Behind the scenes at a Cake Smash shoot!

‘Come and get it!’

‘I share with mummy!’

If you follow our Facebook page and have seen our Website galleries, you would have seen images of the ‘Cake Smash‘ photo shoots we do for baby’s first birthday. But unless you have been in the Studio whilst one is taking place you have no idea what really goes on behind the scenes to get those stunning ‘baby smiling looking gorgeous whilst covered in cake’ shots!

I am about to reveal just how much mummy and daddy and I work to get ‘that’ shot . . . This is Sydney’s Cake Smash shoot, a baby who according to mum ‘absolutely loves cake’. Except on Saturdays, whilst dressed in an adorable matching hat and romper set, whilst being photographed! These images haven’t been edited atall, they are just as they were taken. The finished product will be revealed to mum and dad next week at their viewing.

the ‘if you don’t eat it I will’ approach!

Bubbles got her there in the end.

Sydney didn’t want to wear the hat, but it was very becoming on dad! She didn’t want to eat the cake at first but was very generous with her ‘sharing’, and to start with she wouldn’t even stand or sit in the same place – I never had this problem in the confined quarters of the old studio but there’s just way too much space hiding way too many interesting things in this one for a curious toddler!

We did get there eventually with the help of some bubbles which I could not run a children’s photo-shoot without, and a very patient and tolerant mummy and daddy. I think there was more icing on their clothes when they left than there was on Sydney!!

For anyone thinking of booking a Cake Smash shoot – a few tips:

*Don’t assume your baby will dive straight in  – stage fright can even affect 1 year olds!

*Bring spare clothes for yourselves AND your baby!

*Don’t book the shoot just after lunchtime – or just before nap time.

*Be prepared to get stuck in!

*Encourage the mess, go with it  – we do bath the babies before you go home.

* If you or your baby have any allergies please make sure we know about it in advance.

*Bring older siblings along for just the end of the shoot otherwise they will take over.

*Enjoy it – the more fun we have the better the images will be!

Cake Smash shoots are available to book for £45 – this is for a 90 minute session and includes a custom designed cake by the Red Cake Company,  and a soak for baby in a vintage tin bath at the end of the session (any excuse for some more cutesy shots!). To check availability please email us.

Katherine x

 

How ”new” does a newborn have to be for a Newborn Shoot?

I often get asked, ‘is my newborn too old for a newborn shoot?’ The answer is never quite straightforward and varies from baby to baby, but I believe there is an optimum time.

Your newborn is only actually ‘newly born’ for a few hours. As soon as you’ve survived your first night together you feel like she’s always been there, but although she’s already so familiar there’s still so much to be discovered.

For the first day or three you are in a haze, a daze, a crazy bubble- not quite seeing the world clearly and only focusing on your new arrival. You spend your time frantically analysing every twitch, blink, snort and squeak. While she is pretty oblivious to everything…

Then after a few more days when your body starts accepting it’s sleep deprived state, and you realise that your little one is actually more robust than you first thought, you begin to feel more human, reattaching yourself to the real world and looking towards the next stage – venturing out with your not quite so newborn. Who is still pretty oblivious to everything!!

In my opinion, this is the best time for a Newborn Shoot.

At about 7-10 days most new mums are feeling brave enough to pack up the overflowing and shiny new changing bag and tackle the travel system for an outing into the world, whilst baby is still mostly sleeping and oblivious to anything except her tummy rumbles!

Past about the 2 week mark your baby will be aware of the ever-changing lights, sounds and smells surrounding them and will be way too excited to sleep on demand. And he will insist on stretching out those growing legs rather than being all ‘scrunchy’!

However, this is not to say your baby is too old…. as the scrumptious Olivier has shown us it is still possible to have a super successful ‘newborn’ shoot when you’re not quite so ‘new’ born- it just takes a little more patience, a lot more cuddles, and the right photographer!

Katherine x

Happy New Studio!

I am a very happy girl this month and very, very excited about 2015. My new custom built studio has room for three different sets ready for use at the same time, a sofa each for daddies and grandparents to rest on between shots and for mummies to comfortably feed their newborns, a private changing area, a viewing gallery, and plenty of storage for my ever growing collection of props, outfits and backgrounds. All this plus free parking, a wonderful cafe, and baby changing and toilet facilities on site.  What more can a photographer ask for? The maiden shoot last week was relaxing, calm, fun and such a pleasure to host. I can’t wait to get stuck in this week with another newborn session, the maiden Cake Smash and a three generation family shoot. Watch this space for sneak peaks!

