THOUGHT I’D CHECK IN WITH A LITTLE BONUS FAMILY SESSION, TO BREAK UP ALL THE MATRIMONIAL MAGIC I ‘VE BEEN POSTING THIS WEDDING SEASON. AND THIS GORGEOUS FAMILY INVITED ME BACK AFTER THEIR BUMP SHOOT, TO PHOTOGRAPH THEIR LITTLE HEARTBREAKER, HEIDI. PLUS, MOTHER KATY OFFERS SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO PREP FOR A SESSION LIKE THIS, AND WHY WE SHOULD ALL BE ENJOYING THEM.

I’M NO GOOD AT NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS. (QUITE THE OPENER, HUH?!) BUT THE ONE THING I ALWAYS RESOLVE TO DO, EVERY YEAR NOW WITHOUT FAIL, IS THIS POST; THE BLOG POST WHERE I FORCE MYSELF TO SIT DOWN WITH MY WORK OF THE PAST YEAR, AND DIGEST IT. IF YOU FANCY SITTING WITH ME, GRAB A CUPPA (OR A SOMETHING A BIT STRONGER, MINE’S A WHISKEY) AND JOIN ME. I COULD DO WITH THE COMPANY. I’M NOT VERY GOOD AT THIS…

IT’S CHRISTMAS EVE, AND I’M USING THAT AS THE PERFECT EXCUSE TO SHARE THIS OH-SO-TOPICAL FAMILY SESSION. WE’VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY HERE, A SUPER STYLISH CHRISTMAS TREE AND LOTS AND LOTS OF FAIRYLIGHTS. WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT? STICK ON SOME CHRISTMAS MUSIC, GRAB A HOT CHOCOLATE AND COSY UP WITH THIS WEEKS POST. I PROMISE, IF YOU’RE NOT FEELING FESTIVE ALREADY, THIS WILL GET YOU IN THE MOOD!

SO THIS WEEK WE FLICK THROUGH SOME STUNNING FAMILY SESSIONS I SHOT WITH GRACE, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE BIRTH OF GORGEOUS BABY THEO. NOT ONLY IS GRACE A PREVIOUS BRIDE OF MINE, BUT SHE IS ALSO A FITNESS INSTRUCTOR TRAINED IN PRE AND POST-NATAL HEALTH, FITNESS AND NUTRITION. GRACE HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO CHAT WITH ME ON THE SUBJECT A BIT, TO SHED A LITTLE LIGHT (AND REASSURANCE) ON THE CRAZY CHANGES THAT PREGNANCY AND BIRTH HAVE ON A WOMAN'S BODY.

THIS BABY SHOOT IS A VERY SPECIAL ONE, AS THE DARLING LITTLE LADY AT THE CENTRE OF IT IS MY NIECE. MY YOUNGER BROTHER AND HIS AWESOME WIFE HAVE CREATED A SECOND HUMAN BEAN, AND SHE'S PERFECT. YES I'M BIASED. AND NO, I DON'T CARE... BECAUSE LOOK AT HER. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION INDEED.

FAMILY SESSIONS USUALLY HAVE A VERY IMPROMPTU VIBE ANYWAY, BUT WHEN I STAYED WITH ANDREW AND CHRISSIE THIS JANUARY, IT REALLY WAS OFF THE CUFF! AS THE TEAM WHO RUN THE INCREDIBLE WEDDING VENUE THE WESTMILL, IN DERBY, WE THOUGHT IT HIGH TIME THEY GOT SOME FAMILY PHOTOS IN THE GORGEOUS SETTING.

FOLLOWING A FAVOURITE BUMP SHOOT FROM LATE LAST YEAR, WE GET TO MEET BEAUTIFUL BABY LILY. RAVI AND PATI INVITED ME BACK TO THEIR GORGEOUS HOME TO MEET THEIR LITTLE LADY, AND CAPTURE HER CHARACTER AT A TENDER SIX WEEKS. WE WERE EVEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO CAPTURE HER FIRST SMILE!!

THIS WEEK WE HANG OUT WITH GORGEOUS LITTLE MARIELLA, FOR ANOTHER AT-HOME PORTRAIT SHOOT. BUT DON'T LET THE CUTE CHUCKLES AND PEACEFUL SLEEPING FOOL YOU. ONCE LITTLE PEOPLE CAN CRAWL, THESE SESSIONS BECOME A HUGE CHALLENGE. I THOUGHT THIS WEEK, WE'D CHAT ABOUT HOW BEST TO PREPARE FOR BABY PORTRAIT SESSIONS, AND WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHERS' APPROACH.

I'VE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL YEAR OF BUMP SHOOTS, AND HERE IS YET ANOTHER TO MELT YOU. THIS TIME, EMILY CELEBRATES HER GROWING BUMP WITH HER STUNNING LITTLE DAUGHTER CAMILLA. BE SURE TO READ THROUGH TO EMILY'S NEARLY-PARENT Q&A, TO HEAR ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE OF THE SHOOT, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO GET THE BUMP OUT FOR PHOTOS. AND WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE LITTLE CAMILLA TRYING TO SHOW OFF HER TUMMY TOO.. OH THE CUTENESS!

SO HERE IS THE OBLIGATORY "BEST OF THE YEAR" POST, WHICH I APPROACH WITH BOTH DREAD AND EXCITEMENT IN EQUAL MEASURE. WHY?! BECAUSE I AM THE ABSOLUTE WORST AT RECOGNISING MY OWN ACHIEVEMENTS, AND ALSO PRETTY DIRE AT PICKING MY FAVOURITE OF ANYTHING. CALL ME INDECISIVE! BUT HERE WE ARE, AND SINCE THIS WAS MY BIGGEST EVER YEAR, IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT I GIVE IT A GO.

THIS WEEK I WANTED TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE MOST FESTIVE OF MY BABY SHOOTS! IS THERE ANY BETTER WAY TO WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS?

YUP, THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE WATER. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE ARE MAKING BEAUTIFUL BABIES ALL OVER THE PLACE! AND I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO PHOTOGRAPH A LOT OF THEM. THIS TIME THOUGH, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE TRANSFORMATION AND TOUCHING STORY OF MATERNITY-NEWBORN SESSIONS. DAVE AND KATIE ASKED ME TO SHOOT NOT JUST THEIR BABY BUMP, BUT ALSO TO COME BACK JUST FOUR DAYS AFTER XENNA'S BIRTH, TO RECREATE SOME OF THE SAME SHOTS WITH THE BABY. THIS IS BECOMING SUCH POPULAR IDEA, AND ITS EASY TO SEE WHY.

THIS WEEKEND, WE SHARE A GORGEOUS BABY SESSION WITH LITTLE OSCAR. AT NO MORE THAN SIX WEEKS OLD, HE AND HIS PARENTS WILL ABSOLUTELY MELT YOU. AND WITH ALL THIS SNOW, THAT CAN ONLY BE A GOOD THING... BE SURE TO FLICK THROUGH TO SEE THE CHANGE IN HIM IN TWO SESSIONS, JUST TWO WEEKS APART!

An adorable baby and family session with baby Penelope.