Frances Stephenson Photography

Natural Storytelling Newborn, Baby and Family Photography in County Durham and surrounding areas

Newborn Photography

Baby Photography, Blog, Newborn Photography ·

Newborn Photography at Home Newcastle

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Newborn Sessions in your home

Dear new parents 

It won’t always be like this. your days will not always feel like they are merging into one, like you’re perpetually sleep deprived, or equally on a huge high staring at this new little wonder..By the time you’ve got into the swing of this thing called parenthood, months will have passed, and some form of routine will have formed, your washing basket, fridge, home will never look the same until this little person is grown and leaves your home. I know this to be true, as my own two children are now grown and have homes of their own,  I sit here amazed at where that time went!

You will say , we will book that tomorrow, we will do that another day !! again I know this to be true. If I could write a letter to myself in those early days when I didn’t know if I was coming or going, it would be..

Slow down take a moment to be in the moment, don’t let life get in the way of appreciating just how fleeting this time is, don’t wish it away, don’t wish to hard for them to reach that next milestone. They are only this small once!! you will not get this time back!!

This is why I love relaxed unposed newborn sessions at home, you get to remember them exactly as they are in your home, remember their nursery, the time and effort it took to get it just right ready for their arrival. You will also look back on your home in the years to come and remember all those Christmas days and birthdays, a home filled with noise and chaos..

As cliche as it is to say, time really is your most precious commodity, they grow and you will miss this stage of your life together. Capture it today..

If you would love to know more about my lifestyle at home newborn sessions, then please pop a few details into this form and you’ll receive all my information in return.

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Newborn Photography ·

Essential images to take of your newborn baby during social distancing

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Bringing a new baby into your family is one of life’s most amazing and wonderful moments, even in these lockdown times during this pandemic, it gives us joy and hope for better times ahead.

Although you, as a new parents will miss out on some of the experiences you were hoping for.

look at what you will get, hours, days, weeks of uninterrupted time with your new baby, a time to bond, to savour every minute as the world holds its breath.  You will be like all of us, keeping in touch with loved ones virtually, so they will still be part of this amazing time.

While I’m unable to photograph your new addition (at this moment), I wanted to pass along this guide on how you can still capture this fleeting moment – at home – with whatever camera you own!

(yes…even your phone!)

below  you’ll find a series of tips and photo ideas with suggestions on setting up the shot.

I look forward to being able to photograph your family soon!

I do also have a support group for all those in isolation Supporting Staffordshire’s expecting & new Mum’s during social distancing with ongoing support and tips.

 

Get Ready!

First off, know that your photos are not going to look the same as professional photos, and that’s ok!  you are however capturing  precious memories, and that is all that matters.

Babies are energy-based and will pick up on your anxiety and frustration, so just relax and go with the flow!

Equipment

Don’t worry if you don’t have a DSLR – try putting your phone on portrait mode if you have it to get some lovely blur. Make sure your lens is clean!  keep things simple – you don’t need any props.

Some quick tips to keep in mind

Light

Try to take your photos in the rooms that get the best gentle window light (not direct sunlight).

Siblings

Always have another adult present to be close to baby while taking photos with siblings. Start with low expectations – they may not cooperate and that’s ok. If they lose patience, try those photos another time.

Safety

The safety and comfort of your baby is more important than any photo. Please do not attempt any poses that you see newborn photographers do – we are trained in newborn safety and posing, keep it simple and organic, with a documentary feel.

Pets and siblings should never be photographed with a newborn without another adult right there to keep an eye (and hand!) on baby. When you are taking photos above baby, always wear the camera strap around your neck.

Listen for baby’s cues. Your little one may start to tell you they have had enough. And pace yourself – you just had a baby and will need rest! If you need to break it up over a few days, thats A-OK!

Editing

Take loads of images so you can choose the best of the best, for those families that were booked in with me then i’m offering to edit these images for free,  for other families,  I can offer my editing skills for you at a small fee.

NATURAL OVERHEAD

Position baby with light coming from the side or top of baby’s head. Take photos looking straight down – try to avoid taking photo’s up baby’s nose.

Baby with open eyes

ON THE BED

Use large bed (usually in master bedroom).

Simple and neutral bedding looks best (tip: use white duvet inner) Lay baby on bottom half of bed, with head towards the side window.
Get down and take photos at baby’s eye-level.
Add yourselves in on this shot too,  lying down behind baby for a gorgeous shot! – ask your partner or use a timer for this

IN THE NURSERY

Don”t forget those little details too, hospital name tags, new toys on shelves,

Photo Tips

Lay baby down in the cot, head towards the window (move the cot close to the window if needed, and practical)
Take photos from various angles, e.g:

Looking straight down
Through crib slats
With a parent leaning over crib, hand on baby

BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS

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Photo Tips

Let older siblings sit down with window light coming from the side, with legs straight out or criss-crossed to create a little pocket.
Safest places are right on the floor, or propped up against pillows on a bed. An adult should be an arm’s length away at all times. Place baby onto sibling’s lap, so baby’s weight is supported by sibling’s legs. Have them wrap their arms gently around baby. Top of baby’s head should be angled towards the window.

