What to expect from your portrait session

Yes, all of my photographs are taken in black and white.

I live in Cambridge with my partner, the wedding photographer Tom Catchesides, and I also have a base in Blackheath in South East London. I am happy to travel throughout the UK.

This is your photo shoot so the choice of location is yours. We can either photograph at your home, or at a place that you enjoy as a family such as the park, the beach, the woods, or a combination of locations. We have the whole morning to play with and so we can easily fit in more than one location if we want to; for example, we could start at the park and then come home mid-morning for a drink and a snack and then have some pictures playing at home.

Portrait sessions usually take place in the morning - I find that the light is best first thing, and also the children tend to be at their glittering best. I like to arrive nice and early, straight after breakfast.

We'll spend the whole morning togeteher so that we have plenty of time to take lots of pictures, and take a break for a snack or a nap.

I will manage the shoot as little as possible to retain the spontaneity and energy of the day.

If we are meeting away from your home, I suggest that you bring along the usual things you would for a day out: favourite toys and games for the children to play - balls, scooters, etc - snacks and drinks for refuelling, wipes (always wipes) and if you are at the potty training stage, then a change of clothes is always a good idea.

If it is raining, then we'll photograph indoors and we will still get lots of lovely photographs. I often find that I will spend half the shoot indoors and half outside whatever the weather, and there is a lot of fun to be had from dressing in waterproofs and jumping in puddles.

If your child is ill then we can reschedule your session. I ask that you to let me know as soon as you can if your child is ill as often I travel long distances and so it is good to know before I set off in the morning.

I think it is nice to have the children wearing what they like to wear and we can always take a break to change their clothes.

My only suggestion is that you avoid graphic patterns, such as checked shirts, or anything that has a strong contrast to it. Also, if you are very keen on a white outfit for your child, please do have a change of clothes at hand as marks on white clothes stand out in pictures.

It is no problem to remove the superficial spots and scratches that are an everyday occurrence in children's lives.

I am always delighted to photograph older children. As with younger children, I try to keep everything very relaxed although with teenagers there is often a bit more direction to get the very best shots. When photographing teenagers, I like to capture the things that your children enjoy doing - do they have favourite hobbies or interests that we can integrate into the shoot? I find that competitive games can work very well with teenagers, as they forget that the camera is there and really enjoy themselves - never underestimate the power of Jenga!

I love a bit of chaos on a photo shoot, and so including your pets is absolutely fine. I can't guarantee to get a group shot with everyone looking at the camera with lots of animals though - just so you are warned!

Parents and grandparents are included within the portrait session fee.

If you would like me to photograph a larger family gathering or your extended family, please contact me for a quotation.

I want you to enjoy your photographs. To help you have the best photographs in the best format as quickly as possible, one of the Helen Bartlett Photography team will contact you soon after your portrait shoot to arrange a viewing session either in Cambridge or at your home. The aim of this session is to show you what is possible with your photographs.

We recommend that you arrange a viewing for a time when all the decision-makers can be present. You will be able to see the pictures on our large screen and look at an album design, ideas for multi-aperture frames and canvases. You can order at the viewing sessions, and there is a ten percent discount should you wish to place your order at this time.

I expect to present between fifty and seventy images from your portrait session. This will be a mix of group shots, individual portraits, and shots of everyone playing and interacting together. The best way to see the type and variety of images I produce is to look at my featured galleries, or my blog.

I don't have a minimum spend on shoots that are within a reasonable distance from either of my bases, which are Blackheath in South East London, or Cambridge. For shoots significantly further afield, I have a minimum spend of £1,000 on products in addition to the portrait session fee and travel costs.

Most clients spend between £1,500 and £7,000, usually on a combination of albums and framed prints for the wall.

I would be delighted if your family and friends choose to order prints too. After your viewing session, you'll be able to direct them to your password-protected web gallery, from which they can place orders.

I retain the copyright to all my images. However, you are welcome to buy individual images or the complete set of print-ready digital files on a disc, which can be taken to any lab for reproduction. You will be granted a license to reproduce the images for your personal use, or to give to family and friends. You are not permitted to enter the pictures into any competitions, or to sell them onto third parties such as stock libraries.

Yes indeed, but only if the children are good.

Please email us at , use the contact form or call us on 0845 603 1373.