What to Wear at the Shoot We’ll discuss wardrobe choices in detail during your consultation to ensure you look and feel your best in your images. To achieve a look you’ll love, choose outfits that make you feel fantastic. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider treating yourself to something new specifically for the shoot. While individual portraits focus on showcasing you at your best, family sessions offer a wonderful opportunity to highlight each person’s unique personality. For family and group sessions, it’s beneficial to coordinate outfits for one of the looks. Choosing similar colours or dressing in a unified style, helps create a cohesive look that enhances the overall composition of the photos. For added variety, we recommend bringing more than one outfit. After all, variety is the spice of life! What to Bring to the Shoot We provide refreshments at the studio to keep you comfortable. For little ones, we recommend bringing some of their favorite snacks and a beloved teddy bear or comfort item to help them feel at ease. Personal props are always welcome! From parachutes and drum kits to climbing gear and family heirlooms, we’ve seen it all. Feel free to bring any special items you’d like to include in your shoot to make it truly unique and personal. We’ll collaborate with you on ideas for outfits and props, ensuring that everyone’s style and personality come together harmoniously for both individual and group shots. Attention to these details can truly make a difference.

Facilities and Additional Services We have a private area for changing and a lovely staging space where you can perfect your look. This includes a large full-length mirror, space to hang your clothes, and a dressing table for any touch-ups. If you’d like to book a makeup artist or hair stylist for your shoot, just let us know during your consultation, and we’ll be happy to arrange this for you. We’ll discuss all these options during your consultation to ensure everything fits perfectly with your plans and makes your visit memorable.

Duration of Shoots The duration of your shoot can vary based on several factors, including the type of session and the number of participants: Portrait Shoots: We estimate the duration based on the brief for your specific shoot, aiming to align with your needs and preferences. Specific Statement Shoots & Styled Shoots: For highly detailed or unique shots, we allocate specific time based on the complexity of the shoot. This ensures that we have the opportunity to capture every detail perfectly. Newborn Sessions: Typically last 2 to 3 hours. Newborns need time to settle, and breaks for feeding and soothing are part of the process. Toddlers: Tend to tire quickly, so these sessions are generally completed in under an hour to keep them engaged and happy. Family Sessions: The length is influenced by the youngest family member’s attention span and is tailored to accommodate everyone’s needs. Large Intergenerational Shoots: May require additional time to organize and set up various group shots. Each session is customized to fit your specific needs. During the consultation stage, we’ll discuss the expected duration and ensure there is ample time for all elements of the shoot. We never rush and always plan for the unexpected to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience

Retouching Your Images At Musselwhite Photography, we aim to capture and present your images as perfectly as possible right from the start. We focus on getting everything right in-camera and keep post-session edits straightforward, primarily involving cropping and adjusting lighting levels. Our Approach: Minimal Retouching: We prefer to keep retouching to a minimum to preserve the natural look of your images. Our goal is to make only essential adjustments and avoid making assumptions about what you might prefer. Professional Enhancements: If you’re interested in adding further professional retouching to your images, especially for your Wall Art, we’re more than happy to accommodate. Just let us know during your reveal appointment if you’d like any specific tweaks or enhancements. We want your final images and statement pieces to be exactly as you envision them. Feel free to discuss any desired adjustments with us, and we’ll ensure everything meets your expectations.

Our Studio is really easy to find as we are just off the Eastern Road - one of the main routes in to Portsmouth. Simply turn right when you see the Snows BMW and Mini Garage and we are the first turning on the left marked just after a pelican crossing. Pop us in the Sat Nav - 17 Fairway Business Centre, PO3 5NU. If you are coming by train, we are a short 15 minute walk from Hilsea Train station, and a short cab journey from Fratton Train Station.

Yes! We have two spaces located directly in front of the studio, and 2 more close by if needed to accomodate bigger groups or those travelling from numerous locations.

Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 the Copyright remains with the photographer. So you need permission to copy or scan images we provide. When you purchase a digital image you have the right to reprint them but they cannot be sold (such as third party stock imagery) or used to advertise products or services. They are for your personal use, any other use needs to be authorised and where appropriate the rights for such use purchased.

Yes we do. There does need to be a little more planning involved in location shoots, whether its inside & needs support lighting, or outside and can be impacted by weather. Back up plans may be needed as well as licenses for shooting in some locations. We will always make you aware & make sure you are comfortable with everything involved in a location shoot prep and the costs involved. Cost is variable dependent on all of the above but starts from £350

The 'Consultation' is a Zoom or phone call booked in to discuss your session. We talk ideas, outfits props and make sure we are the right fit for your portrait. We get to know each other, answer questions and plan the shoot. During the consultation we book in your shoot, and your follow up reveal session. We also take your session fee at this point to confirm your booking. The 'Reveal' is usually booked around 2 weeks after the shoot & is a relaxed showcase of your images back at the studio. We do ask wherever possible to come along without children to ensure no distractions from the experience. Here you will view your images and choose your Prints, Collections and Wall Art.

Absolutely. We understand that many of our clients come from places like Bournemouth, Salisbury, Guildford, Petersfield, London, and even farther afield, including Wales, Liverpool, and Birmingham. We truly appreciate the effort it takes to visit us. To make your experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, we can arrange for both your shoot and reveal to be on the same day. Alternatively, if you’d like to take your time, we can spread the sessions across two days, giving you a chance to explore the beautiful South Coast while you're here. We’ll discuss all these options during your consultation to ensure everything fits perfectly with your plans and makes your visit memorable.

We have a booking fee to protect our diary and our time as a studio. Sometimes the booking fee may include additional items such as a make up artist, or a specific product, this should all be included in information provided when booking direct via our website or via consultation with us.

