Taking beautiful images of babies is more than just pressing a button for me. The session is pure joy for me seeing the start of a new family is an amazing experience to be able to see,  and it makes me proud to say I am a photographer! Being able to give families these memories for year, that will go down in generation after generation. I love seeing baby being carried into the studio by proud as punch parents who are dying to show off their cute new arrival.

I know the reality at home may be different… you might have had a sleepless night and feeling a bit worse for wear. You might have struggled to find some clothes without baby sick on so that you could leave the house or you might feel sore or just generally wiped out, believe me I know the feeling.. having had 3 babies myself, but in my studio I don’t see any of this, all I see if a happy, loving family! There is a little bit of magic with a new family that maybe only others can see.

I always incorporate family photos within my newborn shoots and they generally end up being some of my favourite shots in a final gallery. I love the emotional connection between baby and Mum and Dad, big brother, sisters, or both.

But let’s just go back to the tired Mummy and stressed out Dad… when you arrive in the studio, you are so excited to have some photos taken of your new baby but you might not be so keen to get in front of the camera yourself. I’ve had some parents say point blank they just want me to focus on babies but guess what?

I don’t take no for an answer!

I get it I really do! You might not feel camera ready after giving birth 2 weeks ago or you might have not found the time to put your ‘face on’ but please trust me… I try really hard to take gorgeous photos.. and photos that you WANT to buy and show off.

So let’s try and put your mind at rest.

Firstly, I usually do parents shots towards the end of the shoot, so while I am having a whale of the time photographing your newborn, you have time to put some make up on or do your hair. There is no need to arrive ‘photo ready’. However, saying that, you just need to look natural and not overly made over. My parent’s portraits are usually shot from the waist upwards so worry not about any mummy tummies. In regards to not having worn the right clothing, most of the newborn session, parents don’t think of them selves just little ones, and most of the newborn family portraits I have done, have been because I wouldn’t take no for an answer. 

I always say that these photos are not really for you… although who wouldn’t want a gorgeous portrait of yourselves as new parents to remember that part of your life? These photos are for your son or daughter to look back on. To give them a sense of belonging and security and to show them how much they were loved. What about when they become parents themselves? Have you got any photos of you with your parents when you were tiny? How precious would those photos be to you and can you imagine showing your child how you and your parents looked when you were born? Priceless!

Now here would be a good time to insert a photo of me as a baby with my parents but I am one of those who doesn’t have one. Makes me a bit sad.

SO BE IN THE SHOT (It’s virtually an order!)

Now just a word of warning… this can all go a bit pear shape when baby decides to *cough* relieve themselves! I’ve had some funny moments with what I call The THREE P’s (poop, pee and puke) and they all tend to happen during parents shots! Don’t ask me why! So please, bring some spare clothes!

So I hope that I have made you change your mind, because they really are such important images, not for your sake, but for memories that your children can look back on and remember, show their kids, and then their kids, the generations are endless. 

It doesn’t matter if you don’t think you look perfect, do you think your child thinks you look perfect ? they don’t care ! but also thats where my job comes in a and to make you look at that image and say “actually, I am so glad I did it”. 

Also if parents really don’t want to be in full shoot of the camera , there is also option 2, using your hands, to bring that emotional connection within an image. These Images, like below, are just timeless, your tiny bundle all snug in mom and dads hands! perfect.