Take photos from side, from behind looking down, straight on, etc.

YOUNGER SIBLINGS

Safest option for young or rambunctious siblings is not to have them hold baby. Another adult should be right there with baby all the time. Place baby on bed with top of their head towards the window.
Ask sibling(s) to lie on their tummies behind baby.

Encourage calm interaction – look at baby, smell baby, touch toes, etc.

IN DADS HANDS

Photo Tips

Have dad sit down near a window,  Dad should hold baby out in front of him, resting on his legs, and baby’s head cupped in his hands.
Take photos focusing on dad’s big hands holding his small baby. Switch it up for photos of baby feet and hands in dad’s hands, and dad’s hands on baby’s body.

Also capture Dad’s expression as he looks down at his baby.

MUM AND BABY

Place mum sitting or standing so window light comes from the side. Try to always angle top of baby’s head towards window.
Hold baby in different ways: lying in arms, held face to face, up on shoulder, facing out, etc.

For each position, take photos from different angles – straight on, from side, from behind over parent’s shoulder, etc.

WHOLE FAMILY

Photo Tips

Position your family members with window light coming from the side – on a couch, or even on the floor of the nursery. Let them leave a spot for you to sit or stand.
Use a tripod if you have one, or simply set up your camera/phone against something sturdy, getting the whole family in the frame. Activate the timer (10 seconds), and run to get into your assigned position with your family. Smile!

DETAILS

Photo Tips

Lie baby down on a simple white or neutral coloured blanket or sheet, close to a window.
Focus on just one body part at time, and make the whole photo just about that body part.

Take photos of your baby’s hands and fingers, feet and toes, nose, lips, belly button, and wisps of hair. Don’t forget the little rolls and flaky skin!

MORE INSPIRATION

I hope this guide goes somewhere to helping you capture your little ones..

#staysafe

Stay safe and I hope to meet you all very soon..

 

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Blog, Family Photography, Newborn Photography, Parenting Hacks ·

Parents Beware: Not all photography awards are created equal

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When you’re considering which photographer to hire to take portraits of your new baby or family, you’ll likely be overwhelmed with options. There are lots of us out there!

So, you might think that if you choose an award-winning photographer then you’re choosing the best in your area.

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Not necessarily!

You see, the problem with using award-winning status as a criteria for which photographer you pick, is that most photographers claim to be award-winning!

There are many photography organisations here in the UK, and most run monthly competitions throughout the year. These organisations award hundreds of photographers each and every month, month in month out.

Which means that there are lots of awards up for grabs. And lots of photographers are winning these awards.

Not all photography awards are created equal!

While photographers are perfectly within their rights to claim to be award-winning if they have in fact won an award (full disclosure: I use this in my own marketing), they can use this term in their marketing even if they’ve only ever won one award in their entire career.

And they can claim to be an award-winning photographer regardless of whether the award was particularly prestigious or not.

For example, a photographer could well have won multiple awards. But, if all of them are low-level awards rather than top-tier awards.

How are you to know the difference between them and a photographer who truly is top of their game?

They both likely claim to be ‘award-winning’ but there is actually a huge difference in the quality of their work.

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Thinking of hiring an award-winning photographer?

In my mind, it’s a real problem in this industry.

Photography awards vary hugely in terms of the standards that they recognise. So, it’s potentially misleading the families out there who are simply looking to hire a quality photographer to take their family portraits.

How on earth can you make an informed decision when photography awards vary so much in terms of quality and judging standards?

Some awards are given for little more than the image being of a professional standard. While other awards and award schemes celebrate only exceptional or high-calibre images.

There are also monthly awards and more significant awards, such as ‘Photographer of the Year’ awards, which just cannot be compared like for like.

(Hint: The latter are the most highly coveted awards in the industry. Anyone receiving these is certainly at the very top of their game.)

The calibre of photography awards vary hugely across the industry

The huge variety in the calibre of photography awards out there is staggering.

As a parent who is simply looking for a quality photographer to hire, I realise that you won’t know the difference.

A photographer who claims to be award-winning (but who only has a limited number of low-level awards) is likely to offer a quality far different to a photographer who truly is a leader in their field.

For this reason, I completely understand that the decision facing you about which photographer to hire is extremely hard!

So, how can you decide between one award-winning photographer and another?

Well, I still stand by the importance of photography awards as a criteria which you can base your decision around. They are still an important factor to consider if you want to ensure you are hiring the best photographer that you can afford.

But now, armed with the knowledge that some awards are better than others, I’d urge you to seek out those photographers who really are winning those higher-level awards.

Newborn and Maternity photography

Also, I’d recommend that you choose a photographer who has photography awards from multiple organisations. This then demonstrates that they truly are operating at a high standard and are doing so consistently. And that they are meeting the criteria of multiple photography associations, rather than just the one.

Remember, one organisation can award work that would not even be recognised by another photography organisation! The standards vary so much across the board.