You don't need to... when you purchase an item from us you are purchasing the 'image'. That means whether you are purchasing a print, a collection or a piece of wall art the digital image is included too. This allows you to reprint if you lose an item, damage an item or wish to gift one...the digital copy will reprint to the same size as the product purchased. We work hard to deliver an experience for our portrait clients and that includes editing your shoot down to the best images presented to you in the best way & helping you choose what you want to keep and display is still part of that experience. Its really simply - each time you purchase...you are purchasing the image, don't think of it as digital or print, or wall art, or album....its a single image presented in different ways.

We offer both Collections of prints and Wall Art. What is available will vary a little depending on the shoot experience you start with and what fabulous new products or offers are available at the time of your booking. All images purchased whether as a print, part of a collection or for wall art include the digital file too so you can print and share to your hearts content. Art Work is available in a number of finishes starting from £380 such as; Frames, Floating Frames, Acrylics, Frameless and Circular pieces & in a wide variety of frame colours and finishes. The products do evolve with the style of the time - we understand it can feel daunting but your reveal & image consultation will help guide you. Let us know your decor style and what you already have at home & we can help guide you to complimentary pieces.

Backup and Reveal Policy At Musselwhite Photography, we prioritize the security of your images. We back up all photos after your shoot and throughout the editing process, your full photography experience, and the delivery of your complete portrait experience with us. The ‘Reveal’ and Image Consultation is your dedicated time for selecting and purchasing your portraits. During this appointment, we will guide you through the available options. To ensure a smooth and satisfying experience and to safeguard the delivery of your portraits, we encourage you to make your selections promptly. Please note that, due to storage limitations, we cannot keep files indefinitely and cannot guarantee the availability of your images after your planned reveal date. We understand that purchasing your images is an important decision. To assist with this, we are happy to discuss various options, including payment plans or deposits, during your reveal appointment.

Flexible Payment Options To make your experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, we offer several flexible payment options: PayPal Pay in 3 and Klarna: These services allow you to spread your purchase across three payments or over 30 days. Using these methods ensures that the ordering process for Wall Art is not delayed, and you can take your print box home the same day to immediately enjoy your images. Pre-Booking Balance Payment: If you have a clear idea of your investment ahead of your shoot, you can choose to pay a portion of your balance upfront or make installments leading up to your shoot date. Think of it like booking a holiday—pay in advance and enjoy the entire experience with peace of mind. Gift Contributions: You can set up an account with us and invite family and friends to contribute towards your chosen budget or specific items. Custom Payment Plans: We also offer tailored payment plans directly with us. Please note that with this option, images and artwork will be released or put into production only after the final instalment has been completed. We’re here to help you make the most of your investment and ensure you get your dream images. Just let us know how we can assist you with your payment preferences!

Yes we do! This is a very bespoke service and we plan your specific package around your wedding day. If you would like to book a consultation just get in touch.

Health and Safety Guidelines To ensure a safe and comfortable experience for everyone, we ask all clients to be mindful of their health and considerate when sharing space. Health Responsibility: Please be aware of your own health and that of anyone attending your shoot. If you or any guests are vulnerable, we will conduct a lateral flow test specifically prior to your session. Cleanliness and Sanitization: We maintain a clean environment and provide hand sanitizer for your use. Vaccination: Both permanent team members at Musselwhite Photography are fully vaccinated. Adherence to Guidelines: We regularly review government guidance for businesses and respond promptly to any changes in guidelines. Your safety and well-being are our top priorities. If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact us.

Absolutely! Adults can be included in the shoot. During your session, we’ll ask if you'd like to participate or if you'd prefer to let the kids shine on their own. If you choose not to be in the portraits...but your little ones need your support close by, we can frame the shots accordingly.

The session booking includes your time in the studio, edible take-homes, and your chosen mounted print from the shoot, so you can enjoy the experience just for fun! For those who want to keep more from the session...for gifting or creating calendars or books from the digitals portraits we offer add-ons. Once you book, you’ll see the early bird add-on options on the thank you page with a 10% discount, and you can pay for them using PayPal Pay in 3. These options will still be available after your session, just without the discount.

Yes, we can accommodate some allergies! We can organise a gluten free cookie to decorate, although for additional allergies we may not be able to supply the decorated edibles for you. Please let us know about any allergies during the booking process, and if possible we find an appropriate alternative. While none of the items used include nuts as an ingredient, we cannot guarantee a completely nut-free environment due to the possibility of cross-contamination in the studio with ingredients that are supplied. Your safety is important to us, so we appreciate your understanding!

We want to ensure this experience can be enjoyed to the fullest - the set is not designed with under 4s in mind - for safety all children need to be four and up. Also for very young children new environments can be daunting and a short session that is fast paced like this one is best suited to 4 and up.

Due to the nature of these mini session there is not a lot of wriggle room with the shorter shoot time, and limited time between the bookings. If you arrive late it may mean your session is cut short as we are unable to delay the next one. Whilst arriving a few minutes early is normally fine we do ask you to double check if you are early before entering the studio as a group, that the previous session is completed first. We keep an ear out for each arrival and in our experience these days run pretty smoothly with very few hiccups.

One to Four children from a single household works great ..we will have enough time to focus on each child individually and then together as a group. Up to two adults can be included too...it is a cosy set but designed with this is mind. Be sure to fill in your booking form with the information with who is coming so that we can be ready to adapt to your family when you arrive. Mini sessions are tricky to coordinate, and we cannot accommodate multiple families in one session so if this is something you were looking for please send us an email to arrange a full portrait shoot.