FAQ
FAQ : What to Expect at a Newborn Photography Session
What if my baby cries and doesn't settle?
This is one of the most common worries parents share before their newborn photography session. The good news? It’s completely normal. Every baby has their own rhythm, and after photographing hundreds of newborns over the past decade, I’ve learned to follow their lead.
If your little one needs a feed, a cuddle, or a nappy change, we pause. There’s never any rush. I’ll gently read your baby’s cues and adapt so we can still capture beautiful, peaceful images. In your preparation email, I’ll share a few tips (like avoiding spicy food or carbonated drinks two days before the session, which can reduce tummy discomfort).
👉 I always prioritise your baby’s comfort and safety as I explain in my Comprehensive Guide to Newborn Photography Safety
". . . She makes you feel so comfortable while putting you so at ease and works magic on your newborn when it’s their time to be photographed. Valentina was gentle, caring and so good at getting my little one to sleep I wanted to take her home with me!. . . " Morag McCole
How do I secure my date? What if my baby comes earlier or later?
I only take a limited number of newborn sessions per month so I can give every family the calm, unhurried experience they deserve. To secure your session, you’ll sign a short agreement and pay the session fee.
We’ll pencil in a date around ten days after your due date, but don’t worry if your baby arrives early or late. Once your little one is here, we’ll confirm a day that works best for your family and baby’s rhythm.
👉 If you’re still choosing your photographer, you might find my Ultimate Guide to Booking Your Newborn Photographer in London helpful.
Are parents and siblings included in a newborn session?
Absolutely. A newborn session isn’t just about your baby, it’s about family connection, love, and belonging. Parents and siblings are always encouraged to join in. These moments of closeness often become the most treasured images.
👉 Including parents in newborn portraits creates images that grow more meaningful over time. I talk more about this in Mum and Newborn Photos: Why Do You Need Them?
Can you photograph babies older than two weeks?
Of course. While newborn photographers often recommend photographing babies in the first two weeks, I happily photograph babies up to 6-8 weeks old. Older babies tend to be more alert, which means we’ll capture plenty of eye contact and expressions, just as precious, only different in mood and energy.
My philosophy is simple: every baby deserves to be celebrated, no matter their age or stage.
Every stage is beautiful, if you’re wondering about timing, I’ve written about the best age to photograph babies.
What if my baby has an accident during the session?
It happens! Pee, poo, or spit-up, all perfectly normal parts of a newborn session. I’ve seen it all and it never bothers me. Everything in the studio is washable, and I always have plenty of wipes, towels, and spare wraps.
So please, don’t worry for a second.:)
👉Accidents are part of the story! My blog on 5 Tips to Enjoy Your Newborn Session shares how to make the most of it
". . . Vale had a great sense of humour when the one twin made an enormous poop. It really helped keep us all calm, happy and we thoroughly enjoyed both photography sessions. . . " Justine Louw
I’m a bit nervous and don’t love being in photos…
I totally feel you. I remember years ago I was nervous about everything, my daughter not wetting the nappy as much or pooping too many times, or worrying at the slightest different sound of breathing, or stranger touching my baby's hands . . . I get it! We are all humans after all and especially first-time mums we worry a lot. I will do all my best to take care of your baby during the shoot and being a baby-led photographer really help in that as I will follow baby's need. But please talk to me at any point if you are not comfortable or feel overwhelmed. A newborn session is quite an emotional experience and I've witnessed tears of joy, tears of exhaustion, signs of anxiety and fears. I'm there for you too, not just for your baby. We can take a break any time and have a chat, so when you will be in the photos you look at your best.
I did it before and wasn't happy with the result.
Well, every photographer has a different style and has a different level of experience. I'm always sorry to hear someone didn't enjoy the experience or didn't like the photos! I strive to make the experience enjoyable and pleasant for parents as much as possible and I always give 100% when I hold my camera. If you like my simple images, that's what you will get. I won't do any extravagant thing or over the top poses.
After the session, you will only pay for the images you love, it's very simple. And, if for any reasons, you don't like any of the photos I present you, I'll be happy to either offer a reshoot or refund you the session fee. So there is nothing to lose really.
"We used Valentina for our third baby girl and she was by far the best newborn photographer we’ve used. She was patient and kind and fantastic with our two elder children. We are delighted with the photos. If you want props etc she’s not for you but if you want beautiful natural shots I’d thoroughly recommend her." Sarah Hill
I think it's too expensive. Is that your last price?
One of the most important thing for me is offering to all my clients the same service and the same treatment. I believe you wouldn't be happy if your friend paid a different price than you had for the same product! Being fair is one of my values so yes, the prices you read are final.
I believe photography is one of the few investments that grows in value with time. These portraits will outlast the pushchair, the cot, and the endless newborn gadgets. They become part of your family history, heirlooms to hold, share, and pass down.
Photographs are your most precious memories and they will last a lifetime
" It's impossible not to love the outcome. We did a newborn session with the rest of the family and absolutely loved the outcome. It might initially sound a bit pricey, but it's worth it. We never print pictures nowadays and having these around the house make a huge difference, they bring a smile whenever I look at them. Great idea also to share with family far away. I can't recommend Valentina enough. In such a short time she puts everyone at ease and what she creates is absolutely wonderful. She is really sweet and absolutely loves what she does, and you can tell! " Lucy Carminati
What to Expect at a Newborn Photography Session
Every newborn session is unique, but you can always expect:
- A calm, baby-led pace with plenty of time for feeding, cuddling, and resting.
