Frequently Asked Questions have been broken down by Newborn Sessions and General Information.
Corie Walker Photography – Cleveland Ohio Newborn Photographer
Vaccine update: I have received the Covid 19 vaccine as well as Tdap. I also receive a yearly flu shot.
Pandemic Procedures:
CWP SICK POLICY: Clients are required to disclose and reschedule their session if any member of their immediate family is sick. This includes any fever, excessive cough/runny nose or vomiting in the last 48 hours. This also includes if you have come into contact with anyone diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last two weeks. To reschedule, please contact me as soon as possible. There is no fee to reschedule.
Studio Sessions:
- Immediate family members only at the studio (siblings may only attend the session if they will be in photos, then I ask that they leave the studio once their portion is done).
- I will be wearing a mask throughout the session. Clients are welcome to wear one if they’d like, but it is not a requirement.
- All shoes need to be removed upon entering my home. Please clean and carry in any shoes you plan to wear in photographs.
- There is a bathroom for hand washing, and hand sanitizer available throughout the studio.
Outdoor Sessions:
With the outdoor mask mandate lifted, I will not be wearing a mask unless requested by my client. Please do not hesitate to ask if you’re more comfortable with me wearing one (I truly don’t mind).
Newborn Sessions:
Newborn sessions are best scheduled before 3 weeks of age, with 5-14 days being ideal. At about the 3 week mark, most babies start to stretch out more and do not sleep as soundly. Little boys who are circumcised need at least 2 days to heal before their session. If your baby was premature, then this time frame can usually be pushed out. Please contact me to discuss further.
ASAP (preferably within 48 hours of birth)! Shoot me an email and let me know so we can get your little one on the books within the first few weeks of life.
Newborn sessions usually last around 2-3 hours, depending on the temperament of your little one and if you’re doing parent or sibling photos with the baby. This allows time for feeding, changing and comforting baby.
Sessions can be booked at any time, however, I encourage you to book your sessions at least 1-3 months in advance to make sure you get a spot. I only accept 3-5 babies per month, so spaces are quite limited. Newborn sessions are booked according to the due date, with ample time allotted before and after the date in the event your little one can’t wait to arrive or takes their sweet time.
Yes, a good photographer can create amazing images most anywhere. But having your newborn captured at a studio specifically designed for newborn photography (versus in your home) has many advantages. A studio environment has everything you could ever desire to create a perfect session: ideal lighting; access to all studio props, accessories and blankets; and custom-designed setups and backdrops that cannot be recreated.
By coming to a studio, you don’t have to stress about someone coming into your home (which may or may not be as clean as you’d like). You are also forced to sit back and truly relax and enjoy the session, rather than getting things done around the house.
First of all, don’t worry! While some babies aren’t as sleepy and flexible at this age, there are still plenty of poses we are able to do. Contact me and we can discuss your options. You could also choose to wait until the next milestone age. This could be 3-4 months when your little one is able to push up on their tummy and hold up their head, or 6-7 months when they can sit up on their own. This will yield some beautiful photos of your alert, smiling, giggling little one that you will love just as much as the newborn photos!
Anyone is welcome to participate in the newborn photo session, but please do let me know your plans because there may be an extra fee. It is recommended that you arrange for someone to leave with siblings once their photos are done. I ask that only people participating in the session come to the studio, unless you are the only adult and need one extra helper.
I will go over this in depth in your Prep Guide, which you will receive after your session is booked. In general, I suggest neutral colors for your family images, greys/creams/whites/pastels. Keep things simple -- avoid loud patterns and logos.
I'll cover this in detail in your Prep Guide which I send after you book.
My studio is full of props and accessories for use at your session. They are all items that I know will work well, are sized right, and are safe for your baby. If you have something you really want to use, please email me and we can discuss it further.
General Information:
I have a fully-dedicated studio space in my home in Hudson, Ohio. Check it out on the Meet Corie page.
If you are interested in booking a session, please contact me using the Contact link above. We will discuss the type of session you are interested in, your vision for the session, as well as my availability. I am happy to answer any questions you have!
As soon as possible. My weekend availability is very limited, especially in the fall. These spots tend to fill up the fastest. Outdoor sessions take place in the evenings, an hour or two before sunset, so keep that in mind if little ones are involved.
I accept cash, check or paypal (you do not need to have an account to use your credit card).
I like to wait until the day of your session to make a final call regarding weather. If it looks like the rain will not let up, we can re-schedule your session for as soon as possible.
Approximately 1-2 weeks. During peak seasons (late summer & fall) edits may take longer.
You pay a non-refundable session fee when booking your session. Should you need to cancel, this fee is non-refundable. However, I am happy to work with you to reschedule.
No. I do not share all the images taken during your session. During your session, I capture lots of frames simply to be sure that I have the shot I was aiming for … the one that is in focus, composed properly and best shows your child. I spend quite a bit of time narrowing down your gallery so you get only the best images.
I highly suggest getting your prints through my lab. With the many hours that go into behind the scenes editing of your beautiful photographs, it is highly recommended that you do not print your photos at your local drug store or big box store. The printers used at these establishments will color correct your photos, thus making the hours of edits and enhancements to your photographs useless, and will change the look of your photographs. While you do receive a print release with your purchased digital files, it is not intended for use at big box stores like Walmart, Target, Walgreens, etc.
We all know that most little kids, especially from age 1-3, like to do whatever they want … which isn’t always sitting and smiling at the camera. You’ll find that I’ll typically spend a few moments in the beginning of the session chatting with your kids and getting to know them a bit better. I like to get down on their level and make sure they know how important I think they are. Sometimes it takes a little while for them to warm up to me, and that is totally fine. Other times, they are on the go for the entire session. I don’t mind this at all and love to just follow them around and see where they take me. Do not stress about it and know that my sessions are very relaxed.
Now I know from my own two kids, that they have great smiles and they have goofy smiles. Typically I can figure out the difference, but don’t hesitate to speak up if their smiles are not genuine.
I don’t mind if you snap a few “behind the scenes” pictures during the session as long as it is not distracting. I’d actually love it if you shared them with me as well!
Read what some of my clients have said about their CWP experience
Thanks for checking out my Frequently Asked Questions. I am an Akron and Cleveland Ohio Newborn Photographer specializing in baby’s first year. I’d love to talk more about your vision and needs for a photo session. Don’t hesitate to contact me above.