I'm really nervous. Is that normal?
It is definitely normal to be nervous for your boudoir session, so don't worry. Most people are nervous until the session has gone on for a few minutes. After it starts, you’ll begin to loosen up. If you’re still nervous, try out these relaxation tips provided in another blog post.
How do I know how to pose?
Don’t worry about posing. We've totally got you covered in that department. We know all the tricks to create the most flattering angles for you, no matter what shape or size you are.
Do your packages include hair and makeup?
I don't currently offer packages with hair and makeup, but will happily assist you with your own make up if you bring it along to your session and also with hair styling.
Do you provide the wardrobe?
I do not provide your wardrobe. This is something you’ll have to pick out and bring along yourself. If you need help choosing an outfit, I can definitely give you some suggestions, though. You do not need to purchase expensive lingerie, if you don't want to or can't afford to. I can take some beautiful images of you in any clothing, for example, a simple shirt.
I want share these pictures with my partner, but I don't want loose prints floating around. Any ideas for the best gift?
This is a very common concern and I totally understand. I recommend placing an order for my Gold or Platinum Bundles, which include an accordion album. This is much more discreet and will keep your images in one place and not floating around. For more information on these and other products, just ask.
What should I bring to my boudoir session?
For your boudoir photo shoot, I suggest two to three different outfits and any props you may want to incorporate. Need help choosing props? Check out this blog article on incorporating your partner’s interests.
Can I bring a friend?
Yes, you can bring a friend if you think it will help you relax. However, sometimes an extra set of eyes has the opposite effect, even if it is a friend. They are more than welcome to come, but if they are making you uncomfortable, they may have to wait out on the porch.
Will my session be with a male or female photographer?
I am a one woman team, so you will only have one female photographer for your session.
Do you do touchups?
Yes, I will smooth skin and do some basic retouching on all of your portraits.
I’m not a model – are boudoir photos still flattering even if my body isn’t perfect?
Absolutely! Nobody is perfect and every woman is sexy. If you have any specific concerns, contact me and we can talk about it!
Do you do outdoor boudoir sessions?
I currently do not offer outdoor boudoir photo shoots, simply because I don't have a private outdoor location for this.
Do I have control over who sees my images?
Yes, most certainly. I will only share photos if you have given me permission and have approved the images for sharing. I totally respect your wishes and won't post or share any images if you’d prefer they stay private. Check out my full terms and conditions and privacy policy here.
Have a question that’s not listed here? Contact me and I will answer it for you.
Book a boudoir photo shoot or burlesque photo shoot here.
Thanks to Lady May J Burlesque UK for posing for these photos ❤️
Cuddling, sleeping, feeding, crying. That’s what newborn behaviour is all about in the first few months.
Although your baby might give you some eye contact, crying is probably the main thing you’ll notice about his behaviour. For example, he’ll cry if he’s hungry, unsettled, wet or uncomfortable.
Crying is a newborn’s main way of communicating, of telling you what she needs. It’s a sound that can spur you into action, even when you’re asleep. If you’re a breastfeeding mother, it can trigger your let-down reflex.
Crying peaks at about six weeks. This period of intense newborn crying will pass.
Babies cry and fuss on average for almost three hours a day. Some cry for a lot longer than this. Most of this crying and fussing seems to happen in the late afternoon and evening, although every day will probably be a bit different.
As your baby gets older, it’ll be easier for you to understand what he’s trying to tell you through crying. His crying is also more likely to be spread throughout the day.
Your newborn baby is working out what the world is like. The way you respond to her behaviour, especially her crying, tells her a lot about her world.
For example, your baby might find out that when he cries, someone comes to give him what he needs. This might be a nappy change, a feed or a cuddle. If that happens, he’ll learn that the world is a pretty OK place.
When you respond quickly to comfort your crying newborn, your baby will cry less often overall. It’s absolutely fine to pick up your baby when she cries. It tells her that she’s safe because you’re a caring, responsive parent who loves her.
You can’t spoil a newborn. If your newborn is crying, it’s because he needs your help. If you respond calmly and consistently, it helps your baby learn that the world is a safe and predictable place.
Some babies cry a lot over a long period of time. Nothing seems to comfort them. This is often called colic.
Colic might just be natural behaviour for some babies, especially at the end of a long day and after too much stimulation. Crying might help a newborn take control of her environment. It’s as if your baby is saying, ‘Enough! I’m just going to cry to shut out the world’.
