Newborn Photoshoot Barnsley
FAQs
Answers to both frequently and infrequently asked questions...
Hopefully anything you could possibly want to know before your session will be answered here. If you can't find what you've been wondering about, just get in touch and we can have a chat all about whatever's on your mind - I'd absolutely love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have!
Choosing your photographer
Am I the right fit for your family?
Where do photoshoots take place?
All photoshoots (with the exception of outdoor photography sessions) take place at my in-home studio in Wombwell, Barnsley (S73 0RH). We’re on a quiet road with plenty of parking on our driveway, so there’s no need to worry about finding somewhere to park or having to lug all of your bags for miles from the car!
What’s your studio like?
Are you the right photographer for us?
It’s so important that you find and choose the right photographer for you. There are so many differing factors in both style of photography and how we work as people.
Photography Style:
I have a very natural photographic style and use almost exclusively a neutral or soft colour palette. I’m very minimal in style and don’t photograph many other elements or really any props in my photos – I like to focus on just your little one. This isn’t for everybody: if you’re someone who prefers a bright, bold colour palette or dark and moody images, I’d definitely recommend having a look around, as there are so many other talented photographers who’ll be able to capture that style far better for you than I could.
How I work:
In regards to the person you’re working with and the feel of the session, I’m a bit of a perfectionist and quite laid back – I don’t work well under pressure and I don’t like the thought of rushing around and stressing my clients out either! With this in mind, my sessions are very relaxed and I don’t have any time constraints (other than the ones baby gives us!). I like us to be able to take our time and not worry if baby takes a little extra time to settle, and I’ll spend an extra couple of minutes fussing over exactly where to position a finger or making sure one strand of hair is positioned just right. So if you’re someone who’d ideally like to be in and out as quickly as possible, I’m probably going to drive you mad, and may not be the best fit for you! I’d recommend having a look around to see what timings other photographers give for their sessions.
How much does it cost?
There is a £499 minimum spend for my newborn, toddler, child & family photography sessions. A £399 minimum for sitter sessions and £299 for maternity. This completely covers the cost of the basic product collection across al session types. There is no session fee, allowing the full amount paid to be put towards whatever collection and/or products you choose to purchase.
A £99 deposit is due upon booking with the remainder of your minimum spend due on the date of your photoshoot.
All Collections and their prices are available to view across all session type pages here:
Maternity | Newborn | Infants & Sitters | Crawling Babies, Toddlers & Children | Family
Where can I read reviews?
You can view external reviews directly on my Google and Facebook pages. I have also used these as testimonials displayed across this website on individual session pages each review relates to. I have also shared reviews in a story highlight on Instagram too!
When Should I book?
Maternity
I recommend booking in for your Maternity Photoshoot around the time of your 20 week scan. At this time, we should be able to guarantee availability for both Maternity & Newborn photoshoots should you want to book both sessions.
Newborn
In order to guarantee availability, bookings are best taken from around the time of your 20 week scan. Last minute availability is sometimes available, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if your little one has already arrived.
Infants & Sitters
Most clients book this session during their Newborn Photography Viewing to guarantee availability. If this doesn’t apply to you, getting in touch when your little one is around 6 months old is usually a great idea.
Crawling Babies, Toddlers & Children
To capture your baby as they turn 12 months, clients usually book this session during their Sitter Photography Viewing to guarantee availability around the time of their baby’s first birthday. However, this session can be booked at any time for any aged little one! I do advise getting in touch a month or two in advance of your ideal session date in order to guarantee availability.
Family
Due to the weather, I only schedule Outdoor Photoshoots between May – August. I always advise initially scheduling your photography session as early in the year as you can should we need to re-schedule due to our unpredictable British weather and needing solid, dry ground for your little ones to walk and run on. Booking early gives us a little more flexibility and time when it comes to potentially rearranging.
When does the photoshoot take place?
Maternity
Maternity sessions can take place whenever you feel you would most like to capture, but I generally recommend scheduling between 28-34 weeks.
Newborn
For a posed newborn photography session, it’s best for your photoshoot to take place before your little one is 3 weeks old. The younger they are, the sleepier they generally are. Older Newborn sessions can still take place up to 12 weeks. It’s a beautiful age to focus more on awake photos featuring your baby’s newly found eye contact and sleepy wrapped poses.
Infants & Sitters
This photography session is based more around your little one’s progress as opposed to a specific age. For a Sitter Photoshoot, your baby would ideally be sitting up steady and unaided, but not yet crawling. This is usually when babies are between 6 – 8 months old.
Crawling Babies, Toddlers & Children
The most popular age clients book this session for is to capture their little one’s first birthday. However, you’re not limited to just one! It’s a perfect session for little ones of any age, whether they’re 12 months or 12 years. The session can take place year round at any time!
