A calm session starts before anyone picks up a camera. At Aza Photography in Netherton, Dudley, Alexandra Cretu photographs newborns, families, portraits, maternity, and events across Birmingham and the West Midlands. The notes below are the same advice she gives clients who book online at https://aza.photography.
You do not need a stylist or a perfect house. You need a clear brief, outfits that feel like you, and enough time so nobody is rushing. That is what makes photographs look natural rather than staged.
Share the brief early
When you enquire, mention the session type, preferred date, and whether you want the Dudley studio, your home, or an outdoor spot. A Birmingham city-centre portrait, a Netherton studio newborn session, and a park family shoot all need different timing and kit.
Include ages of children, any mobility needs, and must-have photos (parents with each child, bump and sibling, grandparent portraits). Email [email protected] or call 07393 403930 if you are unsure — it is easier to plan this before the day than to squeeze it in at the end.
Wardrobe that photographs well
Choose two or three coordinating colours rather than matching outfits. Soft neutrals, earth tones, and one gentle accent colour usually work in both studio light and West Midlands daylight. Avoid large logos, neon, and very busy patterns that pull attention from faces.
Textures help: knitwear, linen, a simple dress, a well-fitting shirt. Bring a spare top for little ones and a muslin or dribble cloth. For newborn sessions, plain wraps and hats are provided if you want them; you are welcome to bring a family heirloom blanket too.
Shoes matter outdoors. Parks around Birmingham and Dudley can be damp even in summer, so wear something you can walk in. Studio sessions are often photographed barefoot or in socks.
Timing, rest, and food
Book around your child’s real rhythm, not an idealised one. Newborns are usually happiest in the first two to three weeks and photograph well when recently fed. Toddlers do better after a snack and a nap, not at the end of a long shopping trip into Birmingham.
Eat before you arrive. Hungry adults look tense; hungry children melt down. Allow extra time for parking at the studio on Halesowen Road and for getting buggies indoors. If you are travelling from Solihull, Wolverhampton, or Walsall, build in traffic rather than cutting it fine.
Home and outdoor sessions
For home shoots, clear a window-lit corner and put obvious clutter (laundry baskets, charging cables) just outside the frame. You do not need to deep-clean the whole house. Pets can stay if they are part of the family story — say so when you book so we can plan for them.
Outdoor portraits around Dudley, Harborne, Edgbaston, and Sutton Coldfield work best in open shade or the hour before sunset. Summer midday sun is harsh; winter low sun can be beautiful if everyone is warm enough. Layers beat a single heavy coat that never comes off.
What to bring
A short list is enough: outfits on hangers, a hairbrush, dummies or bottles if you use them, and any sentimental prop you actually use (not a brand-new toy the child has never seen). Leave the rest at home.
Questions before the day are welcome. Book at https://aza.photography, email [email protected], or call 07393 403930. Studio: 135 Halesowen Rd, Netherton, Dudley DY2 9PY.