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So you’ve had the baby photos – what’s next?
The majority of my clients come to me for the first time either before their baby is born, or within the baby’s first year, and whilst our babies do grow so fast in these early days, it’s so important to keep recording their development as they move first into childhood, then into young adulthood.
Later milestones to preserve on camera could be the first steps, the first day at preschool, the first day at big school, the first ballet exam, the first football trophy, the first day at middle school, the first violin lesson, the first concert performance, the first gymnastics competition, the first dance show, the first day at high school, the last day of high school, then we have the rise into adulthood when the teenagers fly the nest – at this stage the family photos take on a whole new meaning as they bring you closer to your children whilst they are away building their own lives and finally we come full circle as they reach graduation and eventually bring their own bumps and babies to the studio.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the busy schedule of daily family life – ferrying the kids from one appointment to the next and snapping away with our iphones when we remember to do so. Why not schedule an hour every 6 months to bring the family to the studio with their costumes, certificates, trophies, uniforms and officially record their achievements professionally in the studio environment. Have some time out as a family, have some fun, freeze that moment in time. 
All these important events and milestones can be re-enacted in the studio environment and immortalised forever in wall art, albums and books. These special images when printed will be proudly handed down through generations by your children to their children. You will have created a legacy all of your own. Although they are convenient, and immediate, our iphone photos will be shared, filed and then deleted. They have no longevity, they are disposable, they will be lost and forgotten.
Invest in your family’s memories and schedule a Milestone Shoot at the studio. You will receive an album of your favourite images to hand down through generations. Book one of these on a regular basis and receive a free gift at each shoot. Life goes by way too quickly so let’s capture as many memories as we can along the way – preserve the memories and enjoy some family quality time while doing so.
Please contact us for more information.
Katherine x
Is your baby at risk?
This week I was accepted as a member of BANPAS, the Baby & Newborn Photography Association which supports baby and newborn photographers and is particularly concerned with promoting safe working practices (for the babies that is!) This something I have been meaning to do for ages but have only just got round to filling in the paperwork (slap on the wrist for me). As a photographer there are numerous benefits of becoming a member of BANPAS such as access to training courses, insurance and financial services, but to be approved as a member you first have to prove safe working practices which, for me, is such a crucial part of my job.
More and more people nowadays are picking up a camera and calling themselves professional photographers. With the advance of technology even entry level cameras can produce a somewhat acceptable image for your wall. For some people having a snapshot on their wall is enough, and to be fair, it’s certainly far cheaper than going to a respected and qualified professional for a piece of Wall Art that’s well lit, well composed, well researched and printed by a high quality lab. Each to their own.
But what concerns us most, as professional Baby & Newborn Photographers, is that the job performed by the untrained camera operator is done safely, with no risk of injury or accident to the tiny models.
This image shows for example how to safely produce a composite image of the ‘head in hands’ pose or ‘froggy’ that is much talked about at the moment. This teensy model is Lydia, 4lb 11oz. She had to be handled very delicately and who is better qualified than Mum, Dad or Grandma to follow my instructions in minute, safety-conscious detail? I use a wide angle lens so I am only an arms reach away if needed. I take one shot with both hands as a back up, one shot with (in this case) Grandma supporting Lydia’s head, one with her supporting her head by holding her wrists in place, then splice them together in Photoshop. Each shot literally takes a second. Safe, secure and stunning!
Newborn baby posing takes time and patience but most of all it takes training and experience. I have attended numerous training courses led by industry experts in order to safely perfect this craft. I have taken the knowledge gained back to my studio and worked with babies of all ages and their parents to get some precious images they will treasure forever. Getting the golden handshake from BANPAS today is the icing on the cake.
BANPAS also offer advice for parents looking for a newborn or baby photographer so it’s well worth checking out their website. I haven’t got our listing up yet so you won’t find Ocean Eyes Photography on there at the moment but watch this space and I’ll let you know when we’re live!
