Elijah's newborn session.

I photographed Elijah's sister when she was born, her first birthday cake smash and then mummy's maternity session when Elijah was still cooking! So I was very excited to be his first photographer too! 

We kept it nice and simple for this session, no props just the focus on baby. 

I also won a bronze award for one of these images that Mel kindly let me enter with the 'Guild of photographers. A bronze is awarded to Images of a strong standard at a national competition level. 

Here's a few of my favourites from this newborn session. 

Number 13 - Lucky for some!

One of the lovely things about this job apart from having cuddles with the most gorgeous new little human beings but also meeting the lovely parents too :) 

Little Luca and his family came for their newborn photography shoot a couple of weeks ago and it was a pleasure, as always to meet them all. I think Luca was having a little growth spurt and wanted a lot of milk. This is why I ask to allow up to 4 hours for the session for days like this. Luca was not going to play ball until he was happy and content with his belly very full! And of course, as they should, baby rules the session! 

 I wrote on my Facebook page about the amazing lucky 13 number but I'll tell it again for those that missed it as it's really amazing! 

Luca's daddy's lucky number has always been very strongly number 13. He even has a personalised number plate with the number 13 in it. Luca was born on the 13th, on the 13th hour in the 13th minute. How AMAZING is that!!!? 

Here are a few of my favourite images form this newborn session. 

I hope to meet you for a portrait session soon :)

Karen x

Newborn session for Matilda

My first born daughter has made me a granny again! Their family is now complete with two beautiful little girls :) 

Little Matilda is the absolute spitting image of her big sister when she was born, they could be identical twins!! 

Here's some of my favourite images from their newborn session. 

Remember to book in early to avoid disappointment! I only book in 3 sessions per week and some weeks seem to book up fast.

 Karen x 

I won some awards!

I am a member of several photography organisations, one of which is ' The guild of Photographers'. I have been a member for a year now but have never entered the IOM photo competition because the standard is so very high, I've been rather afraid to enter.

I decided this year to put my big girl pants on and enter a few images.

Every month there are over a thousand entries which are judged by some of the UK's most respected photographers. 

The judges are looking for technical excellence, impact, lighting, creativity and post production skills amongst other criteria. 

Here are the grades information taken from 'The Guild of Photographers' website- 

THE SCORING PROCESS

Entries are assessed by very experienced Judges in accordance with national competition judging criteria and graded as follows –

A Platinum Bar .. Images of exceptional or outstanding quality (only awarded to the ultimate of images)

A Gold Bar .. Images of particular distinction (very rare)

A Silver Bar .. Images that are very well crafted (difficult to achieve)

A Bronze Bar .. Images of a strong standard at a national competition level (something to be proud of)

Classified .. Images of a standard worthy of acknowledgement relevant to the genre entered but which are not deemed award winning at national competition level. In many cases it is possible that with one or two small tweaks these images could have scored even higher, so feedback could be of value.

Not scored .. Images that do not reach our 'Classified' level score will not be given a grade. Often images in this position do evidence competition potential, but require some things to be different for the image to score higher in a national competition. In some cases it can be just one thing that prevents a higher score such as dust spots which are clearly visible or the accidental inclusion of a business watermark. Feedback would be of value in these cases so it is well worth considering it.

Well I was absolutely shocked to get a rare Gold on my first ever competition! And of course my 2 bronzes, 'something to be proud of' and I most certainly am still beaming about them. I did also get a classified for a maternity image I entered, not so amazing, but good to know it is still worthy of acknowledgement in the genre and is still better than getting a 'not scored'.

So I think I should start entering more images! Especially flowers!!! :D 

Newborn Photography that will never go out of fashion.

I first discovered stylised newborn photography on pinterest about 7 years ago. I was so inspired and loved it all! The colours, the props, the poses, the cute little outfits, bonnets and headbands. I still do love most of it, but my tastes have certainly changed.

Over the time that I have been a newborn photographer my tastes have evolved. I've gone full circle and come back to preferring the stripped back pure beauty of just the newborn baby. I'm finding more and more of my clients are asking for this natural style.

I've seen a shift recently within the newborn photography industry towards the more natural and simple approach.  I do believe that it makes perfect sense. There is nothing in the photo that will date, it's just baby! These newborn photographs will be timeless, they will never ever date.

Fashions come and go with baby portraits, (some for the better). But one thing that will never go out of fashion is a beautiful fresh newborn baby laying naturally on a simple white blanket. This natural style of newborn photography is what makes my heart sing. A baby is everything that is pure, and I want my photography to encapsulate this.

The little details of each baby, the flakes on their feet, the teeny tiny toes and finger nails, a yawn as they fall asleep, and a stretch as they wake. These are the little details I want to capture during one of my newborn sessions, I want to capture the essence of your newborn child.

All of my newborn photography sessions will now begin with your baby on a white blanket with more of a lean towards natural poses, as nature intended. Followed by a few posed on some colour, and then the option of the black and white images with baby in arms and hands (another timeless option that will not date) or a simple prop or two if you'd prefer and of course the family and sibling shots. 

I look forward to meeting you with your baby sometime in the future in my little home studio space in Wellington, Somerset,

Karen x

New logo to match my new direction!

I first got my logo about 3 and a half years ago and although I love it and I still do, I did not really know then the direction I was going to go in back then. Was I even going to try to get into wedding photography or not (that will be a big fat no!!) 

I now know that I’ll be sticking to newborns, maternity and children. 

