Tag Archives: baby photos

Studio Session – Baby Findlay

Newborn Photography - JB Moments, , , , , ,

Baby Findlay

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain.” – Dolly Parton

Rainbow Baby

As I write this blog on the 5th day of the new year we are back in another lockdown in Scotland. Hopefully this time there is light at the end of the tunnel as a vaccine is being rolled out at the same time. But for the time being, I can’t shoot anyone in my home studio so I am consoling myself by looking at the gorgeous people I got to capture right before Christmas and bringing you along for the journey 🙂

Findlay was a very special 4-week new client. He was a rainbow baby. For those of you that don’t know what the term means: A rainbow baby is a term for a child born to a family that has previously lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth or death during infancy. As a volunteer photographer for the charity Remember My Baby I all too often see the loss parents go through so to see a happy and healthy baby after a family goes through that is a very special kind of joy for me.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Mum asked for very natural posing and minimal props but when I showed her the rainbow bucket that I had we simply had to use it with this gorgeous dude.

Baby makes Three

The arrival of Findlay right before Christmas was the best gift his parents could receive. He has made them a family.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

I love taking these sorts of family images. Stripping everything back to just focussing on the connection and love between them all.

It’s a Love thing

The family name, very appropriately, was Love. So despite posing Findlay very naturally I surprised mum and dad with a composite image in their gallery.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

I mean, when that is your surname it would be rude not to wouldn’t it?

Costume Change

I love it when parents bring something special to incorporate into the shoot. With Findlay being a rainbow baby, mum had found the most gorgeous onesie from Little Loves Cornwall.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Simply perfect!

Mugshots

Findlay slept throughout most of his session. He only woke up for a few milk breaks (because modelling is hungry work, don’t you know!). Those of you that have read my blogs or followed my newborn shoots know that I like to capture black and white ‘mug shots’ at the end of each session. For these, I need the baby to be awake and Master Findlay wasn’t too happy about that!

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Photographing babies, especially babies like Findlay gives me hope. And where there is hope there is life. Positive thoughts to begin the year with.

 

Studio Session – Baby Holly

Newborn Photography - JB Moments, , , , , ,

Studio Session – Baby Holly

“Babies are such a nice way to start people.” – Don Herold

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Sleepy vibes

For once the sleepy baby gods were looking favourably on me! When Miss Holly arrived at the studio she was fast asleep and she decided to stay like that for a good portion of her session.

Family Photographer - JB Moments Photography

She was two weeks new the day she visited me and although she had arrived 3 weeks early she was a tiny bundle of absolute perfection.

Mum and Dad were totally smitten with her. And from the moment I held on to her, so was I. 🙂

Teddy Bear

Holly absolutely loved being swaddled nice and snug in the various wraps. She was so out of it that I was able to dress her up like a little teddy bear.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Seriously though, how cute. Look at that beautiful little pout she has already perfected. Dad says she can already wind him around her little pinky. I suspect she will be able to all her life!

Pretty in Pink

I couldn’t have a little girl in the studio and not use some pink. Come on!

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

I rarely get to do this pose with babies that have just drifted off or awake so I took full advantage of Miss Holly’s slumber.

Mugshots

She did wake up when her nappy needed changing and she wanted some more of the house white. I took the opportunity then to take her ‘mugshots’ (I really must come up with a nicer name for them! 😉 )

As well as the usual ones where she glared at me for keeping her awake I think! I asked mum and dad to hold a hand each and I love how it turned out.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography
I wish my double chins looked as cute as this!!

She was very happy once she knew both of her parents were on hand (literally!).

At Mum’s request

Holly’s Mum had been on my website and loved the Calm Moon composite image that I have on there. She asked if I could recreate with Holly. Hell yes!

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

As often happens, Holly’s session was over way too soon and I had to say goodbye to the little angel that stole my heart for the afternoon.

 

 

Studio Session – Rory

General, , , , , ,

Rory

I’ve known Kev for years. He’s the guy that has covered Mr JB’s arms and back in colourful tattoos. So when I heard that he’d had a baby boy with his new partner Toni I couldn’t wait to get them into the studio for some photos.

It’s a family affair

Rory was born right at the start of lockdown. Not that it has affected him one bit as at 6 months he is a happy and bubbly baby boy.

Child Photographer, JB Moments Photography

Big sisters Jenna and Cerys were on hand behind me to keep Rory looking at the camera!

