CHRISTMAS MINIS
Christmas , in my opinion, really is the best time of the year, especially for our children. That being said, the years really fly by and what you thought was a lifetime of early morning wake ups from your excited children begging to see if Santa has been will soon become a thing of the past.
That's why I strongly believe in living in the moment and making the most of every occasion before they become a distant memory. Christmas Mini sessions do just this, with themed set ups and magical images we are able to capture your child's Christmas Memories to cherish for years to come.
Before the Session:
My Christmas sessions are very popular every year, generally selling out within minutes which is why I always recommend booking on for next year as soon as the opportunity arrises if you are a previous Christmas customer.
OR if you are new to the Christmas mini sessions, joining the early bird list is crucial, as the sessions rarely make general sales unless I add extra dates, which is rare.
During the Session:
The sessions are short in length, hence the name 'mini session'. With this in mind it is important that you read and follow the pre-visit information sent out to you prior to your session, this allows us to make the most of your session time.
After the Session:
A few days after the session I may post a sneak peak on my social media channels if you have given permission in your welcome questionnaire.
Please note, I don't always post sneak peaks with these sessions as I have so many sessions to do, so please don't be offended if you don't see one.
2-3 weeks after the session you will receive your fully edited gallery, this will be sent to you via email (please keep an eye on your spam) for you to choose your favourites if you haven't gone for the Platinum package.
YOUR QUESTIONS
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Can I insert an image, video, or gif in my FAQ?Yes. To add media follow these steps: 1. Enter the app’s Settings 2. Click on the “Manage FAQs” button 3. Select the question you would like to add media to 4. When editing your answer click on the camera, video, or GIF icon 5. Add media from your library.
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How do I add a new question & answer?To add a new FAQ follow these steps: 1. Click “Manage FAQs” button 2. From your site’s dashboard you can add, edit and manage all your questions and answers 3. Each question and answer should be added to a category 4. Save and publish.
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How do I edit or remove the “FAQ” title?You can edit the title from the Settings tab in the app. If you don’t want to display the title, simply disable the Title under “Info to Display”.
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How can I book a Christmas Mini session?If you are a previous Christmas Mini customer then please keep an eye on your emails as I tend to send out a pre-booking for the following year so you can be sure to secure a spot. During this time any customers that are new to Christmas Minis can join the early bird waiting list, they will then have first refusal of the remaining dates available when they go live in around May/June time. Normally the sessions sell out during the early bird booking stage and they rarely make public sale unless I add additional dates. This is why joining the early bird list is SO important.
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How do the sessions work?Given the nature and length of the sessions, they are booked in back to back during the selected dates. This makes arriving to your appointment on time all the more important, as I have only a limited time for each client. We cover the sets ups available as per your selected package, these are then returned to you, edited, within 2-3 weeks for you to choose your favourites.
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Do you have a limit on attendees?I don't limit the amount of children per shoot but I do ask for a single family group to book a session in its own right. So you are welcome to come along with cousins, but please book two sessions back to back so that I can ensure I am able to cover the shots for each package accordingly. There is nothing worse than two seperate families arriving to one shoot and we not having enough time to cover all children from each family unit.
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Can Parents be involved in the shoot?The set ups tend to be small in size so this can be a little hard to achieve, however I am happy to accommodate a family shot where the set up allows for this. That being said, please do keep in mind that the sessions are primarily to cover your children as the main subject and any family shots where I have to extend a backdrop will be subject to an additional editing charge.
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When do Christmas Sessions take placeI tend to hold Christmas Mini sessions in October and November. This ensures that your images are edited and returned back to you in time for December.
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How can I see what set ups you are doing for the year?The set ups aren't normally announced until later in the year. Normally around the same time that the dates and booking is opened up to the early bird list. The special Christmas Window image is covered every year as it has become a firm favourite with my clients old and new.