If you are looking for creative and unique newborn and baby photography in a safe and nurturing studio environment, please do get in touch.
Katherine x
How to choose the right newborn photographer?
So you’ve seen the perfect baby poses on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook, and want to re-enact the same poses with your newborn but Google brings up a selection of photographers claiming to be ‘specialist newborn photographers‘ in your local area. It’s a minefield.
What next? How do you choose the right photographer? Realistically, you will only get one chance at this, and you are going to entrust the handling of your most precious bundle to a stranger for the best part of a day. You have to get it right. If you are local to Redditch and the surrounding area then you would hopefully come to us at Ocean Eyes Photography, but not everyone is that lucky!
These tips come from a Canadian Photography Society and I thought they provided the perfect starting point to share with you.
1)First and foremost when seeking a photographer, you want to make sure the photographer you choose will be experienced enough to capture your little one in all those cute poses safely. Although poses of little ones resting their chins on their hands or hanging and standing upright in sweet bundled sacs look adorable, what’s more important is that they’re done as safely as possible.
2) Ask questions. How long has your photographer been working with newborns? How many newborns have they photographed approximately? Does the photographer shoot with an assistant or will they ask or allow you to participate by spotting your baby in the setups?
3) Check out the images on the photographer’s website and Facebook pages. Do the babies in your photographer’s images look comfortable and not strained? Are their heads supported? A strained face, furrowed brow, colour change in the face (towards red or purple) or claw like fingers can be indicators that babies are experiencing various levels of discomfort though sometimes they can simply be characteristic of a baby in particular. Seeing a few of these characteristics in your photographer’s work is expected, but if the majority of their photographs look this way you may want to think twice.
3) Has your photographer attended any newborn baby posing workshops? One of the best ways to ensure your photographer practices safe posing techniques is through their attendance at workshops aimed at teaching safe posing . When choosing a workshop, photographers should aim to learn from someone in the same position as themselves (for example learn from a solo photographer if you yourself photograph without a partner or assistant) with a background of experience or knowledge in physiology and safe handling techniques.
4) The final point which I personally think is crucial – has the photographer experienced first hand the attachment you have with your new baby? Do they realise how precious he / she is and can they remember being a parent to a newborn themselves? A newborn shoot can last up to three hours so your photographer will need the patience of a saint, she must be able to chat whilst you feed (and be comfortable with breastfeeding if this is how you are feeding your baby) and she must remain calm when your baby cries, vomits and poops all over the props!
If you take into account all of these considerations you will find yourself the perfect photographer.
If you want to chat some more about what to expect from a newborn shoot and how to get the most out of your experience, please email me info@oceaneyes.co.uk or give me a call on 01527 962022.
Katherine x
Who has the right?
It has come to my attention recently that a client has been reproducing our images without permission. I apologise in advance, but I am going to have a rare little rant. Please feel free to stop reading or hit delete, I won’t be offended!
Our prices for digital images are very reasonably priced within the market, and with some products we actually give the low resolution images away as a gift, so this illegal downloading does upset me somewhat. Aside from the legal implications, we can’t guarantee the quality of printing from anyone other than our own recommended suppliers and one of our images on the wall of a clients house, printed badly because it has been downloaded illegally and reproduced ‘on the cheap’, does nothing for our reputation with a potential new client who might have been looking for a professional photographer.
I just wanted to post a little reminder about copyright. This is taken from the UK Government’s Intellectual Property Website.
“When someone infringes copyright, there are various courses of action which could be taken by the individual or organisation which owns the copyright. The user of the image may be asked to purchase a licence, and a commercial arrangement might be reached after which no further action is taken. However, legal action might be taken by bringing a claim in court which could result in having to go to court for a hearing.
Court cases can be expensive, as they may result in the user of the image paying the cost to use the photo, legal costs of themselves and the copyright owner and possibly other financial compensation for copyright infringement. This could amount to more than the cost of a licence to use the image. Further, the user of the infringing copy could also be asked to take down the image from websites as well, for example.
