Frequently Asked Questions

 

What precautions are you taking given the recent climate?

 

Firstly thank you for choosing my studio. We all know that the world is forever changing and in 2020 we experienced something we could never have dreamed of however I would like to reassure you that I have always taken cleanliness and safety very seriously. My studio is equipped with masks and gloves as needed. You will have access to washing facilities and anti bacterial gel as required. As my studio is in my own home no outdoor shoes are worn inside or in my studio but rather fresh socks for every session.

 

I am very careful with my laundry and all items used in a session are washed and cared for and never ever re-used.

 

I do ask that if anyone is sick in your family that they please stay at home and i will happily reschedule your session for another date.

 

If you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to discuss and hopefully put your mind at ease.

 
 

What is the best age for a baby to come for a photoshoot?

 

Sessions usually take place in the first 21 days from your little one being born, preferably between 5-10 days. This is the time when babies are still curly and sleepy and a magical moment to capture those little details. Babies personalities grow by the day and so if your little one is a little older than this window, then that is absolutely fine with me. However after 14 days, newborns do tend to develop things like colic and baby acne, they also may more alert and stay awake longer therefor making the session a bit more challenging. This doesn't make it impossible just may require a bit more patience so please bare this in mind.

 
 

When will my session be scheduled?

 

I only take one session a day and from experience children are generally best first thing in the morning so all sessions are scheduled for 10am however is this doesn't suit I am happy to discuss alternatives.

 
 

I forgot to schedule a newborn session, is it too late?

 

It's never too late to have your baby photographed. It is important for me to to manage your expectations of a session. Curly sleepy newborn photos are never guaranteed but can usually be achieved easily with babies under 2 weeks. A 6 week old baby may sleep during a session and have awake time, but may not be able to curl into womb positions or want to be wrapped however I believe that babies can be photographed at any age.

 
 

What if my baby doesn't sleep?

 

Many babies do not sleep through their session. Some are wide awake the entire time!! I can usually still achieve some amazing wide eyed images, especially when wrapped.

 
 

What if my baby cries?

 

Babies are babies and they will cry. I will do everything I can to soothe and comfort them and make them feel as comfortable as possible. As a mother myself I have been there and wore the t-shirt and have picked up a few tips and techniques along the way but please don't worry I've never been beaten so far.

 
 

What should I expect from my session?

 

Many clients wonder what they can expect during their session, I aim to make it as fun personal & relaxed as possible, allowing you to enjoy the experience & treasure the images.

 

When you arrive we will have a chat & get to know each other and discuss what is planned for the session and if you have any ideas you wish to share?

 

I’ll advise you of roughly how long you can expect your session to take, there is never any rush & always plenty of time to keep you & your little ones comfy. If siblings are joining us please don’t worry about high spirits follow my lead & they’ll do great.

Around two weeks later your images will be available to view on an online gallery. About a week after that you will receive your USB by post. You may place orders for additional products at any time however payment will be due prior to the order being placed and then around three weeks later art work will be ready to collect & hang in your home.

 
 
 

My baby still has their umbilical cord on, is it ok to still take photos?

 

Yes! Most babies that come to see me still have their cord on as it can take anything up to 14 days for it to fall off. Some babies even lose their cords during the session! When babies are wrapped, I wrap with their nappies on and cover the cord so it does not catch on any fabric. When baby is naked I can gently cover the area to keep it protected. I am always very careful and cautious with newborn babies and very aware of the post delivery care that is needed

 
 

What if we cannot get any great baby photos?

 

I have a very successful record for being able to provide a wide variety of newborn images even with a fussiest of babies. I will do everything I can to achieve this with your little baby however I strongly believe in baby led sessions so if it becomes clear that photographing you the wee one is not possible i am happy to rearrange another date.

With this in mind I suggest that you do not introduce anything new 24-48 prior to the session. If you are introducing new formula or foods it is best to wait a full day to make sure there are no reactions that may upset your baby.

 
 

How many digital images are provided?

 

For most sessions between 50-200 images can easily be taken. This seems a lot however I will whittle your session images down by deleting any duplicates or blurry images and editing the remaining which will be delivered firstly via an online gallery and then once happy you will receive a beautiful customised USB.

 
 

Is there retouching? My baby has acne and my toddler has a scratch on their nose?

 

Yes. I am happy to edit skin blemishes, scratches or sports that aren't usually there.

 
 

Can we include parent poses, our other children and our pet?

 

Yes, I am happy to photograph your immediate family, in fact I encourage families to get involved. We are a family of animal lovers so please let me know prior to booking if you plan on bringing your fur baby and we can discuss this further.

 
 

What do we wear?

 

Whilst I understand that it's very exciting to buy beautiful clothes for your precious one, newborn clothes rarely fit well and fail to show the delicateness of every detail that is your new baby so I will use beautiful soft newborn wraps.

 For the rest of the family simple, mid-tone clothing is best, cream, white, soft pink or even light grey.

Have a think about your hair and makeup. There's no need to go overboard here, but a little special touch here and there can go a long way in creating stunning portraits.

I will occasionally photograph baby in your hands so remember to remove any chipped nail varnish from yourself and any other member of the family.

For daddies, I suggest a pair of jeans with a plain white or tan/oatmeal t-shirt or a button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and untucked.

If daddy is prepared to go topless in one shot the result can be incredibly beautiful and is a very powerful image. No pressure though!

For young siblings I suggest wearing a simple white vest, top or t-shirt for boys or white/light coloured dress or top for girls. Older siblings could choose from the following:

plain white t-shirt

neutral, light, floaty, dress

Please avoid any busy patterned clothing with logos or designs as we want the focus of your portrait to be on your little baby.

 
 

What should I bring?

 

Handy items to have with you for any session:-

Even if baby doesn't normally take a dummy, and you have one, please bring it along just incase as they will often want to self sooth by sucking more than normal as they are in a strange place. Using a dummy during a very short session won't encourage bad habit, I promise.

Wipes & or tissues – I do keep tissues, muslins and sensitive water wipes in stock for emergencies

Spare Nappies - I do keep some in studio just incase

Extra bottles if bottle feeding

Comfy clothes for baby to travel in. Best avoid clothing that fastens at the back. They are normally beautiful but can be tricky to dress and undress.

A couple of outfit options so we can style you perfectly

Any keepsakes or items you wish to include such as a favourite toy & dummy

Spare clothes for you both as accidents happen

For older siblings - Water, juice or milk & a snack, dry foods are better than messy chocolate

 
 
 

How quickly can I see the images?

 

Images are generally ready to see via an online, password protected gallery within two weeks of your session. I am always happy to rush an image or two when needed for an event or if you are happy to have a preview via social media please let me know and this can be done within 24 hours.

 

Lastly I'd like you to be nice and relaxed during your session as children generally respond to your energy and therefore the more relaxed and comfortable you are the chances are your baby will feel the same. So if there is anything at all you would like to discuss to put your mind at ease please give me a call and I'll be only to happy help.

SAY HELLO

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

 

Telephone Number | 07792 461 147

Email | KaaronMcKinnonPhotography@yahoo.com

Opening Hours | Monday to Friday  10am - 2.30pm (Closed Saturday & Sunday)

@Copyright 2021 Kaaron McKinnon Photography, Newborn, Baby, Cake Smash & Family Photographer. East Kilbride, Lanarkshire and Glasgow