Newborn Photography Melbourne
The Melbourne Portrait Studio’s newborn photography sessions are very special. Bring your partner and any other children you already might have, and let’s celebrate the newest love of your life.
Hold on tight to these precious times…
Your newborn enchants you and captivates your attention, hopes and dreams in ways you never thought possible. As newborn parents, we can look at our precious bundles of joy all day.
A professional portrait of your newborn will help you hold on tightly to these precious feelings as your child grows and changes into the individual they are meant to be.
This precious time deserves to be captured.
After Melbourne’s long lockdown last year, we were wanting something nice to treat ourselves, as well as to capture our recent baby arrival. We knew of Jude’s work through her lockdown publication “Together Apart”, and decided to support a local business.
From the moment we booked, Jude was professional, polite and simply lovely. She called each of us for a brief chat to understand what we were after and to learn a little bit about us. On the day, we arrived and were shown to the studio. Refreshments were made available, and Jude got straight into work.
She managed to keep my wife and I, as well as our 4yo and 9mo kids, entertained, smiling and responsive to her lens.
She managed to capture so many amazing photos in such a short amount of time… it made for some very tough decisions when it came time to narrow them down!
Our home is now filled with happy memories – gorgeous portraits of our family, displayed in a professional and unique way.
They have taken prime position in the lounge room and throughout the house, making us smile and say “Awww…” every time we walk past them.
Thank you, Jude! I could not recommend your services more!
MEET JUDE!
PORTRAIT ARTIST, AUTHOR, STUDIO OWNER, MUM
I am a full-time portrait photographer working from my studio in Altona, Melbourne’s west. I have over 15 years’ experience telling stories through photography, translating those experiences into gallery-style artwork, and have established my book imprint and art brand, Van Jude. I originate from The Netherlands, where I also had a thriving photography studio.
My favourite part of the day is spending time with my two beautiful boys, friends and snuggling with our cats. The beach and smelling the salty air makes my heart sing.
To me, there is nothing more rewarding than making my clients feel as gorgeous as they really are. I look forward to capturing your unique story.
OUR PROCESS
In 3 Easy Steps
1. Phone Consultation
We start by getting to know you over the phone.
This will give us a chance to get to know you better, answer any questions you might have, and plan out your dream session.
2. Guided Photoshoot
Ready to unleash your inner goddess?
Get ready to be pampered and styled by our in-house makeup artist. When it’s time for your shoot, I’ll guide you through every posture and pose.
3. Reveal & Ordering
At your reveal session...
You’ll get to enjoy a fully guided cinematic presentation of your portraits, and order the ones you love! Together we'll design artwork that brings life to your home.
Are you ready for your dream experience?
FAQ NEWBORN Photoshoot
How old should my baby be for our newborn photography session?
Most photographers advice having your newborn portraits done as soon as possible after your baby is born, however, I find it more important that you, your partner and your little one, are ready. And this will be different for everyone. I’ll never forget both times I gave birth, nothing went as planned and there was no way I could have done a photoshoot 4 days later. Every story of becoming a parent is different, sometimes it goes really well and we can do your photoshoot when your baby is a week old, and sometimes you need a little more time and that is totally fine too. So please don’t stress, the best part of your little baby is that they look adorable for many years to come. We will arrange everything before your big day, so once your baby is born, all we have to do is finalise your session date.
How long do newborn sessions typically run?
This is a very difficult question to answer because every baby is different. I’ve had newborn sessions where the baby slept most of the time, didn’t need a drink, and didn’t pooh and wee all over his parents. Those sessions are done in about 30 to 45 minutes. And then there are very hungry babies who want a drink after about every pose and in between pooh and wee their parents all over a few times. Needless to say, those sessions will take much longer, and can take up to 2 hours. However, whatever happens, we never rush and take all the time you need.
I want to book a shoot, but I am so nervous.
Everyone is nervous and that is totally fine. We are there for you and guiding you every step of the way. You will have a great time and when you see your gorgeous images, it will totally be worth it!
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO POSE, WILL YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO?
We will absolutely tell you how to pose and where to look. All you have to do is show up and have fun!
What if I feel insecure about my body?
This is a very natural and normal feeling after you’ve just given birth. You’ve been growing a little baby inside of your body and with that came a lot of changes to your own body. I’ve been there and completely understand how you feel.