Child Photographer, JB Moments Photography

And they clearly both dote on their new little brother 🙂 Look at the cute little Vans he has on! Adorable!

Classic

For first-year milestone sessions, I have recently invested in some beautiful organic babygrows from The Simple Folk. I have picked classic designs that match my backdrop colours in sizes that will fit my Grow with Me studio sessions (4, 8 and 12 months). I couldn’t wait to try out the grey version on Rory.

Child Photographer, JB Moments Photography

Those eyes, those cheeks! Swoon!

Child Photographer, JB Moments Photography

I love dressing babies and littles up in all manner of outfits and costumes but I also want to provide some classic images for parents that they can hang on their walls confident that they will still look beautiful and timeless in 10 years time.

Talking of costumes…

I did say I loved an outfit and mum Toni had bought a Baby Yoda outfit to the session. Baby Yoda!!!

I knew I had the perfect backdrop to go with it and a crochet lightsaber that had just been waiting for this moment!

Child Photographer, JB Moments Photography

Have you ever seen a cuter Baby Yoda? I think not, my friend.

Sk8r Boi

Having known Kev for a while I knew that he loved skateboarding and I knew I had a background that would be perfect for a skateboarding theme. The day before the shoot I asked Kev to bring a skateboard to the studio and he did!

Child Photographer, JB Moments Photography

I love the result and his little outfit. What a dude!

All too soon it was time to say goodbye to Rory and his family. I asked if I could keep him but unfortunately for me, they seem to have grown quite attached to the little cutie.

Studio Sessions – Babies Charlotte and Lyla

Newborn Photography - JB Moments, , , , , , , , ,

Girls Girls Girls!

“Happy girls are the prettiest.” – Audrey Hepburn

This weekend my studio was full of baby girls, proud parents, fiercely protective big brothers and smitten sisters and I loved every fricken minute of it.

Saturday Girl

On Saturday my studio was full to the brim with Miss Charlotte’s entourage. At just over two weeks new she bought with her mum and dad and three big brothers. That’s right three!

Family Photographer - JB Moments Photography

It was hard to tell who was more smitten from Harley, Hayden and Calvin. They all jumped at the chance to hold Charlotte and her youngest brother couldn’t stop kissing her. All the heart eyes!

I said to dad, ‘what’s it going to be like when Charlotte brings home her first boyfriend and you and her three brothers are sitting on the sofa ready to meet him?’. Dad said his little Princess wasn’t going to date until she was at least thirty!

Floral but not too floral

Whilst a girl in the house was a chance for mum to finally break out the pink I wanted to pick some setups that were girly but would still fit in with all the testosterone in the house.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

I got this gorgeous black and white floral fabric ages ago and hadn’t had the chance to use before. I knew it would be perfect for this session. Miss Charlotte rocked it with a cute velvet bow headband and a racy peak of her toes! Isn’t she a doll?

Okay, I went full out floral

I had settled Charlotte in my posing aid for some images with her family. Whilst she was very content in there I took some images of just her that I knew I could use with a digital composite in the editing process.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

It’s full-on floral but doesn’t she look comfortable on her bed of roses?

I loved every minute of photographing this little lady.

Sunday Girl

Normally I only take one newborn at the weekend as they are quite the workout on my elderly knees. And with extra C-19 precautions in place like face masks, I am even more of a  sweaty mess at the end of the session than normal!

Miss Lyla, however, had other ideas! She was booked into the studio for the following weekend but she was impatient to start her modelling career and arrived more than three weeks early. Because babies rarely arrive on schedule I am always flexible with the booking dates 🙂

The best things come in tiny packages

Miss Lyla was only 5lb 15oz when she was born. She was small but absolutely beautiful. To be honest I knew she would be as I’d met her big sister Lacie before for an Easter mini shoot and I knew the pretty gene ran in the family!

Lacie adored her new little sister and posed very carefully with her for their sibling shots.

Family Photographer - JB Moments Photography

Bucket list

I’m sure it is every newborns dream to be placed in a bucket!! With dad very close by so there was absolutely no danger of her falling I put Lyla in the bucket and she just chilled.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

I wonder what she is thinking here? Probably, ‘what the heck? I’ve only been on this planet for 3 weeks and they’ve stuck me in a bucket’!

She was absolutely perfect.