If your baby cries like this, it can be very hard for you to cope with. These ideas might help you and your baby:
All children have the right to be safe and protected. But parenting can be hard work. Seek help if you feel that you can’t cope or you might hurt your child.
Dealing with crying gets easier as your newborn learns more about the world and gets better at showing you what she needs. Also, you’ll become an expert at ‘reading’ your baby’s behaviour. No-one knows your baby better than you, but if you’re worried about your baby’s crying, talk it through with your GP or child and family health visitor.
Why this is relevant for newborn photography
Newborn photographers will recommend that newborn photoshoots are done when baby is between 7-10 days old and there are two main reasons for this. Firstly, your baby is more likely to be sleepy at this very early stage of their life and this makes it possible to safely pose babies in those gorgeous positions you see in newborn photography. It is vitally important that newborn photographers are trained in how to pose babies safely. I have undertaken training with one of the UK's leading newborn photographers and am a member of BANPAS, who provide ongoing advice and support for baby and family photographers. The second reason for having your newborn photos taken when your baby is so small is that they still have all their newborn features - creases, wrinkles, hair etc - which will go before you know it as babies change so fast.
I believe it's really important to document each stage of your child's journey, through a newborn baby photoshoot, sitter session, cake smash or first birthday portrait and of course photos with siblings and family members. Check out my website for details of these sessions or drop me an email to start a chat.
Are you coming to the end of your maternity leave? Are you dreading going back to work, feeling guilty about leaving your baby, yet excited to be returning to adult company? Whatever is going through your mind, there are bound to be mixed feelings. As parents we feel guilty about all sorts of things and what we feel guilty about one minute we may not the next, but something else is sure to arise that makes the guilt return. It seems to be unavoidable.
Your baby may be around 6-8 months of age and that time will have gone in the blink of an eye. Your little one may now be honing those fine motor skills and perhaps mastering sitting, although all babies develop at a different rate of course.
Why not treat yourself to a Sitter Session and get a free Mobile Gallery App so that you have the images from your sitter photoshoot on your phone, in your pocket or bag, with you at all times to show off to your colleagues, friends and family. Blink again and your child will be walking. Whatever their personality - cheeky, confident, shy, reserved - let me capture your child's unique character.
A sitter photoshoot session takes around an hour and will be held in my beautiful garden studio in Anna Valley, near Andover, Hampshire. I can provide simple, neutral or vintage style rompers, or you are welcome to bring any outfit (or outfits) of your choice. I have a range of timeless props, including a vintage wooden child's chair, a vintage style racing car, baskets, wooden bowls, a little wooden bed and plenty more.
To see my pricing info, please check out my Pricing Page.
To book or enquire, please get in touch via my Contact Page.
"Because babies grow too fast..."
The Importance of Maternity Photos
Even though pregnancy comes with a lot of difficult trials, it is an amazing time in your life. It is a time of celebration and of anticipation as you prepare to meet your little bundle of joy. It’s a time where you become strong – stronger than you ever thought you could possibly be. During this time, you create your initial bond with your child that will continue throughout your entire lives.
There are very few women who actually feel like they are beautiful while they are pregnant – especially during the first pregnancy. However, the miracle of pregnancy is a beautiful thing. Swollen feet, stretch marks, and hormone changes aside – you are growing a real live human being inside of you. All of those side effects come from different things your body has to do to help nourish and protect your baby.
You are beautiful, and you should take the time to celebrate these changes and this amazing moment in your life. Your maternity photos will be a great gift to pass down to your child as an heirloom of your first memories with them. This is something they can treasure forever.
If you're looking for a maternity photoshoot, get in touch via my Contact Page. You might also like to consider my bump-to-baby photoshoots, or bump-baby-milestone packages, to document your pregnancy and your baby's first year with a set of coordinating images. It's a lovely idea to use some props from a newborn photoshoot in a child's first birthday photoshoot or cake smash session.
I have a selection of maternity dresses suitable for photoshoots, including the one shown in the image above. I also like to photograph mums to be in their jeans and a stripy t-shirt, or whatever they feel comfortable in, or perhaps even naked to really show off that bump!
Get in touch via my Contact Page and we can discuss your wishes and fears when it comes to a maternity photoshoot!
Just for you, here are some tips to ensure your Spring outdoor photoshoot, such as my Bluebell Photoshoot, is stress free and flawless...
