On Wednesday I got to visit the beautiful Dakota. I’ve been capturing Dakota since she was just 5 weeks old and this shoot was extra special! Little lady is now big sister. Here are a few images from the session. Beautiful … Continue reading
Ahhh I loved the birth of Freddie so much, Lena experienced what I could only have dreamt of with my births. I didn’t even know home birth was an option. She did so amazingly well, giving birth completely naturally. By choosing a birthing pool at home, beautiful Freddie was born into a world surrounded by familiarity and love.
Lena had the support of her partner Stuart & her son Tommy in the birthing pool. Also present were Lena’s mum & sister, a true family affair.
Her midwife was local independent midwife, Virginia Howes.
Daddy & Big Brother-to-be supporting Mummy.
Virginia supporting Lena through contractions.
Precious first moments as a family of 4
Tommy’s first hold of his baby brother
Beautiful Freddie in Daddy’s arms
Precious moments within the first feeds
How relaxed and fabulous does Lena look?! Natural Momma.
Lena, every time I look back at the story of Freddie’s birth I smile, you were so amazing and truly inspirational.
I find it so hard to believe a year has passed, what a gorgeous little baby Freddie is! Happy very 1st Birthday Freddie! Enjoy your extra special day!
Quite possibly my favourite image, drinking in every inch of your precious newborn baby.
On this day exactly one year ago I was on my own little journey of self discovery, I’ve loved documentary photography for as long as I can remember and anything relating to the family. Well on this day one year ago I found out where my heart lies…..
Support
I was witnessing the incredible journey of Nic as she bought her first child into the world with the wonderful support of her partner Scott. Having 3 children of my own the magic of birth was not new to me but been able to be a bystander and capture the emotions that occur between 2 people whom love each dearly as they together bring their baby into the world was something entirely magical. I don’t think I personally realised how much the birthing partner goes through until this day, it’s intense, even more so if there are dramas, these two were utterly amazing!!
Capturing this magical night of firsts for Nic & Scott showed me my heart belongs in birth photography, and all that comes with it, combining my love of the family and documentary to tell the magical story of a baby’s birth day. Every baby born is an individual magical journey and I am privileged to be able to capture those. Times passes so quickly it’s easy to forget, these images help you to never forget the magical if slightly scary journey of your babies arrival and their amazing first moments.
Newborn feet
First moments
Father and son.
Happy 1st Birthday Oscar, your special day will be special to me forever.
Whilst building up my portfolio within my favourite area, the magic of birth, I am offering the special rate of just £450 for my next 5 bookings! This will include, coverage of your birth, creation of a slideshow of your … Continue reading
When I tell people I am a birth photographer I tend to receive a mixed set of emotions, some people are dumbstruck, others find the idea a little unpleasant but most are interested and ask questions such as why? Well here is my response……..
Birth Photography is currently deemed relatively new in England but the idea of having a photographer present at the birth is beginning to catch on. I have been lucky enough to be present at 2 births, as well as having 3 children of my own. I can tell you as both a mother and photographer each birth is different, magical in it’s own way, no matter how you choose to give birth, each method brings the same result, a beautiful new baby. By having me present I can capture those precious first moments you have with your baby, the look on your face when you first hold your baby, the sheer emotion of the moment.
I am there to capture one of the most wonderful moments in your life, I capture labour and the emotions between the woman and her partner. I capture birth and those precious first moments as a new family. I am there so your birthing partner can focus purely on you, too many people miss precious moments due to wondering where the camera is and how they must remember to photograph this moment. I am there to take those photographic fears away and provide you with possibly the most amazing story you will ever tell, the story of your precious new arrival.
Uncensored Raw Emotion – the joy of mum, partner and sibling as baby enters the world.
I can not help but look at these images and smile. I met Lena via independent midwife Virginia Howes and this young lady has amazed me no end.
Baby Freddie’s birth was a quick one, I was called at 2.47am and Freddie arrived at 3.17am, Lena had an amazing home birth in the birthing pool with her family around her under the care of her independent midwife Virginia Howes.
Smiling throughout labour
Lena had Freddie completely naturally with no pain relief. In the pool with her was her partner and 4 year old son, a true family moment.
First Moment
Above is their first moment as a family of 4, it was extremely touching to be part of this wonderful birth story.
Cutting the cord.
Dad cut baby Freddies cord whilst in the pool. This was a delayed clamping of the cord which means it was not cut until the baby had sourced all the goodness needed from the placenta.
The first hands to touch Freddie.
The closing shot from this birth story is one which shows who had the honour of touching/holding baby first – Mum, Dad & Big Brother were all there to be a part of those precious first moments.
As Baby Pip as he was named pre-birth was my first birth, I asked his Mummy to write a few words on her experience from having me as her birth photographer. What she sent me is so beautiful I had to share, I hope you enjoy –
Where to begin?…… I think it would be important to outline the relationship between Eileen and myself prior to the birth of Oscar. Anyone would think we had been friends for many, many years but infact I met Eileen for the first time in July 2011. This is important because it highlights how quickly the trust was built, as just 1 year and 6 months later Eileen captured the most magical, emotional and perfect moment of my life.
Eileen was with me and my partner Scott during the vast majority of our induced labour and took the most amazing photographs of the journey we went through. This included my biggest fear of my epidural. However, there wasn’t even one point where I felt uncomfortable about Eileen being there! At times, I even forgot she was present and I believe this was because Eileen made the atmosphere relaxed and natural.
When Eileen asked me if she could be present during labour and Oscar’s arrival, I was naturally reserved about what kind of images would appear at the end, would I regret it afterwards or even during? But Eileen’s professional approach and planning beforehand and her natural ability to put you at ease, meant that I never once considered these again. Infact, seeing the end result was a moment in my life that I will never forget – all of my family were in tears.
Eileen not only put me at ease whilst photographing my labour but her natural kindness, friendly approach and beautiful personality no doubt helped me at times when things were extremely difficult. Oscar’s birth was not straight forward but Eileen dealt with several pulls of the emergency cord, emergency teams and eventually captured my pride and joy after an emergency section.
I cannot begin to explain how forever grateful we are to Eileen for documenting Oscar’s arrival, especially as a lot of the moments were a blur to us. We now have these to treasure forever. If ever a path was destined for someone – this is it. Birth photography is where Eileen belongs and anyone who ever has the pleasure of having her present during the most intimate and magical moments will not be dissapointed. A true credit to the world of photography.
Little Oscar’s feet in Mummy’s hands captured during his “fresh baby” shoot at 15 days old
Oscar was born at Pembury Hospital on 31st January 2013 at 23:45.
I received a call to tell me they were going to start Nic off by inducing her at 2.30pm on 31st January. Although Nic was past her due date, it still came as a bit of a shock, we weren’t expecting news till the following week. I spoke on the phone with her where I was informed the plans were to have a spot of lunch before heading up to the labour ward. I therefore decided I would leave Ashford at 3.30pm. The hospital is based in Tonbridge Wells so I knew it would take around an hour to arrive and wanted to be prepared.
I arrived at the hospital just before 5pm and these are just a few images from my time spent there. Nic had to have an emergency c-section so Oscar’s arrival into the world wasn’t captured but I did manage to capture labour and those precious first cuddles.
Nic and Scott, see the support and tenderness between mum and dad to be
Baby Oscar on the weighing scales
Newborn Oscar holding onto Mummy’s finger
Daydreams Birth Photography 