FAQ

What is the best time frame for a maternity photo shoot?

The best time will be between 32-35 weeks where your belly begins to develop more of a nice round shape that’s perfect for showing off in photos. Some clients choose to do the shoot in the 30th week which is fine too.

Are the maternity dresses provided?

Yes! Currently, there are about 10 dresses/gowns (collection size is growing!) for you to choose from.

Do you have maternity dresses that don't expose the belly?

We understand that some individuals may have reservations about exposing their bellies, we do have regular maternity dresses that don’t expose the belly area.

How many maternity dresses can I change?

You may change up to 2 dresses for the shoot.

What are the sizes of the maternity dresses?

The sizes of the dresses range from Free size – Medium size. Most of the dresses are stretchable which makes fitting easy.

Can I bring my own maternity dresses?

After all, you know best what suits you. While you’re welcome to get your own maternity dresses, I would like to suggest that you show them to me first before placing an order. As much as possible, we want something that goes well with the decor.

How long will the session take?

A session typically takes approximately 2.5 – 3 hours. That excludes the time for trying out/ changing of dresses.

What do we need to prepare?

  • Inner-wear: The colors of the maternity outfits include white, dark green, dusty pink, khaki. Matching top and bottom inner-wear (brassiere/lingerie/safety tights) colors such as beige, white, dusty pink, black will be recommended. It will be good to bring along more pairs to be on the safe side.
  • Hairdo: There are a few poses which may require bending your head slightly downward and side facing the camera, hence you may want to request your MUA (if you’re hiring one) to style your hair in a way it doesn’t cover the side of your face when bending your head down.
  • Husband’s outfit: To match the overall theme of the shoot, plain light neutral-toned apparel such as white, light pink, brown, khaki, grey is recommended. A classic pair-up will be a loose white casual shirt and khaki color pants. Try to avoid outfits that appears too formal or contains distracting graphics or text.
  • Hairpins (optional)
  • Makeup (optional)
  • Baby apparel such as rompers/ socks (optional)
  • Custom-made items such as baby birth announcement signboards/ letterboards (optional)
  • Ultrasound scans (optional)

Can my kid(s) join in the shoot?

Yes! There’s no reason not to invite your kid(s) to the shoot.

What outfit should my hubby put on?

To match the overall theme of the shoot, plain light neutral-toned apparels such as white, light pink, brown, khaki, grey is recommended. A classic pair-up will be a loose white casual shirt and khaki color pants. Try to avoid outfits that appears too formal or contains distracting graphics or text.

How is the studio decor like?

Embracing soft neutral-toned colors, our minimalistic nature-inspired home studio is furnished with nordic and boho influence in mind which brings about a rustic yet modern touch.

We have bought a few items for my baby and would like to incorporate them into the shoot.

Sure, you’re welcome to bring them along. Here are a few suggestions:

  • 3 – 5pcs x 4R size photos of your family
  • Baby apparel such as rompers/ socks
  • Custom-made items such as baby birth announcement signboards/ letterboards
  • Ultrasound scans

How do I book a session?

Upon confirmation, a deposit amount of $180 will be required to secure a session slot. Meadow Lullabies is flexible with switching dates, subject to availability.

How do I receive the images?

Your images will be uploaded to a private gallery where you can view and download them.

Time frame & session duration

What is the ideal time frame for a newborn photoshoot?

Newborn Photography Singapore

The optimal period will be between 7-12 days from your delivery date where they are at their most sleepy stage, after 2 weeks, the poses will be difficult to accomplish. Newborn child varies in sizes and to be on the safe side, it is recommended to have the shoot before the 10th day to ensure that the props/ crates are fittable.

It is also advisable to book your session as early as 6 months before your EDD as we run the risk of not being able to reserve a slot within the ideal shooting window period.

How long will the session be and what can I expect during the session?

Depending on which package is selected, my session typically takes anywhere from 3-5 hours . That includes the time for nursing, pacifying, changing diapers, posing, and shooting. Since your newborn may fuss, poop and pee, several reattempts may be required to pose them. Do expect the duration to stretch depending on how settled our little model is.

How long does each pose take?

My objective is to capture your baby in the most flattering angle/posture to my best effort and that means I could be more particular over the positioning of your baby’s head, body, arms right down to those little fingers. In a perfect scenario, each pose can be completed within minutes if our sleepy little model gives us their full cooperation but more than often, they tend to fidget or fuss especially for naked poses, hence multiple retries which involve feeding/nursing/pacifying/changing diapers in between may be required. A single pose can take up to 45 mins to even an hour to complete as such.