Family
Through the months of May-August. This photography session is best scheduled in the evening, ideally a couple of hours before sunset. However, we work around timings that also work well with your little one’s schedules so that they aren’t getting too tired. Most sessions tend to be scheduled to start around 6:00pm.
Planning your photoshoot
After booking your photography session
What should we bring?
The main thing is yourselves! I have everything we need for the photos right here in the studio, and everything else is really just what you’d usually take with you on a day out anyway. I’ll break down what to bring for each session below:
newborn
- Baby’s changing bag, including more nappies than you think you’ll need.
- Plenty of feeds, again more than you’ll expect to need. It’s always better to have too much and not need them than not enough!
- Dummies for baby if you’re happy to use them.
- Lunch and plenty of snacks.
- Clothes for you to change into for family photos – I recommend coming in comfy clothes so you can sit comfortably for the rest of the day.
- A hairbrush to freshen up if anybody has long hair.
- Entertainment/phone chargers if wanted.
- If baby has siblings, please also bring plenty of their favourite toys and entertainment too, it can be a long day for them if they stay for the whole duration.
- Again for siblings, some little ‘food bribes’ can be helpful incase they need persuading to have photos with their new baby brother or sister. I have mini-marshmallows in the studio, but please bring alternatives of your own if you’d rather.
Sitter & Baby
- Photo clothing for baby if you don’t want to use outfits provided in the studio.
- Baby’s changing bag, including more nappies than you think you’ll need.
- Lunch and snacks, little crispy snacks are often great if they need a little pick-me-up in between shots!
- Some of their favourite toys to help get them comfortable in the studio and to potentially get their attention for the photos if needed too.
- Clothes for you to change into for family photos, if you would prefer to come in something more comfortable.
- A hairbrush to freshen up if anybody has long hair.
- Again for siblings, some little ‘food bribes’ can be helpful incase they need persuading to have photos with their baby brother or sister. I have mini-marshmallows in the studio, but please bring alternatives of your own if you’d rather.
Older Children
- Clothing you’d like them to be photographed in.
- Any favourite toys to help get them feeling comfortable and at ease.
- Snacks for them just incase we need a mood boost!
- A hairbrush to freshen up if anybody has long hair.
How long is the session?
Maternity
Maternity Photography sessions typically last around 1 to 2 hours. This depends on whether it’s just you, or your partner and any older children will be joining us too.
Newborn
Newborn Photography sessions typically last around 4 hours. However, I have no time limit and my whole day belongs to you should your little one need that extra time to settle. I don’t want my clients feeling under any pressure or anxiously checking the time if their little one is a tad unsettled or takes a little longer to feed. Sessions will typically take an hour or so longer if baby has any siblings too.
Infants & Sitters
Sitter Photography sessions typically last around 2 hours. They take place in the morning and, if possible, we try to schedule them around your baby’s morning nap. Like all my other sessions, there is never a strict time limit and time is always allowed for cuddles and snacks if needed.
Crawling Babies, Toddlers & Children
These Photography sessions typically last around 2 hours. They take place in the morning and, if possible, we try to schedule them around your baby’s morning nap. Like all my other sessions, there is never a strict time limit and time is always allowed for cuddles and snacks if needed.
Family
Outdoor Photography sessions typically last around 1 and a half, to 2 hours. We walk a lap around the beautiful outdoor location and finish perfectly as we get back to your car.
Could we bring our dog?
I’m a massive dog lover and would spend every day with your dogs if possible! In the studio, small/medium sized, low-shedding dogs are always welcome to come along and join in your session. For larger dog breeds or excessive shedders, an outdoor family session is perfect for capturing them with you all, with plenty of space for them to run around!
On the day
What to expect on the day of your photography session
Where can we park?
When you arrive, pull in and park right on our driveway – I’ll always make sure there’s space for you.
What if I’m running late?
Don’t worry if you’re running a little late; I understand what it’s like with a newborn. 15 minutes late is usually right on time! Please just make sure to keep me updated so I know when to expect you and am kept in the loop.
Who greets us, and how does the session start?
I always look out for you arriving so that I can come to help you with your bags from the car. We’ll get you and everything inside, you can make yourselves comfortable and get settled in. Newborns usually want a feed or top up and changing when you first arrive, so the actual photography part of the session starts once we’re all settled in and your little one is all ready to start.
Is there a strict time limit?
No. I never place a time limit on any of my sessions. For newborn sessions in particular I keep my whole day free so there’s absolutely no pressure and everything goes at your baby’s pace. I always allow as much time as needed for cuddles, feeds and anything else you or your little one need. With other sessions types, we are only restricted due to your little one’s nap times and energy limitations and in the winter months the amount of natural light – though this usually goes long after your little one’s energy!
