FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ page will answer almost every question that you have about newborn photography sessions with Love Me Silly Photography! As a client, it’s extremely helpful for you to review this page and our other informational pages.  Terms & Conditions are also included.

How much are your packages? how can i get a quote?

After you email us with a few of your details, such as delivery day, age of the baby, the number of family members and special requests, we’ll make sure to send you the proper quote. Once you select your package, you’ll be sent a paypal request to hold your date.  Whether it’s a newborn session in studio, 1st year toddler session, cake smash, maternity in studio/on location or family portrait session, we have affordable packages for every type of photography.

What kind of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, checks, & Paypal. Booking Fees are due at the time of booking, with the full session amount due the day of your session, at the end of your session.  Please let us know how you will be paying when you arrive.

Are you insured and do you have your Tdap vaccinations?

We have both had our Tdap and whooping cough vaccinations in 2016 when our daughter was born.  We are fully insured up to $1,000,000.

How old are the newborns you typically photograph?

It is ideal to photograph newborns between 4-10 days. During this time the baby sleeps up to 18 hours a day and remains in a wonderful “curl” from the womb. After 10 days, babies starts to push their limbs out a little and are awake for longer periods of time. If your baby is older than 10 days don’t get discouraged! Give us a call! The session will likely take a little bit longer but we still get amazing photos.

When should I book my newborn session?

We book a limited number of sessions each month so that every client receives our undivided personal attention. To ensure your desired session time, please contact us as soon as you know you would like to book a newborn session.  We’ll pencil your due date onto our calendar upon booking.  You will then contact us when your baby arrives to schedule your session.

My baby is already born.  Is it too late to schedule a newborn session?

No! While we generally book newborn sessions many months in advance, given the necessarily fluid nature of scheduling newborn sessions, we sometimes have last-minute openings.  Moreover, while we recommend that newborn sessions take place during the first two weeks, we are always happy to photograph older newborns with the understanding that it may not be possible to achieve the types of poses that we are able to achieve with a very young newborn.  We have captured newborn photography all the way up to one month and beyond if they are preemies.

Newborns often have dry skin or spots/blemishes, will you be retouching these out? Or will this cost extra?

We will retouch all selected images of your newborn, which is included in your package price at no additional cost. In addition any basic color enhancement as well as our signature look will be applied to all retouched images.

What can I expect from my newborn photography package?

Our organic newborn sessions are unique because we capture both documentary images along with a few more traditional posed images of your newborn.  You can expect a warm and relaxed atmosphere, no pressure or rushing and gorgeous high resolution images delivered in about 2 weeks after your selection.  Your package will contain different features, depending upon the package you choose.

However, all of our price packages have the following things in common:

A first telephone conversation – the initial consultation. This will be via Telephone, Facetime or Skype to discuss any questions, details, or simply to get better acquainted.

High resolution images – without watermarks. However, when sharing online, please ensure to always tag in the photographer’s, name, FB page and/or website.

Editing – each image will be retouched individually to make the basic adjustment of enhancing the colors, the contrast, or any other necessary fine-tuning to ensure the optimal quality for your photos. Baby’s skin blemishes will be retouched out, however, any additional retouching of other family members will be minimal.  Additional retouching costs may be incurred depending on the difficulty of the retouch and the number of people in the image.

Complementary password-protected online gallery – this will only be visible to you and anybody with whom you would like to share the link and password with.For further details on each of our packages, please contact us.

Will you come to my home for the newborn photo session?

We do travel for newborn sessions for an additional fee. Since we have a significant quantity of props, lighting equipment, heaters and backgrounds, it is not feasible to bring everything, so we’ll ask you to pick your favorite props for travel.

May I take pictures during the newborn photo shoot with my phone?

It’s best not to distract us so we can we focus on styling the sets and getting the best possible pictures of your baby. Sit back, relax, take a much needed nap. You are also welcome to connect to our wi-fi.

How many people may I bring to the photo shoot?
Space is limited. We have just enough room for Mom, Dad and baby.

Do we, the parents, need to be in the photographs? I don’t feel ready to have my picture taken yet.

We completely understand that so shortly after giving birth, you might not feel ready to have your picture taken. However, we still do encourage you to think about this. The images in which you and your husband are interacting with your newborn might very well result in the most precious images of all. Afterwards, you might regret it not having taken any images together with your child. Despite the fact that you may feel a bit uncomfortable, we’ll pose you in the most flattering manner and you will look amazing.  You might be surprised at just how much you grow to love them, in the end.

