“No, No Not Me.”
“I just want photographs of the baby.” I couldn't tell you how many times I’ve heard this when booking a maternity or indeed a newborn session.
Tired, emotional, feeling less than camera-ready, not sure of what you could possibly wear or how you’d stand. What about that hormonal pimple that’s just reared it’s pesky head? Where are you going to find the time and energy to arrange it all? I. Totally. Get. It. The end of pregnancy and the early days of welcoming your new baby into the family can be all-consuming. Exactly as they should be. A loved up time to just experience all the wonder and excitement. Even the mere thought of having to prepare yourself to be photographed might just be enough to tempt you to put the whole photo session into the too hard basket.
This is when I say, please just trust me. Trust every other mum-to-be and new mum that I’ve ever photographed, without exception. I know exactly how you’re feeling. I know exactly how demanding yet incredible those first days of baby’s life are. I also know my craft and artistry. How to pose you, light you, dress and style you, help you feel relaxed and confident in front of the lens, to capture natural expressions you will absolutely love.
And why will you love them? Because they are the pure expression of all that’s important in your life right now. They’re photographs that will forever document the time when you were preparing to welcome your long awaited baby, and the time you first laid eyes on them in all their tiny newborn glory. There has never been a more perfect time for you to exist in photos. For you and for your baby.
I value being able to create stunning photographs for families of these times because I know how much your child is going to marvel over those images of them in your arms, their swirls of downy hair, tiny fingers, flaky toes, barely there eyelashes. From my own experience I also know how these photographs will transport you back to the euphoria of these first days every single time you look at them for many many years to come. And that is a gift that you only get one chance of capturing.
There’s really no greater joy than seeing the looks of complete love on the faces of my new mums when they see their beautiful photographs for the very first time. Although only weeks have passed, baby has grown and changed from that curly little newborn in what seems like the blink of an eye.
As for helping my mums-to-be and brand new mums to feel confident in front of the camera, I have really honed my styling, posing, and subtle editing skills to give you the most incredibly beautiful photographs of this time. You are going to love seeing yourself captured in your best light. I have a gorgeous flattering collection of clothing, accessories and styling ideas that are complimentary for you to use during your session. I work with an amazingly talented hair and makeup artist that uses vegan cosmetics to truly inspire confidence and beauty in the most natural way. I guide you gently through some flowing poses that will work to both relax you and capture you beautifully through the camera lens. All the while, we’ll chat, laugh, listen to your favourite tunes, and have plenty of time to ease into things over a cuppa and be inspired to capture you exactly how you’ve always imagined. There’s no pressure to perform. Your expression and connection will just come so easily, you’ll wonder what all the initial hesitancy was all about!
You are going to look at yourself on the back of my camera during your session, and breathe a secret sigh of relief and feel a joyous easy smile spread over your face when you see the beauty and connection that is you and your baby. And holding your printed photographs in your hands, well that’s next level. Something your child will have forever. I think sometimes we tend to struggle with the feelings of indulgence or vanity we might associate with having professional photographs taken of ourselves, but really, it is the most enduring gift you can give yourself and your little one. Your most precious work of art. I think that’s why I love the idea of printing maternity and newborn photographs together as a Folio Box Collection of matted prints. They can be kept together, displayed, added to over time, and passed on to our child down the track. It really is about recording their very first story in images to be enjoyed for a long long time.
Milk bath sessions for maternity are so relaxing and serene in themselves. Warm milky water shapes and subtly conceals the beautiful pregnant body, presenting mum-to-be and her connection to her growing baby bump so artistically and simply.
The very first part of your baby’s story.