Snapshot of your life as you are
Home photoshoots are a perfect way to capture those moments in your home, just as you are. I love looking back at photos when I was young, as it shows my parents how they looked, it shows the laughter on their faces as I did something silly, and it reminds me of how the style has changed so much. Remembering how the bed was, what photos were on the wall, even just the bedding. It all has a memory linked to a time and place. What better way to celebrate your family and it's forever evolving world than capturing images in your home just as it is. We obviously do a little tidying (it is a photoshoot afterall) but we keep it all as much of YOU as possible. Your babies are much more comfortable in their own surroundings, and we harness that as much as we can!
What can I bring?
I make sure to find the brightest spot in the house, which is usually the main bedroom. All these photos were taken on the main bed in the house. We added flowers, cushions, and blankets to bring in a homely warm feel. Mum borrowed a dress from my client wardrobe along with a snuggly knitted cardi. It fitted the colour scheme perfectly.
Step by Step
I do have a set workflow, which can change order at a seconds notice. We talk about the general order at the beginning, but I am more than happy to focus on areas you spot that I don't.
We make sure any older kids have their close up photos done early doors in case of getting clothes dirty and mainly for attention span. They need to have a few time outs of play, which means baby sitting. You don't need to have anyone else extra with you if you think it will be fine, but having a grandparent there for the behind the scenes watching of the older kids while you have your moment with your baby can ease your worry of what are they up to. We also can always have them playing on the floor by me, in view but out of shot.
In this session, mum could tell the middle baby was getting towards the end of their play-along pre-frustrated mood so we switched it up. We got dad to play with baby, dangle them upside down, chase after them then grab and aeroplane round the room to zoom into mum. We got everyone else ready, and negotiated with the eldest to sit and count babies eyelashes... us adults all had a plan, we all knew what to do, we had a quick huddle before dispersing and getting some really beautiful shots.
Remember The Details
In the quiet moments I focus on the tiny details that will change so quickly. Some of the images you may think "this could be any baby", but later you will look back and remember their little fingernails, their tiny toes, their fluffy shoulders! There are so many parts to a newborn shoot that you don't realise you will forget or miss till they are growing up and you realise you forgot to take a photo.
Mothers Love
I love focusing on mum and baby having a snuggle. I love dads, but they sometimes have no idea how to get a lovely candid image of mum just being all consumed by baby. I move hair, demonstrate positions and make sure you look amazing which being with your baby.
Don't Forget Dad
Dad's tend to feel like they are either in all the photos as it's usually the other partner taking the photos, or, as many find, it can sometimes be all about the mum especially with a newborn. But let's not forget that Dads have had a huge addition to their life in this tiny bundle. They haven't had the same 9 months of bonding, and it's so important to let them have their moment.
It's a Family Thing
During a newborn session, they often aren't the first bay. You might have a fur-baby or actual babies, but if there is ever anyone that came before them, they are having their own milestone of becoming a sibling. They need their time as much as baby. We get all the portraits of baby, but why not also of your first babies. I spend time making sure we capture these moments from their view too.
What you don't see...
The steamer and client wardrobe in the background for mum to try on a few pieces until she finds the right one.
The trusty shusher and white noise to help baby drift off to soundless sleep.
Me tensing and bending to get the perfect shot. (and apparently the concentration face as shown in the photo!)
The window wide open to get all that glorious light in.
The bedding during those close up shots, because we covered it in my newborn background. We didn't have the space for my newborn beanbag so it stayed in the car during this session.
Toys and socks all over the floor from the older babies playing around our feet as we took photos of their new baby brother.
Mum and Dad standing to the side, watching their precious baby having their photo taken. Holding a warm cup of tea and taking two seconds to just take in their bundle of joy.
The poo breaks. It happens, and we are prepared... sometimes. Dad realises he doesn't have any nappies to hand, mum's busy with the middle baby, so I go on a hunt. I am your extra pair of hands. You hear me yell through the door "SECOND DRAWER DOWN?".
We act like I've always been there, not just arrived and met you 30 minutes ago. We make a bond so quickly because I am prepared to get stuck in with anything that will make your life easier. While baby has a feed and soothe, I make us all a cup of tea, I tidy up the toys, I make sure you drink water and have a quick snack yourself (BF mums I see you!)
With the older babies, let's be realistic, they only hold attention for such a short amount of time it's about working around the "harder" of them, and negotiating with the "easier". They are off playing in their happy zones, dad has taken on babysitting while mum has her 1-1 shots. Mums had her photos, the kids are in a happy mood, so it's all hands on when we align for the fun 10 minutes. The parents are prepped, they know what's about to happen, and we are all determined to get the fun photos! It's a team work kinda thing. If you are all in, so am I!
Having Harriet come to our house to capture pictures of our family was so special.
We have never had a newborn shoot before, and since this baby was definitely our last, we knew we wanted one this time. It was important to us to have pictures of the entire family, to remember how they are now, and to make sure our other kids know that they are just as important as this little one.
The questionnaire she sent beforehand meant that when she arrived she was ready to hit the ground running, having asked what makes our little ones tick and how to get the biggest smiles out of them!
She came in, armed with everything she would need. A shh-ing machine, beautiful baby grows, gorgeous dresses, cute props and of course, her trusty camera! She also allowed a few hours to ensure she got all the pictures we wanted. It also gave her time to hold my baby so I could have a cuppa- shes truly an angel.
This wasn't our first time meeting Harriet, we'd met her 6 weeks prior for our maternity shoot. She was so wonderful there, making friends with my kids and gaining their trust immediately. Despite everyone's best efforts, my youngest was not playing ball at that time. When the pictures from our newborn shoot came back, I commented to Harriet how I loved that there were loads of him smiling. She said "yes, I made sure to get a lot of him, since we didn't get many on the last shoot". She literally thinks of EVERYTHING.
This isn't the only thing that makes her thoughtful. Literally everything she does was with us in mind, and the outcome? A gallery full of beautiful photographs we will treasure forever, and a friend for life in Harriet!