I would like my older son/daughter to be part of the shoot, is this possible?

Of course, absolutely! We actually encourage this. We want you to see this photoshoot as a potential family shoot as well. Capturing the interaction of your first born with your newborn can be quite emotional and unique, so this is a very important part of our style.

Do I need to bring anything to the session?

We have everything needed for a successful newborn session.

We have all the necessary equipment such as backdrops, fabrics, many custom made buckets, and much more. Whenever we find a new prop to use in our sessions, we might exchange one of those basic props with a new one as we do not wish to use the same props for all of our shoots. That way you can rest assured that your image will be unique. We’ll also have a few heaters to keep the little one warm and cozy. This is one of the most important things, as babys’ body temperatures fall quickly and that will wake her up.  We will also have a large selection of wraps, little blankets and hats, we can dress your newborn in.  Everything is mostly hand crocheted or knitted by Beverly.  Lastly, we’ll have baby bed mats, wipes and paper towels in case of little accidents. This is to be expected as we are shooting the baby naked most of the times. It is not a question of IF this will happen but rather WHEN, so between fabric layers I will put some baby bed mats, so when anything happens, we can simply change the fabrics for the backdrop and continue shooting. All of our fabrics are machine washable and can easily be cleaned afterwards. No worries.

What should I pay attention to prior to the session? How do I prepare?

There are several little things to pay attention to before we begin, please do not feed your little one before leaving for our studio or  otherwise she/he will fall asleep before and it might be difficult to settle her/him down again when we are ready to shoot.  Indentations that leave marks.   Please remove socks and loosen the diaper on your little one.  Also see our full newborn photography preparation tips.

How long will the Newborn session last? If a session takes longer, what happens then?

Our goal is to create 1-3 sets with your baby. This takes anywhere from 1 – 3 hours. It is important for you to arrive on time to the session. High speed Wi-Fi is available for your convenience.  As you simply cannot direct a small newborn, we adapt to his or her schedule. So if she doesn’t want to sleep or is a bit cranky and you will need to attend to his/her needs. We will have plenty of time to capture your precious one. In the rare occasion that the session does take longer than three hours, we will need to make a decision ahead of time. Usually after 2 hours we know where we stand and how much we have managed to capture up to this point. So we can discuss whether another hour after the 3 hours is necessary. We will make this decision together. In general, an extra hour costs $150/hr.

What is the temperature in the studio area?
We keep our studio VERY warm, between 80-90 degrees F. This is one of many techniques we use to keep your baby cozy and sleeping.

I saw a particular pose (or set design) that I would like you do with my newborn, is that possible?
We can try our best for certain poses and sets, but ultimately your baby is in control of the session and we like to try her best to make each session unique. We always begin with a set of ideas, but quite often we have to be flexible depending on your baby’s sleep habits, feeding schedule and personality. Not every newborn is “moldable” for certain positions based on weight, age, flexibility, and body structure. As for props, we are constantly switching out props and adding new ones to keep sessions unique, fresh, and new.

May I bring any props that are sentimental?

Yes! We love for you to bring any unique props – letters, clothing, baseball glove, stuffed animals, etc. It will make your pictures much more personal. We will work your props into the sets when possible and let you know if something will not work.

What happens if my baby starts crying or gets fussy?

It’s completely NORMAL for your baby to wake up during the photo session and sometimes get a little fussy. We continue to work through their fuss with warmth, a little rocking and a bit of patience. Your baby will likely require a feeding at some point during the session and this usually solves the more dramatic fussiness issues. At that point we will all take a break and you will be able to give your baby a full feeding or if you bottle feed, we will be happy to feed your baby.  What happens if my baby urinates or has bowel movements?  This is completely normal and expected. Please sit back, relax, and let us handle everything but don’t forget to bring extra diapers.

What can I do to help my session go smoothly? 

The most important thing you can do is relax.  Beyond that, we recommend that you try to keep your newborn awake for an hour prior to the session, and that you feed your baby just prior to my arrival.  If you are breast feeding, it is best to keep a bottle of expressed milk on hand for use during the session.  Pacifiers are also extremely helpful for allowing us to calm your baby during the session.

What if my baby gets hungry during the shoot?
It’s important that we start the photo session with a “full” baby. If you live within 15 minutes of our studio then you can feed your baby at home. However, if you live more than 15 minutes from our studio then we request that you feed upon arrival, 30 minutes prior to your session start time.  We will likely take a feeding break at some point during the photo session and you will be able to give your baby another full feeding.  Sometimes the baby will go through a cluster feeding stage which is totally normal.

