Little Elves on the shelves, safe newborn photography with beautifully cute Christmas themes.

Believe it or not this photograph was two years in the making. As so frequently happens in my head, I envision a photograph, (there are some amazing ones to come as yet too) and then I won't do the shoot until it's come together in real life as it is in my head, I know there are countless Elf on the Shelf pictures, I wanted to put my own stamp on it and create something timeless and classical - that night time sitting up feeling of when you are a child and waiting for Santa to come. I know babies don't sit up waiting they are usually up most of the night anyway but you get the gist. I couldn't find the "right" shelf, and when I did, after 8 long hours at an auction it was finally time to put the pieces together. The wonderful Lianne at Fairy tale photography props, had already made me a larger sized Elf set for toddlers, but I particularly wanted a darker toned image hence me picking the green elfsuit, again as in all the things I use for my shoots, the suit is made of the most beautiful soft yarn. The teddy bear is a silver tag bear. And the tree I collected about 3 years ago. Something about the sparkle and glow from the lantern on the gold just worked so well. The backdrop is by the very awesome Props for Togs. And I think it all came together to match my vision. It may have seemed a bit odd in October making this image but what a timeless image for the parents of this gorgeous little girl.
Here are the before shots, I haven't edited these in any way at all, as I think it's good for people to see what they first looked like, how to be safe, and the transformation and magic that takes place in both Lightroom and Photoshop!

I didn't put the shelf under baby, the reasons being that unless it's screwed into the floor it could tip towards baby, my shelf is a beautifully vintage piece of Oak that has been turned into a shelf, I needed babies legs against something though for the look to work, so this is a baby bed that I use lots by a brilliant maker in Europe Pedzlem Malowane newborn and child props it's a solid bed that couldn't tip and gave me the shadowing as it was dark wood to blend into the shelf. The hardest bit was blending the bear as for some reason my select and mask is playing up in Photoshop since the last update and so this image actually ended up taking me over 5 hours to perfect until I was happy with it. I shot the tree, background and shelf separately without baby in the picture, as baby was laying on her back her little arm was resting on the floor and so it created the illusion she was holding the lantern up.

This is now one of my most requested images at Christmas. I do like to mix things up a bit and so will use something slightly differently, and have this outfit in a different colour too.

People often think newborn photography is expensive, but when you realise just how much work and expense goes into just one photograph to create that unique image that will wow your family for generations then maybe you start to realise why photographers do in fact charge a reasonable amount for their time and talent.

This is my series from last year and we had an older child being held in place he really wasn't high at all, and Mum had a good grip on him up against a wall. We transformed this cheeky little elf into a photograph with his sister, and the sharpie marker was photoshopped in afterwards, it's one of my favourite pictures from last year. 

Another Props for Togs background, I wasn't happy with my shelf last year, but it worked for this image.

So when you see these type of images where baby is perched, there is actually a hand in place holding baby in place and the magic is done afterwards. At no time should a baby ever be perched on something their safety should never be compromised. This Mad Hatter hat is by the awesomely talented Puddy Pad Designs - such a creative soul I love her work, the talent of all the makers I use is immense and helps bring that something special to my ideas. It really is a huge collaboration of minds that make shoots like this work. I certainly wouldn't have the patience to knit or felt or make wooden props.

 Just in case you can't get enough of the cuteness overload! Here are some more cheeky little Elves. Not all Elves like their hats!

This image the hand was photoshopped out holding this little one on.

And yes seriously this photo was this dark it was towards the end of the session and I just whipped this last shot off, no idea what I was going to do with it and the lighting wasn't great.  Next up to the blog will be my fairy sessions, and I'm equally as excited about them. They've been so magical for the children. 

I believe in magic, I see it all the time in the wonder and the faces of all the children that I photograph. I just love this time of year.

Little Sunflower. Bespoke and creative, beautiful newborn photography, Sudbury, Suffolk, offering photography for special babies across Suffolk, Essex, Cambridge and London.

Check out my portfolio here.