Deliberate infringement of copyright on a commercial scale may also lead to a criminal prosecution.
Even in situations where people may think their copyright infringement will not be detected, they run the risk of being discovered and consequently being pursued through the courts.”
Ocean Eyes Photography retain the Copyright to all our images and if you download them from the internet then you will be infringing copyright. Should you wish to reproduce the images yourself, then both low and high resolution digital files are available for purchase and they all come with a licence for you to reproduce the images legally in whichever format you like.
Thank you for listening. x
The camera never lies…or does it?
I love photographing families. Not just young and beautiful ones, but large generational shoots, golden weddings, 80th birthday celebrations. I have clients from all walks of life visit me in my studio, who are all ages, shapes and sizes. In my eyes they are all beautiful ‘models’ because they are there with their loved ones, and at a risk of sounding a bit gushy, the love between the family groups that is evident in the images we capture makes them beautiful. But as adults, we are all very critical of ourselves. Whether it’s our ‘bingo wings’, a double chin, a bald patch, a big nose or just some extra weight – everyone has something they wish they could change.
At a family photo shoot, there are two ways to approach this issue and turn it into a positive.
Firstly, tell yourself that you are being over critical. Most of the time, no-one except you notices these ‘faults’ that you find with your physical appearance. It’s far more important for our children to have a photographic record of their childhood and their relationship with you and if you delete or discard all except the most flattering images of yourself then this invaluable record will be severely lacking.
Time flies and memories fade.
That said, you really don’t want to cringe every time you walk past the large piece of Wall Art you invested in as a family heirloom!
The second approach is to make sure you inform your photographer in advance of your concerns. There are poses and camera angles that can hide and disguise pretty much any facial or bodily imperfection, and if all else fails there’s always Photoshop!
Planning is key here. It’s no good sitting in your Viewing Appointment criticising every image because your ‘arms look flabby’. Tell your photographer beforehand and she will know how to position you and the camera to slim down those bingo wings! If you believe you have a ‘better side’, point this out before the trigger is fired. If you are self conscious about retained baby weight, then please voice your concerns early on so that lighting and positioning can distract from these areas.
Passing on images you have collected of your growing family throughout their lives is one of the most precious gifts you can give your children. It’s important not to lose sight of that when planning your photo shoot and viewing your images.
We are capturing a moment in time that will be preserved in the photographs we keep.
For more information on Family Photo Shoots please email info@oceaneyes.co.uk.
Katherine x
Fathers Day- be prepared!
Happy Mothers Day to all new, impending and experienced mummies out there. I hope you are having /have had a lovely day, and are being thoroughly spoiled by your loved ones.
I wonder how many of your men planned your day well in advance to make sure you received the perfect personalised present, restaurant reservation or handmade gift?
As women we like (and need) to be uber-organised so I’m advertising our Fathers Day promotion now- nice and early so you can tick it off the ‘to do’ list and relax.
Fathers Day in the UK is Sunday 21st June this year and for all shoots booked in with the kids to produce a surprise gift for Dad or Grandad, we will be offering a complimentary mousemat, mug or keyring set of your favourite image of the kids. Shoots must take place before 15th May to redeem this offer.
If you prefer to present Dad with a Gift Voucher for a family shoot we are offering a complimentary print with all vouchers purchased before the end of May. The shoot can then be booked in at a time to suit all the family.
Please contact us for more details. Get the planning done early this year so you can sit back and relax.
Katherine x
Wall Art versus Digital file?
It’s always a dilemma when my clients come into the studio for their viewing – do we go for a collection of digital files to keep and share, or a single image in a frame for the wall? Of course in an ideal world you could have both, but we all have a budget limitation somewhere!
The images taken at your Maternity, Newborn or Family Photo-shoot took time, planning and preparation and will hold precious memories for all involved. They capture a moment in time that you won’t ever get back again. Unlike a number of high street photographers, I don’t destroy or delete the files immediately if they aren’t selected at the viewing, but there is only so long I can store them before space becomes an issue.
