There is a reason why the studio is so busy in the run-up to Christmas: lots of my clients buy artwork and photography experiences for Christmas gifts as they are very personal gifts and cost-effective too! There are so many options when it comes to buying photography-based gifts - there is something for everyone! Your Own Images There is no better time than now to purchase extra prints or wall art from this year's family portrait session for Grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents or friends.  It’s the most cost-effective way to purchase lots of your Christmas gifts in one go.  To View More >>

As the festive season twinkles on the horizon, we all start to ponder the age-old questions: “What’s the perfect gift for that one person who is really difficult to buy for?” "What do you get the person who seems to have everything?"  Well, I’ve got a delightful solution that’s sure to bring smiles and warm hearts all round – Portrait Experience Gift Certificates! Why Gift Certificates Make Wonderful Gifts Gift certificates are like little envelopes of joy, offering something far more special than just a present – they offer experiences, memories, To View More >>

Hello, my fabulous families! 🎃 Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to get creative with your family photos. Whether you’re a fan of the spooky or the whimsical, Halloween offers endless possibilities for memorable pictures. Taking your own Halloween photos is such a fun family activity but instead of opting for the usual rushed snaps before you go trick or treating this year, why not go all out and try your own Halloween mini shoot! So, grab a cup of hot cocoa (or a pumpkin spice latte, if you’re so inclined), and let’s delve into how you can To View More >>

Summer is the perfect time to capture beautiful family portraits. With longer days, warmer weather (we hope!), and vibrant natural backdrops, it’s a wonderful time to create stunning images that showcase your family’s unique personality and bonds. Whether you are planning a photoshoot day, or just want to capture some lovely pictures to remember a family day trip, here are some tips for capturing perfect family photos this summer. CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOCATION The beauty of summer lies in its variety of scenic locations that can serve as the perfect backdrop for family portraits. To View More >>

As you know, safety is at the heart of everything I do in my business, and especially when photographing young children and babies; I’ve posted a number of times about safe handling and photographic techniques I use for newborn photoshoots. This month, I decided to take things a step further and update my first aid knowledge, so I attended a Mini First Aid class. These classes are designed with new parents and grandparents in mind and are focussed on first aid techniques for children – which are often a bit different to the way you would treat an adult. Specifically, the class covered To View More >>

I am delighted to welcome Becky Jarratt - Treasure Chest Peer Supporter and ABM Breastfeeding Counsellor as today's guest blogger! Treasure Chest York offers a support network for breastfeeding mums across the York area, for more information including details of support group meetings visit their website: http://www.treasurechest.org.uk/home/4566365112 If you need any support or advice about breastfeeding, you can also contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212 Preparing for Breastfeeding: Expectations The thought of having a baby brings so many different emotions To View More >>

As we know, newborns are very delicate, they have poor muscle control and a strong moro reflex (an involuntary response to feeling unsupported) necessitating great care and patience during a photo session. They must be carefully supported at all times and certainly never left on their own. In this series of posts, I will show you how I ensure that babies are appropriately and safely positioned and supported to create some of my more popular images, and perhaps more to the point, I will show you how supporting hands are removed using Photoshop afterwards, i.e. the baby is never left balancing To View More >>

I was chatting to another mum the other day about baby photography and during our conversation it slowly dawned on me that, having only seen the finished beautiful photos of babies on my website and across the Internet, she and many other mums out there had no idea how these images were actually created safely, so I thought a little series of blog posts might be useful.  As we know, newborns are very delicate, they have poor muscle control and a strong moro reflex (an involuntary response to feeling unsupported) necessitating great care and patience during a photo session. They To View More >>

I have a very natural style with my photography and I love to use natural products wherever possible. Today I have been busy making a very special little something for my newborn photo sessions - fluff! To steal a famous retailer's catchphrase, 'this is not just any fluff ...', this is the first fleece from a very special alpaca.  A little while ago, our daughter and I had a little trip out to take an alpaca for a walk with Jacki at Beacon Alpacas. It was a beautiful day and we both really enjoyed meeting these lovely animals. Their fur is incredibly soft, as "it has less scales To View More >>