Truly blessed at the moment, I've been photographing a lot more creatively and making some very special and unique images for my clients walls! This sweet little girl just had to be a sunflower, links to the hat and backdrop are on the portfolio link above.
Lots of things in the pipeline at the moment, including the amazing snow fairy mini sessions in half term. And beautiful family sessions. I just need to freeze time to try and get everything I want in and done! Lovely to be so busy though!

This little Halstead baby came to see me last week, she also got to be a unicorn. And a fairy in her shoot. Such a stunning gallery of images for her family.

Alice in Wonderland themed newborn and sitter child photography - Part 1 - Ipswich newborn photoshoot, dressed as the Mad Hatter.

CHECK OUT MY PORTFOLIO HERE.
I found an absolute gem of a felted hat maker in America, and went from ordering one set to a few, this shoot has been in my head forever, but sadly as with a lot of my shoots, what I imagine, isn't always out there i.e. the props I need to use e.t.c. Finding someone to make something in my imagination isn't an easy task! But I have found the amazing Chelsie and she really is so talented and so lovely - the link to her Fb page is here PUDDY PAD DESIGNS, the link to her Etsy shop is ETSY PUDDY PAD DESIGNS.
And so here is part 1, I think I will be working on these all for a while, I want to compile a whole set of images using different babies and different styling. I do love how this has turned out, time seems to be the thing I'm battling, obviously with a normal model call it's a hour shoot maybe, but a whole different ballgame with babies, I've photographed my Cheshire Cat already (and she smiled), so will be working on my next image later this week - the white rabbit. It's so exciting to actually be photographing something creative for me, I think it is so important to make time, it feeds inspiration.

I cant' wait to complete the set and put it all together, but for now I will leave you with this little sleepy Mad Hatter.
As always, Mum had her hand on babies head, supporting him so there was no risk of him falling or injury, baby safety comes first!

Alice in Wonderland themed newborn and sitter child photography - Part 1

CHECK OUT MY PORTFOLIO HERE.
I found an absolute gem of a felted hat maker in America, and went from ordering one set to a few, this shoot has been in my head forever, but sadly as with a lot of my shoots, what I imagine, isn't always out there i.e. the props I need to use e.t.c. Finding someone to make something in my imagination isn't an easy task! But I have found the amazing Chelsie and she really is so talented and so lovely - the link to her Fb page is here PUDDY PAD DESIGNS, the link to her Etsy shop is ETSY PUDDY PAD DESIGNS.
And so here is part 1, I think I will be working on these all for a while, I want to compile a whole set of images using different babies and different styling. I do love how this has turned out, time seems to be the thing I'm battling, obviously with a normal model call it's a hour shoot maybe, but a whole different ballgame with babies, I've photographed my Cheshire Cat already (and she smiled), so will be working on my next image later this week - the white rabbit. It's so exciting to actually be photographing something creative for me, I think it is so important to make time, it feeds inspiration.

I cant' wait to complete the set and put it all together, but for now I will leave you with this little sleepy Mad Hatter.
As always, Mum had her hand on babies head, supporting him so there was no risk of him falling or injury, baby safety comes first!

Safely posed on the shelf laying on a beanbag and composited, Suffolk photographer, Essex photographer offering safe and creative newborn photography makes for cute and unique baby photos. Cute baby bear.

TO VIEW MY PORTFOLIO CLICK HERE.
Gorgeous little Ipswich newborn Eli visited me at my Sudbury, Suffolk studio this week. He fought going off to sleep but we got there in the end. Baby is posed safely on a shelf (ha ha 8 hours waiting to win it at auction but it was exactly what I envisioned). A hand was also on baby at all times. Separate images were taken of the shelf laying flat on the backdrop. I know the shelf thing has been done many times, I've been waiting for two years until I had the right shelf, I knew exactly how I wanted this to look. I love getting creative. I did a workshop with Barb Uli (Jinky Art) on business and the thing that stuck with me most was to follow my heart with what I produce, it's very easy to get drawn to creating the same images over and over. I love this image, I love the outfit by Fairytale Photography Props, she's just making me some seriously stripy Christmas santa outfits - eek just a bit excited! I love Christmas.