Session approach

Are the newborn props & outfits provided?

Yes, all props, swaddle/outfits and backdrops are provided. Feel free to discuss with me should you wish to have your newborn don on an outfit(s) of your own.

What type of props/ outfits do you use?

The props/ outfits that I use are primarily neutral-toned vintage/ rustic style. Various crates and buckets as well as a posing beanbag cushion will be used to pose your newborn. Should you have a suggestion for props usage, please feel free to contact me. I would love to hear from you!

How can we (parents) assist with the shoot?

Some involvement will be required from either parents or nanny for some poses. But not to worry, it’s nothing too difficult though, mostly watching over your baby while I am shooting or simply holding their limbs in position to prevent them from kicking out of the pose before I shoot.

My baby fusses or won't go to sleep during the session

It is very normal for a baby to become unsettled during a newborn session. Babies typically like to sleep and be cuddled.
During a newborn session, we inevitably have to move and adjust your baby safely to pose them. While this means that we can capture gorgeous photos, it also means that we unsettle your baby when they are trying to sleep.
As much as we want beautiful pictures of your newborn, your baby’s sleep is as important.

Here are a few tips on making sure your baby is sleepy for the session.

Before the session

  • Try to time a feed just before you leave or on arrival at my home. Feeding and burping them right before the session helps your baby to be sleepy and happy!
  • If you are breastfeeding, it may help to avoid consuming spicy/ acidic foods or beverages containing caffeine 48 hours prior to your session, as this could make your baby unsettled.
  • Dress your baby in a simple loose sleeper that doesn’t have to be lifted off over the head so we can undress them without too much disturbance, just in case baby is sleeping soundly on arrival. If your baby is awake when you arrive, it is best to undress them first, loosen the nappy and then wrap them in a blanket before that extra top up. Otherwise your baby may get upset at being undressed when they are all nice and cozy.

During the session

  • Not all breast milk is the same: it can vary in levels of proteins, fats, sugars, hormones and other components. Factors such as individual physiques, emotions and lifestyle contribute to the development of breastmilk. Thus, it will be good to keep options open for the best of your baby.
    Sometimes your child may not be getting enough from breast milk especially during the initial phase, this may cause them to become unsettled and cranky during poses. A good way will be to supplement the feed with formula after you breast feed them. Specifically for newborn photography, we recommend bottle feeding as it helps us to monitor your newborn’s consumption, thus ensuring they are adequately fed.
  • Some parents, including myself, can be quite hesitant to introduce pacifier to our babies because of various reasons such as fear of addiction, interference with breastfeeding etc. However in my experience they can really come in handy without any long term effects on the baby and feeding.
    • using a pacifier for a few hours in a newborn session will NOT make them addicted.
    • we will only use a pacifier if the baby is well fed and just needs a bit of comfort. We will never use it to suppress hunger cries.
    • as soon as baby is calm and ready to be posed and photographed, we will pull out the pacifier.

P.S. We will respect every decision you as the parent make and will never enforce or persuade you into doing something you’re not comfortable with.

What type of poses are there?

Here’s a list of poses:

· Side Sleeper (body lying sideways with both palms under the side of the face on the posing beanbag)
· Tushy Up (lying on their stomach with their bum thrust up)
· Taco (positioned with their legs tucked comfortably underneath their body on the posing bag. The head and hand are then placed across the legs)
· Chin on Hands (lying on their stomach, facing front with chin on both hands)
· Potato Sack (cocoon-like swaddle wrapped, sitting upright on the posing beanbag)
· Close-ups (Close-up shots on areas such as the fingers, eyes, mouth etc..)
· Props (Various wrap styles and poses inside crates & buckets)
· Organic poses
· Individual family member with baby
· Entire family

It may seem like all babies are a sleepy bunch that will easily adopt any pose but in reality, no two babies are the same and while some babies easily soothe themselves into certain poses, others may outright protest. Safety and comfort are of our utmost priority and we will not force your baby into positions they aren’t comfortable with and will swap it with another pose.

Please inform on any medical condition of your baby such as physical injuries or respiratory infections etc.

The number of poses depends on the package selected. Contact us to enquire more about our newborn photo shoot packages.

Are the setups prepared in advance?

Just like rehearsing for a performance, time and effort are spent on preplanning and styling of each setup before your arrival; from the selection of prop to how fabrics are draped in order to consistently achieve high standards in our image quality.

