A baby photography session is the perfect way to capture your fast growing baby whilst they are still small. These sessions are suitable for babies between 6 weeks and 5 months. For babies between 6-9 months (who can sit unaided but are not yet crawling) I offer sitter photography sessions. I also offer newborn photography sessions and cake smash photography sessions in my photography studio here in Dorset. What type of images can I expect?The type of photographs you can expect from your session will largely depend on the age of your baby. A 6 week old baby is likely to still be very sleepy during the day and we may still get newborn style images, where as an older baby will be awake and more smiley. Can I have a family photo at my baby photography session?Yes of course, family photos can be included at no extra cost during any baby photography session. Siblings are welcome too, but please bear in mind that I only offer baby photography sessions in the studio during school hours. Before your baby photography sessionIf you have time, have a look through my baby photography gallery to see which props / colours you might like to use. At this age, most parents choose to bring a couple of favourite outfits with them also. I have a beautiful collections of outfits and wraps in the studio so you do not have to bring anything if you don't want to. During your baby photography sessionWhen you arrive at the studio we will have time to get your baby changed and I will set out a couple of props (if you would like to use any) of your choice. The session is led completely by your baby. It lasts up to 1 hour which allows plenty of time if you baby is still young and needs to stop for a cuddle or a little top up feed. If you baby is still very young or premature you may wish to consider booking a newborn photography session, which allows more time. After your baby photography sessionYou get to go away with lovely memories and most likely a tired sleepy baby! Your images will be presented in an online gallery which is sent via email for you to choose your favourites. Then you will receive your images via email or in the post (depending on the package you have chosen) and you get to treasure them forever. For more information on my baby photography sessions including my prices, please take a look at my baby photography pages.
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A cake smash is the perfect way to celebrate your baby turning one. You will remember this special birthday forever so choosing to capture it with a professional cake smash photography session is a decision that you will never regret. Before your cake smash photography sessionIf your baby has not tasted cake before or participated in messy play you might like to let them have a go at this. You might also want to buy a special outfit, or you can choose from one of mine in the studio. Please feel free to let me know beforehand if you have a particular prop/set up request. When booking you will get a choice of donuts, or cake. Please do let me know about any allergies upon booking. During your cake smash photography sessionWhen you arrive in the studio, you will have a chance to get your baby changed into either their own outfit that you have brought with you, or you can choose one of mine. The cake and decorations will be set up ready. My set-up is very minimal, as this keeps the focus of each image on your baby not an elaborate bright set up. I have a semi naked style cake on a lovely wooden stand, usually some kind of neutral bunting/bead decoration, and some ONE letters. We can change anything around if you would like to before we start the session. When your baby is ready, we will sit them next to the cake and wait for the fun to begin! I will be there capturing your baby reacting to the cake and getting stuck in. After the smash , if you have booked the smash and splash package I will get your choice of bath tub ready with some warm water and bubbles whilst you undress your baby for the next set of photos. Splash time is always super fun as most babies absolutely love the water. We always get some more gorgeous photos of them splashing around and playing with the bubbles. After the bath tub time, it is time to dry off and get changed to go home. Will I need to get involved in the session?Most likely. Please do wear something you do not mind getting messy as the chances are that you might need to encourage your baby a little bit or show them what to do with the cake if they are unsure. I will give you a spare spoon to get stuck in with them if they need a helping hand. However, some babies get their hands right in as soon as we sit them by the cake and do not need any help at all! Even if that is your baby, they will likely be walking or crawling around with cake on their hands so be prepared to get some on you too, I usually do! Will my baby just eat the whole cake?To be honest, no. The idea of the session is not to present your baby with a cake for them to eat, If you think of it as more of a messy play session. If your baby loves getting their hands messy , the chances are they will absolutely love playing and smashing up the cake. They will likely eat some of it, but they usually don't each much at all. Leftover cake?9 times out of 10 the cake is still good enough to be wrapped up for you to take home and eat. However, I cannot guarantee this as on occasion we have ended up with just a pile of crumbs at the end and you wont want to take that home! After your cake smash photography sessionYou get to go away with memories of the special day, along with an engraved wooden spoon whilst you wait for your photos. Your images are presented in an online gallery for you to choose your favourites. Then you will receive your images via email or in the post (depending on the package you have chosen) and you get to treasure them forever. If you would like the photos back in time for your baby's first birthday I would suggest booking the session around a month before their birthday. Or many people chose to do the session on their actual birthday. For more information about my cake smashes including prices, please take a look at my cake smash pages.
