THIS WEEK WE POUR OVER SOME EPIC IMAGES OF THE BEAUTY OF PREGNANCY, AND OPEN UP WITH SOME HONEST CHAT ABOUT THE PHYSICAL CHANGES IT ENTAILS. WOMEN ARE MEANT TO JUST SAIL THROUGH THESE CHANGES, GLOWING FROM DAY ONE, GUSHING ABOUT HOW PERFECT IT ALL IS.. BUT IS IT?

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.

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.

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.