1. Wear layers. Spring can be finicky in the sense that you can go from frozen to over heated in a matter of minutes. I suggest wearing layers - vest top, t-shirt, cardigan, scarf, etc. That way each family member can peel off, or add, a layer as they see fit and remain comfortable throughout the photo session.
2. Location is a big deal. You better believe we're going to take advantage of the fresh, warm air and all those flowers popping up from the ground and buds in the trees. If you have any favourite photoshoot locations, let me know. I have a nice list on hand, too.
3. Play into the colours of the season when choosing your family's outfits. Fresh pops of green, blue, pink and yellow are always a hit in the springtime. I recommend choosing a colour theme for the whole gang, then slightly deviating from that with accessories to keep things interesting. Book your girls for a magical photo session in big floaty dresses. Look in places such as shein.com, H&M, eBay, Monsoon, Next, Boden, White Company... find something simple to make sure the focus is on the person being photographed rather than their clothing. Avoid bold patterns, words and big logos. Get in touch with me to plan what to wear for your photoshoot- I'd love to help you prepare. Remember my golden rule... less is more.
4. Speaking of accessories: wear them if you like, but avoid anything too bold - less is more! Choose jewelry, scarves, or prints that play into the spring theme. Butterflies, flowers, insects, etc, can make for some adorable family pictures.
5. Time it right. Book a photo session too early and you may miss out on those spring buds. Book too late and you've already wandered into summer territory. Keep an eye on the weather and give your photographer a call when the time is right. For my bluebell photo sessions I always visit the bluebell woods regularly to ensure those beautiful native flowers are in the best condition for your family photoshoot.
6. Incorporate props. Spring offers some beautiful backdrops where props blend in perfectly. For example, old wooden chairs look stunning in a sea of blooming rose bushes, and a quilted blanket is lovely on the fresh, green grass. If you have something you'd like to incorporate into your photo shoot, get in touch with me beforehand so I can work it into the session. I also have a variety of props that I can bring along, so it's good to talk beforehand and plan ahead so we get exactly what you want from your photoshoot.
7. Really think about your footwear. Spring can often mean a soggy ground, so flip-flops or heels are not the best choice. Instead, wear something that's comfortable and spring appropriate, like loafers, flats or boots.
Check out information on my bluebell photoshoots or get in touch via my Contact Page. I'd love to hear from you.
Helen x
Welcome back to the blog, dear readers! Today I’m sharing a preview of the newborn session I recently had with baby Maggie, who was welcomed into this big world on 5th March 2019 to Bláithìn (mum), Kav (dad) and big sister Zoe. As you can imagine, Mum and Dad are equally exhausted and delirious with their new baby girl, and I feel so lucky to have been given the chance to be a (small!) part of their parenthood journey.
Going into the session, Bláithìn and Kav said they felt relaxed and they enjoyed some quiet family time together during the photoshoot. All turned out brilliantly, as you can see from the images I was able to capture that day.
Their main piece of advice to making sure all goes off without a hitch?
“Relax and be prepared to feed them a lot” said Bláithìn. I totally agree with that advice!
Zoe (3) has been great with Maggie. She says "her wants to have milk from your boobies"
So, so sweet!
When it comes to booking your newborn photoshoot, there are a lot of questions about how the process works. When your new little bundle isn’t here yet, it’s hard to figure out a schedule. Here is what I suggest:
Contact me during the beginning of your third trimester to set a date for the session. I require payment of the session fee to hold the date for you and recommend newborn photo sessions are booked for when baby is between 5-10 days old. This means that I will schedule your newborn photo shoot for sometime within two weeks of your due date.
Keep in contact with me as your pregnancy comes to a close so we can be prepared. After your baby is born, give me a call or shoot me a message so we can confirm the final date for your newborn photoshoot.
If you have any queries at any time, just get in touch. I'm always happy to hear from you!
Helen x
I recently had the pleasure of running a newborn photoshoot for the latest edition to the Gay family, baby Henrietta. Little Hettie is the youngest of three daughters to Victoria and Ed, big sisters being Caroline and Philippa. The Gay family are big fans of camping and I am sure it will not be long before Henrietta is taken on her first family camping holiday.
Mum, Victoria, chose me to take newborn baby photos of Henrietta as I had photographed our other two daughters. Victoria says,
"Helen has such a lovely way with children. She had such a calming manner with Henrietta and made the whole experience so relaxing. Helen provided some beautiful handmade outfits and props. We were also able to use our own soft toys and outfits. I liked the relaxed setting the best and of course the resultant photos!"