Up Up and Away

So much so I had to put her in one of my hot air balloons when I was editing.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Well, I mean you would, wouldn’t you?

As I sat drinking a well-earned glass of wine on Sunday evening enjoying the unexpected sunshine in the back garden I thought back on the two gorgeous baby girls that had visited my studio this weekend and couldn’t help thinking about Queen Bey…

“Who run the world? Girls!” – Beyonce

 

Studio Session – Baby Stella

Newborn Photography - JB Moments, , , , ,

Baby Stella

The darkest nights produce the brightest stars.

Newborn baby?

In the day’s BC (before Coronavirus) most photographers agreed that a ‘newborn’ baby is up to 2 months old and some photographers prefer to only photograph newborns up to 2 weeks old to capture them at their squishy, sleepiest best.

Stella’s parents had booked her in for a newborn shoot shortly after she was born but then C-19 happened! She was born mid-April and the first time I could reopen was end-July so she was the most geriatric newborn I’ve ever photographed!!

Worth the wait

She was totally worth the wait though.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

I had ordered this fabric (called Stella) in especially for her so I was delighted to be finally using it. Miss Stella gave me lots of lovely eye contact with those baby blues of hers. And her skin was practically perfect all peaches and cream.

Stella has a big sister Fern who had her first birthday cake smash with me. Her pictures remind me of erm me in lockdown. All the cake and no bra!!

Mum really wanted a picture of the two sisters together but Miss Fern really didn’t want to play ball so I had to composite a shot of the two of them together afterwards. Next time!

Another good thing about an older baby

Is that they can hold their heads up with less support which makes getting images like this much easier.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Look at those cheeks, isn’t she adorable? I was absolutely smitten.

Smiles for miles

Usually, when I take my ‘mugshot’ images of the baby I get all manner of annoyed and grumpy expressions from them which can be super cute. Miss Stella though was all about the smiles.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

I love her cheeky look in this image.

A star has been born

It was wonderful to have a baby back in the studio again. And even though her big sister didn’t want in on the action she did bring me back doughnuts (I suspect with Dad’s help) when they went out on a little break. You all know by now I’m an absolute sucker for doughnuts!

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Look at this little lady, super chilled, super happy…a superstar!

Studio Session – Millie’s 8 Month Grow with Me

General, , , , , , ,

Grow with Me – 8 months

I’m back!

Studio steam cleaned within an inch of its life – check. Post lockdown guidelines issued to clients – check. Masks and gloves available – check. Own mask fitted – check. Hand sanitizer ready to greet clients – check. I was good to go and couldn’t wait to get started again.

My first client back through the door was the gorgeous Miss Millie. After her newborn session, mum and dad took advantage of my Grow with Me package to capture Millie at 4 months, 8 months and 1 year with an A4 Photobook of their first year 🙂

Cake

Millie’s big sister Hailey made me a cake and bought it to the session. How lovely is that?

Baby photos by JB Moments Photography
My clients are the best!

It was delicious too!

Look at you grow!

Millie’s mum always picks the best outfits for her. At her 4 month Grow with Me session Millie was the cutest (and grumpiest) ladybug you ever did see! This time she went totally tropical…

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Come on, have you ever seen a cuter, happier pineapple? I don’t think so and that little pineapple turban, too cute!

Grow milestones

At 4 months it is all about tummy time, by 8 months baby can usually sit up by themselves. Millie was no exception.

I also had the chance to try out a new set up I added to the studio in lockdown. Sheer curtains that look like gorgeous window light when my studio lights are positioned behind them.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Even better, it gives the littles something to interact with. Luckily for Mr JB’s DIY skills it stayed up!

Classic

Now I love a good outfit along with the next person and I can imagine how much fun Millie’s parents will have showing her these images when she is older!! But I also like to provide some timeless images that will never date and for that, you can’t beat a deceptively simple black and white.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

Of course, Mille made this series of images her own by giving me some glorious facial expressions! This one is my particular favourite.

Look how you’ve grown

At each Grow with Me session I try to incorporate one of the props I used at their Newborn session so you can really see how much they grow and change during the year. With Millie, it was a bucket.

Baby photography by JB Moments Photography

What a difference a few months make? How quickly they change in their first year! I can’t wait to incorporate somehow into her 1-year session.

Why am I a Photographer?

General, , , , ,

Why am I a Photographer?