Your inputs and preferences are welcome too!

Does my newborn need a pacifier during the shoot?

A pacifier can certainly help your baby (and give parents some sanity!), but even if parents do not want to keep continuing using it on a daily basis, it could be a lifesaver for an hour or two during the shoot.

Can I nurse/ feed my baby between shoots?

Yes definitely, you may nurse/ feed your baby at any stage of the shoot. Babies usually feel drowsy after each feed which actually helps with the shoot.

Precautions

Are the newborn photography poses safe for my baby?

Newborn Photography Singapore froggy pose

It may seem like all babies are a sleepy bunch that will easily adopt any pose but in reality, no two babies are the same and while some babies easily soothe themselves into certain poses, others may outright protest. Safety and comfort are of our utmost priority and we will not force your baby into positions they aren’t comfortable with and will swap it with another pose.

Certain poses for instance ‘The Froggy’ may look unsafe but rest assured that these pictures are either achieved with composite techniques (digitally fusing two or more pictures with the hand supporting different parts of the body) or a spotter to watch after the baby during the shoot.

Please inform on any medical condition of your baby such as physical injuries or respiratory infections etc.

The number of poses depends on the package selected. Contact us to enquire more about our newborn photoshoot packages.

Are the swaddles/ fabrics cleaned before each use?

All swaddles/ fabrics are washed with baby-friendly detergent before each shoot.

Will you sanitize your hands before handling my newborn?

Yes, I will be using a medical approved hand sanitizer before handling your baby.

Preparation/ Miscs

How do I book a session?

Upon confirmation, a deposit amount of $180 will be required to secure a session. Since your delivery date is a variable unless it’s a planned caesarean (C-Section), I will be using your EDD (Estimated date of delivery) for soft booking. A day before or on your actual delivery day, simply send me a text message so that I can arrange a slot for you. A definite session date can be pre-arrange for planned caesarean delivery.

What do I need to prepare?

Please prepare the following for the photography session:

· Pacifier. This is optional yet also an important item during a session, a pacifier may come in handy for soothing babies when they fuss during poses. I understand many parents nowadays don’t introduce pacifiers but it can be quite useful to calm a baby down when they fuss during the poses. What we also want to minimize is them swallowing too much air when they cry excessively, that causes stomach wind which in turn makes them cry even more and lose sleep.
I will only use it to calm your baby down and remove when your baby is settled so don’t worry about addiction. 🙂
· Ideally, try to time your feed such that the next interval feed will be right before the shoot. That will help ensure that your baby is comfortable and less fussy during the session. They are more likely to fall asleep or be in a relaxed state, which can make for some beautiful, dreamy newborn photos.
· 4-5 doses of milk formula (you may nurse your baby too)
· 5 pairs of diapers for your baby.

Here are some of the amenities available:

· Baby wet wipes
· Changing pad
· Electric bottle warmer
· Electric steam bottle sterilizer
· Nursing Cover
· Newborn Bathtub
· Hand Sanitizer

What outfit should we (parents) put on?

To match the overall theme of the shoot, plain light neutral-toned apparel such as white, light pink, brown, khaki, grey is recommended. Try to avoid outfits with distracting wordings or designs.

Should I feed my baby right before the session?

Being some of the hungriest creatures, newborns can be unforgiving when they aren’t adequately fed. Having a fussy baby during the session who refuses to be posed can cause parents to feel anxious and upset. Feeding and burping them right before the session helps your baby to be sleepy and happy!

If possible, try to time a feed just before you leave or on arrival at my place.

What are the amenities available?

Here’s a list of amenities provided in our air-conditioned home studio (Bukit Batok):

· Changing pad
· Bottle warmer
· Steam bottle sterilizer
· Hand sanitizer
· Baby wet wipes
· Baby shower tub

Can I request the shoot to be done at my place?

Yes, there will be an additional fee of $150 for the transportation of props/ photography equipment and traveling.

Can I request a refund in the event of a medical emergency?

In the event of unexpected circumstances such as a medical emergency, we may postpone or do a house call (there will be a house call fee of $150) subject to slot availability.

Should you will be unfit for a longer duration, we may need to review medical supporting documents such as a medical certificate, which states that you are unfit for duty.

Images

What is the difference between basic retouch and a full retouch.

A basic retouch covers the following:

  • overall image exposure adjustment
  • restoring white balance

A full retouch covers the following in addition to the basic retouch:

  • uneven skin tone adjustment
  • skin flakes reduction
  • skin smoothening
  • shadow refining
  • backdrop smoothing

In most parts, retouching is localized which treats a specific area of an image such that unaffected areas can be left untouched.