Backdrop by PROPS FOR TOGS and yes I do use this all the time it's my favourite.

As you can see Eli's shoot was really varied, there are a huge amount of images yet to come from his session, but what an absolutely gorgeous little baby. For all following me my Christmas mini sessions for October half term are now filling up nicely. You can book in here for Christmas mini and snow fairy photo sessions. If you are looking for newborn photography it is best done at under 14 days of age, it can still be done but is harder. I love creating stunning artistic images for families, heirloom images to treasure of your precious baby.

Mini session photoshoots. Child photographer, Sudbury photographer, covering Colchester, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Chelmsford, Cambridge and London, beautiful family photos.

I was delighted to do a mini shoot for these beautiful girls and was waiting on their Daddy receiving his canvas for his birthday so I can share the images! Aren't they just adorable.

 As you can see even with a mini session the images we achieved were just stunning, there were in fact over 60 images in this Mummy's gallery! Glad I didn't have to choose them! The girls are wearing a selection of my child and baby wear from KITTYS BOUTIQUE, who supply most of my outfits, halos and headbands for newborn shoots and styled shoots. I love the colourings in these images, wispy soft gentle images. Their Daddy loved his canvas.

 Mini sessions are a fab way of getting some up to date images of your children or family at a lower price if you are on a budget. Whilst I don't compete with newer photographers that don't have the overheads that I do to run my business properly. These mini sessions are a lot more affordable for those on a budget, but you still receive stunning, pin sharp, beautifully posed and styled images and it's  a way to have maybe one or two shoots over the year as children change significantly every 6 months or so up until the age of 4 or 5. The same love and attention to detail goes into these images as they do at full length session, I edit the images that are picked whereas a normal session I edit a full gallery for a parent to choose from. If you would like to see my varied portfolio please click on this Liz Wood lifestyle/outdoor/child/baby and family photo Portfolio.

Mini sessions are always taken at my home studio in Sudbury, Suffolk, I am within an hours drive from London, Chelmsford, within 20 minutes of Halstead, Bury St Edmunds, Colchester, Ipswich, Nayland, Leavenheath. I am fully insured and risk assess my sessions beforehand, I only use the gentlest fabrics, and ethically source my hats and other products. There is no attention to detail spared. I am passionate about delivering creative artwork encapsulating your most precious possessions. Their little expressions, mannerisms, laughs and love. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, however the sessions are always fun, luckily my many years of experience in the Industry means I know how these sometimes tricky customers work! You can see the girls loved their session.

Best friends forever, newborn Miss A and her best friend Gary, Bury St Edmunds newborn shoot. Suffolk and Essex baby and child photographer.

I was delighted to travel to Bury St Edmunds to meet this gorgeous little family. Mum and Dad consider them brother and sister, their pets are very much their family. Of course safety is always a priority with newborns and so Adeline was photographed separately to Gary, and then the photograph was merged. As with all newborn shoots a hand is always on baby when baby is in a prop and then photoshopped out. 

To see more of my newborn work and style please click HERE!

This pink flokati with the dreamcatcher from Kittys Boutique who make the vast majority of my headbands and newborn outfits and sitter sets and of course their incredible tulle skirts and tops. Baby is photographed on a huge beanbag covered in blankets or flokatis and is always perfectly safe, again if a baby is propped up in any way then a hand will be in place and there will be posing pads rolled up underneath to support babies head, feet or back to ensure they won't suddenly roll backwards.