Is there a deposit fee and is it refundable?
The deposit fee is $100 and is non-refundable. We have limited sittings and are often completely booked. The session fee is due prior to your photo shoot to reserve that allotted time for you.

If I have to cancel my photo session, can I reschedule?
Because we have a very small window to photograph your newborn baby (ideally the first 4-10 days) we will likely be unable to reschedule your newborn session. We have limited openings and will only have one (1) chance to complete the photo session. We do not double book time slots and will be expecting you to arrive on time or early for your session.

May I purchase extra digital files?
If you would like to purchase just a few of the digital files, you may do so after selecting the images your package determined. If you would like to purchase all of the digital files without editing, we only sell fully retouched images.

Are there any restrictions on the digital files after I purchase them?
Purchasing the digital files gives the client reproduction rights to the images for personal use only. The client may use the digital files to create prints, canvas, books, and other personal use items at their own expense. Client is prohibited from altering, selling, publishing or disseminating said images for any purposes other than for personal use. Client may not use the digital files for monetary gain, income, editorial display, or publication.

Will I be able to post images on Facebook?
You may socially post any picture that you purchase with the “LOVE ME SILLY” logo on it.  No pictures may be posted without our logo or direct link to our site.

Is there a maximum selection time to select your images?
Yes, it is 2 Weeks from the date of receiving your online gallery for selection.

Do you do maternity portraits?
We specialize in creating styled sets for newborn babies, as well as maternity and cake smash sessions.

Why does it cost an extra $300 to photograph twins or triplets?
We have photographed many sets of twins. It takes double or triple the time, energy, and extra hands for the photos you see to be delivered.

Can I decide on color themes and props?
You may suggest color themes or props, but ultimately we are the creative director and designer of the photo shoot. Clients who hire us typically want her to design the entire photo shoot including all accessories and props.

I saw these cute pictures and props on Pinterest. Can you recreate that picture?
We are able to recreate the picture if the style and design goes along with our brand. If we do not have the props in our inventory, you are welcome to purchase them at your expense. [Please note that we may NOT be able to use certain props due to your baby’s sleeping habits, size, and temperament.]

Can I take a photo with my baby?
Absolutely! Those are add-on’s for smaller packages but are included in the larger packages.

Can I come see the studio prior to our photoshoot?
We do offer a meet with our clients before the scheduled shoot after a non refundable deposit is made, we’ll setup the studio as we would for a newborn session. Communication is accomplished primarily through telephone, texting and email. If you have questions regarding this policy please take time to review our extensive positive feedback on newborn photographer.

What if I end up delivering earlier or later than my due date? What happens to my photo session appointment?
Once your baby’s session is reserved with a non-refundable deposit we have carved out a time slot for your family – early or late. We have never missed a baby session.

Are unedited, raw image files available?
No.

What if we are late?
If you are late to the photo session we will start when you arrive, however, it is highly likely that you will receive fewer images in the final selection be re recommend you are on time.

Do we get to watch the photo session?
Our studio is set up towards a large window and surrounded by backdrops and lighting reflectors. Visibility of us working with your newborn is obstructed. There are also cords, lighting equipment, props, backdrops and fabrics surrounding our work space. For safety concerns we prefer clients to stay in a designated area away from the studio setup. Thank you for understanding. This is the safest environment for all of us.

How soon should I expect my photos?

We make it a priority to edit as soon as possible, and upload your personalized online viewing album within 2 weeks of your session.

 

What should we wear?

Simple is best.  We photograph newborns wearing nothing at all or with minimal clothing.  If you have special outfits you would like your newborn to wear, we am happy to accommodate, but keep in mind that numerous clothing changes can be disruptive to newborns.  We recommend that the rest of the family wear clothing that coordinates without matching exactly.  Children should wear clothes that they like and in which they are comfortable, although it is generally best to avoid busy patterns and logos.  We are happy to work with you to select clothing for your session, and will also accommodate clothing changes if you’d like a variety of looks.

How many proofs can I expect to receive, and when will I receive my proofs?

You will receive at least 50-200 images in your online gallery.  Client galleries are available for review approximately two weeks after a session.

Do you photograph in both color and black and white?

Yes.  However, unless you request otherwise, the proofs in your gallery will be shown mainly  in color with a few in B&W.  When you select your images we give you the opportunity to have us modify the image to your taste.

How long do you retain the digital negatives for my images if we would like to purchase images at a later date?

Any unordered images will be deleted 3 months after your order is finalized.