Congratulations on your pregnancy (or new baby)!

How exciting!

Hi! In case you haven’t met me already, my name is Jodie. I’m a wife, a mum and I’m crazy-passionate about capturing moments, connections and simply; LOVE. My little family is my whole world, no doubt yours is to you also. It’s what drives my passion to create beautiful memories for my clients. THANK YOU so much for the honour of photographing this exciting time in your lives. I do consider myself truly blessed to be around these little miracles so much. Having my babies is the best thing i’ve ever done and I get SO excited seeing others enjoying this wonderful time too.

My sessions are laid back and natural with laughs, snuggles + love galore. I keep posing to a minimum and don’t just strive to provide you with beautiful images, but a really fun experience as a whole. Even Dad will enjoy it, I promise!
This little info page is my recommendations but are by no means hard and fast rules. I’m a firm believer in adapting and doing what is best for you and bub. Please do shout if you have any questions (no such thing as a silly one!).

First things first. If you’re coming to my studio, you’ll find me at 22 Daltons Rd, Warrnambool. Feel free to park in either driveway or out on the front nature strip. Otherwise i’ll see you at yours or in the great outdoors!

Your bump session

Here are a few pointers if you’ve opted to add a BUMP to your BUB session, yay! Almost all of my clients do, and I love that!

Your BUMP MINI session will run for approximately 30 minutes. Bump sessions are usually held in my studio although i’m happy to head outdoors if you’d like!

If you have some favourite maternity outfits, feel free to bring a few options to add some variety to you images! My recommendations are neutral coloured, feminine, floaty dresses or outfits. Fitted if you’re comfortable, floaty if you’re not. Layering up with different textures (ie chunky knits, lace, sheer fabric etc) works wonderfully well too. Avoid all-black if possible as detail gets lost, and just try to stick to simple and classic.

If all those recommendations are making your head spin, i’m also very happy to announce that I now offer a “client closet” to all my mumma’s! Perfect if you don’t want to purchase a pretty dress JUST for a photoshoot or want to take the stress out of styling. You’re MOST welcome to raid that, either on the day of your shoot, or if you’d like to pop in beforehand and try a few on, fabulous! If you’d like to check out my range of gorgeous, boho, flattering dresses and kimono’s click here.

And don’t forget neutral or your fave snazzy underwear if you’d like to strip down for some bare belly photos. There’s absolutely NO pressure to bare your bump, but I do encourage mums to brave the bare belly if they choose (particularly in the studio) and none have ever regretted doing so. I never show those photos on social media unless requested. Privacy is utmost.

I also encourage partners and other siblings to get in on the action during the bump mini too. They’re almost like a quick little family session, focused around your mutual adoration for bump.

I aim to get your bump gallery online within 3 weeks, so you can enjoy some pretty pics while you wait for bub to arrive!

What to expect…

STUDIO baby sessions

Again, these are purely my recommendations, not rules. You do what you feel is best for you and bub. I aim to be as flexible as possible, in my opinion there’s no “strict window” or ideal age to capture your brand new bundle. If you want those sleepy first few weeks captured, perfect! If you’d rather wait a few months until bub is smiling and more deliciously roley-poley, let’s do that! I love to capture bubs of ALL ages. It’s totally up to you. If you’re familiar with my work you’ll know that any “posing” I do is quite minimal and natural. No fancy props and basket poses here. I usually book in studio sessions mid-week at around 10am, unless there’s a time during the day that works better for you. I’m easy! Sessions usually last for 1-2 hours.

Are baby sessions just for baby? No, definitely not. This is a family-affair! Baby sessions are for the whole immediate family. This is a special time in ALL of your lives, and as much as Dad will possibly protest to being in photos (they usually do), it’s such a fleeting time and I guarantee you’ll look back on these memories with so much love. Speaking from my own experience, I think the bond between older siblings and bub is the most beautiful thing to watch and I love to capture it during sessions. And please don’t stress if you have a 2 year old who you’re worried won’t co-operate. If I had a dollar for every time a mum said that i’d be set up! 2 year olds are my absolute favourite “challenge” and I haven’t met one yet who i’ve not been able to get to “co-operate”. No stress! I’m a mum of three… trust me, I get it!

