This is the most common question I get asked and it all depends what you're hoping to get out of your session. Ideally I'd recommend multiple sessions throughout a child's first year to capture the different stages of development but that's not always affordable or practical. The most popular age for a photoshoot is in those precious first four weeks. There's nothing quite like capturing like those sleepy newborn cuddles and tiny fingers and toes although some people prefer to wait until their baby is around three months to document those first smiles. At 6 months you get to see more of your little ones personality and they're often more mobile and sitting up at this stage which can make portraits easier. Once your little one is on the move, I recommend heading outdoors for your photos shoot to let your child play and explore. Whatever stage you decide to book, I can guarantee you'll never regret having too many photos!

Some parents would rather not be in photographs at all. As a toddler mum who hates having their photo taken and recognises makeup is a thing of the past, I can sympathise. However, I would always recommend being in a few if you can bear it! When you're feeling sleep deprived and your body's still recovering from birth, the last thing you want to do is have your picture taken. I felt exactly the same way when my son was born but I'm so pleased I decided to have a family photography session when he was just a couple of weeks old. At the time all I saw were the bags under my eyes, lockdown hair that hadn't seen a hairdresser for a good few months, and a tummy that I didn't recognise as my own. Now, when I look at those pictures, all I see is that overwhelming feeling of love I have for my little boy. Newborns are yet to develop their own little personalities so, whether it's cuddle on the sofa or the way their little hand holds your finger, the most important thing for me to capture at this stage is the connection between you and your little one.

If you have more than one child, relationships between siblings are a wonderful thing to capture. I'm used to working with children of all ages, so I know lots of ways to get brothers and sisters in a photo together regardless of how old they are. It's not uncommon for older siblings to feel jealous when a new member of the family comes along, but there are lots of games and activities we can play during a newborn shoot to make them feel more involved.

Some people like to bring along extended family members - from aunties & uncles, to grandparents and in-laws, photoshoots are a great opportunity to get everyone together. Pets are a part of the family too and I'm always happy to include them in a photography session.

If you have children under 1, I would recommend having a shoot at home. It's easy to control the temperature, changes of clothes and spare nappies are on hand if you need them and favourite toys and comforters are all accessible. You also don't have to worry about the weather which makes autumn and winter shoots more feasible.

If your kids have lots of energy and love to play outside the you might decide a shoot at home isn't right for you. Whether is at the beach, a forest or a local park, taking pictures outside can be a lot of fun! Parks and playgrounds can get very busy during school holidays and weekends so, if you like the idea of having an outdoor shoot, I'd recommend a weekday if possible.

I'm based in Woburn Sands in Milton Keynes but I'm happy to travel if you have a particular place in mind. The photos need to tell your family's story so choose a location that best reflects you.

I often use the biggest, brightest bedroom for pictures of your little ones. Putting a white duvet cover on the bed will create a neutral, reflective backdrop to work with that doesn't create any colour cast.

For babies under 3 months, make sure the house is nice and warm and have a hot water bottle on hand to warm up any blankets to keep your little one happy.

Try and keep the master bedroom, nursery, kitchen and living room free from clutter where possible. Only have out what you're happy to see in the photos.

Clothing is a very personal choice but I've put together a few tips to help you pick outfits for your shoot.

Neutral tones work really well to prevent colour casts and won't detract from the moment. I'd avoid too many bold patterns that might clash or become a distraction. Although, the odd bright, colourful item can be effective when paired with neutral tones, especially if it suits the style of your home. Pick a simple outfit that isn't likely to date too quickly - my 80's baby pictures are full of poofy, purple sleeves which haven't stood the test of time!

Make sure you wear something you're comfortable in and can move well in, especially if we have outdoor activities planned. Feel free to prepare a change of clothes for the kids, although this very much depends of how things go on the day. For babies, I often recommend a white sleeveless babygrow which is great for getting detail shots of hands and feet. I also do nappy off shots for newborns and babies - only if you're feeling brave!

When you book your session, I'll send over a short questionnaire to get some
more information about who's in the family, your children's ages and what
you like to do together. We can then have a chat about where the shoot
should take place and which activities we can plan to get the most out of
your session. If you decide to have your shoot at home, I may ask for some
photos of the main areas of the house - master bedroom, nursery, living
room etc. - so I see where the best light is.

I'll scout out the best spots for pictures when I arrive and, if necessary, move
around small items furniture to get a clean background to work with. During
our session, don't worry about looking at the camera - looking at eachother
gives the images a more natural feel.

I usually start off with photos of the kids and then move on to family pictures.
I'll use games and activities to keep the kids engaged throughout the session.
It's not unusual for shoots with smaller kids to last around 45 minutes but
don't worry, that's plenty of time to get lots of lovely pictures!

I'll give the images a quick retouch and put them in a pdf proof for you to view. This process usually takes around a week, maybe two during busy periods. You can then pick the images you'd like to purchase and let me know if there's
any specific retouching you'd like me to do. All the selected images with be
fully retouched and provided in an online gallery where there will be an option
to purchase prints, frames and canvases.

If you're planning a shoot on location, the English weather can sometimes be
unreliable. It's worth having a wet weather backup plan where possible - although colourful wellies and jumping in puddles can make for some great pictures! Alternatively, I'm always happy to rearrange for another day. I'm used to working in all weather conditions but mornings and late afternoons work best to avoid the bright midday sun.