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What is an FAQ section?An FAQ section can be used to quickly answer common questions about you or your business, such as “Where do you ship to?”, “What are your opening hours?” or “How can I book a service?” It’s a great way to help people navigate your site and can even boost your site’s SEO.
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Do you provide the outfits?I have a large selection of beautiful handmade, bespoke gowns in my client wardrobe that you are welcome to choose from. However, I appreciate they aren’t to everyone’s taste so if you would rather bring your own outfits for the session then please feel free to do so.
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How do I book in?Should you wish to go ahead or have any questions please get in touch via the contact page, chat feature to the bottom right of the page or on my Instagram or Facebook. Please do keep an eye on your spam if you reach out via email as sometimes my replies make their way into there. Sessions are secured with a £99 deposit upon booking and your remaining balance is then due 48 hours before your session date. Deposits are non-refundable unless under extenuating circumstances.
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What should I bring on the day?If you wish to wear your own outfits for the shoot, then please bring these along. I also recommend you bring black, white and skin coloured underwear so that we have a selection to choose from for both the dress shots and implied nude shots where applicable.
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When is the best time to have a Maternity session?This is dependent on several factors including if it is a single or multiple pregnancy, your comfort levels and the size of your bump. Generally, around 30-34 weeks of pregnancy is the optimum gestation for a Maternity shoot as normally Mummy hasn’t become too uncomfortable at this stage and bump is of a noticeable size. This doesn’t mean that a Maternity shoot cannot take place outside of this gestational period, it very much is down to your preference.
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Can my Partner and/or Child(ren) be involved in the session?Of course, I do tend to focus on Mummy in a Maternity session however I am happy to include shots of family and siblings where requested. Outfit wise I recommend neutral coloured, coordinated outfits for your partner and child(ren), and a spare black T-shirt for any backlit images that we cover. I also have a number of gowns in my client wardrobe available for the children (age dependent).
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Can I see examples of your work?Of course, you can find my Maternity portfolio HERE
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Do you provide Hair and Makeup?Hair and Makeup do not come as standard with any of the packages, as generally my clients like to source their own. However, I’m happy to arrange a Hair or Makeup artist on the day for an additional cost. This additional cost covers the artists time and the additional time applied to the session to allow for hair and/or make up to take place.
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Do you cover implied nude shots in every session?I offer implied nude shots to each of my Maternity clients, though it is not compulsory that they go ahead. I have worked with hundreds of expectant Mums and appreciate not everyone is comfortable with these types of shots so will skip this section of the session, if preferred, with full understanding.
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Can I see examples of your work?Of course, you can find my Newborn portfolio HERE
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What should I/we wear on the day?I recommend neutral coloured, coordinated outfits for yourselves, and a spare black T-shirt for any backlit images that we cover. Please keep in mind that the studio is kept warm for baby, so planning outfits with this in mind is advised. I also have a large selection of handmade, bespoke gowns in my client wardrobe that you are welcome to wear, these are available for Mum and siblings (age dependent).
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Do I have to wait until Baby has arrived to book in?I tend to get booked up months in advance so to prevent disappointment I advise that you book in as soon as you feel comfortable during your pregnancy, I actually have parents book in from as early as their 12-week scan. Upon booking I will allocate you a provisional date in the month of your due date to ensure a spot is available once Baby has made their appearance. You then just need to drop me a quick message when Baby has arrived so we can agree a date for your session within the 2-3-week period. However, with this being said, I know how busy life can get especially during pregnancy, so if Baby has arrived and you have yet to book in, please feel free to drop me a message and I will do all I can to help.
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Can Myself, Partner and/or Child(ren) be involved in the session?Of course, I offer parent, family and sibling shots as standard with all Newborn packages should you wish to cover them.
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How do I book in?Should you wish to go ahead or have any questions please get in touch via the contact page, chat feature to the bottom right of the page or on my Instagram or Facebook. Please do keep an eye on your spam if you reach out via email as sometimes my replies make their way into there. Sessions are secured with a £99 deposit upon booking, once received you will be allocated a provisional date in the month of your due date in preparation for Baby's arrival. Once baby has arrives we will then agree on a date for your session within 2-3 weeks of birth. Your final package balance will be due 48 hours before your session date. Deposits are non-refundable unless under extenuating circumstances.
