Natural Maternity & Newborn Photography AT HOME OR IN THE STUDIO
There is no greater expression of hope than bringing a baby into the world. And the process itself is nothing short of a miracle.
Being a mother-to-be is an extraordinary and privileged experience that is soon forgotten once baby arrives. I remember being completely in awe throughout my first pregnancy; realising that the body I had been living in this whole time, had known all along how to create life!
I was determined to have maternity portraits taken with both my girls and years later I am so glad these photographs exist to remind me of that fleeting moment in our story.
Your tiny newborn is only tiny for a matter of weeks and you’ll never regret having a record of them at their littlest.
The fourth trimester is a time to embrace all things cosy. Those first few weeks with a newborn are a haze of sleepless nights and groundhog days of feeds, naps and nappy changes.
You feel as though life will always be this way.
But time passes and before you know it your baby is smiling up at you, rolling over the moment you take your eyes off them, reaching out for toys and sitting up all by themselves!
As your bouncing baby grows and starts to explore the world around them, it’s amazing to capture portraits which give a glimpse into that cheeky character they’re beginning to reveal. From their bright eyes and huge smiles, to the rolls in their legs and those sweet knuckle dimples… these are all loveable and fleeting details that you will always look back on with enormous affection.
WHEN TO BOOK YOUR MATERNITY SESSION…
Maternity portraits are best scheduled between 34–36 weeks
Far enough along for a proper bump, early enough that you're still reasonably comfortable. If you're expecting twins or you've been told you may deliver early, we'll bring it forward.
You know your body best, so please use your judgement too. If it’s your first pregnancy, you have a modest bump and you feel mobile and comfortable then by all means we can leave it later. If you feel as big as a house at 32 weeks and can’t imagine wanted to be photographed any further along we can capture your portraits earlier.
I’ve photographed mums-to-be anywhere from 30 weeks to 39 weeks, so am happy to work with you at whatever stage feels best for you.
WHEN TO BOOK YOUR NEWBORN PORTRAIT SESSION…
Newborn sessions are ideally scheduled within the first 3 weeks after birth
Babies are at their curliest and sleepiest in the first 21 days. That said, my approach doesn’t lend itself to the overly posed, swaddled and wrapped-in-a-basket style of newborn portraiture, so there's no hard cut-off. Of course I’ll capture beautiful portraits of your baby at their tiniest, but I’ll also prioritise photographs that focus on the connection between you.
So don’t worry that you’ve missed the boat! I've photographed six-week-olds and eight-week-olds and the pictures are lovely.
Get in touch during your second or third trimester and I'll pencil you in around your due date rather than a fixed day. My babies paid no attention whatsoever to their due date and yours may not either, so I'm happy to build the flexibility in from the start.
WHEN TO BOOK YOUR MILESTONE SESSION…
Milestone portraits are best scheduled between 6-12 months
Once your baby can sit unsupported, the milestone moments come thick and fast! Before you know it they’re getting those cute front teeth through, crawling, pulling themselves up on furniture and giving you glimpses into their personality.
Sitting still is not much fun when you have a big wide world to explore! So my approach here is to follow their lead, with gentle encouragement here and there to ensure I can capture all the details: the new tooth, the wobbly first steps and mostly importantly the connection your little one has with you.
Home sessions work beautifully if there's a favourite corner of the living room where all of this is already unfolding. Or from September you can come in to the studio, where you can relax and enjoy the experience together.
Fine Art Maternity Portraits At Home
As you near the end of your pregnancy and prepare to meet your baby you’re likely feeling not quite yourself in your own body. Understatement of the century right?!
I remember those last few weeks of the third trimester were not exactly comfortable and some days I just did not have the energy or the will to leave the house.
My natural maternity photo sessions usually take place at home for this very reason… it’s comfortable, it’s easy for you and you have every creature comfort at your finger tips.
All I need is a couple of rooms with good daylight and we can create beautiful maternity portraits in your home environment where you feel most relaxed.
Who knows how long you’ll live at this address, so let’s root this chapter in your story in the house that will become your baby’s first home!
…Or somewhere beautiful outdoors
There is something really powerful about having maternity portraits captured in nature. Growing a brand new human is a completely natural and miraculous thing and in that moment before you bring new life into the world many women feel very connected with the natural world.
To have your photograph taken with your baby bump in the great outdoors - whether that’s a woodland, a beach or an open meadow - IS such a memorable experience.
If your baby is set to have a their birthday between December and March, the weather may not always be on our side. But I have captured beautiful maternity portraits on milder Spring and Autumn days and I love the way the seasonal colours root those photographs in space and time.
If you'd like to have your photographs taken outdoors, there are some beautiful locations across the Wirral and Cheshire. For outdoors maternity sessions I always like to find spots where it feels like it’s just you, me and mother earth and some locations are quieter than others, so if you’re unsure I’m always happy to talk options with you over the phone.
“Having already used Victoria for our wedding photos, we were delighted she was available to help us document the moment we welcomed our first born child.
She did a brilliant job with our newborn son and made us feel completely comfortable while she captured beautiful moments we’ll always treasure.
Looking back now, We particularly love the photos that CAPTURED the more realistic side to newborn parenting!”
