Snow Day Photo Shoot! - Charlie turns 1

Just over a year ago, Charlie was one of my first super star newborns!  The stars aligned (along with all the training i'd been doing!) and he was beautifully sleepy on a lovely sunny winters day. 

I remember leaving his newborn shoot, happy that it was my best shoot yet and SO excited to show his parents his photos. 

In the summer, I went back for his second photo shoot and we were blessed with another beautiful sunny day where we got some lovely photos outdoors. 

Now he's only gone and turned 1 and he is my first completed 3 Shoot Package!

We pushed his shoot date back a day when the weather man predicted snow and we were not disappointed!  We woke up on shoot day to just the right amount of snow for a 1 year old's adventure.

We started inside, giving him a little time to warm up to me again.  We got some photos with his toys, in his bedroom and in mummy and daddy's room.  Then it was time to head out into the snow...

Turns out walking inside is fine, but walking on the snow on the other hand - not so easy!  The sledge and snowballs were a definite hit though! 

Three shoot packages are my absolute favourite.  I love getting to know each family over the year and watching their little ones grow. 

If you're interested in a lifestyle family photo shoot (sorry, I can't guarantee snow!) then please Get In Touch for more information.

First shoot of the year! - Sophie

Little did I know when I booked a lifestyle photo shoot for the beginning of the year, that it was going to be with one of the happiest and most personality filled babies that I have EVER photographed!

Everyone meet 9 month old Sophie.

Seeing her personality, I just knew I had to get some photos on her play mat.  The bright colours suited her personality to a T.

I then captured her beautiful smile on a nice simple fluffy rug before heading upstairs and getting some photos on mummy's big bed. 

Apparently Nanny has been teaching her this little trick!!

Finally we headed into her bedroom for some photos in her cot and in front her colourful book shelf. 

This 'lifestyle' approach to photography not only captures her beautiful personality - but also a snapshot of this time in her life - the house she will grow up in, her crib, her toys and books. 
 

If you're interested in a lifestyle shoot, or would like some more information, please Get In Touch!

A BIG 2016

Happy New Year everyone!

Welcome to what I know is going to be a crazy year in the world of Becki Williams Photography!

I have so many exciting things planned this year that I just don't know what to do with myself!

(you can tell I'm excited because i've used exclamation marks on all three sentences so far :p)

'What are all these exciting things?' I hear you ask. 

Well things are getting shaken up around here.  I'm starting to look into providing an even more personal experience to all my clients from their first enquiry all the way to providing them their beautiful photos. 

I'll be improving my website and documents to make the booking journey even clearer (and beautiful!) as well as offering reveal sessions where I come back to you a week after your shoot to help you choose which images you love. 

As well as my usual posed newborn style i'll also be offering lifestyle shoots which offer a more 'day in the life' feel.  These are a great way to capture the special moments between parents & baby.

I have trade shows to go to, courses to take, props to buy, shiny new product samples to order, packaging to design - and of course i'll be photographing a few babies along the way as well! 

See what I mean by exciting?!

Keep checking back for updates and exciting news.  I can't wait to share it all with you!

x

Blog tumbleweed...

The last few months have been hectic to say the least and my blog has taken a bit of a back seat for a while. 

I do miss blogging and telling you all about everything going on in my bump and baby filled world but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, getting you your images on time is much more important to me. 

Since March I've been getting busier and busier and have amazing support from my family and lots of new and repeat clients. 

My prop & blanket selection is growing (i've even had to buy more storage!), I'm changing to a complete online booking and paying system and putting lots of exciting planning into celebrating the last year. 

With 10 shoots planned over the next 3 weeks (!) I cannot promise regular blog updates but I promise to do better than I have over the last few months :)

x

Newborn Photo Shoot: Amelia

I met Amelia's mummy and daddy a few weeks ago when they had a Bump Shoot in their house in Aylesbury.

There was still a lot of discussion over names at that time so I was very excited when I received an email letting me know that baby Amelia had arrived. 

I headed up there a few days after she was born and set up in their front room in front of their large patio doors. 

I used nice simple pale blankets for this shoot with a few pops of colour from headbands and wraps, including some family heirlooms. 

By the end of the shoot she was in a nice deep sleep and we got some lovely sleepy poses and a couple in a dress picked out by her daddy. 

If you're interested in booking a newborn shoot or have any questions please Get In Touch. 

