Lifestyle photography is defined as ‘a kind of photography which mainly aims to capture portrait/people in situations, real-life events or milestones in an artistic manner and the art of the everyday. The primary goal is to tell stories about peoples’ lives or to inspire people in different times.’ For me, this means that the focus is completely on your and your family. Real smiles, real emotions, the real you. For newborn sessions, that also means that I do not wrap or pose your baby. They find themselves in the sweetest positions all on their own!

Leave that to me! While I do want to make sure we capture your family ‘for real’ on camera, I’m on hand to help us get there. Standing in front of a camera with someone you’ve never met is, by nature, a little weird. My goal is to have all of that melt away in five minutes flat. I will prompt you, play games with you and your children, and step out of the way when a soft, quiet moment is occurring- all the while making sure you are in flattering positions and light so when the perfect moment comes, we are ready!  Years of experience, plus MY OWN child and a husband of my own, have taught me how to handle anything that comes my way to make sure that no matter how shy or awkward you may feel at the beginning, that we all feel like long-lost friends by the end. I’ll be damned if every one of your children don’t run up to me for big hugs by the end of your session. One of my littlest clients even calls me ‘auntie’.

I have a visually impaired child we all have our own stories. I can guarantee that no matter what is happening with your child, I’ve been there. I am in the parenting trenches with you. More importantly, capturing joy  is my job, and it has been for 12 years. I’ve seen a lot of tantrums, a lot fussy babies and a lot of cranky dads walk out of their cars at the start of their sessions. I’ve never had a session end without real, genuine, sweet, bursting with joy emotion on my memory card. I will do whatever it takes to get that to happen and I have an arsenal of tricks up my sleeve for every age and every situation. I will warn you, you may have to hear me sing a Disney Junior song, and it’s probably going to be terrible, but it will get your kid to smile, and your images don’t have sound. Thank god.

Unlike with my other subjects, I can’t distract or play my way out of a cranky mood with a baby, but I can give them time. Time with you, time to eat, time to cuddle with you alone. Newborn sessions are longer for that very reason. The amazing things about babies is that given a little time, a little food, or a little change in environment, their mood will improve. I never rush my newborn sessions, or schedule anything immediately after them for this very reason. You will have the time you and your baby need to capture every single incredible newborn moment during our session.

If you choose the Newborn Studio style session then the ideal age is between 4 and 10 days old (max 15 days) and if you are wanting to do the LIFESTYLE HOME session then ideally before baby is a month old.

My calendar books up quickly, and the only way to secure your spot is by officially booking with a deposit and contract. Once that’s in, you have a spot and even if your session needs to be rescheduled for some reason, you will have priority and we will fit you in.

If you book before delivery, we will block 3 dates off based on your due date for newborn sessions. Once the baby comes, you can see how you feel and when you delivered, and we will choose the one that works best with your family. If scheduling a session just didn’t happen before the baby was born, that’s okay, too. Contact me ASAP and we will work together to find something that works! For fresh 48, in-hospital newborn sessions, I note your due date and wait by my phone for you to tell me you are in labour! I shoot these during the week only and usually plan them late morning outside of visiting hours).

Of course! I shoot maternity, family, cake smash sessions mostly on weekends. Newborn and boudoir sessions are usually shot during the week, but if your partner works or you aren’t otherwise free during the week, we will get you in on a weekend!

I am based in Blouberg and regularly shoot all over Cape Town. If your session is within Blouberg, Milnerton and Century City , no travel fee applies. Travel fee is R7.50 per km from Blouberg to your destination and return! For Fresh 48, in-hospital newborn sessions, you must be delivering in Blaauwberg or Milnerton hospital to avoid the travel fee. Mini sessions are held at one of three locations.

My goal in editing is simple and true I don't overedit images to make them look unnatural especially with skin texture or tones or body shapes i believe in a natural feel to my images. If my style leans toward a certain trend, it would be the Light & Airy trend moody feel butv very natural for sure. I believe if you are having a professional shoot to always go the extra mile on making yourself look and feel beautiful from clothing to makeup etc...all these play a part in the image too. I am not about editing makeup onto your face or removing creases around your eyes etc. i make you look and feel natural. Things like bruises, scars, scratches yes of course i will edit out but again my style is my style and you will see exactly that on my website. I don't edit facial expressions, grey hairs out (unless they are naturally there for you and you don't try to hide them yourself - again make the effort by making sure you go to your hairdresser before your shoot to solve this issues). I love what i do and it shows in my editing style and how i communicate with my clients my aim is to capture "realness" from my sessions.

Within my terms and conditions, you will see that I do not, under any circumstance, give Raw Images. Raw images are more commonly known as unedited photographs. The reason being is that the Raw images are not the final product and you are paying for my editing skills. Would you go into a restaurant, pay for your meal but ask the chef for the raw chicken instead of his beautiful hand crafted sauce? 

I highly recommend subscribing to my newsletter here if you are interested in my work. I send out any deals and specials I have going on, tips for photographing your own life, and my newsletter crew gets first dibs on any mini sessions or discounts I have.

Refund Policy for Portrait Sessions and Prints

In the case of camera failure, inclement weather, or any other unforeseen incident that prevents Samantha Jackson Photography (SJP) from shooting on a scheduled date a new date will be scheduled.

No refund will be given under any circumstances if you fail to attend the activity on the day and at the time listed, when the booking was made.

Due to the nature of digital photography and the fact that photographs, once sent, cannot be returned; SJP has a strict NO REFUNDS POLICY. Once a transaction has been completed (i.e., the buyer selected and paid for the photo and then SJP sent the buyer the correct photograph) it is then considered non-refundable. If a buyer has selected and purchased an incorrect photo, he/she must notify SJP, before receiving the “incorrect” photograph.

Refunds will NOT be given due to “not liking a photo”, selecting an incorrect photo after the buyer has already received the photograph or any other reason. If a mistaken photo is sent to the buyer, as documented on the invoice, SJP will send the correct photo to the buyer free of charge.

Any questions regarding this Policy please call 0794052980

Policies
All prints and products are subject to your state sales tax and shipping when applicable. Due to the nature of custom photography, all sales are final. SJP does, of course, guarantee that the portraits you receive meet the highest standards in every respect and works with the customers to approve designs and custom work before orders are placed.

Payment of orders is due in full when the order is placed. Prints and products arrive 4-6 weeks after payment is received. Rush shipment is available on some items for an additional charge. All rates are subject to change at any time. In the interest of fairness to all customers, all rates are non-negotiable unless booked through a special promotion.

The session fee is paid in advance to secure your chosen date. It is non-refundable should you cancel, but is transferable to another date in the event you wish to amend your booking with at least 48 hours notice. Special consideration is made for maternity and newborn sessions. 

Refund/Exchange Policy for Custom Photo Books
Due to the custom pre-designed nature of these services, there are no refunds on any design order. Albums ordered are considered a custom product and therefore there are no refunds on any album orders. Flush Mount and Coffee Table Books are made to order and cannot be returned or exchanged unless:

a manufacturer defect is evident and reported within 48 hours (2 business days) from the date it was received,
damaged during shipping (a separate claim must be filed with the shipping carrier and also must be reported within 48 hours after being received),
or in the even that the order was erroneously process such as an error was made on the size of the book or color/style, compared to the original recorded order.