When should we take newborn photos?

I recommend that you take your newborn photos between 5-10 days. There are a couple reasons behind scheduling your newborn session at this time with the first being that newborns are easiest to work with within the first 2 weeks of being born. It is during this period, newborns are sleeping the majority of the day which makes it very easy to get them into poses. In addition, because the newborn hasn’t been out of the womb for a long period of time, they are more likely to curl up in “womb-like” poses, stay asleep longer, and don’t mind being unclothed.

How long are newborn photography sessions?

Newborn Photography Sessions can last anywhere from 2-3 hours. I typically allow for a range in time as we work on the baby’s schedule. A newborn session progresses as the baby’s temperament, health, and mood allows. I follow their cues, so they remain as comfortable as possible. If baby needs to be comforted, fed, or changed I will stop for as long as necessary. As such the session may vary.

What do I do to help prepare my baby for the newborn photography session?

There are a few things that parents should do before the start of a newborn photography session. First, have the newborn cleaned with a sponge bath prior to the shoot. This helps in removing any dry and loose skin the baby may have. Secondly, try to keep the baby awake and unfed 1-2 hours prior to the shoot. We will ask you to feed and change baby once you arrive. If the parents or siblings would like to be in the photos please come ready or have outfits available to change into. If the baby is nursing you may want to eat a bland diet 1-2 days prior to the shoot as certain foods the mother eats can cause the baby to become gassy and fussy. Please check with your doctor first. If the baby is formula fed you may want to bring extra bottles as baby may become hungry and need to be fed during the session.As long as the room is comfortably warm, winter or summer, even if a heater is to be put on before the arrival of the photographer, then your little one will be calm and comfortable.

Are props included? If so, what kind of props are there?

I do provide an assortment of some props for the newborn photos but I also strongly encourage parents to also have their own props as to help create more personalized photos for the baby.

Will the photographers come to my house or will I need to come to the studio? Is there a traveling fee for them if they do come to my home?

In order to accommodate you and your new addition, I actually prefer to do the newborn photo session at your home as to create a more comfortable and personalized environment for you and your baby. I will travel to your house for the newborn photography session with an additional charge that will be charged per Km.

Will any retouching be included to remove rashes, birthmarks, baby acne, etc.?

All retouching is included in the price of your package! Please be sure to let us know if there are specific things you want to be retouched so that I can make note of that.

What can we wear for our family photographic session?

• Coordinating colors not matching.
• Long gone are the days of everyone wearing a white shirt and matching. Instead, pick a couple of colors and choose clothes that will fit in this color scheme.
• Look at your home decor.
• Do you like bright colors? Neutrals? Since you will be hanging these photos in your house you want to make sure the colors of your clothes go with the color scheme of your home.
• Don't forget accessories.
• Accessories not only add to your outfit but they can be fun to use in photos. Have the man wear a tie for the woman to hold. Necklaces for the kids to play with or hats to hide behind.
• Limit patterns.
• Personally, I enjoy having an outfit in the mix that has all the colors in it. However, not everyone in the photo should wear patterns as it may distract the final image.
• Look for clothing collections.
• When shopping for clothes for my kids, I head to stores that typically have color coordinating collections. I can then purchase clothes for all the children from one store. I know their clothes will coordinate.
• Plan ahead.
• Once you book your session, start thinking of the clothes right away. You may think certain clothes will fit your kids or that one dress is clean. If you wait until the day of or day before you may run into an issue of clothes not fitting, being dirty or need to be dry cleaned.
• Say no to characters.
• Yes, your little one may love their Toy Story shirt but you may want to skip it for the family photo session. Just like patterns, characters on shirts can be pretty distracting.
• Avoid all white or all black clothing.
• If you are wearing an all white shirt then it is very easy to blow out parts of your shirt causing it to lose its detail. Same can be said with all black, it’s easy to have clipping on black clothing and the detail is lost.
• Textures are your friend.
• I am a huge fan of a cotton fitted shirt. However, in photographs I like to add textures like scarves or belts to add a little more to the image. Don’t shy away from different textures.
• Consider your background.
• If you are taking photos in front of a backdrop, consider what you are wearing. I remember and image my sister, her husband and newborn son took where they were all wearing black in front of a black backdrop. She and her husband look like floating heads holding a baby.
• Think classic.
• These photos will be hanging on your walls and treasured for years to come. By choosing simple, classic clothes you will help give your images a timeless feel.

How long does a family session last?

Usually an hour, but thats all dependant on the number of people, and little ones moods for the day :) Little ones tire and lose interest quickly, so I need to adapt timing based on that too.

How many digital prints do I receive for an hours session?

Im not too sticky with amount of pictures that are edited, but generally by rule of thumb, you can receive between 60-80 in an hour, obviously all dependant on how the session has played out too.

How many images do I receive & how long does it take for me to get the images?

After the photography session, it will take about 2 weeks before you will receive your images that have each been processed with our unique style of basic post production.

Do you have a studio?

I tend to shoot as natural as possible, with natural lighting and natural surrounds to each individual, so wether its in your home environment or work or outdoors. If Studio is required I can either hire one or have a mobile one that I bring through to you.The choice is up to you.

What rights do I have to the digital prints?

You have the right to reprint images whenever you want. However, you may not sell your images for profit or publish your images without the written consent of Janelle Sheehan Photography.

Why do you charge travel fees?

The primary purpose is to provide adequate compensation for the photographer/s and our assistants for the additional time spent in travel. Trips can take over an hour each way in traffic, depending on times. This is time for which we have to compensate them. For this reason, coupled with the costs of reimbursing them for the actual costs of travel, these fees are unfortunately necessary.

Do you offer any discounts on weekday weddings, Sunday weddings, or weddings during the off-season?

I do not offer discounts on Sunday weddings and off-season weddings. As you may know, wedding season is almost year round here in sunny South Africa. Because of that, I am almost shooting throughout the year. I also cannot offer discounts on weekday weddings as all of the costs (second shooter rates, etc.) associated with the wedding remain the same.