WHERE IS THE POOL?

All You Need to Know for the Photo Shoot

Mill Farm, Loddington Road, Great Cransley NN14 1PY

(The postcode may not get you to the exact place with Sat Nav so

please study the map and description below before setting out)

The Great Cransley Swimming Pool is in a private residence (Mill Farm) and is located on the Cransley Road/Loddington Road very close to the Cransley Reservoir.

On Google Maps the exact location is labelled as 'Mill Farm'.

Look for the Bubble Babies 'A frame' sign slightly back from the road, beside the entrance gate and head up the drive to park in the gravelled Car Park area at the top. Signs will then show you the way to access the pool, a few metres walk away.

Entrance to Swimming Pool

Entrance to Mill Farm

On the day of your Photo Shoot

Aim to arrive for the Photo Shoot at least 10 minutes before your appointment.

The Above and Underwater Photo Sessions are held in the warm waters of Mill Farm private pool with a professional and experienced underwater photographer using highly specialized equipment (see www.starfishphoto.co.uk). The underwater studio features a blue backdrop, backlighting and the use of a top of the range SLR camera for the highest quality results.

In a 30-minute time slot, a small group of parents and babies will experience being photographed above and below the water. You will have a specially trained Bubble Babies instructor submerging the babies with the latest top spec photographic equipment ensuring that 4 to 6 images are captured per second. This means that a substantial gallery of photos builds up with even one submersion and babies can relax and enjoy rests before choosing to be photographed again.

As well as individual pictures of your child, you may also opt afterwards to have family photos all together: Baby, Siblings, Mum and Dad as well!

We endeavour to make our photo shoots happy and relaxed occasions in which the well-being of the babies is of the uppermost importance. Try to keep everything as normal and calm as possible with the adult who normally swims with baby coming into the pool for the photo shoot (don’t forget your costume!).

Click here to see how we take our underwater photos.

Further information:

Can my friend bring her baby for a photo?

The underwater photo shoots are open to everybody but we do insist that all babies must have experienced a swimming course involving a gradual and progressive programme of underwater work so that they are physically and mentally ready for the event.

Booking

There is a fixed cost of £30 for attending the shoot with £20 extra for siblings. This is unfortunately strictly non-refundable as our costs for pool hire, the photographer etc remain the same regardless of whether or not you are able to attend on the day or how good the resulting photos turn out to be. We can, however, offer a free re-shoot at the next underwater photo session. The booking fee does not cover the cost of photographs.

Photograph prices and sizes

You can order professional prints of your photos or digital high resolution jpeg images on a USB. You can use the digital images to print multiple photographs, canvas prints, mugs, jigsaws & more by uploading to an online photo lab. Please click here for up to date prices.

Ordering photos

Starfish Photography pride themselves on adding a little more of the WOW factor to your photos and after the shoot, the images are edited in an intense process taking 5 to 7 days. Your photos will then be displayed in a secure password protected online gallery so that you can look at them in the comfort of your home. You may discuss further editing with the photographer and after ordering your images, they will be sent to you within 7 working days.

A unique record of your swimming career!

Your above and underwater photos are fantastic souvenirs of your earliest swims together! As baby grows, you are very welcome to come along to subsequent photo shoots and to keep a fabulous running record of baby’s swimming progress.

Photo Shoot Rules:

Guests are welcome to observe from poolside but should also remove their shoes.

Please no eating or drinking on poolside.

No photos or film to be taken during the Photo Shoot.

Please keep the changing room benches clear of your belongings so that other people can use them while you are in the pool. There are pegs to hang clothes on. Please don’t leave valuables unattended.

WHEN SHOULD I GET TO MY PHOTO SHOOT SESSION?

Aim to arrive about 10 minutes before the session begins.

Please wait until the teacher is present and your session is scheduled to start

before you get into the water.

Always check your mobile before setting out for your lesson in case of last minute messages.

WHAT ARE THE CHANGING FACILITIES LIKE?

There are two small basic open plan changing rooms: male and female,
two separate unisex toilets and a shower room

(with more room for getting ready if the changing room is busy)
and two open showers on poolside.

There are pegs to hang clothes on.

(Please keep the changing room benches clear of your belongings so that other people can use them while you are swimming).

Do not leave valuables unattended.

Please remove your shoes and socks before entering the changing rooms.

Please park your prams and pushchairs outside the changing rooms, in the corridor.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING ALONG?

A changing mat (as necessary)

A towel

Your own swimming costume and towel!

No floats or other swimming equipment needed!

WHAT DOES BABY WEAR?

Firstly baby needs a snug fitting disposable swimming nappy

(that forms a good seal around the legs and waist):

and then a non-disposable cloth swimming nappy to put over the top:

Make sure that you bring some spare disposable nappies with you so that you can remove a soiled one immediately and join back in the session as soon as you can!

(Both styles of these

non disposable nappies are suitable for

baby girls and baby boys)

WHAT IS THE POOL LIKE?

WARM! 33 degrees plus!
It is 1.1 metres deep with a small deep end area of 1.5 metres.

You do not have to go into the deep end if you prefer not to as
there is plenty of room in the shallow area.

SHOULD WE SWIM IF......?

Never bring your baby swimming if they have any form of
sickness, ear, eye, nose, throat or chest infection, diarrhoea,
chicken pox or measles.

Wait until symptoms have completely cleared for at least 48 hours, or the doctor has given the all clear, before attending the Photo Shoot.

I HAVE A QUESTION?

Ask away!

Email, text or talk to us.

Your feedback is also welcome as we always aim to give you our absolute best!