And as always baby cuddled up with a tiny teddy bear is a very firm favourite with my newborn clients. Occasionally we use a different animal and some parents have themed their sitter session and then cake smash to include rabbits or bears. Each shoot is different whether I'm photographing a child or baby or family. The sessions are carefully planned with the families tastes in mind and their opinions on poses and colours. This shoot lasted just over 2 hours, I always find if the parents are chilled and happy to sit back and enjoy the beauty of their newborn then it makes a very smooth session, and most families are very at ease by the time of their shoot as I address their concerns beforehand. Parents can often get quite emotional watching the session and seeing just how tiny their perfect little person is that they have nurtured and grown over the months, it's a whirlwind after you give birth, emotions on a rollercoaster, a constant stream of well wishers and this new little person dependant on your for their safety and wellbeing. A newborn shoot is a wonderful time to kick back and sip your tea or coffee and let someone safely handle your child and create beautiful images to remember for life, it really is no lie how quickly they change. It literally seems like a blink and it's gone. I always feel so incredibly honoured to capture families precious memories. I am drifting a little more into more lifestyle shoots with my sessions now if I go to a families home, and am very lucky my years of experience give me so much versatility at being able to switch from documentary photography, to lifestyle and the more posed newborn images of this session. It also helps me stop from getting bored! I would hate to do the same thing day in and day out like a production line, I think that's why I'm so keen to listen to clients and what they would like from their photography session.

I love creating unique art pieces for families and as you can see from my guestbook and feedback on my Facebook page . Families really enjoy the session and just catching their breath to drink in the beauty of this little piece of perfection. One thing for sure is life will never ever be the same!
And what did Gary think of it all? I'll leave you with his thoughts on his photoshoot!

Best friends forever, newborn Miss A and her best friend Gary, Bury St Edmunds newborn shoot. Suffolk and Essex baby and child photographer.

I was delighted to travel to Bury St Edmunds to meet this gorgeous little family. Mum and Dad consider them brother and sister, their pets are very much their family. Of course safety is always a priority with newborns and so Adeline was photographed separately to Gary, and then the photograph was merged. As with all newborn shoots a hand is always on baby when baby is in a prop and then photoshopped out. 

To see more of my newborn work and style please click HERE!

This pink flokati with the dreamcatcher from Kittys Boutique who make the vast majority of my headbands and newborn outfits and sitter sets and of course their incredible tulle skirts and tops. Baby is photographed on a huge beanbag covered in blankets or flokatis and is always perfectly safe, again if a baby is propped up in any way then a hand will be in place and there will be posing pads rolled up underneath to support babies head, feet or back to ensure they won't suddenly roll backwards.

And as always baby cuddled up with a tiny teddy bear is a very firm favourite with my newborn clients. Occasionally we use a different animal and some parents have themed their sitter session and then cake smash to include rabbits or bears. Each shoot is different whether I'm photographing a child or baby or family. The sessions are carefully planned with the families tastes in mind and their opinions on poses and colours. This shoot lasted just over 2 hours, I always find if the parents are chilled and happy to sit back and enjoy the beauty of their newborn then it makes a very smooth session, and most families are very at ease by the time of their shoot as I address their concerns beforehand. Parents can often get quite emotional watching the session and seeing just how tiny their perfect little person is that they have nurtured and grown over the months, it's a whirlwind after you give birth, emotions on a rollercoaster, a constant stream of well wishers and this new little person dependant on your for their safety and wellbeing. A newborn shoot is a wonderful time to kick back and sip your tea or coffee and let someone safely handle your child and create beautiful images to remember for life, it really is no lie how quickly they change. It literally seems like a blink and it's gone. I always feel so incredibly honoured to capture families precious memories. I am drifting a little more into more lifestyle shoots with my sessions now if I go to a families home, and am very lucky my years of experience give me so much versatility at being able to switch from documentary photography, to lifestyle and the more posed newborn images of this session. It also helps me stop from getting bored! I would hate to do the same thing day in and day out like a production line, I think that's why I'm so keen to listen to clients and what they would like from their photography session.

I love creating unique art pieces for families and as you can see from my guestbook and feedback on my Facebook page . Families really enjoy the session and just catching their breath to drink in the beauty of this little piece of perfection. One thing for sure is life will never ever be the same!
And what did Gary think of it all? I'll leave you with his thoughts on his photoshoot!

And then there were 4! Suffolk and Essex baby newborn, and family photographer.

This gorgeous little family came back to bring the newest baby along for her newborn photos and some family images. I've photographed the oldest from a few months.