Not all photography awards are created equal, so be aware of this when you are considering which photographer to hire.

Not all photographers and photography awards are created equal

I hope that this has given you food for thought if you are considering hiring a family photographer.

While I don’t intend to talk down about other photographers, I do believe it’s important to make you realise that not all photographers are created equal and that not all photography awards are created equal. So, when you are basing your decision on who to hire, do keep this in mind.

For more information about me or about the photography awards that I have received for my work, spanning newborn, baby and family photography, please visit my Photography Awards page. As you’ll see, I have achieved awards across a board of photography associations and have had my photography published too.

This is what I have trained and strived to achieve over the last 14 years and I’m incredibly proud to be recognised for the quality of my photography by these prestigious organisations.

Please get in touch with me via this form to speak to me about photographing your baby or family. I would love to create beautiful images for you at my photography studio here in Staffordshire.

I’m contactable on info@francesstephenson.co.uk and 07967 599584 if you’d like any further information.

Fran x

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Blog, Maternity Photography, Newborn Photography, Parenting Hacks ·

Baby nursery décor ideas (and a free wall art download)

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As you eagerly await the arrival of your baby, you’ll no doubt want to get their nursery organised. But knowing where to start when it comes to kitting out your baby’s nursery can be a challenge.

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Baby Photography, Blog, Family Photography, Newborn Photography ·

Newborn lifestyle photography

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With the government giving advice to pregnant women to self isolate regarding the coronavirus, and then when baby is here to limit essential travel, it’s no wonder you wouldn’t want to leave your house.

Have you considered a Lifestyle newborn session,  you do not need to leave your home, I would travel to you. With posed studio sessions I handle baby throughout the session, with lifestyle sessions its very much about celebrating you as a family, I do not handle baby, but give gentle direction to you, in a relaxed, organic and documentary way.

Below is a blog I wrote sometime ago, explaining how fabulous lifestyle newborn or even baby sessions are..

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Blog, Family Photography, Newborn Photography ·

Introducing Newborn lifestyle photography

I’m still buzzing from a recent newborn photoshoot that I did last week. I can’t wait to tell you more about it.

I’m sooooo excited about this one as it was something really different for me. And the results were fabulous! So, without further ado, let me tell you what all the fuss is about!

As you’ll know, I’m a professional and award-winning newborn and baby photographer. Plus I also specialise in lifestyle, outdoor photography (some recent examples are in my gallery).

But I don’t combine these two types of photography. That is…until now!

Natural baby photography

Last week, I had a fantastic ‘newborn lifestyle’ session.

You may have seen a few snapshots that I have shared from the shoot, as a taster? (If you don’t yet follow me on social media, by the way, you’ll find my social links at the bottom of this page).

And since it worked out so well, I will now be offering these to my clients.

So, you can now book your very own newborn lifestyle photography shoot! And I’m already taking bookings for March and April, so please get in touch soon to secure your preferred date!

What is a newborn lifestyle photoshoot?

A newborn lifestyle photoshoot is a way of capturing stunning baby and family portraits in the comfort of your own home.

I visit your house, or any other local venue of your choice, and spend two hours with you to take unposed photographs which document the natural moments in your daily life.

There are many reasons why this type of photoshoot may appeal to you:

Unposed baby portraits

Parents, if you’re after some stunning newborn baby portraits but aren’t a fan of the ‘sleeping baby in basket’ type setups, then this is a great option for you.

I won’t take hours setting up each shot. All the images I will take will be completely unposed and natural. Getting your baby’s fingers into the perfect position is not my priority here.

My priority is, first and foremost, capturing your baby naturally and beautifully. This is officially a pose-free zone!

Greater flexibility for you

The beauty of a lifestyle shoot is that I can visit you in your home when the baby is any age.

They need not be younger than 10 days old as they would need to be for a ‘sleeping baby’ studio photoshoot.

This is a huge advantage for those parents who don’t book a shoot in advance and then call me to book once their baby is born and are disappointed to find that I am fully booked!  (Sadly, it happens a lot).

It also means that you can have photos taken at any stage in your baby’s life – not just at the newborn stage or on their first birthday, which is typically when parents bring their children to me. We can do the shoot as and when it suits you (subject to availability).

Natural interactions and family moments

I’ll document a moment of time in your every-day life.

I’ll record all the natural interactions and little details that help to tell the story of your baby’s new life. This is exactly what I do when photographing a bride preparing for her wedding.

And if you like, I can include the little details of your home that you love and also want to record. Whether that’s your baby’s favourite snuggle blanket in their nursery, or the elegant features of your master bedroom or other family living areas, or even your garden.

Plus, if you’re extended family includes pets, we can get them involved too!

Relaxed family photos that even Dad will enjoy!

Another bonus is that because you are in a familiar environment, everyone involved in the photoshoot can be more relaxed and comfortable. This helps to make the pictures truly beautiful, as that really shines through in the photographs.

The photos I take will, of course, be in my signature style which you know by now, and hopefully love.

 

To book, please contact me via my website. 

Thanks

Fran x

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