Wall Art Montage Prints
My advice would be to think of the longevity of your images. Remember cassette tapes? We all had them 30 years ago for computer games aswell as for music and voice recordings. How about a CD walkman? Who still uses either of these formats nowadays? The most recent computers no longer even have a CD drive and if you want to view data from this media on your computer you need to attach a caddy via a USB cable. Even DVD’s are on their way out with Blu-ray’s on the rise – yet how long do you think we have before even these are being replaced with something else? We are already starting to share movies on portable hard drives rather than discs.
I used to offer a CD of jpeg files as part of a photo package but have now replaced these with a USB stick. So this has bought us some time . . . but in 5, 10, 20 years who’s to say USB’s will be a piece of vintage equipment our kids won’t even remember?
Our USB, with the option to engrave.
The printed photograph however, has longevity. Framed, protected, cared for and handed down through generations, images of our ancestors still live on within this timeless media, despite this technology driven world of ours. Of course you could take your USB stick ‘down the road’ and get some prints done while you wait. There you go – ‘the best of both’, I hear you say! But before you tick the box, have you considered the print quality – professional photographers will use professional laboratories for their printing.
Professional laboratories will use top quality paper, printers and inks, not to mention highly qualified print engineers. Not to knock high street stores and supermarkets, but the quality of a large format photo from these retailers will not be comparable to the piece of Wall Art produced by an industry recommended supplier.
In addition to Wall Art Prints, we offer a range of traditional frames, aswell as a variety of alternative printed products from industry recommended suppliers in which to display your treasured images. All products are displayed in the studio and you are welcome to pop in anytime and have a look.
Triple Folio, each image 5″x5″
Our stunning Canvas Wraps have to be seen to be believed, and our Albums and Books, Folios and Gallery Blocks are all bespoke, designed to your specifications and quality assured. Plus, with most of our printed products you will also receive the low resolution images on a USB stick so you can still share them on social media, via email and use as wallpaper on your phone. We are all about spreading the word of your experience-most of our clients come to us on a friend’s recommendation. Our USB can also be engraved, making a truly lovely keepsake in addition to your Printed Products.
And to answer the very popular question, despite all I have just said, yes the USB is also available for purchase on it’s own with a selection of high resolution images ready for you go print yourself. Supply and demand dictates it is so . . . .
Lay Flat Album
In summary, maybe, just sometimes, it is possible to have the best of both worlds afterall. Large Format Wall Art +Low resolution USB add-on = A Very Happy Client with high quality prints for longevity and low resolution jpegs to share and enjoy now.
Please contact us to find our more about Pricing and Product Selection or to view and sample products in the studio, and keep on top of offers and promotions by following the Facebook page.
Thanks for listening,
Katherine x
The Magic of Photoshop.
I started taking photographs professionally in 2002, mainly underwater, where I had 24 or 36 chances to get it right before I’d have to end my dive, dry me and my camera off and change the roll of film if I wanted to go again. In this digital age we not only have unlimited chances to get the shot right in camera but we have endless possibilities to correct or transform the image afterwards. Thank you Photoshop!
Daisy’s milk spots before . . .
and after.
Everybody thinks babies have perfectly smooth skin but in reality most newborns have all kinds of blemishes and other imperfections. Yet professionally captured photographs of newborns always have creamy, ‘porcelain doll’ skin. 3 week old Daisy’s mum called me right before her newborn shoot, concerned we would have to cancel due to an outbreak of ‘milk spots’. I assured her it would be fine, and we had a lovely shoot which produced some stunning images (yet to be shown to her parents as this was only 2 weeks ago!). It took some extra time in post production to remove the spots and redness and run a smoothing filter over the skin, but the results will be treasured for a lifetime – we couldn’t wait for the skin to ‘calm down’ as Daisy was already on the edge of the optimum time for a Newborn Shoot.