I am super excited to share that my ever popular mini accordion albums now come in 3 sizes! These make the perfect little gifts for family or for you to display at home with your brand new beautiful memories in. These gorgeous little books come in a choice of 3 sizes: 8x8cm - mini square album - 18 pages 12x12cm - large square album - 10 pages 10x14cm - large portrait album - 14 pages All sizes come in a selection of colours and materials with your bespoke choice of personalisation on the cover. ~ Dove Grey suede (light grey, as pictured) ~ Iron Grey suede (dark grey, as pictured) ~ Soft Rose velvet (light pink, as pictured) ~ Off White velvet (as pictured) ~Deep Sea Blue velvet ~ Emerald Green velvet ~ Liquorice Black velvet ~ Dijon yellow velvet ~ Crimson red velvet (Christmas red) - Aquamarine blue velvet (as pictured) These little book are perfect as you can use them as a mini book or open them out and keep them on display. They look great on a shelf or mantlepiece. They hold together with a magnetic closure. You can find a price list for these mini accordion albums on my product page.
If you would like to order a book please contact me. It seems like the Christmas holidays were a really long time ago and I don't know about you but my children are definetly ready for their next break. February half term can be a tricky one though, especily if you are on a budget as the weather isnt usually great and there is not much to do for free indoors so it can end up costing a small fortune keeping them entertained. This is why I have put together my usual list of FREE local activities and events for families in Dorset again. I hope you enjoy reading and please do share with your friends. The Parks FoundationAs usual, the Parks Foundation have a great line up of FREE events for the children over the holidays. Here is Februarys schedule. For more information please visit the Parks Foundation Facebook page FREE Boxing Workshop - 15th February in FerndownThis must be booked in advance, please see information below. Event is at The Centre in Ferndown. FREE Arts and CraftsThis must be booked in advance, please see information below. This is at The Centre in Ferndown. Snowdrop walkSnowdrops are starting to appear around now. These always excite me, they are the first sign that spring is on its way and the warmer weather is coming. Why not take the kids on a walk to try and find some. This particular stunning display is in Damerham. Float to Live RNLI Festival - Saturday 17th FebruaryFundraising and Raising awareness for Poole Lifeboat Station. Join in at the Gather space downstairs in Poole Dolphin Shopping Centre for FREE fun activities for the whole family. Get your face painted as a pirate or mermaid, play some fun casino style games and come and learn more about Poole Lifeboats. Please check out their event on Facebook for more information. Visit a FREE museum!Visiting a local museum to learn about the history of the area is the perfect rainy day activity. Many museums also have free trails for young children. Did you know that many museums have free entry? Some of the museums with no entrance fee include Wareham Town Museum, Red House Museum in Christchurch, Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum, Gold Hill Museum in Shaftesbury, and the Bournemouth Natural Science Society which is open on selected dates throughout the year. Please check ahead before visiting for more information on opening times etc. Durlston Country Park - Wild Wednesday 14th FebruaryEntrance is free and on Wednesdays they host Wild Wednesday which is also free. Drop in at the Learning Centre from 11am - 3pm to have a go at painting, crafts and activities with a birdy theme. Wild Wednesdays runs every Wednesday of the school holidays and is free to take part, although donations (via cash or card) are much appreciated. Other local attractions with no entrance feeDorset has many beautiful places to visit at no cost. Here are a few of my personal favourites:
I hope you have found this article useful. If you know of any other FREE local events or activities please do share them below. What do you like to do in Dorset that does not cost anything? Please make sure you check details online or by phoning ahead before you travel to any of these places or events.