If possible, I’d love it if you could try to plan your feeds so bub is recently fed when you arrive (or if you’re traveling from out of town please feel free to feed when you arrive). Sessions usually go for 1-2 hours, a fair amount of that time is spent feeding and comforting baby, so please be prepared to nurse/bottle-feed off-and-on during the session. I’m in no hurry so please don’t feel you’re putting me out if you need to feed bub a few times, it’s all part of the session, and i love to capture those “in-between” moments.

If you’re after the sleepy newborn shots, maybe try not to let bub sleep too much before your session if possible. Again though, you do what you feel is best for bub. It will be toasty and warm in the studio (at least 25 deg) so bub stays nice and snug when stripped off. I dress for a warm few hours and suggest you do too! Layers are always good and you’ll most likely end up in short sleeves.

If you’re comfortable using one, if just for a brief time while settling, please bring along bub’s dummy. However if you really prefer that we don’t use one, that’s fine as well!

The most common question I get is “what shall we dress bub in”? Thankfully that’s an easy one! I have a beautiful assortment of baby clothes that tie in perfectly with my neutral style + blankets, so please don’t stress about shopping for the perfect outfit. That being said, please feel free to bring along some of outfits (and blankets!), if you have some faves or sentimental items. There’s plenty of time for a few outfit changes. But my studio is stocked full of beautiful blankets/swaddles + outfits so all you really need to bring is your gorgeous selves!

Mum and dad’s outfits + sibling outfits? As always my advice is keep it simple, comfy and classic. Avoid bold patterns and big logos on tshirts (SO distracting!) even black can be . I love neutral + warm tones, but you do you! Wear what you love and what you’re comfy in. I’m MORE than happy to help with styling if you need another set of eyes. Clients often send me photos of their outfit ideas and I LOVE helping out. I’m also very happy to announce that I now offer a “client closet” to all my mumma’s! Perfect if you don’t want to purchase a pretty dress JUST for a photoshoot or want to take the stress out of your own styling. You’re MOST welcome to raid that, either on the day of your shoot, or if you’d like to pop in beforehand and try a few on, fabulous! If you’d like to check out my range of gorgeous, boho, flattering dresses and kimono’s click here. Perfect for new mummas. Dad’s are easy; casual, neutral t-shirts or shirts, knits and denim jeans are always a good look. Can’t go wrong really! And kids, again simple + classic. I love textures and neutral tones. Complimentary outfits are best but don’t get hung up on “matchy matchy”.

IN-HOME baby sessions

Don’t get me wrong, I am in LOVE with my studio, but i have to say, i’ve totally fallen for the relaxed, natural vibes of in-home lifestyle sessions, and awesomely, so have lots of my clients! The end product is slightly different to a studio session. The photos will be more candid and varied, less posed. There’s so much beauty in capturing you and your loves in your home environment, your happy place, your style. And usually, it means the family is more relaxed and comfortable, especially baby. In-home sessions are very laid back, all about “going with the flow”. I love to interact with your family and make it a really enjoyable, loved-up experience. If bub has older siblings I very much include them in the whole process, getting them to assist me and plan our next move (they love that). I follow a very similar pattern to my studio sessions in terms of poses/workflow, but the overall look of your photos will be completely different to any else’s as the environment and style is purely your own.

I usually aim to arrive at your home at around 10am, unless there’s a time during the day that works better for you. I’m easy! Sessions usually last for 1-2 hours.

Are baby sessions just for baby? No, definitely not. This is a family-affair, especially when I’m coming to your home! Baby sessions are for the whole immediate family. This is a special time in ALL of your lives, and as much as Dad will possibly protest to being in photos (they usually do), it’s such a fleeting time and I guarantee you’ll look back on these memories with so much love. Speaking from my own experience, I think the bond between older siblings and bub is the most beautiful thing to watch and I love to capture it during sessions. And please don’t stress if you have a 2 year old who you’re worried won’t co-operate. If I had a dollar for every time a mum said that i’d be set up! 2 year olds are my absolute favourite “challenge” and I haven’t met one yet who i’ve not been able to “co-operate”. No stress! I’m a mum of three… trust me, I get it!