I do have a lot of props for newborn photography sessions, in fact buying handmade and unique props has become a bit of a habit! I love looking on Etsy and in local independent shops for little pieces that make each session unique. Need some inspiration when picking out props for your newborn session? Want to make it unique and personal? Check out these great ideas for adding sentiment to your photos - ask me to recreate a family or sibling photo that you already have; bring special blankets that might have been hand knitted or handed down through your family; ask me about doing a session at your home to make it really special to your family; bring something from your childhood for me to include in the photos; bring an outfit or special toy that belonged to another of your children, if this isn't your first baby; bring an item from your workplace or something related to a hobby of yours - for example I have photographed a newborn baby in his dad's Apache helicopter helmet (check out separate blog); if you did a maternity session, you can do some similar poses with your baby and frame them side-by-side in your home or in an album. If you used an outfit or name blocks, ultrasound picture, etc., we can use those props again in these photos, too; bring your wedding rings and I can have your baby hold your them in their little hands or place them between their toes. Alternative idea: if you have a little girl, we could also use your wedding garter as a headpiece. There are so many options to make your newborn photo session unique and special to you and your family. Contact me to discuss ideas, any time!
"If you are looking for a relaxed experience for you and your baby, and some lovely photos at the end then I really couldn’t recommend Helen more. She was fab." Victoria Gay, March 2019.
I recently had the pleasure of taking some milestone photos for this little chap's first birthday. John was just about to turn one when his cake smash and splash photoshoot took place at my home studio near Andover. Parents Tiffany and Adam wanted some images that were simple, where John was the focus - definitely my style of photography - less is more!
We started the session by having a chat and a cup of coffee, whilst John played with some toys in my studio. Mum, Tiffany, then got John dressed in a cute smart little outfit that she brought with her to the first birthday photoshoot. I then took some photos of John with my wooden letters that spell out ONE and a giant white balloon, which he got to take home with him at the end of his cake smash and splash session.
Then for the real fun! Tiffany changed John's outfit, so he was wearing a simple pair of blue shorts - following the theme of less is more. I had a cake all ready for him to get stuck into and we sat him down, waiting to see whether he would dive in, or be hesitant. It's always hard to know which way a cake smash is going to go! Some children get stuck right in, picking the cake up and completely demolishing it. Others are really very hesitant and need some encouragement! John was very interested in the icing and I must say he was very elegant in his destruction.
Finally, mum got John undressed and we sat him in his vintage bath tub for the splash session. My bubble machine was a bit hit with John. He loved trying to catch the bubbles! After his little bath, John was wrapped in a big fluffy towel, ready for a rest after all the fun! The remnants of the cake were boxed up and given to mum and dad to take home and demolish.
We were all so pleased with how well the photos came out! Mum, Tiffany, says, the photos are amazing and felt the session went incredibly well. Her words of advice to other parents considering a cake smash photoshoot with me are simply to relax and enjoy it! She brought John's favourite monkey along and he was helpful in attracting John's attention - monkey even took a few of the photos!
If you or a friend are looking for a cake smash and splash or other milestone photo shoot, get in touch with me today via my Contact Page. I'd love to hear from you!
Helen x
This was my first time photographing the very photogenic little Ava, for her first birthday photoshoot, a milestone photo session.
I honestly cannot put into words just how much I enjoyed photographing this young lady. Mum, Natalie, says one of Ava's favourite new things is her new slide that she got for Christmas and walking, holding someone’s hand.
“The session went really well and I'm very happy with the outcome,” says Natalie. I'm glad to hear she had as positive an experience as I did.
Let's move on to the pictures. Here's Ava in all her 1-year-old glory!
I just wanted to take a minute to talk about the importance of the pre-session warm up. What is this, you might ask? This is the photographer-child interaction time that occurs before we begin the photo session. I always suggest that you show up a little bit early, maybe 15 minutes, to your child photoshoot so we have this time to get to know each other. Especially with young children, it’s going to be a little bit scary interacting with someone they’ve never met before. We want to ensure we can really show off your child’s personality, so we want him or her to be comfortable with me and with the environment.
If we were to just throw them into the middle of the session and there’s this strange lady with a camera jumping around trying to get them to look and smile, your child is going to tense up and there may even be confusion and tears. We really just want everything to run smoothly.
If you can arrive early, this will give me time to introduce myself to your child, and to try to get a vibe on how the session will go. Some children warm up right away, while others need the entire warm up time to start to feel comfortable and come out of their shells. And that’s OK. I always follow their lead.