Wow I just can hardly believe that my business turns 11 this month! If someone had told me 11 years ago that this is where I would be today, with my very own studio , doing what I love every day, I would not have believed them. The trouble is now I believe I can do anything! I mainly wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all so much for being there, for helping me live my dream, to every single one of you , whether you have had a session (or numerous sessions!) with me, told your friends about me or just helped to support me on social media, I could not have been where I am today without your support. How I got into PhotographyThe year was 2003, I had finished school , started my first "proper" job at Sainsburys and had just started studying Media at Bournemouth & Poole College. The media course allowed me to do one A-Level alongside, so I choose Photography, as sure, why not, that sounded like a fun course! At that time I wanted to become a magazine editor (hence the media course) But that was all about to change. From the moment I was handed my first SLR camera, and told to go for a walk around outside and shoot a roll of film, I was totally hooked. Walking along Bournemouth seafront and capturing images on film on a cold fresh morning, and then coming back to college and developing my first roll of film that is where the magic started. Watching the photos appear as the negatives were developed then making my own prints, it was pure magic. And the smell, I can still remember the darkroom smell now. This is what I wanted to do. After my media course and A- Level I went on to do another 1 year photography course at The Arts Institute (now known as The Arts University), followed by the start of my degree. Things were a lot different back then though, I was studying at the very start of the digital age. We were taught how to shoot on film and at the time digital was very discouraged, we were told by tutors that it would never take off! It was only during my degree that we began learning digital, when we had one digital unit as part of the course! I remember learning the basics of photoshop, and hating it, I am much more a fan of analogue anything, even now I prefer pen and paper to a computer screen any day. Ironically, my least favourite genre of photography whilst studying was people! We were taught to shoot portraits in a formal studio setting with 3 lights. I still was not sure where I wanted my career in Photography to go , but I was sure it was not there. I spent my work experience with a very well known photographer in London who photographs celebrities, and whilst this was an amazing experience, it taught me that it was absolutely not what I wanted to do. I decided not to finish my degree as I knew I did not want to take the path that was show to us. College and university taught me a lot, the basics of taking photographs, but nothing to do with running a business. This is something that I have completely taught myself over the years. How I started my businessAfter leaving university, I had a couple of photography jobs which didn't amount to much but they were a start. During my second photography job I fell pregnant and was very sick so I had to leave. I enjoyed being a full time Mum until my children were 3 and 1 then I realised I really should start working again. The thought of ever going back to a day job and leaving them behind filled me with dread so I thought I would give it a bash at getting paid to offer family photography sessions. Apart from taking photos , I literally had NO idea how to run a business! I registered with HMRC, got myself insured, created a facebook page then dived right in at the deep end! The first few years were quite slow as my children were still so young and I was learning what it was like to run my own business. It was when my youngest started school that I took the plunge and went full on it my work. I decided that I wanted to specialise in newborn photography as I love babies so much and know how fast they grow and change and how precious those early days are. Where I am nowSo much has changed over the past 11 years, but all for the better and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I have gone from photographing anything from weddings, to christenings to specialising in newborn and family photography and I even opened my very own studio 2 years ago! When I started 11 years ago I had no idea where it would take me! I have been able to be there to watch my children grow into the wonderful caring teenagers that they are and running my own business has meant that I have never missed a single moment of their childhood. It seems so weird that they are now an entire generation different to the babies who I am currently photographing. I could go on forever about my business, but I mainly want to thank you all for your support over the years, I would not be where I am without you all. As I start to wind down the business for the Christmas holidays and reflect on the year, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all so much for supporting me this year. I have had a truly amazing year business wise, one that I could never have imagined, even this time last year and I could not have done it all without you. So thank you all so much, whether you have had a session with me this year, recommended me to a friend, or just been there to support me on social media. I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a super happy 2024. 2023 what a year!This year has been absolutely incredible for me. Whilst I am good at setting my goals and aspirations for the year, this year has been so much more than I ever expected it to be! Here are a few of Samantha Prewett Photography's highlights from 2023:
However, you cant win at absolutely everything, and this year came with some life lessons, the main one being that I cant do everything! In September I set up TikTok and got rather excited about it all, until I quickly realised that I didnt actually like it, and it was sucking up far too much of my time. I have also ditched Twitter (or X as it is now called) this year as it just dosent work for me and I do not find it interesting! 2024 - What is happening2024 will be kickstarted with my 11th Birthday celebration in January. No party this year, but I will be having a sale/offer so please do keep an eye out out for that. I have planned 2 baby events for 2024, you can find out more, and register your interest as a business here. And of course, due to this years huge success, Christmas mini sessions will start in October. Once again, thank you for all of your support and I hope you and your families have a fantastic Christmas and New Year.