Newborn Photo Shoot: Sonny

This was another one of those lovely occasions where I got to photograph a friends new little arrival.

Mathew grew up on the same street as my family and is a life long friend of my brother. 

I was VERY excited to hear of Sonny's arrival and headed over to their house in Hemel Hempstead a few days later for his newborn photo shoot.

I set my beanbag and backdrops up in their front room while Sonny had a little feed. 

He had just started to get settled when the health visiter arrived to do the heel prick test!  He was very brave and hardly let out a whimper despite them struggling to get his circulation to co-operate.

I started the shoot with him on one of my newer blue fleeces.  I absolutely love the colour of the lighter blue blanket.   I then switched to a cream blanket and got some photos with a blanket that his daddy used when he was a baby. 

By this time Sonny had settled into a nice deep sleep so it was time for some tummy poses.  I used a couple of cute hats and a lovely blue blanket before getting a few shots in my little white basket, which he could only just fit in!  

Sonny was so well behaved throughout the shoot and his mummy and I are already planning play dates in Gadebridge Park when we get our new puppy.

If you're interested in a newborn shoot or have any questions please Get In Touch.

Newborn Photo Shoot : Bethany

I was pleasantly surprised when Bethany's mummy got in contact to let me know she had arrived a day early (yay) as most of my newborns have been keeping their mummy's waiting recently!  We kept the pencilled shoot date the same and her and her little entourage came to my house for the shoot. 

When I do newborn shoots at my house I have a little rearrange of the dining area and set up by my patio doors.  Although I take a lot (A LOT) to my newborn shoots, being at home means I have all of my props and accessories to hand. 

To start with I took some photos of Bethany in a little basket on a wooden background.  She was very much awake (as apparently she had been all night...) but was happy to sit snuggled up.

We tried continuously throughout the shoot to get her to sleep but she was quite determined to stay awake for as long as possible.  

We took lots of breaks and had lots of feeds to keep her contented while I got some shots on the blanket backdrops.

When it was time for family photos, she finally fell into a deep sleep and was happy to be snuggled up in everyone’s arms. 

If you think you're interested in a newborn photo shoot, why not check out some of my other work in my Newborn Gallery or if you have any questions please Get In Touch

Maternity Bump Shoot : Kat

A few weeks ago I made a very misguided journey (thank you once again sat nav...) to see Kat and her partner for their bump shoot in Aylesbury. 

They have booked a 3 shoot package which means I get to go back once their little one is born and then again after a few months to see how they've grown up. 

We mostly stuck with natural photos, using the living room, master bedroom & nursery to capture pictures of Kat alone and with her partner.

The nursery they have set up is beautiful.  I am happy to admit I will be stealing their ideas for whenever I am need of my first nursery! 

To finish, I used a plain wall in their bedroom to capture some more studio style shots including the classic heart on the tummy shot and one of my favourites, which I call the sexy mummy shot! 

They are a really lovely couple and I am very excited to go back and meet their newborn in March :)

1 Year Old Photo Shoot : Ella

Have I mentioned I love photographing 1 year olds?!  No? Well I do!

1 - 2 hours of acting as silly as you want, being used as a climbing frame, nose stealing, tummy tickling - I love it!

A few weeks ago I went to photograph Ella who had just celebrated her 1st birthday.  She's a smiley cheeky little girl who can crawl like lightening! 

We played pass the rhino & the egg in the living room, bang the toy against the cot in her bedroom, whose that in the mirror in her parents room and did some reading and crawling in between!

A typical day in the life of a 1 year old - but this time caught on camera :)

Newborn photo shoot: Olivia

Olivia's mum and dad were my final outdoor bump shoot of last year.  We braved the November weather and were treated to some beautiful low winter sun and late autumn colours at Stanborough Park. 

A few weeks later I got to go back for the second part of their Bump & Newborn package, this time tucked up nice and warm at their house. 

I set up in their spare room, which had lovely large windows that let in lots of light.  The sun was a little strong at times but there are always little tricks to be done - in this case I hung some lace over the window, which softened it nicely. 

We started with her in a little pink dress that her mum had picked out and then moved on to some baby grow and nappy shots. 

Although she was awake for most of the shoot, she was very calm which meant she was perfect to wrap.  I used a white cheesecloth wrap, which is nice and simple but still has a lovely texture to it. 

I took the obligatory feet shot (who doesn't love baby feet!) and then as she drifted off to sleep I used a family heirloom blanket to get her nice and snuggled. 

