The word luxury can mean very different things to different people. When it comes to newborn photography, you might imagine a beautiful studio, gorgeous clothes and a gallery full of carefully edited photographs. All of that is part of it, but it isn’t what makes the experience feel special to me.
Real luxury is being able to walk into the studio and let somebody else take care of you for a while.
You’ve just had a baby. You may be running on very little sleep, your body is still recovering and leaving the house can feel like a major achievement. The last thing you need is another place where you have to be on time, look perfect and keep everybody happy. That isn’t what happens here..
There’s no pressure to rush
Newborn babies don’t care that we have photographs planned. They might need a long feed as soon as you arrive or decide that sleep is absolutely not on the agenda that morning. We might need to pause for a nappy change and then stop again ten minutes later for another cuddle.
That is all completely normal.
I only photograph one family each day, so there isn’t another appointment waiting outside. Your session will usually take between an hour and a half and three hours, but I don’t work to a strict timer. If your baby needs feeding, you can settle onto the sofa and feed them. I’ll make you a cup of tea and we’ll carry on when everyone is ready.
You won’t be looking at the clock or worrying that your baby is taking too long. There is no such thing as taking too long here.
You don’t need to know how to pose
Most of the people who come to my studio will tell me that they feel awkward in front of a camera. Quite often, one parent is looking forward to the session and the other has agreed to come because they know how much it matters to their partner.
You don’t need any experience of being photographed. I’ll tell you where to stand and help you find comfortable ways to hold your baby. I’ll also guide older brothers and sisters without expecting them to sit still and smile on command.
Before your session, you’ll receive a welcome guide to help with clothing and preparing the family. You’ll also be able to use the studio wardrobe, which includes pieces chosen to feel comfortable after birth.
By the time you arrive, you won’t be expected to have worked everything out yourself. I’ll already know a little about your family, and we’ll take things gently from there.
You’re allowed to feel nervous about being photographed
Being in front of a camera so soon after having a baby can feel daunting. Your body may not feel familiar yet and you probably don’t feel as rested as you would like. You might already have decided that the photographs should focus on the baby because you don’t feel ready to be in them.
I hear this from mums all the time, and I understand it, I’m a Mum to two so I’ve said aaaaaaaall of the same things to myself, believe you, me.
You won’t be pushed into anything that makes you uncomfortable. I’ll help you choose something to wear and guide you in a way that feels natural. You don’t need to arrive feeling confident because helping you become comfortable is part of the experience.
Your baby won’t grow up and notice the parts of yourself you were worried about. They’ll see the way you looked at them and how small they once were in your arms. They’ll get to see themselves being loved by you.
That’s why I’ll always encourage you to be in a few photographs, even if you’re unsure at first.
Your baby doesn’t need to sleep for the session to work
One of the questions I’m asked most often is, “What happens if my baby won’t settle?”
The answer is that we follow them.
Some babies sleep for most of their session. Some are wide awake and curious about everything going on around them. Others want to be held by Mum or Dad for a while before they feel settled enough to be put down.
We can create beautiful photographs in all of those situations. Awake babies give us wonderful expressions and cuddly babies create meaningful family photographs. If your baby needs a break, we stop.
There’s no expectation for your newborn to behave in a certain way. They’re not being difficult when they need something, and you never need to apologise for them.
Beautiful photographs are only part of the experience
Of course, the finished photographs matter. These are the images you’ll put on your walls and send to people you love. They’ll remind you of the tiny fingers and sleepy expressions that are so easy to forget as your baby grows.
The way you feel while we create them matters too!
I want you to remember that someone made you a cup of tea when you needed one. I want you to feel that your baby was handled with care and that nobody judged you when they needed another feed. I want you to leave the studio thinking that the morning was much easier than you expected it to be.
More than 160 families have left Lucy Rose Studios a five-star Google review. What means the most to me is how often those families talk about feeling relaxed and looked after, especially when they arrived feeling nervous.
That is the part of luxury newborn photography people don’t always see when they first look at the photographs.
A little pocket of calm during a very full time
The early newborn days can feel lovely and incredibly intense all at once. There are feeds to think about, messages to answer and a tiny new person you’re still getting to know. Even when you’re enjoying it, your mind rarely feels quiet.
Your newborn session gives you a little space away from all of that.
For a few hours, there is nowhere else you need to be. You can sit with your baby while I gently guide the morning. You don’t need to entertain anyone or make sure we’re progressing quickly enough.
You can simply be together.
For me, that is what makes newborn photography feel luxurious. It isn’t about making the experience formal or extravagant. It’s about making it personal and giving you enough time to relax into it.
The beautiful gallery at the end is something you will keep for the rest of your life. My hope is that the experience of creating it becomes a lovely memory too.
If you’re expecting a baby and would like to know more about a newborn session at my studio just outside York, please get in touch, I’d love to make it happen!
Best wishes,
Lucy xxx