Christmas is an expensive time so I have put together this list of FREE events and activities that you can do with the Children in December to help everyone out a bit. Bournemouth Winter Wonderland 17th November - 1st DecemberBack for 2023 Bournemouth is once again home to a fantastic festive trail featuring replica Christmas trees from around the world plus a multitude of enchanting illuminations and installations. Free Christmas Movies at CastlepointThis year Castlepoint is putting on lots of activities as part of their Festive Point event. Festive Point can be found on the lower level of Castlepoint near Mountain Warehouse. The movies are completely free to watch. 2nd December 2pm - The Grinch 9th December 4pm - Home Alone 16th December 1pm - Christmas Carol 23rd December 2pm - Elf Poole Maritime Lights Trail - 25th November - 2nd JanuaryThe Poole Maritime Lights Trail is back again this year. The beautiful light displays run all along the Quay and up the high street. For more information please visit their website. Local Christmas LightsOne of our favourite things to do is to drive around and see all the houses decorated for Christmas. Some of the best local displays are at Runton Road in Parkstone Byron Road in New Milton Corfe Castle When you visit please park nearby not the street if you can and enjoy them by foot. Christmas at Colin's Nest Cafe, Poole - 20th DecemberFree Christmas event at Colin's nest cafe. Please visit their facebook page for more information. Branksome & Rossmore Community Fridge 4th Birthday PartyCome and join and celebrate the 4th birthday of the community fridge! FREE cupcakes for all and FREE wrapped gifts for the children. Come and find out how the community fridge can help you. Santa's helpers at West Howe community fridge with FREE giftsVisit the Henry Brown Youth Centre to find out about the community fridge and receive a FREE present from Santa's helpers. Please note Santa will not be present at this event. Please visit their facebook page for more information. Christmas Cooking Workshops 18th & 19th December West HoweThe Friendly Food Club are back at the Henry Brown for FREE Christmas cooking! These family cooking sessions are always really popular, so early booking is essential. Monday 18th December and Tuesday 19th December 11am - 1pm Email admin@westhowe.net to book, with the number of adults and children you wish to book for, any allergies or dietary requirements, and a contact phone number. These sessions are in conjunction with Dorset Community Foundation, thanks to their generous funding. FREE Face Painting at Bournemouth Christmas MarketFREE festive face painting by Pixie Paint & Laurie Lloyd at the Alpine Lodge in Bournemouth Square. 3rd, 10th and 17th December 11am-1pm. Artic Adventure - Poole Dolphin CentreJoin in all throughout December for stories, games, and winter crafts in the snowy wonderland that'll make the season merry and bright for your little explorers. It's a free, first come, first served experience. Sunday 10th Thursday 14th Saturday 16th Sunday 17th Monday 18th Tuesday 19th Wednesday 20th Thursday 21st Friday 22nd Saturday 23rd Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, excluding Thursday: 11 – 4 pm Thursday: 2pm – 7pm Please visit their website for more information. If you know of any other FREE local events please do leave a comment so that others can find out about them too.