Olivia is a gorgeous little girl and I hope I get to go back and photograph her again as she grows :)

Newborn photo shoot : Lucas

Remember my old friends bump shoot from a couple of months ago?  You know, the incredibly cute one with the little boy holding his tummy to his mummy's baby bump?

Well just after Christmas I got to go and welcome baby Lucas into the world!  

My sat nav is apparently not such a fan of Milton Keynes (or I'm starting to think directing as a whole) because I must have done about 3 laps of the midlands before I got there. 

As soon as I walked in the door I was treated to some lovely cuddles and then it was time to work!

I set up my beanbag & blankets in their kitchen because their patio doors gave me the best light. 

Newborn shoots usually take play within the first 5 - 10 days after a baby is born while they are still super sleepy and foldable.  Every now and then a baby may have to stay in hospital for a bit longer or life just gets a bit hectic for the family (in this case Christmas!) and the shoot is pushed back a little. 

Lucas was about 3 weeks old when I did his shoot, which meant he was past the newborn sleepy & foldable stage and was a bit more aware of his surroundings.  All this means is that I approach the shoot a little differently, taking more relaxed rather than posed photos. 

I started with him fully dressed and then slowly stripped him down adding hats and blankets along the way to get a variety of shots.   I then took some photos with his proud big brother Jack and some family shots to finish shoot.

Hopefully I'll get to go back and take some more photos of Lucas as he grows when I go and visit his mummy and daddy in the future :)

Baby Photo Shoot : Billie

Billie was my first shoot back after the new year, so I was excited to get things up and running.

Her and her mummy love all things girly and I think I shot her in 5 different outfits in the end!

At the start she was awake and wriggly and we got some lovely smiles and by the end we had one sleepy little girl.

We finished with some family photos with one zonked out Billie!

Newborn Photo Shoot : Olivia

Meet Olivia, my cousins little girl and the newest member to our extending family!

I was lucky enough to meet her before a lot of my family (muahaha) when I went round to do her newborn shoot a few days after she was born.

Her mummy had asked my sister, who owns Rosie Jo Crochet on Etsy, if she would make Olivia a caterpillar outfit for the shoot and then asked me if I would photograph her in it.   

It's a hard job but someone's got to do it!

Olivia slept beautifully through most of the shoot, only waking a few times to be fed and changed, which meant I got to use a lot of different hats and accessories to give her mummy and daddy lots of different shots to choose from. 

I imagine you'll be seeing more of Olivia in the future as we are already planning the butterfly shot that will follow on from the caterpillar! 

Christmas Photo Shoot : Rory

Rory's mum brought him to my house to get some Christmas photos in early December. 

I should be thanking Rory for letting me photograph him really because this little guy has already been scouted as a baby model! 

I started with a white fairy light set up, similar to what was used for Daisy's Christmas shoot a few weeks ago.  He loved the camera and kept crawling towards it, giving us lots of action shots! 

It was then time for an outfit change where he became Santa Rory and we went and played downstairs with ball balls and the Christmas tree.

I love to try and capture milestones at my shoots, specially in the first year, so it was great when we got a photo of him standing by himself - his latest trick :) 

Baby Photography : Toby

If you ever fancy having a themed photo shoot - there is no need to ask.  The answer is yes, Yes & YES!

Toby's mum contacted me a few weeks before Christmas and asked whether I would take some photos for a calendar she was putting together of him representing each month of the year to give out to family.

We started brain storming for what we could do (some months are really quite difficult!) and came up with a plan and a variety of props. 

As with a lot of 1 year olds, Toby's teeth were really not his friends on the day of the shoot.  That said, he was very patient with us putting him in (the most amazing) angel wings, picnic baskets, swimsuits etc. 

He looked SO CUTE as cupid!

I hope that all of the family liked their calendars :)

Bump Shoot : Barnes Family

I love outdoor photo shoots but In November they can be few and far between. 

When Nanae booked her bump shoot a few months in advance, we made plans to head to Stanborough Park and in the end were fortunate enough to catch the last warm (if slightly muddy) weather of November. 

The good thing about a location like this is the vast variety of images I can capture.  We had beautiful lake backdrops to work with along with the low winter sun which gave us some gorgeous light and some dramatic shadows. 

Lovely days like that are a photographers dream, even if it does mean getting a little muddy! 

I'm very excited to be heading back to Welwyn in a few weeks, this time to meet baby Barnes :)