Don’t stress if you don’t have the trendiest, largest, most-minimalist house. Honestly, all I need is some gorgeous window light and a few spots we can focus on (ie mum & dad’s bed is often a great place to start). I usually end up conducting most the session in just one or two rooms and we can get SO much variety from just that. So I can’t stress enough…. DON’T STRESS if you don’t think your house is all that. We will still make magic!

Please don’t go around madly cleaning and tidying your house either. This is not a real-estate advert! You’ve just had a baby, who can be bothered with all that?! And trust me when I say, if there are things cluttering up my shot I will move them (I make myself quite at home!). The only thing I ask you to prepare is the temperature of your house. Toasty is best, especially if we’re changing bub’s outfits and fussing them around a little between poses. A warm house will ensure their comfort.

Don’t be alarmed when I arrive at your doorstep with a suitcase or duffle bag. I’m not moving in I promise! I ask before the session if you have a colour preference in terms of bub outfits/blankets/layers and I always bring a stash of goodies with me. Usually only as a last resort (I mostly find that my families already have all the gorgeous blankets/outfits we need), but I’m more than happy to take the stress out of styling a shoot if you’d prefer. All part of the service! So maybe have bub dressed in your favourite little outfit for the start of the session, but feel free to raid my stash and we can do a few outfit changes. Fun!

Mum and dad + sibling outfits? As always my advice is keep it simple, comfy and classic. Avoid bold patterns and big logos on tshirts (SO distracting!) even black can be . I love neutral + warm tones, but you do you! Wear what you love and what you’re comfy in. I’m MORE than happy to help with styling if you need another set of eyes. Often clients lay their outfits on the bed and we make a final call together when I arrive, I love it. I’m also very happy to announce that I now offer a “client closet” to all my mumma’s! Perfect if you don’t want to purchase a pretty dress JUST for a photoshoot or want to take the stress out of your own styling. If you’d like to check out my range of gorgeous, boho, flattering dresses and kimono’s click here and let me know if you’d like me to bring a few with me to your session. These are especially perfect + flattering for new mummas, cos let’s be honest, we’re not traditionally feeling our most fabulous when we’ve just had a baby. Dad’s are easy; casual, neutral t-shirts or shirts, knits and denim jeans are always a good look. Can’t go wrong really! And kids, again simple + classic. I love textures and neutral tones. Complimentary outfits are best but don’t get hung up on “matchy matchy”.

OUTDOOR baby sessions

So you’re the adventurous type eh? FABULOUS!! I’m totally there! Outdoor baby sessions are my most “candid” of all the baby sessions. But also (in my opinion) can be the most magical, mixing the beauty of nature with a gorgeous new family. Babies are unpredictable, the weather even more so. So these sessions are best for those who like a more laid-back, candid approach. If you want those sleepy first few weeks captured, I’d probably suggest a family or in-home session! But if you’d rather wait a few months until bub is smiling and more deliciously roley-poley, an outdoor session is a wonderful (and stunning) option. If you’re familiar with my work you’ll know that any “posing” I do is quite minimal and natural, especially when it comes to the outdoors. I usually book in outdoor baby sessions around sunset (or sunrise if it suits better). Sessions usually last for around 1 hour.

Outdoor baby sessions are perfect for the whole immediate family, not just bub. This is a special time in ALL of your lives, and as much as Dad will possibly protest to being in photos (they usually do), it’s such a fleeting time and I guarantee you’ll look back on these memories with so much love. Speaking from my own experience, I think the bond between older siblings and bub is the most beautiful thing to watch and I love to capture it during sessions. And please don’t stress if you have a 2 year old who you’re worried won’t co-operate. If I had a dollar for every time a mum said that i’d be set up! 2 year olds are my absolute favourite “challenge” and I haven’t met one yet who i’ve not been able to “co-operate”. No stress! I’m a mum of three… trust me, I get it! And older siblings are often at their best in the great outdoors.

If possible, I’d love it if you could try to plan your feeds so bub is recently fed when we arrive at our destination. Sessions usually go for around 1 hour. If you need to stop and feed bub at any point during the session that’s totally ok! I love to capture those “in-between” moments. If you’re comfortable using one, if just for a brief time while settling, please bring along bub’s dummy. However if you really prefer that we don’t use one, that’s fine as well!