After I introduce myself, I will try to get to know your child. I’ll ask her/him questions about what she/he likes or doesn’t like, sing songs, maybe play a game, etc. Just to break the ice a little, so by the time the photo session starts, your child is happy and more familiar with me. Making sure you’re there early enough to have this time is probably one of the most important tips I can give you for your child’s session.
Once we’ve done a photoshoot and your child realises that I’m not scary and we have fun together, the next session shouldn’t need much warm up time at all, if any. But for the very first session together, it is important.
P.S. Want to learn more about my milestone packages? Get in touch via my Contact Page and I'll send you full details. Why not take a look at my Cake Smash and Splash packages too.
I really look forward to hearing from you soon!
Hello dear Blog reader
Today I thought I would share some thoughts on breastfeeding and bottle feeding, after listening to a very interesting programme on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour this morning.
The programme talked about women's experiences of feeding their babies, following the results of a poll commissioned by BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour and BBC Radio Sheffield revealed that over a third of mothers felt ashamed for giving their child formula. These results are similar to another survey from researchers at Liverpool University, who studied the experiences of more than 1,600 new mums in 2016. Among the 890 who did formula feeding, 67% reported feeling guilty, 68% felt stigmatised and 76% felt the need to defend their feeding choice.
As a newborn and baby photographer, I meet lots of new mums. I am always very interested to hear about their experiences of feeding their new baby. I have two daughters, now age 6 and 7. I was determined to breastfeed my girls, as I believed it was the best thing for them and was told that it was the most natural thing in the world. After all, the World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond. I breast fed both until they were about 6 months old. Looking back, I was quite naive and I even consider myself stupid for having carried on this long. Don't get me wrong, I acknowledge that breast milk is better for babies than formula, but I wish someone had said to me that it is not some holy elixir. I was in agony breastfeeding both girls for a long time (not for the whole six months, but certainly for at least six weeks). I used to dread feeding times because it bloody hurt. I consulted midwives, visited NCT breastfeeding support classes, visited my GP, even had some advice from international breastfeeding guru, Dr. Suzanne Colson of Biological Nurturing, but nothing seemed to stop the pain. I ended up doggedly continuing and taking paracetamol to ease the pain on the advice of my GP (although I am not recommending that anyone takes any medication without the advice of a doctor). I didn't stop because I felt guilty. I felt that I would be depriving my daughters of something vital.
When breastfeeding mothers (new or old!) come to my studio for a newborn photo session, I try to find out whether they are struggling. I have yet to meet a mother who says they are loving breastfeeding - most speak of how difficult it is, whether that's because they are experiencing pain or difficulty feeding and of course all find it exhausting. I try to offer some consolation and tell them about my story and how I wish someone had said to me, "stop" and concentrate on my well being, as well as that of my daughters. I experienced post natal depression with both and I'm sure that was largely due to the pain I experienced breastfeeding. All I heard from the experts was to keep trying and that it would come with time, but it took far too long, looking back, and I wonder whether I would have had a different experience as a new mother if I had switched to the bottle. I didn't want to leave the house because I didn't want to have to feed in public and found it difficult to see other mothers seemingly getting on fine with feeding their babies (although I now know a lot of these mums were putting on a very brave face).
I was delighted to discover, this morning, whilst listening to Woman's Hour, that in June 2018 the Royal College of Midwives guidance published new guidance for mothers, saying the decision to breastfeed - or not - "is a woman's choice and must be respected". It said that while it deemed the exclusive use of breast milk the "most appropriate method of infant feeding" for the first six months, what was most important was that parents made an informed decision.
The advice given at the end of the radio programme was overwhelmingly, "Fed Is Best", breast is a little bit better but it is far more important to look after yourself and your baby and to seek support if you are struggling. I thoroughly recommend that you listen back to the programme on BBC Radio 4 and if you are currently struggling, please do consider all the options and do not dismiss your own well being, which itself is vitally important in the development of your child.
I absolutely love my job and especially enjoy creating newborn baby photos, as babies grow so quickly and change so fast. I didn't have a newborn photo shoot with either of my daughters, probably because it was the last thing on my mind, but I do wish I had some photos of their tiny creases, hairy shoulders and just their gorgeous newness to remember how amazing they were at that very young age. Perhaps if I had switched to the bottle, I would have felt more inspired to take my camera out and I'd have those images and better memories to look back on today.
For further information on these studies, visit: