The Experience

Newborn sessions are held when baby is under 2 weeks old. Ideally around 12 days old. This is an ideal time as they are still sleepy and can be “posed” into curly positions, similar to how they were in the womb. *Please note; this is just the ideal age. Not all babies arrive on time or without complications. So we always do our best to capture your baby even if they are a little older.

I advise mum's to get in touch with me when they enter their second trimester. This gives us lots of time to plan for your session & avoids disappointment with limited availability.

Simply send me an email with some details of what you are envisioning. Keep in mind that weekends book up fast as we don't generally offer Sunday's. So if you’d like a weekend date, consider booking well in advance. cassielou.photography@gmail.com OR via the "book now" contact tab. I will then contact you to organise a quick phone call to answer any questions you have & start the booking process.

For your newborn session, please allow up to 3 hours in the studio. I always aim for my newborn sessions to be relaxed, not rushed & we follow the lead from your little one. I allow extra time in the session for feeding & settling baby & I also know when we have siblings come in too, it takes a bit longer.

To put it simply, you do not need to bring anything extra for your baby, aside from what you would generally take in their nappy bag.

We have many beautiful outfits, hats, tie backs and wraps we use here in the studio, along with our extension range of newborn props. I have extra nappies and wipes in the studio for you to also use. If your little one takes a dummy, please bring that along. If you are topping up or using formula, I ask you to bring along your supplies for that too. Sometimes in the session, baby will feed a little extra than normal as we are disturbing their deep sleep with changing outfits/poses at times.

White is timeless and complements the newness and innocence of the baby. Adding in some textures works beautifully too. Think lace, linen & knitted. Neutrals work well to keep the attention on the baby and away from your clothing. Avoid all loud, bright colours & pick items with no logos.

Pastels also have that “new baby” look and are great if you want to coordinate your outfits with the nursery. Also note that we keep the studio very warm. This helps keep your baby settled & sleeping. If you are wearing something perhaps a bit warmer for your photos, do bring a lose t-shirt or something to change into when your photos are done.

To put your mind at ease, all babies cry & have moments of being unsettled. As a mum of four, I have had many countless hours with a sad baby, so please know a crying baby is not a put off or a reason to fret. I work with following the lead of your baby. I have been photographing newborn babies for 10 years now & have found a good rhythm & guide to photographing your little one. It is important to start the session with baby having a full tummy. I often have mum's do their earlier morning feed & time another feed on arrival to the studio. This isn't always the case as some babies demand closer feeds & that is ok. A feed as close to being here is recommended. We can take a break and let them have another feed during the session if needed. This is also very normal. We will work through any unsettled moments with warmth, rocking and patience. If your baby takes a dummy, also bring that with you. I find most babies with a full belly & being in my warm studio & wrapped tightly to start; often drift into a nice deep sleep.

There is always such an excitement to see your photos, which I love. Within 2-3 weeks of your session, I will invite you back to the studio to view your gallery of images. This will be a design & ordering appointment.

Please allow 4-6 weeks for prints & products to arrive to the studio. I will then let you know & organise collection.

Some things are completely out of your control. I think we have all learned that the last two years with Covid. If for any reason you need to reschedule your session please get in touch asap. The sooner, the better. You will always be notified in advance if your session needs to be rescheduled due to weather for outdoor sessions & for any sickness etc on my behalf. All newborn rescheduled sessions need to be made within 1 week.