The most common question I get is “what shall we dress bub in”? Thankfully that’s an easy one! I have a beautiful assortment of baby clothes that tie in perfectly with my neutral style + blankets, so please don’t stress about shopping for the perfect outfit if you don’t need to. I’m happy to bring some outfits along for bub. That being said, please feel free to bring along some of outfits (and blankets!), if you have a faves or sentimental items. It’s a bit trickier to change bubs outfits during an outdoor sesh (especially if it’s a little colder) but I’ll bring a range of different blankets and wraps to change up the look during the sesh.

Mum and dad’s outfits + sibling outfits? As always my advice is keep it simple, comfy and classic. Avoid bold patterns and big logos on tshirts (SO distracting!) even black can be . I love neutral + warm tones, but you do you! Wear what you love and what you’re comfy in. I’m MORE than happy to help with styling if you need another set of eyes. Clients often send me photos of their outfit ideas and I LOVE helping out. I’m also very happy to announce that I now offer a “client closet” to all my mumma’s! Perfect if you don’t want to purchase a pretty dress JUST for a photoshoot or want to take the stress out of your own styling. You’re MOST welcome to raid that, either on the day of your shoot, or if you’d like to pop in beforehand and try a few on, fabulous! If you’d like to check out my range of gorgeous, boho, flattering dresses and kimono’s click here. Perfect for new mummas. Dad’s are easy; casual, neutral t-shirts or shirts, knits and denim jeans are always a good look. Can’t go wrong really! And kids, again simple + classic. I love textures and neutral tones. Complimentary outfits are best but don’t get hung up on “matchy matchy”.

I’ll be in touch a few days before our shoot to see how you’re travelling and how the weather is looking. If it’s looking a bit rotten, we’ll discuss a plan B, which is usually to postpone to the soonest available (sunny!) date or to move the session to either your place or the studio. I am always flexible when it comes to rescheduling and weather. After all we live in Victoria! Weather unpredictability is a part of life! And my aim is to give you the most stunning images possible, and if that means we wait for better weather, i’m totally ok with that. I always leave the final call on the weather up to you, the client. You know what your kids can handle after all. I usually draw the line at heavy rain, but i’m happy to brave the wind and cold if you are! I’m also happy to leave it right up until the last minute to decide if you’d like to hold out in hope! No stress either way.

Illness

It’s important that everyone is feeling 100%. Especially in these covid-altered times unfortunately. There isn’t anything worse than an unhappy and sick child - they especially do not want to be in front of a camera. If you’re worried your kids won’t be well for the session, please let me know and we’ll postpone to the next available date. No stress at all!

Payment

UGH i hate talking money, honestly I’m the WORST business woman! But just a quick mention…

You’ve already paid your deposit to secure your session (thankyou kindly!). I do ask that the balance remaining be paid on or before the date of your session, unless we’ve arranged a payment plan (which is also fine). You can pay by whatever means suit you best. Cash or direct transfer. No digital images or products will be ready for collection until completion of payment, but honestly i’ve never had to even follow that up, my clients are truly the best.

And finally…

As a mum of three, I completely understand what a special time this is for you, welcoming your new precious baby. It is my hope that we will not only capture the most beautiful memories for you to treasure forever, but that you’ll have a really relaxed & enjoyable time doing so, and a wonderful experience as a whole.

Every session is different, all babies are unique and i’m a firm believer in taking things as they come. It’s my job to ensure that you’re comfortable and relaxed during our session so please try not to be nervous beforehand. I also completely understand that we don’t always feel our most glamorous during pregnancy and postpartum. Please trust me when I say it’s also my goal to show every woman how incredibly beautiful she is, even when she’s not feeling it. And I’m pretty damn good at it if I do say so myself! Ha. Feel free to be open with me in terms of your insecurities and I will make it my joy and mission ease your concerns and show you what a stunning momma you are ;-)

I am truly honoured to be able to document this incredible time in your lives and look forward to getting to know you and your sweet baby (or, to see you again, yay!)!

If you have any questions at ANY time, please feel free to call me on 0415 317 565 or drop me an email at jodie@knellyphoto.com.
I’m SOOOO looking forward to our session, see you soon lovely!

Jode x