If you’re looking for newborn photography in Coventry or Warwickshire, you might be wondering how it all works.

For many parents (especially first-time parents), it can feel like a bit of an unknown. So I thought I’d walk you through exactly what happens when bookign with Ellie J Photography – from your first enquiry right through to receiving your finished images.

Getting in touch

Most people contact me through the form on my website, although I’m also happy to chat via phone or social media. I aim to get back to everyone as quickly as I can – usually within 12 hours. At this stage, I’ll let you know if I have availability around your due date and explain that all that’s required to secure your session is the £60 session fee.

I’ll hold your booking for one week, so you’ve got time to decide without feeling rushed.

Securing your booking

Once your session fee is paid, I reserve time in my diary around your due date.

As we all know, babies don’t always arrive exactly when expected, so this gives me flexibility to accommodate you whether your little one decides to arrive early or keep you waiting a bit longer.

You’ll receive a booking confirmation email from me, wishing you all the best for the remainder of your pregnancy and asking that someone contact me once baby is born.

After baby arrives

Once your baby is here, I ask that someone gets in touch with me, ideally within 48 hours, and at that point we’ll arrange a date for your session.

I absolutely understand that sometimes things don’t go to plan - for example, a longer hospital stay may be needed - so please don’t worry if you can’t reach out until your baby is a little older.

Once a session date is agreed, I’ll then send over a final confirmation email with everything you need to know, including how to find me and a pre-session guide with tips on how to prepare, what to bring, and how to help baby feel nice and settled.

On the day of your session

Newborn sessions are completely baby-led and can last up to around four hours. There’s no rushing - everything is done at your baby’s pace.

We’ll capture a lovely mix of images, including:

- baby on their own

- family images

- sibling photos

- and even your dog, if you’d like them included!

You’re very welcome to sit back, relax on the sofa with a cuppa while I work, but you can absolutely ask questions at any point if you’re unsure about anything.

I’ll gently guide you throughout, so there’s no pressure at all. I’ll also give you a few simple tips to help baby settle, but please don’t worry if your baby doesn’t sleep - I regularly photograph awake babies too, and we can still create beautiful images.

A note on safety and experience

Your baby’s safety is always my top priority. If you’d like to include your dog, I always photograph them separately and safely combine the images afterwards. Even the calmest dog can be a little excitable in a new environment, so this ensures everything is done in the safest possible way.

The same applies sometimes with siblings - I may photograph them separately so I can focus on getting the best expression from each of them.

It’s not too late

Many photographers only offer newborn sessions within the first two weeks. I take a more relaxed approach and regularly photograph older newborns too. Because I’m happy to work with awake babies as well as sleepy ones, there’s much more flexibility in timing. So if your baby is a little older, please don’t worry - it’s very rarely “too late”.

Viewing your images

After your session, I use a faster proofing method so you’re not left waiting too long. I fully process a small selection of images so you can see the finished quality, and lightly prepare the rest for viewing.

Your images are then uploaded to a secure, watermarked online gallery - so there’s no need to come back to the studio for a sales appointment, I've always understood that this is possibly one of the last thing tired new parents want to do!

The viewing gallery is available for two days, giving you time to choose your favourites from the comfort of your own home.

Choosing your images

Once you’ve chosen your images, you simply email me the file numbers you’d like. At this point, you’ll select your package and make payment.

I then fully process any remaining images included in your selection to ensure everything is finished to the highest standard.

Receiving your finished images

Your final images are delivered as high-resolution digital files, either via secure download or on a USB, depending on your chosen package.

You’ll also receive a mobile gallery app of your purchased images, perfect for sharing with friends and family.

My middle package includes a beautiful 10x8” professional print, and my top package includes three, all delivered directly to your door from my professional lab.

For those choosing the complete collection, I also include an animated slideshow of your images - a lovely way to look back on those early days.

A relaxed, stress-free experience

My aim is always to make the whole process as simple and relaxed as possible. From your first enquiry right through to receiving your images, I’ll guide you every step of the way - so you never feel unsure about what’s happening next.

All you really need to do is turn up, relax, and enjoy the experience.

To make sure every family gets the time and attention they deserve, I only take on a small number of sessions each week. This allows me to keep everything calm, flexible and completely baby-led, without ever feeling rushed. You can find out more information about my newborn photography here.

If you’re expecting and looking for a newborn photographer in Coventry or Warwickshire, feel free to get in touch - I’d love to hear from you.