Today, I’m sharing with you a photograph that was taken 46 years ago, of me.baby photographer, Falkirk - JB Moments Photography

Yup, those double chins and flappy ears belong to yours truly.

Visual History

I keep this photograph hanging in my studio to show how newborn images have changed but also to keep it safe as it is one of the only pictures there is of me as a baby. I have written often about my lack of visual history that makes me cherish printed images.

Got me thinking..

Whilst cleaning the studio for the umpteenth time as I prepare to re-open it got me thinking about all the babies I have photographed in the last three years as a professional photographer. And many years before that.

What do the parents see when they look at those photos years later?

What will the kids in those photos think when they are older? When they become teenagers will they laugh at how they are posed? Will they wonder why they are in a bowl or bucket? Or have a giant headband on their head? Or a bonnet with teddy bear ears?

Mum?

So I messaged my mum and asked her if she remembered the photo? Her response was,

It was at home. I couldn’t afford to go to a studio. So we put a white blanket on my bed and it was taken by one of your god parents who was into photography.

I guess that explains the slightly odd pose and the fact that it is kind of shot up my nose! Baby photography has come on a long way since then!

I asked her to tell me what she sees now, looking at that photo 46 years on. This is what she sent me,

My special first born girl. I see my baby girl that I knew would grow up into a wonderful woman.

Awww shucks! I decided to ask my Dad as well and he said,

A beautiful baby

How sweet is that!

Me

When I look at this photo I see a smiley, chubby baby with mahoosive ears! I am clearly engaged and probably looking at my mum. I love how simple it is. It’s just me, no props or giant headbands in sight.  My mum and my dad just see me, nothing else when I showed it to them all these years later. Well, just me and those massive lugs!!

As a photographer, I need to remember that it’s not all about how many different elements I can add to an image or how I pose a baby to fit in the latest prop. Yes, I know I sometimes get asked for those photos by parents. Or I get caught up in the latest trends. I’m not saying those photos should stop but I am saying I need to remember what the purpose of a photograph is.

They capture life moments. Moments of happiness that we’d love to last, to remember them ad to share them with our friends and family. They tell our stories.

This is the reason I am a photographer.

Studio Session – Baby Lachlan

Newborn Photography - JB Moments, , , , , , , ,

Baby Photography

Baby, it’s weird outside

Before the UK closed down completely due to the COVID-19 virus my last wonderful client for the foreseeable braved their session.

I met the family at the door with a bottle of hand sanitiser instead of hugs and handshakes. They were welcomed into my studio that has never had so much Dettol sprayed in it. I found it really hard not to touch them as I posed them and when I did the hand sanitiser got squirted liberally again (and again).

The session was for baby Lachlan  (pronounced Lock Lan) a handsome dude at just under a month new who didn’t want to sleep at all! Under normal circumstances, I would spend more time rocking and shushing him. But I was observing as minimal touch as possible. Gah! It killed me not to be able to sniff and kiss his little head when no one was looking. But his safety was more important than my baby fix!

What the heck are you doing?

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

I love, love, love this image! Lachlan was so intent on watching everything I was doing he went cross-eyed with concentration. Look at that fluffy hair and little pixie ears. Absolutely delicious!

Bear with me

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

Lachlan’s mummy and daddy bought his favourite teddy that he had been gifted. I included it in quite a few of his images and it looked great in this setup. As you can see this baby was wide awake and keen to see everything that was going on. He was pretty chilled out just hanging in the bucket!

Some bunny loves you

Who knows what the situation will be like at Easter. So I had to get my fix with this baby. I’m not ashamed to admit I broke out the bunny bonnet!

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

I’m not sure how Lachlan felt about it. I think he looked pretty stinking cute!

Mugshots

I am still enjoying baby mugshots and Lachlan being super awake made it easy. The hardest part was narrowing down the hundreds I took into his gallery.

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

Being a model is so exhausting

Guess what? Right at the end of the session as I was getting the family images, Lachlan finally decided to crash out!

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

Such a gorgeous family.

Closed…for now

It’s funny to think that when Lachlan looks back at his baby photos all he will see is a beautiful moment in time. He will comment on how young his mum and dad look and laugh at how cute he is. He will see love and joy in his images. He won’t remember the crazy, unprecedented times that came directly after his studio session. We may be on lockdown right now but we will get through this. I am using this time constructively to clear out my prop cupboards in the studio and taking the opportunity to do on-line training. I am also reviewing my website, customer literature and workflows. So once the world gets healthy again JB Moments Photography will be back better than ever and ready to capture your moments in a way that will make you smile.