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What should I/we bring on the day?Please bring your Baby, yourselves and some extra feeds if you are bottle feeding. Dummies are super useful during the session to aid in settling Baby, so if you use one please bring some along just in case. Muslin blankets are also really helpful, as some of the poses performed with Baby can promote burping and with burping sometimes comes sicky pops.
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Do you provide Hair and Makeup?Hair and Makeup do not come as standard with any of the packages, as generally my clients prefer to source their own. However, I’m happy to arrange a Hair or Makeup artist on the day for an additional cost. This additional cost covers the artists time and the additional time applied to the session to allow for hair and/or make up to take place.
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When is the best time to have a Newborn session?I always advise for your Newborn session to take place within the first 2-3 weeks of birth, with the first 14 days being the optimum time. However, I have had babies in as old as 6 weeks in the past with an adjusted workflow. As a general rule of thumb I like to schedule Newborn sessions in for the morning but this may differ according to my diary and your availability.
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Can Myself, Partner and/or Child(ren) be involved in the session?Of course, I do tend to focus on your lovely Baby in a sitter session however I am happy to include shots of family and siblings where requested. Outfit wise I recommend neutral coloured, coordinated outfits for yourself, partner and child(ren), and a spare black T-shirt for any backlit images that we cover. I also have a number of gowns in my client wardrobe available for the children (age dependent).
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How do I book in?Should you wish to go ahead or have any questions please get in touch via the contact page, chat feature to the bottom right of the page or on my Instagram or Facebook. Please do keep an eye on your spam if you reach out via email as sometimes my replies make their way into there. Sessions are secured with a £99 deposit upon booking and your remaining balance is then due 48 hours before your session date. Deposits are non-refundable unless under extenuating circumstances.
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Do you provide the outfits?I have a large selection of outfits for this age range in my client wardrobe that you are welcome to choose from. However, I appreciate they aren’t to everyone’s taste so if you would rather bring your own outfits for the session then please feel free to do so.
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Do you provide Hair and Makeup?Hair and Makeup do not come as standard with any of the packages, as generally my clients like to source their own. However, I’m happy to arrange a Hair or Makeup artist on the day for an additional cost. This additional cost covers the artists time and the additional time applied to the session to allow for hair and/or make up to take place.
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What should I bring on the day?If you wish to use your own outfits for the shoot, then please bring these along. I also recommend bringing your little ones favourite snacks and bottles if they are bottle fed.
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Can I see examples of your work?Of course, you can find my Sitter portfolio HERE
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When is the best time to have a Sitter session?We look to secure a date for when your child is, or is estimated to be, confidentially sitting unaided at around 6 months +. As your session date approaches if your child isn’t quite mastering sitting, please don’t panic the date can be moved accordingly. In terms of on the day, I do recommend booking the session for when your child isn't due a nap to ensure that we have the happiest baby that can be. It is also wise to keep in mind that around this age is when teething can begin, so undergoing any preventative measures you may normally do for teething, should this be the case, will allow for a happy, cooperative baby in your images.
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Do you provide the outfits?Yes, I will provide an outfit that matches the theme and colour scheme of your set up. However, if you would rather bring your own this is absolutely fine.
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How do I book in?Should you wish to go ahead or have any questions please get in touch via the contact page, chat feature to the bottom right of the page or on my Instagram or Facebook. Please do keep an eye on your spam if you reach out via email as sometimes my replies make their way into there. Sessions are secured with a £99 deposit upon booking and your remaining balance is then due 48 hours before your session date. Deposits are non-refundable unless under extenuating circumstances.
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Can Myself, Partner and/or Child(ren) be involved in the session?I don't tend to include any other family members in this type of shoot, given the complexity of the session type and the type we have available for the session workflow. If this is something you would like to add I am happy to arrange however there would be an additional charge.