 At this point towards the end of the shoot, one or two maybe have had enough, we still managed to get this gorgeous image of them all together. It's beautiful in colour, but in black and white your attention is drawn to all their faces and expressions. I would personally love a photograph like this of my own children, their bond, their emotions, their cheeky little personalities. I literally got 5 shots and then baby started crying. Most families travel to me from Essex, Cambridge and London, and obviously Suffolk. 
To see more of my work click 

 Daisy was safely perched on the beanbag in my Suffolk studio for this shot. I actually made this chair myself for another shoot, and covered it in Reindeer Moss which was quite a laborious (and stinky) process. However it was worth it, it then got dragged along on another shoot with my daughter, but was photographed separately too to make a digital backdrop which I can now use. The English weather is rarely good enough to photograph a newborn naked outside and had she been placed upon the chair a hand would have been in place and edited out as it would have been unsafe. I love this image, I love incorporating the stunning outdoors and nature into shoots if I can, and especially lucky most people book in for their newborn shoots and like my creative style and will give me free rein to produce something artistic.

 Little cat! I've had the cat and newborn cat hat for a while but hadn't had a chance to use them so I was very happy they got to come out. Hat by the incredibly talented Grandma Joyce's Little Knits.

 This shot is becoming one of my most requested images on a newborn shoot. I've been collecting these little bears for a few years now (I think they average about £50 for a tiny little jointed bear), and I'm always adding to my hat collection.

Believe it or not by the end of the shoot, Mum was a little stressed (you can't tell from this picture), whereas I'm so used to photographing larger families and boisterous children I'm very confident of getting the shot. Baby Daisy was an absolute dream and the best part Mum adores her images of her gorgeous family.

Essex newborn photographer, Suffolk newborn photographer - tutorial on compositing a baby into a basket, free download of jpeg basket.

This isn't going to be the best tutorial as my imac suddenly decided to lose sound. I've uploaded the video to YouTube the link is HERE! It's not the best compositing tutorial as it seems to lose sound at the point where we go into layer mask but if you roughly know what you are doing you can follow along. I will redo the video at some point if there is interest. I have uploaded the file to dropbox for the basket with flowers. The link for the digital backdrop that is totally free is FREEBIES HERE! I will add the odd action and tutorial and digital drop to the Dropbox folder so it's worth bookmarking.

This shoot went like a dream, and Mum and Dad decided to add some more images in whilst they were here. The look they chose the basket was set up with a Christmas theme, so I reshot it, as baby was dressed in this gorgeous beige outfit from Kittys Boutique. Sadly it didn't match the theme, so I reshot the basket with some pink flowers and tied the colours in.

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So you want to be a newborn photographer!

I'm asked so often so many questions about starting out, will I train people, what equipment do I use. I also frequently have people send me images of something unsafe that someone new to the world of newborn photography is doing, so I decided to compile a list of things that I wish I had known when I started! Not everything works for everyone and we are all different however but if it helps someone else just starting out then hopefully it's a good thing.

• Buying things! Unless you are a lifestyle or documentary photographer, there are countless things you can spend thousands and thousands of pounds on! (Been there got the t-shirt). From outfits, headbands, hats, floral halos, tutus, actions to use in Photoshop, presets for Lightroom. Honestly it's endless, an average start up for a photography business is over £10,000. Which seems a ludicrous amount but there are so many costs involved! So what are the MOST important things you need?

Training! I know the established photographers bang on about it incessantly and to new photographers it must seem like a ploy from us to make you all look incapable. And yes it does cost money. In no other business do you become a professional just because you have a bit of equipment. Scissors don't make you a hairdresser, a sharp knife doesn't make you a surgeon, a spanner doesn't make you a mechanic. Some people are naturally amazing at taking photos. But the art of posing delicate newborn babies, propped up on things or in poses is really something you should have training with. You wouldn't take your child to someone who wants to be a Doctor but has never trained so why should babies because they can't complain really, be practiced upon? If you can't afford training - don't pose newborns and don't try to learn, you can try asking to help out a photographer. Often the answer will be no. I choose not to train people as I have worked really hard to develop my own style and don't feel training someone locally to produce work like me is actually a good thing as most new photographers drastically undercut established photographers to get bookings in. What I will say is if you are buying props, hats, headbands then you've probably spent the same amount that you would have on training! And training will pay for itself. Honestly I don't know any good photographer that doesn't shudder at something they took a year ago, all of us are permanently growing, nailing lighting, posing and being safe surely is the priority - something you would learn through training, you can undertake good training for £200-£400 roughly - shop around, check the trainer can teach you with the lighting you will be using i.e. natural light or studio, do they teach frog pose if that's what you love! 
I am in no way paid to endorse safe trainers nor receive benefits but good UK trainers are The Newborn Workshops - https://www.newbornworkshops.co.uk/
Ellie Cassidy - http://www.minimemories.co.uk/courses/
Jodie Leigh Drake - http://jodieleighphotography.co.uk/newborn-training-11-mentoring-grimsby-cleethorpes-lincolnshire/

