Welcome to my world, let me express a warm welcome to you and your family.

Thank you for considering Elisabeth Franco Photography for your newborn session. I would be delighted to take some beautiful photos of your brand new baby and family.

Newborns are only this little for a short time…

There is something quite precious about a newborn baby, tiny toes and tiny fingers, perfect skin, and the most amazing ability to evoke the most overwhelming love for such a small person, yes this is how it feels when a new baby arrives in your life….

Capturing those first few weeks of babies life is the beginning of one of the most incredible journeys of you and your partner’s life…

When you hire me as your professional photographer you are guaranteeing a level of expertise and talent that will ensure your priceless newborn moments are captured for eternity, the first time, without worry.

I have received the best training, and have spent many hours perfecting and refining my skills over the years. In addition to specialist photography and post-production courses, I keep up to date with all the latest newborn and baby safety recommendations and posing techniques to first and foremost ensure the comfort and safety of your baby.

I get so much joy from capturing the extraordinary love between you and your newborn baby.

The best time to book your newborn session is after your 20 week scan. Newborn sessions are ideally held when the baby is 6-14 days old, newborns do not stay newborns for long, there is only a tiny window of opportunity to capture them in their fresh from the womb-like state, this is also the time when they are most supple, sleepy. This enables me to achieve those precious newborn images, that can only be captured at this early age.

My newborn sessions tend to last around 4+ hours -the duration will depend on the package that you are going for), they start at 10:30 am. My workflow follows the baby’s pace, lots of time is required to soothe to make sure the baby feels safe and relaxed at all times. I offer hot and cold drinks and some cheeky biscuits throughout your session. My studio is nice and warm and offers a calm environment for you to relax. As I have a large range of props and accessories, there is no need for you to provide anything for the session, apart from nappies, feeds, a packed lunch, and a baby blanket.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOUR SESSION?

It is best to book your newborn session whilst you are still pregnant as newborn sessions MUST be done in the first 14 days of life. Babies are so squishy, sleepy, and usually more cooperative at this age, and it allows for better posing.

When your baby is born please get in touch as soon as you can and we will arrange a date for your photo session.

I will send you a style consultation form so I can see what colours and style you are drawn to. My portfolio is very ample and varied. Every effort will be made to comply with your wishes in terms of particularly requested poses. In the event of an unsettled baby, some requested props or poses may not be suitable and I will use alternative props or poses, we may also need to creatively wrap your baby. Being swaddled makes babies feel secure like they were in the womb. This allows the session to run smoothly.

Every baby is different and every session turns out differently as a result. My sessions are baby-led and I work at their pace. This will allow plenty of time for feeding and settling your baby and for prop and blanket changes. Some babies take more settling than others and the session cannot be rushed so it is important that you are flexible on the day and prepare to stay for the full 4-4.5 hours if required.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING MY NEWBORN SESSION?

On the day of the session, you will arrive at our studio at Quedgeley, Gloucester, there is ample parking. It is best if you feed your baby just after you arrive at the studio, I allow plenty of time for this. This will help the baby to be sleepy and content when we begin the session. Please burp your baby after feeding as a baby with trapped wind, is an unhappy baby.

I follow your baby’s lead during the session and stop if baby needs soothing, changing or feeding. Oh! and please expect that your little newborn will make a few little messes during the session.

PREP TIPS AND PLANNING

Some little extras you may need for your newborn session…
Lots of extra nappies
Baby wipes
A dummy
Bring loose clothes for baby
Formula or breast milk

TIPS

Relax & have fun! your baby will sense your mood

Please relax on my sofa area, whilst I work my magic. I will ask you to assist me if necessary.

If you are nursing avoid coffee on the day of the session or switch to decaf

Dress your baby in loose, easy to remove clothes on the day of the shoot

Try and keep baby awake for 45 min one hour before a session.

Consider giving your baby a bath in the morning, this will make your baby feel relaxed and sleepy.

