
Family Portrait Photographer In Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire
JESSICA STEVENS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Authentic moments and natural smiles
Capturing unfiltered moments and vibrant photographs for families
Our children grow up so incredibly fast. It can be an alarming thought that they will never be as little as they are today! Lets capture this moment in time with some beautiful photographs that you can display on the walls of your family home forever.
NATURAL, FUN AND RELAXED BABY PHOTOGRAPHY
Family photography in Warwickshire and the Cotswolds
Authentic moments and natural smiles
A couple of months after having my first baby, I remember somebody saying to me 'the days are long but the years are short' and how that resonated with me! Without a photographic record, those early days with your newborn and the magical moments when your baby first learns to sit, crawl and then walk, are just fleeting memories; precious, yet easily forgotten in the haze of becoming a new parent.
NEWBORN BABIES
My newborn photo shoots capture the special memories that will make up the early days of your new family life. I can photograph just your tiny newborn or photograph the whole family as well, it is up to you.
HOW A SESSION WORKS
I like to come to your family home so you don't have to worry about any unfamiliar surroundings. There's no stress or rushing about – just calm and natural photography of your baby in the comfort of your own home. This also means that your home will feature in the images, which can be a wonderful reminder for your children in the years to come of where they grew up.
I will take your baby's lead; working around their feeds, nappy changes and when they just want to be held and comforted.
WHEN TO BOOK
The baby photography sessions are very flexible and I adapt to the unpredictability of the early days.
I recommend getting in touch before baby arrives, once you have had your baby you will not want to be researching photographers! If you decide to book with me, I will note your due date within my diary. Once you are booked, you are guaranteed availability and when the baby is born and you are ready, we will confirm a date for your newborns photographs.
Newborn sessions ideally take place within the first 7 -17 days of life, with the best time being under 12 days. That said, I will happily hold newborn sessions up to 6-8 weeks, should a session date be delayed for some reason, as we can still get gorgeous images whatever the stage.
OLDER BABIES
Missed the boat on newborn images? You can truly capture your children at any age, it is just important to capture it. Below are some great stages that we can capture. I adore the newborn baby stage, but as they grow and you start to see their little personalities emerge, there's absolutely nothing better.
3-4 MONTHS
Tummy time, smiling, rolling - just some of the lovely things to capture at this stage. Babies can hold up their heads and are engaged, normally happy lying down or propped up.
6-9 MONTHS
Once baby can sit up unaided it’s a whole new world. Sitter photoshoots are really one of my favourite things to do. The whole photoshoot is taken at the baby’s pace, with lots of breaks for cuddles and changes. These shoots are a lot of fun and give you beautiful photographs of your baby at this sensational stage
12 - 18 MONTHS
Toddler sessions are full of fun & laughter! They can be shot at home or at your favourite location whether that be your local park or woods.
This is the photography playdate where they can truly be themselves, have a good time and you get a stunning collection of images capturing their milestones, from sitting up to crawling and walking to dancing!
Frequently asked questions
NEWBORNS
HOW LONG DOES A NEWBORN PHOTOSHOOT TAKE?
Typically a newborn session can take one to two hours. It has been known to take three. I want to make sure your baby is well settled before we do any actual photographing. So if he needs a long feed, or a nappy change or just a cuddle, we build this into the time. There will be plenty of time for you to grab a cup of tea and recharge while your new baby is being photographed.
WHAT SHOULD I DRESS BABY IN?
A lot of my photography is plain, neutral and simple – ‘less is more’ – so they won’t need any OTT outfits or props
WHAT IF THE BABY CRIES?
It’s quite misleading really that the newborn pictures look so beautiful and serene, like the baby just slept/chilled solidly for an hour while we calmly took those pictures and had a coffee. I promise the reality is that all sessions are different, and regardless of your baby’s personality we will create lovely newborn photographs for you.
OLDER BABIES
HOW LONG WILL THE PHOTOSHOOT TAKE?
Typically a babies photography session takes around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your little one’s age.
WHAT SHOULD THEY WEAR?
Less is more! Typically I advise parents to dress them in neutral colours. So think whites, greys, khakis, navy blues. Jeans are great with grey t-shirts for boys and girls. Plain, white summer dresses look amazing on girls. But keep it simple. The focus is all about your baby, not what they’re wearing.
WHAT IF THEY MISBEHAVE?
Please don’t worry! In fact, I actually encourage a little cheekiness during the session as this helps your child to feel at ease and enjoy it. I’m a mum of two and so know how to deal with children who are playing up a bit. It’s ok – they all do it and I have lots of tricks up my sleeve to keep them on board.
15 min