Insurance is a massive must! What if someone got injured? The very first thing anyone seriously wanting to run a business should invest in as soon as they are charging money. It proves to clients you care about their safety. And god forbid something happened, and someone takes you to court, you will be covered. I have professional indemnity insurance and public liability and also the luxury of equipment insurance too now. As my camera equipment cost so much money if a child picks my camera up and drops it, or I drop it, I know I will be able to have it fixed or replaced.

Equipment:-   There are amazing photographers who snap stuff on iphones! However a good camera body that can cope in low light and one or two prime lenses that produce beautiful bokeh, and crisp sharp images where you want it to be sharp really should be an aim above all the hats and props in the world. There's no point having a cute outfit and your image is unintentionally grainy, out of focus, underexposed. Capturing peoples memories is an art, investing as much as you can afford in the right equipment will make your processing less work. And in the case of newborns often you can't reshoot, a camera with dual memory card slots is priceless in case a card fails or your drive wipes out. Online storage too is a wonderful backup in case your hardrive fails - believe me the amount you may spend in salvaging a corrupt SD/CF card it's worth having a backup plan.

• Props!
• You note I don't include props, there are many d.i.y tutorials, buying cheap from China is not really an option, rarely do the hats off Ebay from China look like a gorgeous hand crocheted item. Prop shopping is great fun and addictive! Any basket should be weighed down with a newborn in so it doesn't tip, baby should be spotted hand in place and photoshopped out. Another thing to consider - where is your hat maker obtaining their angora for their hats. I choose to shop with vendors that source ethical angora. i.e. the rabbit owner brushes the rabbit gently to remove the loose fur as opposed to maybe China where the animal is brutally treated. I obtain my hats from Mary who makes delightful hats that are cruelty free. Shop in charity shops for scarves, and TK Maxx and Sainsburys do some amazing well priced throws. Trends change so much and it's impossible to keep up, it's better to have the odd gorgeous item (don't forget makers are all small businesses, and paying a little more is worth it for a gorgeous, soft well made item. 
• I use Kitty's Boutique - http://kittys-boutique.com/
• http://makewithlove.bigcartel.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1510752569241454/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/202113990132282/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/202113990132282/
• https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PBphotoprops
• Photographer Etiquette!
• I will happily answer questions, but frequently I do get frustrated that a photographer follows my page, never likes a thing, but will happily ask where I got something from, as a new photographer you are more likely to make a friend by liking someones posts and photos and just being a little enthusiastic. I actually do think there should be different pricing out there, relative to experience, e.t.c. What is really rude is implying by saying you are reasonably priced and affordable is that actually you are calling more established photographers greedy! Local photographers to me, are friendly and we help each other out. We don't try to copy each other but rather set ourselves apart. I refer to other photographers if someone can't afford me, or I am full, and it works with my photographer friends too. It does pay to be friendly. Photography is a hard business to succeed in. Some people see it as a luxury, so will leave paying for months if they can or ask for discount, friending a local photographer can help guide you as we've all been at that starting point and most of us will help out with bits and pieces. Advice lending a prop maybe here and there. If you are trying to help yourself by having insurance and training then we tend to respect that! 
• Value Yourself!
• Portfolio building is fine, I used to photograph so many people for free, I worked another job in photography, and would spend my family time (almost all of it) editing free things for other people. When your hobby becomes your business. When maybe you can't pay bills, or put food on the table there comes a time when you have to charge maybe you choose to offer a discount, it is eye opening the amount of people who choose not to then have photos! We all love photography, heck it's why we do it! However being able to enjoy your family and afford to pay your bills should be your priority, my ethos is that I will continually learn and progress, I will carry on buying sweet props and providing my clients with an outstanding service, and in doing so I deserve to earn what I charge. An important question when you evaluate what you are doing - all the people you work for free or peanuts for - would they go to work for a day for free for you? It's different if you have friends that help out with childcare, but running a business you learn to face sometimes brutal truth about friends, and clients at times. If you don't value yourself other people won't value you. Even portfolio building you can take the most beautiful photograph, but it doesn't mean someone will value it, or write an amazing review.