What refreshments do you provide?
Bottles of water are provided, and I always recommend bringing plenty of lunch and snacks – particularly for newborn sessions, as these can last in excess of four hours. I always recommend bringing snacks for your little ones too, regardless of session type!
Can we bring our own food and drink?
Yes, please do! You’re very much encouraged to bring plenty of lunch and snacks. I hate the thought of you being hungry (as newborn sessions run over lunch), and I always love to see when a big picnic comes out!
What if we forget to bring lunch?
There’s a big Morrisons and an M&S Foodhall just a couple of minutes away at Cortonwood Retail Park – it makes it nice and easy for someone to be able to quickly pop back out and and pick up anything you might want or need! Clients have also had UberEats delivered in the past too, so if this is more up your street you’re more than welcome to do this!
What happens if there’s a reason we need to suddenly leave during the shoot?
Please don’t worry. Focus on yourselves first – get where you need to go, and contact me again once everything is sorted. We’ll get you in again to finish your session at a later date.
What if there’s an emergency on the day, and we can’t make it at all?
Please just let me know as soon as possible, and we’ll work together to find a solution.
After your photoshoot
Viewing and choosing your beautiful photos
When will my photos be ready?
At the end of your session, we’ll arrange a date for you to come back to the studio to view your baby’s beautiful photos around 2-3 weeks after the date of your photoshoot. This is where you will see all of your beautiful photos for the first time and choose exactly what you would like to purchase.
How long is the viewing appointment?
Viewing appointments typically take around 2 hours. Though this very much depends on how decisive you are! I always pencil out at least 3 hours in my diary to ensure nothing is rushed incase you are a little more on the indecisive side (just like I am!)
Appointments usually take closer to 1 hour if you’re just choosing digital images and prints, and closer to or a little over 2 hours if we’re choosing and designing some beautiful wall art for your home too.
When will I receive my products?
Depending on what products you choose to order, production times vary. The products included within the Collections will be ready within 2 – 3 weeks from ordering. More bespoke products, such as wall art, has roughly a 5 week turnaround.
As soon as your products are ready, I will contact you so that we can arrange a date and time for collection.
Are there nice places to visit nearby afterwards?
If you’re coming for a newborn session, you will most likely be with me for most of your day – but if you’re coming for any other session or a viewing, you can certainly make a lovely day of it!
Wentworth Garden Centre is a lovely family-friendly option nearby. As well as the garden centre and beautiful historic gardens, there’s a Family Farm with animals, an adventure playground, and sand and water play – perfect if you have older little ones who need to burn off some energy after their session!
Elsecar Heritage Centre and Park is right on our doorstep and is another lovely option for a more relaxed wander, with plenty of space for little legs to explore, a children’s play area, and cafés nearby.
If you’re open to travelling a little further afield, Cannon Hall Farm is a fantastic family day out, with lots of animals to see, indoor and outdoor play areas, and plenty to keep little ones entertained. There are also cafés and places to eat on site, making it easy to turn your visit into a full day out after your session.
Where can we go for something to eat nearby?
There are plenty of family-friendly places to grab some food after your session. Wentworth Garden Centre has several cafés and places to eat, so you can easily combine lunch with a wander around the gardens or a visit to the Family Farm. Elsecar Heritage Centre also has a few lovely cafés nearby, making it a nice option if you fancy a relaxed walk and something to eat.
Or, if you’re looking for a sit-down meal:
The Bluebell Inn in Manvers is a cheap and cheerful, family-friendly option, with a spacious pub atmosphere and outdoor play area – particularly handy if you have older children with you.
The Elephant & Castle in Hemingfield is a lovely choice, and very convenient if you’re looking for somewhere close by. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly pub and restaurant with a children’s menu, so there’s something for everyone.
The Old Moor Tavern in Wombwell is another good option if you’d like somewhere a little more focused on the food – a traditional pub and restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere, making it a nice choice for families but also somewhere the grown-ups can enjoy a good meal.
And The Keys in Hoyland is another favourite – a more restaurant-style option with a good choice of food, as well as a dedicated children’s menu.
Or, if the plan is simply to bribe your little ones for ‘just one more shot’ with a Happy Meal, there’s a trusty McDonald’s just a couple of minutes away at Cortonwood! (Highly efficient, I can’t lie.)
How can I leave you a review?
I appreciate any review left more than you know! If you’ve loved your experience, it would mean so much if you could please leave me a Google review. You can find my listing by searching “Hayley Cattell Photography” on Google, or you can leave me one right now by clicking here!
Do you have a referral scheme?
After your session with me, I’ll include a few referral cards in your order. If you have a friend who’s interested in booking a session with me, give them the card to bring with them, and they’ll receive a complimentary mounted print from their session.