We’ll have a chat about it and I promise you that it is my number one priority as a professional photographer to make you feel and look your best during our time together. I know many ways to hide unflattering things with the right posing and lighting. We will discuss everything beforehand and I can pose you in specific ways to hide these things in a flattering manner and always remember: we are masters in post-processing 🙂
This is also exactly the reason why having portraits of yourself looking amazing is so important. It really boosts your self-love. I know many ways to hide unflattering things with the right posing and lighting. So please trust me when I say you will look gorgeous in ALL your photographs!
DO YOUR CLIENTS DO THEIR OWN HAIR AND MAKEUP?
For maternity sessions a lot of clients do their own hair and makeup, however, as this most often is a beautiful but stressful time in your life, hiring someone to do your hair and makeup for your shoot is a wonderful way to pamper yourself so that you don’t have to worry about it. We have a fabulous in-house hair and makeup artist so let us know on time if you would like to book her.
What do I wear for my NEWBORN photoshoot?
During our conversations, we will be planning the look and feel of your session and portraits. You can bring different outfits that reflect your different personalities styles. In any case, do bring a spare set of clothing for yourselves – little (and big lol) accidents do happen! We love to hear about any ideas that you may have too.
Do you have any other tips to prepare for the session?
It is important to select a day for your photo shoot where you have nothing else planned. Having to rush between events causes stress which can show in the final images. Have lots of time to prepare and get plenty of rest (as far as this is possible with a newborn..) Make sure your baby is well-rested and fed before.
Stay hydrated and have a light snack before the session to keep your energy levels up. We will take care of the rest!
During our planning consultation, we will go over everything that is involved and discuss your wardrobe preferences. I will guide you all through a mix of poses where we focus on the unique bond between everyone involved. If you have proud and excited grandparents who would love to be part of this experience, they are more than welcome to join in the fun.
Can I suggest ideas and bring props?
Yes of course! This is your unique newborn session and you are more than welcome to send me anything that inspires you. Some clients like to create a Pinterest board with ideas which we can discuss beforehand.
You can bring any items that are personal to your family and will help tell your story.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MY SESSION?
As soon as we’ve finished your newborn photoshoot, I’ll start preparing the reveal. In the meantime, you can go for a walk, lunch or rest in the studio. About 45 minutes later, you’ll experience a fully guided cinematic presentation of your best portraits and together we will design artwork that brings life to your home.
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In the media
WE'VE BEEN FEATURED BY ALL THESE AMAZING COMPANIES
Check our media page for interviews, media mentions, author talks and exhibitions
Our Portrait Studio
Our portrait studio is light, inviting, and will make you feel at ease. We have many beautiful collections of artwork on display, to help you imagine how your own collection will come to life in your home.
Recently we moved from a large commercial studio into our current luxurious and cosy home studio in Altona, Melbourne. The move was made for our clients and their fur babies; to capture portraits in a more welcoming and relaxed environment.
Our clients travel to us from all over Australia because of our personalised approach to understanding the unique story and personalities behind the portraits, which leads to stunning gallery style artwork.
There is ample free parking.
Join Our VIPS
Glow-Getters by The Melbourne Portrait Studio is our VIP group for all our favourite clients to keep you up to date with our latest projects, model calls, behind-the-scenes news and giveaways!
It’s a beautiful place where we focus on positivity and empowerment and to meet like minded people.
I would love you to join in on all the fun!
Jude helped us with our newborn photos when our first child arrived, She was a pleasure to deal with, and her studio is a wonderful, bright space, She captured some great photos for us to treasure as our daughter grows up. Thanks Jude!! 
READY TO TELL YOUR STORY?
We would love to discover your story, tell you all about a photographic experience with our studio and answer any questions you may have.
CONTACT JUDE
PHOTOGRAPHER, AUTHOR, STUDIO OWNER
PHONE: 1300 THESTUDIO (1300 843 788)
MOBILE: 0457 043 007
EMAIL: info@themelbourneportraitstudio.com
STUDIO ADDRESS: 8A Charles Rd, Altona, Victoria 3018
Together Apart;
Life in Lockdown
When COVID-19 hit Melbourne harder than a runaway tram, our lives changed – literally overnight. Together Apart gives a rare glimpse into life in lockdown, beautifully capturing the isolation, frustration, hope, humour and human need for togetherness that quickly became part of our daily lives.
What started as a conversation over the back fence to break the solitude of lockdown has grown into a friendship and a partnership between me and my next-door neighbour, travel writer and journalist Belinda Jackson.
Photographed, written and printed in Melbourne, Together Apart is our black-and-white coffee table book featuring 60 portraits of people in our neighbourhood.
To get a hold of your copy, visit our book’s website.
If you’re from the media, please get in touch for extracts, press releases or images. Belle and I are also available for interview and author talks.