A Mother’s Day Poem

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I went in search of inspiration for gifts and ideas, and came across this poem which touched me to the core. This blog is dedicated to my mum.

More Than A Mother

By Kari Keshmiry

When God set the world in place,
when He hung the stars up in space,
when He made the land and the sea,
then He made you and me.

He sat back and saw all that was good,
He saw things to be as they should.
Just one more blessing He had in store;
He created a mother, but whatever for?

He knew a mother would have a special place
to shine His reflection on her child’s face.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         A mother will walk the extra mile
just to see her children smile.

She’ll work her fingers to the bone
to make a house into a home.
A mother is there to teach and guide,
a mother will stay right by your side.

She’ll be there through your pain and strife,
she’ll stay constant in your life.
A mother will lend a helping hand
until you have the strength to stand.

She’ll pick you up when you are down,
when you need a friend she’ll stick around.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A mother is one who listens well,
will keep her word; will never tell.

A mother never pokes or pries
but stands quietly by your side,
giving you the strength you need,
encouraging you to succeed.

I’m glad that you chose to be
all this and more to me.
You share a love that knows no end,
you’re more than my mother,
you are my friend.

If the sentiments touch you too, please feel free to share,

Katherine x

How to Choose a Family Photographer

Selecting a photographer from the pack can be a bit of a minefield. Here a few tips to help you on your way.

First and foremost, it is always best to go with a personal recommendation, especially if you are taking children to the shoot. It is essential that your photographer knows how to interact with children and is comfortable if and when they have a tantrum or ‘accident’ in the middle of the shoot! Look for feedback on the photographer’s social media sites and ask around your social circles to get as much information as you can before making contact. We run a very successful referral program and the majority of our new clients walk through the door on a personal recommendation.

Many photographers call themselves “Award Winning’ but these are just industry awards, and not recommendations from ‘real people’. What is more important is your impression of the images you see on the photographers website or hanging on your friends wall. Look for a particular style that you like and imagine that style being replicated with your family as the subjects. Most important of all – don’t be afraid to let the photographer know exactly what it is you are after when you make your enquiry and always ask if the photographer who took the photos on the website is the same one that will be taking your pictures. Some studios have a few photographers working for them and you want to be sure that you are going to get the quality of photos ‘as advertised’.

Another choice you might need to make is between studio shoot and location shoot. Some photographers don’t like to leave the confines of their studio, and others only offer ‘lifestyle photography’ and don’t have a studio atall. To make your decision easier, we offer both. Our new studio has beautifully manicured gardens next door and is located in a rural village within short walking distance from the essential amenities including an expansive parkland and meadow area. Within the studio we have a choice of 9 vinyl and paper backdrops some of which up to 3m wide and cloak the floor and the entire wall. We also have a huge array of props, posing aids and floor effects to use depending on the needs of the shoot. The lights are fixed to the walls so there are no loose cables lying around and we have a separate changing area upstairs to store bags and little people who might be in the way of a particular shot. Most clients prefer to choose one location only for a particular family shoot but it is entirely possible to do both studio and an outdoor location in one session. We can start the shoot in the studio when the children are feeling a little shy, using bubbles, music, toys and dress up clothes to make them play and feel at ease. When they are warmed up and need to let off some steam we can walk them to a safe and aesthetically pleasing outdoor location within the village where they can run around and be ‘free’ of the studio confines. Capturing these two sides of children produces a lovely combination of expression and style in the final collection of images.

A final word on price. Be wary of the photographer who skirts around the question ‘how much will it cost?’ Most studios, us included, run promotions to find new clients, but there are horror stories of larger studios enticing clients in through the doors with free offers only to sting them with heavily overpriced and elaborately framed prints at the viewing and then warning that the images will be deleted if the order isn’t paid for there and then. Discounts will often be available for orders placed at the viewing but there should also be the option to add to an order at a later date. Please also be aware that your photographer’s time and skill should be valued very highly  – a studio offering a £10 print or a CD of all the images for £100 is unlikely to be creating images of a professional standard. If you need to know in advance how much to budget for, ask for the price list upfront and let your photographer know what you have in mind.

