your Newborn sessions can be booked from your 20 weeks scan onwards. The date we book is a provisional date based on your EDD. Once baby has arrived safely we simply rejig if needed. I reserve ‘held back’ dates for all my newborn bookings to ensure there is always availability every week if a rejig is needed.
How old should baby be? Newborns change so quickly in those first few weeks so ideally I aim to photograph a newborn baby between 5-14 days of age. However circumstances can sometimes mean this isn’t always possible so please be reassured I can still capture a beautiful Gallery for you from an older baby too.
What happens if baby is late or early? As a confirmed booking you will have access to the held back dates so we simply rejig the date as needed.
What does the Session fee include? The Session fee confirms your booking and guarantees you a space if you need to rejig the provisional date. The Session includes up to four hours in my studio to capture those beautiful images, allowing plenty of time to feed, change and settle baby. During the session I ensure we get a lovely selection of images including parent and sibling photographs too. My studio is clean and comfortable so you can just sit back and enjoy the experience, There is tea, coffee, biscuits and a toy box available too. I have a huge range of beautiful little outfits, hats, tie backs, pretty wraps and beautiful larger props like buckets and bowls that we can use during the session, so no need for you to bring anything. After the session is completed I then get to work choosing and fully editing the best of the images to create your Gallery. Your Private Online Gallery is then emailed to you so that you can view in the comfort and privacy of your own home. At this point you simply decide which image package would best suit your needs. There are digital as well as print packages available.
Why does the session last for up to four hours? Unlike other studio photo session that might take only an hour or two, we do things very differently with a newborn. The baby runs the show so everything is done at their pace. If baby needs time to settle, feed, change, have a cuddle or be soothed, that’s fine. When I start the posing it’s all done slowly and gently and I won’t rush baby.
What do I need to bring on the day? Once you Session is booked you will receive your Booking Confirmation via email which has all the information on how to prepare to ensure the session runs smoothly.
My baby has spots / rash / jaundice / sticky eye/ flaky skin. All of these are very common in newborns and I will use my retouching skills to either eliminate, or at the very least significantly reduce as needed, in edit.
What if my baby cries or doesn’t settle? Many parents worry that their baby will cry on the day and I won’t be able to get the images they hoped for. Please be reassured that the session itself is very calm and relaxed allowing plenty of time to settle baby as needed, there is no pressure. All newborns cry sometimes, and if your baby does we will take time to settle just as you would at home. If for any reason I feel baby is unhappy with what I am doing, I will stop. No image is more important than babies comfort.
I would like big brother / sister to be in some of the photographs, is this possible? Of course, absolutely!
How many images will I get? How many I take depends on how settled your baby is on the day, I guarantee a minimum of 10 images, but Galleries are typically between 20-30 images.
Cake Smash & Messy Melon
What is a Cake Smash and Messy Melon? Both of these sessions are the fun and messy way to celebrate a birthday milestone. Cake Smash and Messy Melon are alternatives to a more classic Portrait Session. You can however choose to combine both by ADDING on a mini PORTRAIT SESSION.
What does the Session Fee include? The Cake Smash session fee includes your beautiful, theme co-ordinated, Giant Cake, made by registered business Dreamy Cakes in Uckfield and the set up you have chosen. Messy Melon includes the whole set as well as the watermelons. Special diets can be catered for. You simply choose your set up and I will do everything else, I even have a selection of outfits to choose from. The sessions are up to two hours long so we have plenty of time to make a mess and get those smiles. Every Cake Smash and Messy Melon session ends with a FREE mini bubble bath to give us the extra opportunity for a few extra photos and to help get little one cleaned up before home time.
What about twins? Twins are no extra cost, and for Cake Smash we simply provide two smaller cakes to match your chosen set up.
How many images will I get? How many I take depends on how settled your baby is on the day, I guarantee a minimum of 10 images, but Galleries are typically between 20-30 images.