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What should I bring on the day?If you wish to use your own outfits or cake for the shoot, then please bring these along. I also recommend bringing your little ones favourite snacks and bottles if they are bottle fed.
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Can I see examples of your work?Of course, you can find my Cake Smash portfolio HERE
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Do you provide the cake?Yes the cake comes complimentary with each package. I use a professional baker who will work to any dietary requirements your child may have, so please let me know of these prior to the session. That being said, if your child has any dietary requirements to the point you'd rather source your own then this is also ok, I normally use a 4 or 5 inch cake with tall tiers.
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When is the best time to have a Cake Smash session?I recommend at least 3 weeks before your child's birthday if you wish to have the edited final gallery back with you in time for the big day. Alternatively, if you want to have the Cake Smash as part of the celebrations then we can schedule nearer their birthday to allow for this. In terms of on the day, I do recommend booking the session for when your child isn't due a nap to ensure that we have the happiest baby that can be. It is also wise to keep in mind that around this age is when teething can begin, so undergoing any preventative measures you may normally do for teething, should this be the case, will allow for a happy, cooperative baby in your images.
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How do I book in?Should you wish to go ahead or have any questions please get in touch via the contact page, chat feature to the bottom right of the page or on my Instagram or Facebook. Please do keep an eye on your spam if you reach out via email as sometimes my replies make their way into there. Sessions are secured with a £99 deposit upon booking and your remaining balance is then due 48 hours before your session date. Deposits are non-refundable unless under extenuating circumstances.
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What does a Portrait session cover?Portrait sessions are a little more bespoke to your requirements, anything that doesn't come under a Maternity, Newborn, Sitter or a Cake Smash session will be considered a Portrait session. This includes, but not limited to, Mummy & Me sessions, Power Sessions & Family Sessions. If you have a specific shoot in mind that isn't mentioned, drop me a message and we can discuss further.
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Do you cover implied nude shots in these sessions?I offer implied nude shots to my Power Session clients, yes. I don't believe any other session type that falls under Portrait would warrant implied nude shots.
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Do you provide Hair and Makeup?Hair and Makeup do not come as standard with any of the packages, as generally my clients like to source their own. However, I’m happy to arrange a Hair or Makeup artist on the day for an additional cost. This additional cost covers the artists time and the additional time applied to the session to allow for hair and/or make up to take place.
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Can I see examples of your work?Of course, you can find my Portrait portfolio HERE
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What should I/we bring on the day?As mentioned above I have a large selection of handmade, bespoke gowns in my client wardrobe that you are welcome to wear, these are available for Mum and Children (age dependent). However, if you would like to bring your own outfits along then I recommend neutral coloured, coordinated outfits for yourselves, and a spare black T-shirt for any backlit images that we cover. If you are coming in for a power session, then of course bringing along some underwear options that suit your style is a must.
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Do you provide the outfits?I have a large selection of beautiful handmade, bespoke gowns in my client wardrobe that you are welcome to choose from. However, I appreciate they aren’t to everyone’s taste so if you would rather bring your own outfits for the session then please feel free to do so.
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Do you provide Hair and Makeup?Hair and Makeup do not come as standard with any of the packages, as generally my clients like to source their own. However, I’m happy to arrange a Hair or Makeup artist on the day for an additional cost. This additional cost covers the artists time and the additional time applied to the session to allow for hair and/or make up to take place.
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What does a Lifestyle session cover?Lifestyle sessions are similar to a portrait session in that they are a little more bespoke to your requirements. In the comfort of your home we are able to cover anything from Maternity, Newborn through to Family Portrait. Generally my clients choose to have a lifestyle shoot if they're celebrating their brand new home, an engagement or a new baby, but the opportunities are endless. If you have a specific shoot in mind that isn't mentioned, drop me a message and we can discuss further.
