Here at Peek-a-boo we love babies, especially all the cuddles!! We have over 10 years specialist newborn photography experience & have safely photographed hundreds of babies! Nestled in the heart of Liverpool City centre, our family-friendly photography studio is perfectly equipped for all your baby’s needs!
During your newborn photoshoot we use our expertise to safely manoeuvre your baby into a variety of different poses to show off how adorable your little one is. We have many different props, sets & colour schemes to suit both baby girls & boys, we will work with you to ensure the photographs are exactly what you envision. We can even tailor the session to make it as personal to you & your family as possible with the use of props, teddies, scan pictures and whatever else you want to bring along. Our aim is to create beautiful portraits of your precious little one that you can cherish for years to come. There are a few things you can do to help make it happen. Please read all the information below before your session date so you are fully prepared & please contact us if you have any questions!
Before your photoshoot
Before the session we always call you for a chat so we can get to know you a bit better. These calls are really important for us to find out more about what you want from your newborn session and are a great chance for you to ask us any questions you have about your photoshoot. We will discuss everything from props and colours, what you need to bring and possible wall art options for your home.
What to expect during your newborn photoshoot
It is very common for newborn sessions to take up to four hours including your viewing session (so you’re welcome to bring lots of snacks!). Our newborn photoshoots are very much baby-led, we work around whatever your baby needs, much of the session can be spent feeding, settling and cuddling to make sure baby is comfortable throughout. Don’t worry though, we will keep you topped up with caffeine!! This is the perfect time for you to chill, relax, and leave the babysitting to us!
Babies love a toasty warm room for their newborn session. The recommended temperature for a fully clothed baby would be 18-19 degrees Celsius however an undressed/wrapped baby feels most comfortable with a room temperature of 28-29 degrees Celsius. We always ensure the studio is the perfect, safe temperature for your newborn who has not yet learnt to regulate their own body temperature. We have the studio heated to this temperature for your newborn session so although it may feel too warm for you and me, trust us this is the perfect temperature! This means that your baby will probably want to feed more than usual during the session, this is very normal and even better as ‘milk drunk’ is perfect for getting super sleepy photos.
Once your session is finished, we will spend a small amount of time adding the finishing touches to your images. We will then take you into our cinema-style viewing suite where you can view all the images of your gorgeous new arrival. Here you have the hard decision of choosing your favourite images and how you would like to take them home. This can be anything from our packages to our amazing selection of wall art.
What to bring to your newborn photoshoot
We provide all the props, wraps, materials, outfits, hats & headbands for your session but we welcome personal items such as teddies,name plaques, scan pictures or anything else that will make the photoshoot more personal for you and baby. We love when new mums bring the same items from their maternity photoshoot so we can tie these into your newborn shoot. Your photographer on the day will work out how best to incorporate them. You do not need to bring outfits for your newborn session. The pictures translate much better if your baby is wrapped with our delicate materials. We want to show off how tiny your baby is in a natural way. Make sure you bring along extra milk, lots of nappies and a dummy even if your baby isn’t used to one. Please make sure to pack snacks and other essentials for yourselves too!
We love to include family members in your portraits too. Siblings, partners, grandparents and even pets are welcome but please let us know in advance! If you are bringing older siblings make sure to bring things to keep them entertained like iPads or books as it is a long session. Please bring coordinating outfits for any family members who will be getting involved in the session. Neutral or tonal outfits work best e.g all in white or everyone in different shades of blue/grey/beige etc. A good way to think of your colour scheme is to think of the colours in your home and what will look best displayed on your wall. From my experience most people want images that are timeless and natural and that is exactly the style we are known for at Peekaboo.
How to get the best from your newborn photoshoot
Please don’t use any oils or lotions on your baby the day you come in for your newborn session. This can make their skin shiny which will affect the final pictures. Don’t worry if your baby’s skin isn’t perfect, any blemishes or discolouration can be taken out when we edit your pictures.
If you are breastfeeding it is best to avoid acidic or gassy foods for 2 days before the session as these foods on occasion can cause tummy upset in your newborn, this could potentially lead to problems when trying to get them to settle.
Please refrain from feeding your baby before you leave the house as they will most likely sleep in the car and wake up when you get here. We always ask that you feed your baby when you arrive at the studio with the hopes of them falling into a nice deep ‘milk drunk’ sleep!
Baby’s cord and clip could still be attached by the time they are 10 – 14 days old. This is a very natural and normal part of this stage of your newborn’s life, however they are not something a lot of parents want to appear in the newborn images. If this is the case, we have lots of ways of disguising the clip with wraps and swaddles plus some clever posing and angles if you are wanting unwrapped shots.
If you are breastfeeding and would like us to take photographs of you feeding your baby, we will happily do so. It is such a personal and intimate experience that won’t last forever, so we love the idea of capturing the moment for you.
We encourage you to get involved in the photoshoot with your baby. It is such an important time together and it is very rare you will get the opportunity for a full family picture again so we like to give you the chance to capture that memory!
Take a look online at our portfolios or check out our Instagram before you come in for your session, that way you can give us an idea of what style of pictures you really like and we can make the session bespoke and personal to you and your family. Don’t forget to look at our product guide before you come for your session so you can have an idea of which of our packages works best for you. Measuring your walls at home is also a great tip so you know what size wall art will fit best!
If you follow these hints and tips, your newborn session will run smoothly and we are certain that you will love your time in the studio with us! Capturing your little ones first few weeks will be a joyous occasion and one that you will remember forever and we are privileged that you chose us to be a part of it.