When I began on my photography journey, I was inspired by the dark, organic tones, all things rustic , lots of browns and dusky pinks. But although that was what I loved at the time, I’ve found my clients seldom go for those colours.  Mostly my newborn photography clients choose pastels and creams and fresh whites or the timeless black and whites.

I have  found over time that my logo/branding colours just weren’t matching the look of the majority of my work anymore.

I also love to add flowers and foliage to the sessions and the mum’s of baby girls (especially those that have already had a boy!) often love to add flowers to some of the images through a their session. 

I used to be passionate about all things flora.  I studied at Cannington college in horticulture many years ago & I worked in a specialist garden nursery before I started my photography business. I adore plants and flowers. I used to spend hours in my garden and greenhouse but alas, running my own business, I seldom have the time these days. So adding a little floral decoration to my set-ups, I get my gardening fix!!!! :D

I thought about just changing my logo to black but now knowing that 99% of the time it is you lovely ladies that search for the newborn photographer and make the contact, I’d like to pretty it up a bit!

So taking all of that into account, here is my new logo which I think will fit my branding and style perfectly!

My old logo hasn't been made totally redundant, it is being used on my fine art floral prints page, so I still get to appreciate it daily!! 

Karen x

Maternity Photography session for Mel

Mel came to me for her bump session a couple of weeks ago. Mel has been to my home based studio with her first born daughter for her newborn photography session, a Christmas mini session and her first birthday cake smash and on top of that, she also happens to be one of my daughters besties so I know her well :)

Mel is expecting baby number two and is keeping it a surprise for herself, partner and family. One of Mel's friends actually knows the sex and has this kept secret in an envelope!! I'm pretty impressed Mel's friend hasn't caved in and told her! 

For this session, Mel wasn't sure if she wanted to go for the nude/implied nude shots but after a little chat she felt comfortable to give it a go. These images aren't for everyone and there's no pressure to have them whatsoever, but they are truly beautiful to look back on. And of course, if you do want them, they can be for yours and your partners eyes only. I will not share these images if you do not want them public as I totally understand it is a very private thing for a lot of ladies. 

Here's a few of my favourites that I can share with you from Mel's maternity session. 

Looking forward to meeting your new baby Mel! Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy :)

Karen x

Newborn session with Teodoro

What a gorgeous little boy Teodoro is, aka Teddy. He came in for his newborn session with me in Wellington a couple of weeks ago. 

Teddy was such a good little sleeper for me! He was rather 'jumpy' though! He had a very strong startle reflex. But just by wrapping a simple, what we call in the newborn industry an 'egg wrap' around him, he was much calmer. He loved most of all being completely swaddled in a wrap, lovely toasty warm and cosy!! 

We stuck to mostly very natural posing for little Teddy. These simple images will never go out of fashion. I love these natural poses on white. 

I want your images to be timeless and on show for years to come! 

Here's a few of my favourite newborn photos of Teddy's newborn session. 

I look forward to perhaps meeting you sometime in the future for some photos of your special little one! 

Karen x

What happens when a cakes smash doesn't go to plan!

Dear little Milania-Reign is another of my newborn clients back to celebrate her first birthday. 

She had the most beautiful romper for the first portrait section of the cake smash session and she has the most adorable little curls to match. Such a cutie! Milania was all smiles and full of cuddles, even for me:) All was going well. All happy smiles and clapping for the camera..... 

Now I've experienced many reactions to the cake smash session from these little clients, not all of them always like the cake, most do but some have not been all that enamoured with the cake. I usually have a few little tricks and props that usually help them warm to the cake.

But whilst we were getting these adorable shots of the first portraits, suddenly little Milania became quiet and you could almost see the uncertainty wash down over her face - she suddenly decided she did not like my camera or my flash! UH-OH!!!

We took a break, played with her away from the light and got her dressed for the cake portion. But no, she really wasn't impressed! When this happens we try the wooden spoon, the bubbles come out early, but no! She really was not keen on me with my camera! 

I only book one session per day so if this happens, we can take as long as we need to make a little one feel comfortable. We all had a drink and I bought out the bucket of toys. I sat with the camera on my lap for a while to try and get her used to it being close to her. 

Milania loves the bath at home so we were keeping everything crossed for that. I began without the flash, just taking shots of her to allow her to get used to one thing at a time and thankfully it worked, all was well!  Yay a happy Milania once more - PHEW!!!

One thing that always makes me chuckle is the singing, dancing and funny noises and faces we do during a session to keep little ones happy and laughing.  

Myself, mummy and auntie Summer must have sang wind the bobbin up about 20 times for Milania! 

She had such a great time in the end and loved her bubbles and splash portion of the cake smash session. 

Karen x

Cute little cousins newborn photoshoot

We recently welcomed into the world a new member to our family. Beautiful little Matilda, my second grandchild. I will be doing a little blog post about her newborn photoshoot very soon, well she actually had a couple! (Perks of your mum being a newborn photographer)

My daughter's partner's brother and his partner also had their first born son arrive a week after Matilda, so of course we had to do a mini newborn session with the two of them together. 

Of course, the law of sod was at work, so when one baby was fast asleep, the other awake and then vice-versa. Still we managed to get some very cute shots of them wrapped up, snuggled next to each other. We also just about managed to get Matilda's big Sister to lie still for a few seconds to get one of her with her new baby sister and cousin (parents crouched down either side just out of shot for safety as two years old can be unpredictable)! 

Such sweet little images of them both. Here's a few of my favourites. 

How lovely to grow up with cousins so close in age. I have very fond memories of hanging out with our cousins on the weekends when we were growing up :) 

Karen x