London Newborn Photographer
Studio and at Home Newborn photoshootsElegant and unfussy newborn photography for portraits that will stand the test of time
Est 2005
Studio and Home Newborn Photoshoots in West London
I have been a London newborn photographer for over 20 years and was awarded a Master in Photography from the NAPCP in newborn portraiture. I am an expert in both studio and natural light newborn photography.
Sessions at 1-3 weeks after birth, partners and siblings welcome, wardrobe guidance provided; private galleries available
Areas served: Ealing, Chiswick, Kew, Richmond, Central London, Hampstead, Chelsea, Kensington
Ealing Studio Newborn Photoshoot
With parking directly outside or 2 mins from Picaddilly line station. Half an hour from central London.
My Style – Unfussy, timeless and elegant
I don’t like using intricate props and prefer my newborn portraits to be elegant and natural with great light and colour to enhance what is already a gorgeous subject matter. I have a cocoon made of felt and some Icelandic sheepskin rugs with wraps in delicate colours, all of which will give you really special and timeless newborn portraits.
Newborn Shoots are usually a couple of hours long and either at the Ealing Studio (nearest tube is 2 mins away, Northfields on the Piccadilly line) or at your home if you’re in West London.
Given the very nature of a newborn, the best time for a newborn baby photoshoot is any time up to 6 weeks of age although they are at their smallest at around 5-10 days. Have a quick read of my post about the best ages to photograph babies.
They grow quickly and start to straighten out, so the longer you leave it the less able to curl them up in the foetal position they become. It’s a wonderful time to do a newborn family photoshoot and include any older siblings and grandparents.
Take a look at my mother and baby photoshoots for babies older than 3 months.
Susan Porter-Thomas
yes, that’s me
First and foremost, the quality of Susan’s photography speaks for itself – this much is clear from a 60 second perusing of her portfolio. However, what makes working with Susan especially fantastic is the way she puts everyone at ease during the shoot and gets the absolute best out of everyone. We had our pregnancy photos with her and will be going for our new born shoot on Monday. I will be recommending her to all of my friends and no doubt will use her for family photos in the future.
Susan is brilliant. We did a newborn photoshoot with our first born and a family photoshoot with our second more recently. She was brilliant with our toddler getting her to engage with the camera and her newborn sister. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere and Susan made us feel at ease. We even discussed post shoot edits to our photos. We are very grateful to Susan for taking such wonderful photos of our family.
When is the best age for a newborn photoshoot?
The best age for a newborn baby shoot is between 7 and 10 days after the birth. This gives you enough time to recover from the birth and for your baby to settle into life outside before the shoot. They are usually nicely sleepy at this age and with copious amounts of milk and a nice warm wrap we’re well set.
If we wait too long then your baby will be more annoyed by the shoot and be less likely to curl up in that cute featel position.
If you’ve missed this window don’t worry, babies are cute for a very long time, it just means that we may not be able to do those wrapped up like a bean typ photos.
How do I book a newborn photoshoot when I don’t know when they will be born?
If you’re having a natural rather than cesarian birth then I would base the newborn shoot date for 10 days after your expected due date. I don’t expect you’ll give birth on this due date but it gets the shoot in the diary and we can then move it around from there. So you just need to give me a heads up if you’re running late or early and I can change your shoot to a more suitable date.
What should I wear for my newborn shoot?
I have a preparation guide you can read through before you come, but clothing wise, I recommend you bring a pale top eg white or cream, and a dark top eg grey, no patterns or large logos visible if possible. Have a quick read of this what to wear guide.
Where is the photography studio?
My studio is in my home which is W54UJ. It is 2 mins walk from the picadilly line station Northfields and half an hour from central london by car. You can also park right outside so it’s really easy.
What if my baby doesn’t sleep during my newborn shoot?
Please don’t worry, it’s quite normal for them to be awake for some or all of the shoot. I’m not doing intricate poses as you’ll see in my portfolio so it’s very doable to have your baby awake for this. I do advice trying to give your baby a nice big feed before the shoot as this will give us the best chance of a settled and maybe sleepy baby but I will work around them and their needs.
How long does a newborn shoot take?