A family portrait session should be a fun, relaxing and  enjoyable experience for all concerned. I hope these tips will help you make your experience exactly that.

Katherine x

Our ‘Little Chef’ experience makes it’s debut!

Q: What do you get if you mix pizza dough, cooked spaghetti and a box of flour with a set of 2 year old twins and a camera?

A: A huge amount of mess and lots of fun!

This week saw the debut of our ‘Little Chef’ experience. Run alongside the ‘Cake Smash’ for our 1 year old babies, the idea is to create some natural images of the children making and creating ‘cakes’ and ‘cookies’. Of course I had to throw in a couple of cute outfits and a tasty homemade chocolate cookie as a ‘well done’ treat to end the session!

Fred and Maisy were the guinea pigs this week and got stuck in with great enthusiasm. The concentration in their little faces was awesome and whilst Fred enjoyed playing up to the camera, Maisy got into the ‘creative zone’ and forgot all about me as she made spaghetti cakes and flour pies.  As for mum- although she coped very well with the mess at the time I think she will be hoping the twins won’t want to recreate the experience at home!!

The resulting images are lovely and capture the children’s different personalities through their interactions and expressions. I think it’s safe to say these shoots will be very popular with our 2 year olds and their mummies. The mess took a while to clean up tho- I think I might have to get the dog in to clean up the studio next time !

Katherine x

Yummy Mummy’s and their ‘Bumps’

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, a bit of Photoshop magic and a tiny bit of help!

We 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 stretch marks and not too low and uncomfortable. This is not often the best time for the mum-to-be however. The last trimester is exhausting, frantically charging about trying to get everything ready and making the most of the ‘free-time’ before little one arrives. This is why we are now offering a complimentary make-over for all of our Yummy Mummys.

We also use flattering lighting, a warm and comfortable studio area, private space upstairs in which to change, and some top secret tips only shared with our ladies!

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 – some ladies prefer to remain fully clothed, others are happy to reveal ‘bump’ for some close up shots, and other more daring ladies are willing to strip down to undergarments for some subtle and ‘arty’ shape enhancing shots. If you are able to email thumbnails 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 for a walk to the shop / drink in the pub / trip to the playground might be a good idea once they have played their part. Feckenham has all these amenities within walking distance from the studio. This then gives everyone a bit of breathing space!

As they leave the studio feeling pretty special from all the attention and the make-over, many of our ladies book their baby shower that afternoon or have a meal out with friends.

I always feel privileged to share these moments with our 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 that’s a different blog altogether!

Katherine x

 

 

 

How do you get the ‘Look’ right?

We all love a good giggle at the concoction of outfits in old  photographs. So how do you select outfits for a family photo shoot that look good now, and will remain ‘classic’ in years to come?

Creating the right ‘look’ for a family photo shoot need not be a major investment of both time and money, but it is certainly worth some planning. Clothes, shoes, accessories and hair styles can all contribute to the ‘wow’ or ‘no!’ factor on your walls both now, and when then images are handed down through the generations.

One of the easiest things you can do to co-ordinate your family in the studio is to remove your shoes. And socks. Please don’t forget the socks! We want the focus to be on faces not feet. Bare feet in a studio image look relaxed and natural, so ladies, ensure you make time for a pedicure before the big day.

Colour co-ordination is key. It creates a feeling of calm and harmony in an image. This doesn’t meant you all have to go out and buy matching purple outfits just because little Suzy refuses to wear anything except her purple ‘ra-ra’ dress. Look at the overall colour spectrum and  choose a plain blue shirt with jeans for dad, a beige dress with a lilac scarf for mum and a blue and white romper suit for the baby. And please please avoid clashing patterns and large logos. Remember, we want the focus to be on faces, not clothing. It is best to have a couple of outfit changes and to ‘theme’ these for different shots – formal wear, casual wear, sports wear etc. If you are able to co-ordinate outfits precisely, your photographer will love you!

Hats in large groups photos generally don’t work, they cast shows over other people in the shot and can dominate the frame. Save these for individual shots later in the shoot. Personal props are always good fun and are to be encouraged, but again might be better saved for smaller groups or individual shots as space may be limited and they can be a distraction.