Why are there so few images returned?

The approach of newborn photography is somewhat different from other types of photography. Unlike a conventional photoshoot such as weddings/models, newborns in a way ‘dictate’ the session; it is not uncommon to take more than an hour before having the first shot taken since pacifying/diaper changing is involved not to mention the number of attempts to pose the baby.

How do I receive the images?

Your images will be uploaded to a private gallery where you can view and download them.

When can I expect the pictures?

Typically, it takes anywhere between 2-4 weeks from the session day, picture selections to sending of the final edits.

Where do you recommend our family photography session to take place?

Any nature park such as the Singapore Botanical gardens or even that nice patch of grass field surrounded by tall trees near your home works. Kids are also more likely to have fun as they freely roam about in a non-restrictive environment and I am sure you will want those moments captured in your photos.

What will my outdoor session be like?

I usually suggest my clients to plan some activities so that they can have fun and interact with their kids in an authentic way during the session. For me to produce quality images, it will be great if you are spontaneous and go with the flow.

I prefer keeping things real, while I will direct a few poses for portraits oriented shots, the session centers around the interactions between family members with me adopting a photojournalistic approach snapping to my heart’s content without precise direction. During the session, I may talk and play with your kid(s) a bit. They will prance around, throw a fit or just be nonchalant, but you can be sure that moments of such will all be captured and you’ll never know they might just become your favorite photos.

Is my kid too young to be photographed outdoor?

The youngest kid I have photographed is around 10 months old in an outdoor setting. As you would expect, your child will likely to be all over the place while they curiously explore their surroundings and these are exactly what we want to document. After all, at this age, they aren’t supposed to sit still and face the camera all day long!

You may view some of my works here.

What type of outfit should I put on?

Simple and casual clothing that you’re comfortable in. ‘Earthy’ colors such as brown, khaki, beige, white, light pink works best against nature settings. Plain white top and denim jeans are a popular choice too. Try to avoid apparels with heavy patterns or design prints; lesser distracting elements means more focus on just you and your family.

Why take it outdoors?

You can have the most elaborate indoor lighting setup but in my opinion, nothing really quite beat a backdrop of lush greeneries embraced by natural light. Your kid(s) will more likely enjoy being in outdoors too. Ultimately, what you can’t replicate in an indoor environment are the interactions you have with them in an outdoor setting.

What should I prepare for the shoot?

Here are some items to consider:

  1. some toys (preferably one that moves and generates sound/ music) to serve as ‘baits’ for your kid(s)
  2. extra clothing helps too in the event of humid or rainy weather
  3. some snacks and lots of fluids
  4. not an item but nevertheless, the most important thing in the list – A happy, light-hearted and playful mood. 🙂

A brown fabric mat, wet wipes and portable fans will be provided.

Can I bring my pets along?

Yes! Pets are certainly welcome, although you may want to limit to 2 pets for larger breeds.

Is there a prime age for kids to be photographed in your lifestyle session?

Having photographed children of various ages from toddlers to teenagers,  I find that kids below 10 years old are the best fits for the lifestyle shoot due to their active and playful demeanor; they usually don’t hold back when it comes to enjoying themselves making them great subjects for photography!

Are multiple families suited for your lifestyle shoot?

Designed for individual families, the lifestyle photo shoot works best when the focus is placed on a single household. Multiple families require a significantly more amount of session time and inevitably a slight change of approach.

What is the best timing for the shoot?

The preferred timings should either be in the morning ending before 9:30 am where you’ll be embraced by the beautiful sunrays while avoiding the harsh sunlight or in the evening around 5 pm for the gorgeous golden sunset hour.

Other studios require purchasing of hi-res digital copies separately, why does your package include that many retouched hi-res digital soft copies?

By consistently seeking ways to streamline our work process and resources without compromising on quality, we are able to fork up more time for each assignment.  It’s not just about saving our clients some cost but more importantly to avoid good photos going to waste if they weren’t being selected for cost reasons.

What is the plan for bad weather?

For outdoor sessions, the shoot shall be rescheduled unless both parties are fine with shifting it to another timing within the same day. If it rains in the middle of the session, we will cease the shoot and seek shelter then wait for the rain to stop before continuing.

Did I miss something?

Feel free to send me an inquiry or contact me directly at +6591918015 should you have any other questions, I am always happy to answer them.