Noah’s Impetigo before . . .
and after.
1 year old Noah was brought into the studio at the end of November by his Auntie, who wanted prints as a surprise Christmas gift for his mum. On arrival it was clear that I would have to schedule in some extra editing time due to a sudden outbreak of Impetigo! Noah’s images took a little longer to correct as his skin was inflamed and swollen in places, but we got there, and it’s impossible to tell in the finished image. Once again, we couldn’t wait for the rash to clear up as we had to produce prints in time for a Christmas delivery – a gift which produced tears from the happy recipient which makes it all worthwhile!
I have touched up acne in teenagers, forehead bruises on clumsy toddlers, facial scratches from bike accidents, sunburn, black eyes, scars, tattoos and piercings! There isn’t anything that we can’t fix or remove with the right tools and a little patience.
It is always better to let me know in advance so I can schedule in the extra editing time, and I may be able to give you some tips on how to plan for the shoot. If it’s a last minute skin outbreak or toddler tumble then I know this won’t always be possible but I would still rather chat through the options with you before we meet at the studio.
In addition to skin retouching, we often get asked to whiten teeth, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and head swap!! All of the above is possible. Unfortunately we can’t alter dress sizes, body shape or heights but there are a number of posing tricks I can use in the studio to create the illusion of thinner, longer, shorter, slimmer . . . more on this in a future blog!
To book in a shoot or for more information, please check out the website, the facebook page or email me.
Katherine x
The ‘Bump’ shoot- how far should you go?
When I was pregnant with my girls I proudly wore tight t-shirts emblazoned with slogans such as ‘mind the bump,’ but this isn’t everyone’s style!
Do you wear your bump with pride or demurely shroud it in loose flowing fabrics?
Whichever camp you are in, we tailor your ‘bump ‘ shoot to suit you.
Our maternity images show mum and ‘bump’ at their best – naturally beautiful with a hint of glamour, and always emotionally charged. The ingredients for this recipe are planning and preparation, your photographer’s eye and a tiny bit of Photoshop magic!
I recommend 36-38 weeks as the best time for a maternity shoot, as generally the ‘bump’ is in it’s prime – nicely shaped, not too many stre
tch marks and not too low and uncomfortable. We offer a complimentary make-over for mums-to-be as the last trimester is often exhausting as you frantically charge about trying to get everything ready, making the most of the ‘free-time’ before little one arrives. A maternity shoot experience should be relaxing and fun – we have private space in which to change, a warm and comfortable studio area with flattering lighting and accessories plus some top secret tips only shared once you are through the doors!
The specifics about clothing and props will be discussed once the shoot is booked, but it is a good idea to have a think about the style of shots you like in advance – we cater for ladies who prefer to remain fully clothed, and those that are happy to reveal ‘bump’ for some close up shots, aswell as the other more daring ladies who are willing to strip down to undergarments for some subtle and ‘arty’ shape enhancing shots. If you are able to email me thumbnails of your ‘style’ from Google images or Pinterest beforehand, this helps to make the shoot run much more efficiently on the day.
I always suggest bringing your partner / husband along and any siblings-to-be, but you may want some one-on-one time 
aswell so sending them off with dad to the on-site cafe might be a good idea once they have played their part or have grandparents deliver the kids for the last part of the shoot only. This gives everyone a bit of breathing space!
I always feel privileged to share these moments with our ‘bump’ ladies – it takes me back to being pregnant with my daughters, and I remember like it was yesterday the anticipation, fear and excitement during those last few weeks. After the maternity shoots you’ll find me waiting on tender hooks for the phone-call or message to say ‘baby has arrived, when can we come in?’ And then hopefully it’s only a matter of days before I meet your new arrival for their debut modelling appearance at their newborn shoot.
To have a chat about your particular ‘style’, please drop in to the studio, give me a call or send an email and we can go from there.
Katherine x
Ocean Eyes Photography 