Please fetch along a dummy as this will help us settle baby during the session

Spare clothing for you and your partner in case of an accident.

Please wear some light layers in case you get too hot and bring a change of clothes for you and your partner as baby accidents happen.

Please do not use your phone to take photos or videos, let me do that for you.

WHAT CLOTHES SHALL WE WEAR?

We like our sessions to harmonise in colour and tone, we also think it is best to consider your home decor, we find that a neutral colour palette works best and is more pleasing to the eye.

Whites, creams, light browns, creams, sands, browns, greens. Please avoid patterns, solid colours work best.

FOR SIBLINGS

If you would like any photos with siblings I will do them at the end of the session.

I kindly ask for you to bring your other children along for only the last 30 min of our session. Please make arrangements for someone to drop them off at the studio when we are ready to take their photographs. Siblings -especially toddlers- will have nothing to do and will get bored. Dealing with this causes stress for the parents and can cause problems with settling the baby. I want your baby’s photo session to be an enjoyable experience for all involved and have found that this is much more achievable when siblings only come for the part they are directly involved in.

When dressing your children for the photoshoot please avoid patterns and logos in their clothing. I strongly advise choosing solid neutral/pastel colours. You can’t go wrong with white, cream, or light grey. These colours are all perfect as they will allow the natural beauty of your children to shine through.

Shirtless with just a pair of jeans also looks super cute for the boys. Avoid flowers, stripes, or any patterns.

FOR YOU

For your photos with your baby please bring a plain white or black top -no logos or patterns, this is for you to have some backlit images. Please avoid spray tan, make up is good as well as doing your hair, but spray tan makes skin look very orange and yellow when using studio flash. Avoid sleeveless as generally are not too flattering for the arms, short sleeves are fine.

Avoid patterns and logos in your clothing and instead, stick to solid neutral/pastel colours where possible. Think simple, creams, light browns, sands, light greys, light blues and blushes. Avoid dark clothing.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER MY NEWBORN SESSION?

My minimum spend is my Bronze Collection £300. £50 deposit will be taken at the time of your booking to secure your date. The remainder of the bronze collection balance is due 24 hours the day of your session.

Approximately four weeks after your session, you will receive an online private viewing gallery of professionally retouched images of your newborn session. Upon viewing your gallery you will be able to upgrade to the Silver/ Gold collection should you wish to do so. Note that you can add on any prints or products or wall art during your booking process up to or after your photography session.

Gold Collection £450

• 2 - 4 hour session at my studio in Quedgeley, Gloucester.

• My commitment to you throughout. My time and skill to professionally retouch your photos

• A beautiful selection of props, accessories and outfits

• Private online viewing gallery of approximately 20-25 edited photos from which to select your images.

• 20 high resolution edited images

• Set of 10 premium prints in 10X8 of your chosen digital images.

• Parents and siblings shoots included

• £25 off cake smash for babies first birthday celebrations

Silver Collection £375

• 2 - 4 hour session at my studio in Quedgeley, Gloucester.

• My commitment to you throughout. My time and skill to professionally retouch your photos

• A beautiful selection of props, accessories, and outfits

• Private online viewing gallery of approximately 15-20 edited photos from which to select your images.

• 10 professionally edited digital images from your gallery -sent to you via a download link-

• Set of 5 premium prints in 10X8 of your chosen digital images.

• Parents and sibling shoots included

Bronze Collection £300

• 2 - 4 hour session at my studio in Quedgeley, Gloucester.

• My commitment to you throughout. My time and skill to professionally retouch your photos

• A beautiful selection of props, accessories, and outfits

• Private online viewing gallery of approximately 10 edited photos from which to select your images.

• 5 professionally edited digital images from your gallery -sent to you via a download link-

• Parents and sibling shoots included

Studio address: 26 Brunel Court, unit 4 upstairs, Quedgeley, GL2 2AL. 07498721531. Please try to arrive on time for your session, not early, not late!