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Do you provide the outfits?Normally for lifestyle sessions I do not provide the outsfits and I do recommended you dress how you feel comfortable, ideally colour co-ordinated. That being said, if you would like me to bring a specific dress or romper along, I am able to do so within reason.
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Can my Partner and/or Child(ren) be involved in the session?Of course, the lifestyle sessions cover siblings and family as standard.
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I am pregnant, do I have to wait until Baby has arrived to book in?If you would like your brand new baby to be part of your lifestyle session I advise that you book in as soon as you feel comfortable during your pregnancy, I actually have parents book in from as early as their 12-week scan. Upon booking I will allocate you a provisional date in the month of your due date to ensure a spot is available once Baby has made their appearance. You then just need to drop me a quick message when Baby has arrived so we can agree a date for your session within the 2-3-week period.
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How old does my Baby need to be?Unlike Newborn sessions your baby does not need to be a specific age for a lifestyle session, the reason being that we are not covering any poses that may require a sleepy baby.
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How do I book in?Should you wish to go ahead or have any questions please get in touch via the contact page, chat feature to the bottom right of the page or on my Instagram or Facebook. Please do keep an eye on your spam if you reach out via email as sometimes my replies make their way into there. Sessions are secured with a £99 deposit upon booking and your remaining balance is then due 48 hours before your session date. Deposits are non-refundable unless under extenuating circumstances.
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Do you provide Hair and Makeup?Hair and Makeup do not come as standard with any of the packages, as generally my clients prefer to source their own. However, I’m happy to arrange a Hair or Makeup artist on the day for an additional cost. This additional cost covers the artists time and the additional time applied to the session to allow for hair and/or make up to take place.
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Do I have to wait until Baby has arrived to book in?I tend to get booked up months in advance so to prevent disappointment I advise that you book in as soon as you feel comfortable during your pregnancy, I actually have parents book in from as early as their 12-week scan. However, with this being said, I know how busy life can get especially during pregnancy, so if Baby has arrived and you have yet to book in, please feel free to drop me a message and I will do all I can to help.
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Can myself, Partner and/or Child(ren) be involved in the sessions?Absolutely, family and sibling shots are welcome in all three of the sessions. Outfit wise I recommend neutral coloured, coordinated outfits for your partner and child(ren), and a spare black T-shirt for any backlit images that we cover. I also have a number of gowns in my client wardrobe available for the children (age dependent).
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What is involved in a Cake Smash Session?You can find all details on the Cake Smash sessions here: https://www.rusticheart.co.uk/cakesmash
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When can I schedule in my FREE Silver Maternity/Portrait Session?Upon receipt of your deposit, you are then able to secure a date for your free Silver session. If you choose to go for a Silver Maternity session then I do recommend this take place around 30-34 weeks of pregnancy or when you feel most comfortable with a prominent bump. You can find all Maternity sessions details here: https://www.rusticheart.co.uk/maternity If you choose to go for a Silver Portrait session instead then this can be scheduled for any time from the date of receipt of deposit all the way up to 6 months after your Baby turns 1. You can find all details on the Portrait sessions here: https://www.rusticheart.co.uk/portrait
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What is involved in a Newborn Session?You can find all details on the Newborn sessions here: https://www.rusticheart.co.uk/newborn
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How do I book in?Should you wish to go ahead or have any questions please get in touch via the contact page, chat feature to the bottom right of the page or on my Instagram or Facebook. Please do keep an eye on your spam if you reach out via email as sometimes my replies make their way into there. Sessions are secured with a £298 deposit upon booking and your remaining balance is then due 48 hours before your session dates. Deposits are non-refundable unless under extenuating circumstances.
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Can I see examples of your work?Of course, you can find my portfolio's below: https://www.rusticheart.co.uk/newborn-portfolio https://www.rusticheart.co.uk/sitter-portfolio https://www.rusticheart.co.uk/cakesmash-portfolio
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What is involved in a Sitter Session?You can find all details on the Sitter sessions here: https://www.rusticheart.co.uk/sitter