The sweet spot is usually 7–14 days old. At this age babies are still lovely and sleepy and "pliable," which makes those tiny curled-up poses so much easier to capture — and colic and baby acne haven't usually set in yet either.

On a practical note, most dads are still on paternity leave at this stage, so we can do the shoot while they're around to enjoy and be involved.

A lot of mums are also a little concerned about coming so soon after a C-section — just let me know in advance and we can talk it through together. That said, every baby is different, so don't worry if you're outside that window — we'll work with whatever stage your little one is at.

As early as possible — ideally once you're through your 20-week scan. Booking early helps secure your place in the diary and gives us plenty of time to plan styling together. It means it's done, and you can relax and forget about it, knowing it will happen within the first 14 days.

That said, if your baby is due soon, or already here, don't hesitate to call — I may still be able to fit you in.

Sessions take place in my Orpington studio, where I have a lovely range of fabrics, headbands, hats and props to give you plenty of variety on the day. I run seasonal offers throughout the year — including combining maternity, newborn, a sitting shoot and cake smash into one package for families wanting to capture that whole first-year journey — so do get in touch and I'll talk you through current pricing and what's included.

Absolutely — bring the whole gorgeous crew! Sibling shots are some of my favourites, and pets are always welcome too. Just let me know in advance who's coming along so I can plan the session around everyone.

Please don't worry about this at all. I've been working from this studio for 16 years and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of babies in that time — there's not much I haven't seen or experienced! I know how to work gently with an awake or unsettled baby, so just relax and trust the process.

Great question, and one I totally relate to. When you attend this session, you may not be feeling your best — you may be tired, a little overwhelmed, and may not have gone back to the shape you were before pregnancy. Please don't worry about this. When your children are grown and look back at these photographs, I promise they won't be making judgements about you — they'll just love seeing you all together.

If you'd like some light retouching done, that's an option we can discuss. This is such a special time, and I'll do what I can to produce images that flatter you, and ones that you truly love.