Before you look through the images, I want to share a few thoughts with you about the way I approach newborn photography sessions. For me, it’s a little exploration into what life is really like with a tiny baby. I like to capture every little thing I can, as authentically as possible, because together, the images tell a truthful, tender story… it’s in the way mum and dad look at their new baby, the way they take in all the tiny details that make up the little person they created, it’s the fleeting moments of humour, tiredness, bewilderment, wonder, of incredibly deep love. It’s total warm and fuzzies for me, as the observer. And my job is to create a collection of unique, artistic images that document and celebrate this special time. I cherish the thought of how powerful these visual memories will become in the months and years that follow.

So I met the gorgeous little fellow at 8 days old (which I think may be the same age I met his big brother Jacob nearly three years ago) and spent the morning documenting their new life as a family of four. It was so lovely to be back in their home… to see all the little changes since Jacob arrived. I loved seeing Jacob’s newborn photos on the walls, and his ‘big boy’ room where I photographed him.

I feel so privileged to have photographed this family four times now, to have documented their family story over the past three years. And seeing it mixed up on the walls with times from much longer ago – travels, pre-children, everything that brought Bec and Mikel to where they are today – made me smile deep down inside. This is what it’s all about.

And that, my friends, is all I need to say about this post. Grab a cuppa (it’s a long one), and soak in this beautiful story.

I grinned and giggled a lot while photographing Jess, Jude & Ella. I think you will see as you scroll through these images that Ella has a bit of a cheeky personality developing already. I just cannot imagine where she gets it from!!!

My approach to newborn photography is like Jess & Jude’s approach to their new roles: go with the flow; watch, wait and respond when it’s needed; enjoy the moment. People invite me into their homes to witness their family life at it’s most tender. I am honoured to be there and capture the moments that beg to be captured. Every family is different and every home is different, so every newborn portrait collection is different. I go with the flow. I watch and wait, and I capture things I couldn’t have anticipated. I make suggestions, but I don’t direct: I don’t like telling newborn babies what to do: I want them to tell me what to do. That’s the only way I can capture the essence of each family; who they are, what this new adventure means to them, what sort of path they’ll travel. The images I made for Jess, Jude & Ella are as real as the moments they made in front of me.

So first up, we have Toby and Ash. You probably can’t tell, but Toby is a whole year older than Ash, and these guys have been buddies ever since Toby got over his inability to share his toys, when he was about two and a half. Two blue-eyed, rosy cheeked, red-lipped, messy-haired, cheeky little boys – could you get more adorable than these two?

Why yes, yes you can. This is Ash’s little brother Cameron, who looks a lot like Ash did as a newborn. I can hear you going ‘awwwwww’ right now. This little guy is so scrumptious, I’m sure he’d make even the most ‘finished’ of mums want another! Little Cam is five months old now, where does time go?! I just adore these simple little moments between Cam and his besotted mummy.

Now just as a little aside, and out of love, pride and admiration for my dear friend Bec, I need to point you all in the direction of Bec’s incredible Hope Garden project.

After holding two exhibitions of beautiful, inspirational images and words, Bec has just released the Hope Garden book, a pretty perfect gift for yourself or anyone you know who might be in need of some hope, inspiration, comfort, perspective, or reassurance. For me, Hope Garden is a reminder of the beauty that lies within each and every one of us. You can get yourself a copy via the Hope Garden facebook page.

“When you take the time to stop and look at something from a different perspective, you see it differently, and it gives you hope. Change the way you see, change the way you feel.”

This baby girl was born with Trisomy 21, otherwise known as Down Syndrome, and she’s the third daughter of my dearest and most cherished friends. My regular followers will have seen her two big sisters featured on my blog several times before.

I first met her when she was 3 weeks old, and took these pictures. She’s now four months, and doing great; one of the most peaceful, contented babies I’ve ever seen, and utterly treasured by her sisters and parents. There may be some challenges ahead, but I know this family, how close they are, and how much love they are capable of. They will be amazing together.

I found it deeply gratifying to document her at this precious age; to show the world how adorable and how loved she is. I’m quite sure she’s going to leave a beautiful mark.

I specialise in ‘lifestyle’ portrait photography, which means I capture natural, candid and emotive family moments that tell the story of your life right now. I am absolutely passionate about the significance of having the early days at home with a new baby captured in this way. So passionate that sometimes I find it hard to put it into words, and many of my friends and clients have seen me get teary talking about it.

I love a sleeping newborn too, especially one who has been carefully posed on a lovely blanket with beautiful, natural light playing on her delicate skin. I tend to spend about four hours at my clients’ homes, so there is plenty of time to do it all, including; the creation of posed, artistic solo portraits of baby; the capture of real family moments as they unfold; and photographing older siblings as well. That kind of time also means there’s never any need for anyone to feel rushed or anxious, and feeding/settling time is a given. Even so, sometimes newborn­s won’t do what you want them to do, no matter how much time and patience there is to go around! Some newborns have a rather amazing amount of stamina, and/or a total fascination in the world around them, and this is usually where my lifestyle approach comes in extremely handy.

I think images like these favourites from a session last week are pretty special. We didn’t have a sleeping newborn, we had a very wide-eyed baby girl who wanted a slice of the action.  She gave me the opportunity to capture something authentic, intimate and unforgettable. This beautiful family let me see who they are when they’re together, and it was a joy and a pleasure to tell their story.

I was rather flattered that the day of our photoshoot was the first day that Miranda stayed awake for such a long time. She is such a chilled out little girl, only crying at the indignity of having her nappy changed, and otherwise fascinated with the world around her.

She is so loved. And you can tell by looking at the expression on the faces of her proud parents, that they are in total awe of this beautiful little creature they made together.

I would give anything to go back to the start of my life as a parent, and make sure I had photos like this taken. Anything. These early days are truly like no other. This is a whole new life, and to say it’s incredible and precious is an understatement. I was honoured to be there, to witness the start of their family life, and to be chosen to tell the first chapter of their story with these images. Thank you Emma, Chris and Miranda.

We are looking forward to photographing many beautiful newborns in 2011. If you would like to book a Heartstory session to capture this incredible time in your life, please be sure to contact us well before your due date so we can ensure you are on our session schedule, and we are expecting your call when baby makes his or her appearance. Heartstory newborn sessions are a unique combination of lifestyle, journalistic photography of the whole family, and artistic solo portraits of the new arrival. They typically take up a full morning (approx 9am-1pm) at your family home, and are very relaxed and informal, with plenty of time for feeds, settling and changing. You can expect your Heartstory newborn collection to contain 40-50 beautiful, fully edited images.

It’s both funny and amazing, the way such a tiny human being can alter two people’s lives so radically. Jennifer and Lucas are no longer in charge; Ava is. And it probably won’t be long until she’s bossing all the household pets around either!

I can’t get enough of sessions like these… documenting the early days of parenthood when everything is new and unfamiliar, the real life moments of the deepest love that we are capable of experiencing. Welcome to the world Ava Rose; you are incredible.