 

Studio Session – Baby Oliver

Newborn Photography - JB Moments, , , , , , ,

Baby Photography

A baby boy may leave smudges in your house and also on your heart.

Oh Baby

Oh boy! Baby Oliver came into my studio at 11 days new and totally rocked his newborn photoshoot.

Mum had bought with her the pram shawl that her gran had knitted when she was a baby. We absolutely had to use that. I love it when clients bring in something personal to them. It makes the final images that much more personal and unique to them.

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

As you can see Master Oliver is super chill about it all.

Baby Bear

Oliver wasn’t much for sleeping (apart from when we wanted him awake – typical boy!). But when I put him in my beanbag that is designed specifically for posing babies for composite photographs, he got comfy. He did have a little power nap.

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography
I am beary tired.

I chose the image where he is having the cutest little yawn to use in the final composite. I’m in love with how it turned out.

Wide Awake Club

Even when Oliver was awake, he was quite happy to look about with his big beautiful eyes. As long as he got his milk on tap whenever it was required!

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

He was perfectly content laying in this pose just surveying his surroundings. I absolutely adore his hair. He also had the longest eyelashes 🙂

Heart and Sole

Talking of things that make me go all gooey inside. I simply cannot resist pictures of baby feet. It’s not like I have a foot fetish per se. I can take or leave adult feet (unless they are in heels on a boudoir shoot – okay maybe I am more into feet than I first thought!). But newborn feet, toes, the soles of their feet with their flakey skin that disappears so quickly. Well, it’s like crack for me!

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

Oliver’s feet lovingly cradled in mum’s hand were no exception. Surely it’s not just me; they are delicious, right?

Don’t Mug Me Off

I introduced baby Mugshots in Miss Harley’s blog, and Master Oliver did a great job as well.

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

Don’t you think he looks like he is squaring up for a fight here? I think this would look amazing as a large canvas on a wall.

As always the time I had with Oliver seemed to be over in a flash, and off he went in his hot air balloon.

Baby Boy - JB Moments Photography

Well, not really, off he went in his car seat with mum and dad. But wouldn’t it be cool if he had!

 

 

 

Studio Session – Baby Harley

Newborn Photography - JB Moments, , , , , , ,

Baby Photography

Thank heavens for little girls

It’s a baby girl!

It feels like an age since I had a baby girl in the studio so when Miss Harley came in at 15 days new it was love at first sight – well for me anyway 🙂

Baby Girl - JB Moments Photography

Look at those cheeks and those rosebud lips. Absolute perfection!

Flower Power

Mum had mentioned in the pre-shoot questionnaire that she loved flowers and fairies but was happy to be guided by me. I didn’t have anything fairy related for a baby but flowers, flowers I could do.

Baby Girl - JB Moments Photography

I had been wanting to use this sunflower composite for ages and this was just the excuse I needed (just in case you’d thought I’d somehow shrunk the baby or found a humungous sunflower!!).

She looks very peaceful in her sunflower slumber but soon she was wide awake and looking straight at me!

Baby Girl - JB Moments Photography
This wasn’t what I meant when I said ‘bucket list’!

Baby Mugshots

So I used the fact that she was awake to my advantage to try out my new mugshot style. These are simple black and white images that focus on expressions. My plan is to also offer them at my 4, 8 and 12 month grow with me sessions and I think it will be cool to see how their little personalities develop over the year.

Baby Girl - JB Moments Photography

In terms of wall art, black and white images are timeless classics.

When two become three

Miss Harley’s parents weren’t sure they were up for being in the images at first but they soon came around, especially for a silhouette image that focuses purely on their connection and love as a new family unit.

Family Photography by JB Moments Photography

I just adore these images so much 🙂

Up, up and away

Harley was a total dreamboat to work with. Even when she decided that she was done with sleeping she just watched me with her big blue eyes, quite content. Our session was over far too quickly. I made good use of the time mum and dad needed to put on their coats to get as many snuggles with Harley as possible. And yes if I’m honest there may have been some head sniffing going on as well!

Baby Girl - JB Moments Photography

Dream big, little one.