Have a Great Shoot

I aim to take gorgeous photos of you / your children / family / fish that will last a lifetime - the best you have ever had. To make the shoot as successful as possible please take a moment to read the following FAQS.

How long does a shoot take?
A typical home baby shoot will take 1- 2 hours. (If you have a baby that needs to feed or sleep I am happy to take longer.) Prepare for the session to last around this amount of time but it is good if you don’t need to rush off anywhere, so we can run over a bit if you are happy to.
A typical shoot of young children or a family with or without young children, at home or on location, will take around an hour. Longer if there are more children and family members that you would like photographed.

What if the weather is bad or my child is ill?
If the weather is very bad then I am happy to shift the appointment to another date. Overcast or foggy weather is ideal, sunny is fine if a little tricky to photograph in. If your child or family member is ill, please contact me as soon as you can to rearrange the session free of charge. For group sessions we regret it is not possible to rearrange the whole session if one child is ill. We will offer you a discount on a future home shoot for just your child though.

What about groups?
We photograph groups of children in the same way, but do bear in mind this may take a little while longer. I will capture images of each child and we can try and set up a few group shots.

What if my child is very shy / very energetic?
I’ve worked with children for over 10 years and am used to all behaviours. The most important thing is that you let me form a connection to the child and that you try as much as possible to resist telling the child how to behave, ( I have 2 children I don’t expect yours to be perfect!!) This can stifle their natural behaviour, and we want to capture that!. Try also not to call your child and tell them to smile and look at the camera, this can be distracting for them and you will end up with lots of shots of them looking to the side!.

The Studio is situated at Old Cottage Hospital Studios, The Homend, Ledbury, HR8 1Ed. The closest place of note is Tesco, which is a short distance away. Parking is available on street near the studio, for up to one hour. Additional free parking is available at a short walk on street by the railway station. There are many town centre car parks also, which are very reasonably priced (around 50p). It takes approximately 10 mins to walk up to the studio from St Katherine’s car park in the town centre. If you need further help with finding me or parking please do call or email.

How long does a session last?
Usually sessions last up to an hour, in reality are around half an hour. Please do try and arrive on time, a bit earlier is always good.

What sort of clothes shall I wear and what shall I bring?
Please bring along a change of clothes if you would like to. Avoid clothes which are fussy ( they distract from your face!) or that will look dated in a few years. Bright clothes stand out really well, and softer colours complement your skin tones, so just think about what kind of effect YOU would like. You may if you wish change outfits half way through the shoot as this will make the photographs varied. Babies look great in simple white or just with/without a nappy, but again if you have a favourite bright suit please bring that. Please feel free to bring along favourite toys or anything you would like to be photographed with, or helps your child to feel relaxed and happy.

What if I would like a particular shot?
OF COURSE!! Please communicate as much as you can before the shoot as to the kind of things that are most important to you to get out of the shoot. Is the a particular trait you want to emphasize? Do you want images that can be blown up huge and put on your wall? Do you want a series of images capturing movement? Chat to me as much as you can.. I love chatting! and take a look at the examples we have at the studio.

CHILDREN;
See note above!...

Families / Groups
It is a good idea to think about what kind of look you would like for your group shots. You may want to all wear something that is similar in colour if you are coming in for a family shoot. Neutral colours work well to emphasise your faces, but bold bright colours will look bright and contemporary. We will use the time to capture lots of group shots in different poses, and some shots individually. If there is a specific grouping or shot you would like please do let us know.

When do I pay?:
We would be grateful if you would pay for your photo shoot on the day or before if possible. Payments for print orders are then made with the order. Cheques should be made payable to Caroline Potter Photography. My address is:
Studio1, Old Cottage Hospital Studios, The Homend, Ledbury, HR8 1ED

Important note:
Please make sure when having a photo shoot with children, that there is a dedicated carer available at all times during the shoot who will be responsible for the welfare of your child/children. While every care is taken to ensure the safety of the children at all times, Caroline cannot be held responsible in the unlikely event that your child becomes injured during the shoot, either outside on location, at your home, or in the studio. If you have any concerns at all please contact Caroline before the shoot takes place.
Please also refer to the terms and conditions as listed on the website.