My newborn shoots take between 1-2 hours and are dependant on how settled the baby is and what you fancy doing. If you’re exhausted and can’t face a long shoot, I am very good at giving you the best of the best in a short time. If you want to try a few things you’ve seen online just ask, I’ll say if I can do them or not. Your baby is likely to want to feed and need a change during the shoot so we can just sit and chage.
Should I do a studio or home newborn shoot?
I am happy to do both studio and home visits for a newborn photoshoot. The studio will give a more polished look and feel to the images as I can control the lighting and background more.
A home shoot will give you more relaxed images that are softer and use only natural light. You should be able to tell the difference in the galleries below but if not do ask
EXPLORE MY PORTFOLIO
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Studio PORTFOLIO
At home London Newborn Photoshoots
Do you want to do your newborn shoot at home?
Everything you see in the gallery below has been taken with only window light in people’s homes. If you live with 40 mins drive from Ealing and have good window light, I will happily come to you and bring some of my favourite rugs and wraps as well as the cocoon.
There are many opportunities in the first year that are good for photographing babies, not just newborn, so if you’ve missed that time, don’t worry, it’s always a good time. Take a look at my mother and baby photoshoots for older babies
The whole experience with Susan was amazing. She was great and flexible around the booking for the shooting session.
The session itself was smooth and fun and while we were worried about how our toddler would behave, everything went so well thanks to Susan’s experience !
We have then received the pictures within few days only (other photographers usually take much longer).
Last but not least, the pictures were astonishing ! We never had pictures like these ones. We, and more particularly our toddler, looked so naturally beautiful in the pictures!
Not only we will recommend Susan to all our friends but we will definitely use her again in the future
This was a photography session for my wife’s 40th birthday. Susan was very relaxed and made everyone ( a <1 year old and a 3 year old) feel comfortable and at ease, which really showed in the photos. She struck a great balance between giving direction and letting moments unfold naturally, so the pictures feel both polished and genuine. Thank you!
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Home PORTFOLIO
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FAQ
Shall I do a home based or studio newborn family shoot?
I am happy to do both studio and home visits for a newborn family photoshoot. The studio will give a more polished look and feel to the images as I can control the lighting and background more. A home shoot will give you more relaxed images that are softer and use only natural light. You should be able to tell the difference in the galleries above but if not do ask
What if my birth date is different to the due date?
Don’t worry, I will accomodate you in an early or later shoot so if your baby arrives at an unexpected time, just let me know and I’ll rebook you..it happens all the time!!
How long is a newborn photo shoot?
As I specialise in a more natural styel of newborn photography I don’t need you to be in the studio all day! The shoot will take between 1 and 2 hrs with the usual length of time being around 1.5-2 hrs. This gives enough time for feeds and changes of clothing etc without worrying. You can park right outside the studio too so it’s very easy to get in and out.
What should I wear for a newborn shoot?
There’s some more information here about what to wear for both at home and studio shoots.
How long after the birth should we come?
Within the first 2 weeks is best for a newborn photo shoot. They will still be able to curl up in the foetal position and sleep a lot at this age but if you would like to do one later than this don’t worry, they are just as doable after 4 weeks too.
Do you photograph older babies too?
Yes absolutely. If you’ve missed the newborn phase, don’t worry.. your baby is gorgeous no matter how old they are, it just means that the style of images changes slightly. Best times to capture babies are 3 months, 7 months and 12 months usually, but do check with me if you have only a limited time to do the shoot. My Motherhood Shoots are a great way to capture older babies as well as the strong bond between mother and child in this first year.
Where is the photography studio?
My studio is in Ealing, West London, W54UJ. I have parking on the road outside the studio and am easily accessible by tube (2 mins walk away).
How far ahead would I need to book?
You should consider making a booking when you are around 36 weeks pregnant if you would like to have a newborn shoot within the first 2 weeks. If your baby arrives on a very different due date than predicted then this date is moveable so don’t worry
What do I need to think about for a home shoot?
You will need to be no more than 40 mins drive from Ealing, with a place to park (on street is fine). You need good window light and be able to turn the heating up high for the session.
Do we need to come back for a viewing?
Not at all. I understand it’s hard to get out with a newborn and so will be placing your edited images online with a password where you can choose your favourites in your own home in your own time.Not at all. I understand it’s hard to get out with a newborn and so will be placing your edited images online with a password where you can choose your favourites in your own home in your own time.