— Andrew & HayleyTenant
the studio - COMING SOON
From September 2026 I'll also be offering my clients the opportunity to have their maternity and newborn captured in my garden studio in Ness.
A studio takes a lot of the worry out of a newborn session. Everything is set up before you arrive and it’s heated to the perfect temperature for a naked newborn, so you have somewhere cosy and private to feed and change your baby as needed during the session. You’ll also have access to all the facilities you need to look after your little one with microwave, steriliser, fridge all just at the other end of the garden.
Some families prefer to have this milestone moment captured at home, some prefer to be out in nature and some will prefer the studio. None of these options is better or worse than the other, it’s just about choosing which feels right for you. If you're not sure, we can talk it through.
WATCH THIS SPACE
How it works
1. We talk. A proper conversation about your family, what you're picturing, and where you'd like to end up — on the wall, in an album, or both.
2. I’ll create a personalised brief and plan of action. Location, timing, what to wear etc. We plan around your due date, so for newborn sessions I hold a window rather than a day then you can get in touch once your baby has arrived.
3. We shoot. [2 hours for maternity and 3 hours for newborn] No rapid-fire shutter, no checking the back of a screen. Just your family and me quietly working around you.
4. Your film goes on a great adventure to the Californian lab fairies. [4 weeks] Now that there is a whole generation of adults whose childhood’s were captured digitally, this is the part that surprises people… there's a wait whilst the film is developed and scanned by IMHO the best lab in the world. But it's so worth it! You can read more about exactly what happens to your film after your session on my blog.
5. The reveal. I’ll invite you to come to my studio, sync into the sofa with a cuppa and a box of popcorn and carve out a slice of the day to see your photographs for the first time. This is one of my favourite parts of the job and the next bit is so much fun too! It’s where photography meets interior design. I’ll be there to help you decide how you’d like to enjoy your portraits in printed artwork for your home.
6. Your artwork arrives. [2-3 weeks]
“We love our photographs, they really capture a moment in time.
we keep saying how gorgeous it was to view the gallery in-person. the way you did made it so emotional and lovely.”
— Harriet Mills
INVESTMENT
What’s included in your portrait session fee:-
- Initial consultation and bespoke brief crafting
- 2/3 hour professional portrait session at home, at a Cheshire or Wirral location, in the studio or further afield
- Medium format film and all professional hand-processing
- In-person gallery appointment
- Approximately 50-70 fully edited high resolution images available for purchase
- Data storage of all final images for 5 years
This session fee reflects more than just time spent together; it’s an investment in a highly personalised photography experience.
MATERNITY PORTRAIT SESSION FEE IS £375
NEWBORN PORTRAIT SESSION FEE IS £475
milestone portrait session fee is £425
MATERNITY & NEWBORN SESSION FEE IS £625
THE FIRST YEAR COLLECTION (maternity, newborn & milestone) SESSION FEE IS £900
If you have a special location in mind which is further afield, let’s set it up:
- London or Northwest England/North Wales outside 20 miles of Chester +£50
- UK +£200
- EU +£800
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ideally in the first three weeks, though because I don't do posed newborn photography there's no hard deadline. Get in touch during pregnancy and I'll hold a window around your due date.
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Between 32 and 36 weeks for most pregnancies. Earlier if you're expecting more than one baby.
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Then we reschedule. That's exactly why I hold a window rather than a fixed date. Message me when you're ready and we'll find a day that suits.
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Normally around 3 hours and there's no rush. We'll stop for feeds, nappy changes, cups of tea and whatever else is needed! It’s all part of the session.
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Not at all. Awake, asleep, feeding, crying… I’ll photograph it all! Over 3 hours there are usually periods of time where baby is snoozing and we can capture some of those more still and snuggly portraits.
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Yes, the studio can be heated and air conditioned in advance, so we land on the perfect temperature for your newborn.
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Please don't. I need a couple of rooms with decent daylight and that's genuinely it. If we need to move things around on the day, leave that to me… your job is to relax and enjoy the process.
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Soft, plain and comfortable clothes. Avoid big logos and busy patterns.
I'll send proper wardrobe guidance once we've booked.
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Absolutely and I always encourage it. The photographs of a toddler meeting their new sibling are destined to become family treasures.
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Absolutely! I would just suggest we leave a little more time for the session and if you can bring someone else along - mother, sister or friend - for an extra pair of hands that can be really helpful.
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Almost every new mum says this and having been in your shoes I understand it completely. The thing I always found helpful to keep in mind is that your children will want photographs of and with you at this moment.
We'll go at your pace and if you'd rather be photographed holding your baby than looking at the camera, that's absolutely fine.
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A session from 6–12 months, which can capture a milestone moment of your choice starting when your baby can sit up on their own.
It's the point where personality really starts to show - the age everyone means when they say "oh, this is my favourite bit!" -
Yes of course you can, though most of my clients book the full first year as a collection once they've had one session with me.
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That's completely normal, every baby gets there in their own time. We'll base the session on where your baby is up to rather than the calendar, so get in touch and we'll find the right moment together.
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Cheshire, the Wirral and Chester as standard, with no travel fee within 20 miles of Chester. I am always happy to travel further afield by arrangement.