- A cosy studio designed for comfort and safety.
- Guidance on what to wear (you can read my post What to Wear for Newborn Photos).
- Gentle posing, natural family interaction, and a focus on connection over props.
- A personalised gallery of images that capture your baby’s first days beautifully.
Your newborn session is more than just a photoshoot, it’s a celebration of new beginnings, love, and the tiny moments that define early parenthood.
If you’d like to start planning yours or simply ask a few questions, get in touch by filling the form below.
I’d love to help you create your first family memories.
Let's Chat
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Some of these women, if they existed today, would have been encouraged to fix what made them unique.
To smooth it.
To reduce it.
To hide it.
And yet those very features became their very signature. The reason we remember them. The reason they felt real.
I think about this often. How many women today are holding back from being seen, because of something someone once said. A feature. A line. A detail they were taught to criticise.
Photography, for me, has never been about perfection.
It is about truth.
It is about presence.
It is about helping you see that what you have been taught to question is often exactly what makes you beautiful.
You don’t need to wait until you feel ready.
You don’t need to change a thing.
You are already worth being captured.
This April, I am offering one complimentary portrait session in my Twickenham studio, because I want more women seeing their own beauty.
If this speaks to you, comment SEEN below.
It starts with a moment of preparation, a breath, a pause before everything changes.
And then, without realising it, that moment becomes something lasting.
Not just a photo, but a piece of your story to live with every day.
I don’t create images to sit in a folder.
�I create them to be seen, held, and remembered.
�Because your memories deserve space in your home, and in your everyday life.
If you’ve been thinking about capturing this chapter of your life, I’d love to create something meaningful with you. 🤍
I often start with an idea.
A light, a set, a feeling I imagine could work.
But the real session begins when you walk in.
When we connect, when I listen, when I understand what you need, not just what I planned.
That is where everything shifts.
A portrait session isn’t about fitting you into my vision.
It’s about creating something together, something that feels true to you.
Would you prefer to be guided, or to co-create your session?
This photo is from last year.
We look different now. Older, wiser, with shorter hair. We’re in different countries. Life has thrown its complications at us, the kind that don’t get shared on social media. And a photo like this is not possible right now.
So I’m holding on to this one until better days come.
I remember how hard it was to take it. So many bad ones, so much frustration. Me going back and forth from the camera. And then this. The last one. The real one. Laughter out of frustration. Boom.
This Mother’s Day, I’m not thinking about breakfast in bed or bouquets. That’s for the Instagram show.
I’m thinking about the women who wish they still had their mum. The ones who wish they were one. The ones holding everything together while the world posts its perfect mum life, and we all know it’s not real. The ones who are tired, exhausted, overwhelmed, desperate for a break, but with a heart full of love, hanging onto every little moment of joy.
You don’t have to have the perfect day to be a good mother.
Today is about acknowledging us, exactly as we are.
Happy Mother’s Day 🤍
Six years ago, I photographed Louise feeding her baby during her newborn session.
Last Friday, I went to something special.
The live recording of @no_parental_guidance , the podcast by @mamastillgotit_ and @hannaheastcomedy. What an absolutely amazing morning, thanks again for having me there!
And on that occasion we swapped books.
In her copy of Milk Tales, I wrote: “This book was born from the real voices of mothers. In many ways, you give space to those voices every day.” ( or something on line as I don’t rememebr the exact words now - hello I don’t remember what I ate for lunch, let the exact words I used a week ago!😅)
Because that’s what she does.
Milk Tales is a collection of breastfeeding stories and photographs, born from my own experience and built from the honest voices of other mothers. Through her podcast with Hannah East, Louise has been doing the same work: creating space for the messy, funny, hard, beautiful truth of parenting.
It’s one of those full-circle moments. The newborn I photographed six years ago. The mother who keeps showing up, keeps speaking honestly, keeps making other parents feel less alone.
If you haven’t listened to @no_parental_guidance go and find it. Real conversations about the parts of parenting no one warns you about, with lots of humour.
If you’ve been curious about Milk Tales, it’s available on Amazon. And if you haven’t read Louise’s book yet, find it there too you will laugh out loud!
March: the month we celebrate women. Twice.
But instead of just posting about it, I’m doing something.
I’m opening up five complimentary portrait sessions in my studio this March. Small, intimate experiences for women over 40.
For women who’ve been thinking about doing this but haven’t taken the step.
For women who want to see themselves differently.
There’s no catch. Just the experience of pausing, of being witnessed, of seeing yourself through a lens that isn’t your phone screen.
If you fall in love with an image and want to print it, you can. Prints start at £100. Because you deserve to see yourself properly, not on a small screen.
If nothing calls to you, the experience is yours to keep.
To apply: Comment and tell me in one sentence what it would mean to you to see yourself differently.
5 spaces. Late March. If this stirs something in you, don’t wait.
Based in Richmond, I work with families across London to capture life’s most meaningful milestones through portrait photography.