One last word on accessories and props for children. If you don’t want the scraggy muslin cloth or favourite Disney toy in the shot, don’t let them see it! Bribes are ok, in fact they are an essential part of a toddler shoot, but if it’s food, make sure it is something they can eat quickly between shots (smarties and raisins are ideal). Removing chocolate smudges and orange crumb stains from fingers, mouths and clothing just takes up valuable shooting time.

I could go on….but being armed with these few basic tips will help you minimise the cringe factor, and as the aim of a family photos shoot is to create lasting images that will be passed down through the generations, it’s in your best interest to help your photographer to achieve stylish images you are proud to display.

Katherine x

Modern technology versus life!

This weekend I had a revelation. Although it is supposed to enhance it, modern technology is in fact dulling my life!

Don’t get me wrong, I am not against the advance of electrical and industrial machinery, and as a family we possess a vast array of top spec. toys and gadgets which require electricity, battery or solar energy to operate. But I am wondering if they take the fun out of life.

Take the trusty old dishwasher for example. . . currently we are washing up by hand, as our ‘lovely’ appliance (the top spec. one we could find by the way, as we have got through two in as many years) has been broken for ages. When it first gave up the ghost 6 months ago, we couldn’t afford to get yet another replacement, and knew we had to go without, but we were filled with dread – how on earth would our dishes get clean? Wash them by hand, ourselves? Eeughh! We had to purchase a draining rack and fairy liquid – so archaic!!! Yet two seasons on, the routine has become part of family life. My three year old just loves to play housewife, perched on a stool next to the sink splashing bubbles everywhere and giggling hysterically at the water she’s displacing! But she’s also helping me in my chores, and taking the first steps towards pulling her weight which has to be worth all the mess! A new dishwasher finally arrived yesterday, kindly donated by a family member. DH installed it immediately, and was very excited to have a new gadget to play with. I found myself looking at the said monstrosity with disdain . . . I was going to miss those bubbly giggles. The girls simply looked at it curiously and asked, ‘what’s that daddy?’, like it was some contraption from the future! Since the installation, I am proud to say I have secretly turned it off at the mains and washed up by hand three times whilst trying to pretend the new appliance isn’t really there!!

Then take our laundry ‘issues’ . . . on the day we returned from our beach holiday, the washing machine decided that 30 minutes at a time was enough of a strain for it and refused point blank to spin dry. On the same day, my much revered tumble dryer decided to pack up. As a result, we are now using a vintage clothes spinner to aid the aging washing machine, (kindly loaned to us by another family member), and I had to buy my first washing line (I am in the latter days of my thirties I hasten to add!). I might mention here that I do not enjoy being barricaded into the tiny utility every morning and every night caught up in the never-ending pursuit for clean laundry, but the thought of not being able to do this gave me severe palpitations. We would never have clean, dry clothes again! I didn’t have time to use a washing line, I was far, far too busy for that. Hang them on the radiator? But it would be so cluttered! (let’s not mention here the amount of clutter littering the rest of the house that breeds by the second). Yet, one week on from that dreadful day, my three and six year old girls would fight to the death over the honour of holding the hose that collects the water from the spinner into a saucepan, and are so excited by the new ‘toy’ they would do anything to be given first dibs (including tidying their clutter away!). Hanging the washing on the line gives me the perfect excuse to get out in the fresh air several times a day to ‘check’ on it, and folding the freshly dried piles in rooms where the rest of the family reside in light and laughter is far more satisfying than being relegated to the dark and dingy utility.

All in all, I have to say that with the amount of soul-destroying time I have to spend in front of a screen of some kind, blinkered to the world around me, relying on machines and technology, it is incredibly refreshing to have some control over the simple things in life and to accomplish these small yet essential tasks whilst still being a part of the real world.

I choose life!

Katherine x

Respect Everything and Everyone

An old and dear friend of mine is currently fighting a battle with cancer. I believe she will win hands down! This is the code she lives by. Wise words.

RESPECT EVERYTHING & EVERYONE

FEEL CONNECTED

BE AUTHENTIC

HAVE HONESTY

PRACTICE FLEXIBILITY

USE CREATIVITY

STRIVE TO LEARN

BE GENEROUS

HAVE FUN!

Katherine x