• Be True to Yourself!
• Honestly, it's good to Google and look at work, but follow your heart, so what if everyone is shooting babies on plain white blankets or with no props. Trends come and go, the easiest way to lose interest in something you love is to keep trying to replicate other photographers work, sure trying to excel in skin tones, or emotion is a good thing, but keep to the style your heart loves, there will always be more expensive photographers, cheaper photographers, work out what you need to earn, how often you need to shoot (shooting is easily less than 30% of a photography business, blogging, website, social media responding to enquiries sucks up so much time). Editing something that came from your creativity is far more rewarding than perfecting something another photographer does. Especially if you are asked repeatedly to replicate that pose! And without a doubt, if you love something, and someone books you on that image. You can guarantee you speak to that clients heart.
• Dog Eared Determination!
• If you've clicked on photographer posts shared on The Daily Mail or other sites you will see trolls! Sooner or later someone will say something horrible. Call you a perv for showing a baby butt cheek or say posing newborns is freaky! Protect your client by watermarking your images, and take them down if you need to. If we all had the same taste it would be a very boring world. The thing you must have in bucket loads is determination! As an artist you will hit a point where you feel incapable. You don't have the same equipment as the photographer up the road, they have more bookings, and you're fed up struggling. I think with photography it is an art form. And as such you put your heart and soul into it, and will also have days where you feel rubbish or you're faking it! And at those times when you feel your worst, are the times you sink your teeth in and go for it. This is a cut throat market, and you honestly could be the best photographer in the world. But having that grit to just carry on plodding. That's the thing that will serve you well. Photography is something that makes your heart sing (sometimes) it can be the best job in the world, is perceived as easy but it isn't. And that thing that fills your heart with joy. Recording memories, events, love, life, and loss sometimes, will pull your emotions through a rollercoaster! In the words of Dory! Keep on swimming and you'll find your way. Make friends. Be enthusiastic. Support those around you fighting the same battle as you. And you will prevail.
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Newborn twin photos - Ipswich, Suffolk newborn photographer, Essex newborn photographer.

I was blessed to photograph these two precious newborn twins from Ipswich. A couple of years ago I photographed their older big sister, and Mum contacted me to book in for a newborn session for the twins. Sadly things really didn't go to plan, and both babies were very very ill. So I actually photographed them at a lot older than your typical newborn session, as sometimes happens with shoots where babies have been in hospital for a long time, one was wary about being pulled around. Their little faces were peeling terribly too. Luckily Mum had already had it explained that I would try my best and to not expect too much. Even though it was hard work, I managed to capture some truly beautiful photos for the family, and I was very pleased with the outcome, especially considering how alert the little boy was, I absolutely love my job. I am so please when families are happy! It's also amazing to see newborns grown up into big brothers or sisters.

Click here for my website.

I love how  settled they were when they were snuggled up to each other. I'm sure as they get older they may not want cuddles so much, but what beautiful memories for this family I am so lucky they chose me to photograph them. I now have photographed quite a few twins and even some triplets! It must be quads for me next! 

Even though things don't always go to plan when a session is booked in. It is still possible to attempt newborn poses. It certainly helps when Mum and Dad are chilled as babies do pick up on tension or worrying. I think having met me first time round they were very relaxed. So lovely to see this warm and wonderful family again.