If you’d like to discover what’s involved in my day-to-day working life as an Aberdeen newborn photographer, read on.
Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on my working life, sharing an insight into how I structure my days and how I make it all work seamlessly around my two teenage boys.
I love my work as a professional family photographer
Firstly, I must start this by saying that I absolutely love my work as a maternity, baby and family portrait photographer!
It’s nothing but an absolute pleasure to own my own photography business. To wake up every day knowing that I’m going to be spending my time meeting lovely local families, pregnant ladies and gorgeous babies and children, and getting the opportunity to create beautiful artistic portraits for them, is literally a dream come true!
I absolutely adore helping my clients to document their growing families in beautiful portraits and cannot think of any other career in the world that I’d rather be pursuing.
There’s nothing I love more than being your family photographer, whether that involves taking photos inside my cosy studio or outside, in our privately owned five acres of the beautiful Scottish countryside.
Capturing memories that will be enjoyed for a lifetime makes my job incredibly satisfying. Long may it continue!
A Day-in-the-life of an Aberdeen newborn photographer
Morning
Most days start early. The boys need to be taken to school every weekday morning, and the school run takes me an hour every day – I leave the house at 7.45am and return at 8.45am. I get up an hour earlier than them, around 6 am.
I use this time to check the day’s diary and answer any emails/messages. I also pop into the studio to put the heating on – it’s important that it’s nice and toasty if I’m having a client with a newborn baby in. With that done, I enjoy having a few moments to myself with a cup of tea!
Since they’re in their teens now (Spencer is 18 and Cameron is 16), both my boys are quite independent in the mornings. But they do need encouragement to get out of bed or dragged away from their PlayStations!
With them at school, I return to my home-based studio and open for the day at around 9 am. I prepare the studio for the day’s session, selecting props such as wraps, baskets and backdrops.
The studio is kept clean and tidy so there is not much else to do in the studio, so mornings are quite relaxed, and I like it that way.
I may touch base with my assistant Carla and chat with her on the phone to discuss what administration and marketing tasks need to be done that day.
Mid-morning
During the week, I usually have newborn photography sessions – it’s my favourite genre to photograph! But if it’s not a newborn session, it might be a maternity, older baby or family session.
Around 10 am, my clients arrive with their baby, and we get started around 10.30am.
When clients arrive at the photography studio, my aim is to make them instantly feel as comfortable as possible. I realise that it can be nerve-wracking coming along to a professional photoshoot, particularly if you’ve never done one before.
I also know that as a new parent, you are still getting used to having a little one in the family. Most parents are a wee bit nervous about how the session may go and so it’s my job at this stage to make them feel at ease.
The welcome includes me reassuring them that if they feel any nerves, that this is perfectly natural. I also tell them that most babies are an absolute dream to work with once they are clean and fed – after all, newborns spend almost 18 hours of every day asleep!
We’ll chat for a short while until they and the baby are settled into the new surroundings, and we discuss what the session will involve and how I work. I’ll be cuddling the baby at this point, in order to get them familiar with me before we start.
Many parents are pleasantly surprised when I tell them that there is very little they need to do during their newborn photoshoot. I point them in the direction of the comfy sofa and tell them to put their feet up!
Midday
After a couple of hours at work, photographing the newborn baby, the session is drawing to a close.
I will have created several setups in the studio by this point and will have photographed a variety of poses. Some of the poses can take up to an hour to create – it all depends on how settled the baby is.
Throughout the session, we will have stopped several times, whenever the baby was unsettled. Mum or dad would have fed and changed the baby, and the whole thing would have been completely relaxed.
There is never any pressure or expectations during a newborn photography session. All our shoots are baby led, meaning that we go with the flow and work around your baby at all times.
Early afternoon
With the newborn session now complete, I chat some more with the parents and make sure they are clear on the next steps. We also talk through the wall art we offer so that they know what photos products they can buy.
We agree on a date for them to return to the studio to view their portraits, usually, this is done around two weeks after the session. The viewing appointment is the first chance that clients get to see their baby’s portraits and is a hugely exciting part of the process!
Having waved the clients goodbye, I clean and tidy the studio before grabbing a quick bite to eat.
Newborns are naked during their portrait session so there are often wee and poo accidents in the studio, which means I always have some washing to do! All my blankets, wraps and cloths are cleaned and sterilised, ready for the next session.
Mid-afternoon
I am extremely lucky that so many families choose to come to my studio for their newborns’ very first portraits and often that means I will get to spend my afternoon cuddling another baby, and the whole process starts again!
My boys are getting more independent now which means I don’t have to dash away for the school run, however, if time allows, I’m there at the gates waiting for them.
On the days I’m not photographing clients at the studio I’ll be editing images, posting on social media and working on general admin tasks. I may also contact clients who have enquired about a session and be juggling appointments in my diary to get everyone booked in. There is never a shortage of things to do!
Early evening
With dinner prepared, eaten and cleared away, I now spend some time responding to emails or relax for the evening. Occasionally I head out with my partner, or with friends, depending on my plans.
I try not to work late but have been known to in the past. Editing images can take many hours but it’s all so worth it when you see the look on the parent’s faces when they see the photographs for the first time!
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of delighting my clients with beautiful images of their family!
For more information about our portrait photography sessions here at Kingshill Studios in Aberdeen, please get in touch here. We look forward to welcoming you and your little one to Kingshill Studios soon!
Related reading:
Newborn Sessions: Frequently Asked Questions
Introducing new baby photography services at Kingshill Studios
