Baby sitter sessions. Info and what a full gallery looks like.

People tend to consider newborn photography to be the “best” way to capture your child’s young age. However, ‘sitter sessions’ are just as special, unique and admittedly, loads more fun!

It’s best to book your sitter session when your baby can comfortably sit, but isn’t quite at the crawling stage yet. Most sitter sessions take place around the 6 month mark, though of course this depends on bub’s development and comfort levels! Sitter sessions are a great way to celebrate that first year milestone of baby being able to sit up on their own, and they are also a great opportunity to snap some gorgeous pictures of bub being playful and cheeky. At this age, babies really start to engage with others and their face and eyes show off so much of their personality – something I love to make a lasting memory of!

Sitter sessions are usually quite short (around 30 minutes) to make sure baby doesn’t get too tired, restless or cranky. I have a wide range of different backdrop and props that can be used for sitter shoots and you are very welcome to bring any of your own special pieces to include in the photos! Otherwise, sit back and let me take care of all the hard work and styling. With that said, sitter sessions are usually quite hectic and sometimes become crazy! A helping hand from Mum or Dad is always appreciated to keep things on track to get those perfect pictures. Here are my top 5 tricks and tips for a successful sitter session:

Avoid scheduling your session near nap time
This one should speak for itself, but just in case… Try to avoid this where possible. A sleepy, cranky baby makes for stressed parents and a chaotic studio environment. But hey, I get it, I wouldn’t want someone pointing a giant piece of equipment complete with bright flashes at me while I was trying to rest either. You as a parent know your child best. What time are they at their happiest? That’s your ideal time for a session.

Don’t leave me!
Your baby probably won’t know me, but they definitely know you! Bub is far more likely to be content, calm and cosy knowing that you’re nearby. A happy baby is key to those cheeky, playful photos.

Bring more than one outfit
If you have a favourite outfit (or two), feel free to bring them along! I always have a few extra outfits on hand but memories can be made all that more special and fun with a cute or meaningful outfit. Clothes are also a simply, effective way to brighten up shoots with colours and accents. Having a spare outfit handy also allows for any, erm, after-breakfast hiccups…

Attention, attention
Let me grab bub’s attention. Trust me on this one, images are WAY more successful when baby is actually looking at the camera. I may look ridiculous, I may make questionable noises, I may act like an animal and I may utilise toys that I’m far too old for, but I WILL get your baby’s attention one way or another… And hopefully a few smiles and giggles at the same time! There’s no need for you to look like a clown as I will happily take on that responsibility, but an extra pair of silly hands is always cherished.

Relax
Babies are smarter than you think and they tend to pick up on environmental cues quite easily. If you’re stressed, baby will become stressed. If Dad becomes cranky, baby will probably become cranky. So, no matter what happens, play it cool and go with the flow. Trust me, I’ve seen it all (remember I have kiddies of my own). If the session isn’t going as you planned, take a deep breath – I’ve always got a few tricks up my sleeve for any unexpected mischief.

Feel free to get in touch with me about organising your own sitter shoot, I promise you will LOVE the outcome! In the meantime, check out my photos from a recent sitter shoot I did with 10 month old Dekota. Dakota was such a cutie, smiling every time I had the camera near her. The perfect client!

Emma x