All information is correct at time of publishing, please check with event providers before travelling to events. I hope you all have a wonderful christmas making memories with your little ones. I often get asked what to bring or how to prepare for your baby photography session with me here in my beautiful studio in Poole, Dorset. The short answer is that you do not to bring anything or prepare in anyway. If you have specific clothing or photos that you would like this guide may help you. However, otherwise I have everything that you should need here. What should we bring to our baby photography session?Please bring your normal change bag with nappies, spare clothes and milk if needed. You may wish to bring along a few favourite outfits, however this is completely up to you, I have some in the studio and plenty of lovely wraps for you to choose from when you arrive. I have a coffee machine in the studio for you to enjoy, as well as cold water and snacks. What should we wear ourselves to our baby photography session?Again, this is completely up to you. If you would like some photos of yourselves with your baby you might want to think about what you are wearing. It might be helpful to know that my background is pure white. Or you can have a less formal photo snuggled up with your baby on my lovely grey studio sofa. This really depends on how you would like the photos to look. How should we prepare for our baby photography session?You will have looked at my portfolio before booking your baby photography session with me you will know the type of images to expect when you visit the studio. I will ask you when you arrive if you have any particular props/colours that you would like to use . If you have not had chance to decide I can show you my beautiful collection of props, wraps and outfits and you can choose when you are here so please do not worry. My images all follow the same natural, neutral style so I do find that most people are happy for me to choose what to use but please do let me know if you have any preferences. If you have any more questions about a newborn photography session you might like to read my baby photography FAQs page.
Or please do get in touch, I would love to hear from you as I love talking to clients before their baby photography session. Last weekend I hosted the 6th Poole Baby Event at the Dolphin Centre in Poole. It was such a busy day with lots of amazing local baby related businesses getting together to put on a display of their products and services and holding taster classes and talks throughout the day. Sarah from Biscuits By Sarah B sponsored the event and all day she gave out free hot drinks and showed lots of lovely people how to decorate their own biscuits. Sarah from Little Leaps Sensory & Sign provided a baby play corner which everyone loved. We held a tombola style raffle for SPRING Support and raised over £160! There was lots of advice on hand from everything baby related from slings to nappies to breastfeeding. There were also some taster classes from Fledgling Love Baby Massage and Bourne Calm Hypnobirthing. We had 14 charities and businesses attend on the day. How awesome are these booby cakes! They went down a treat! Little Leaps Sensory and Sign's play area was a huge hit with the babies and toddlers. So many people of ALL ages enjoyed decorating biscuits with Sarah. We are currently planning the 2024 Baby Events but dates have not yet been set. If you are a business who are interested in attending please do get in touch to register your interest. Disclaimer : These are not professional photos they are just a collection of some of the photos that we all took on the day on our phones. I did not take my camera along to the event this time.
I get really excited when clients ask if they can bring their parents to their family photography sessions. Yes of course! These are my favourite type of family sessions. I know how much these beautiful memories will grow in value over time, as every year passes you will treasure them even more. No one ever regrets having an extended family photography session. And the best part, there is no extra cost, I do not charge per person so it really is the more the merrier! These precious moments captured between grandparents and their grandchildren are absolutely priceless. And knowing what joy they will bring over the years makes my job even more special. The perfect locationPerhaps you have a favourite place to go to together as a family that already has lots of lovely memories? Or I have a list of my favourite locations that I love to go to to create beautiful family memories. The perfect giftI sell a lot of gift vouchers for family generation sessions, the most popular being grandparents milestone birthdays or wedding anniversaries. People also like to buy photography vouchers for gifts for Christmas.
I have beautiful printed vouchers that can be sent out in the post, which are perfect for family members to gift. |