Let’s Work Together!If your theatre group needs funding for an upcoming show, event, or any other project, I’d love to help. A headshot photoshoot can provide a fun experience for your young performers while raising essential funds to keep your programs thriving.
Interested in organising a headshot fundraiser for your group? Get in touch today!

My signature sessions offer something a bit different to a typical newborn session. During these sessions we create something bespoke to your child. Whether that is including sentimental items, flowers that you had at your wedding, or flowers that have a significant meaning for you. I will create a set of images that will make you smile for years to come and will look amazing on your walls.

You can rest assured that my signature work is of award winning standard, meaning you know you will be receiving stunning images. All the set ups I create use fresh flowers and foliage. This gives us a greater choice of colour, texture and flower type, it also means we work more seasonally - reflecting the time of year your baby was born. Every year when those flowers bloom, when you see them whilst walking to nursery, to school, on a family day out you will remember just how much they have grown from that photograph to then <3

Other examples of bespoke set ups:

Both sessions do include family photos and/or sibling photos. Both sessions are full of photos you will love for years to come, and all are taken in my Sidcup Studio.
If you love the classic, simple shots, then standard is probably right up your street. But, if you'd love to have something bespoke, something special for your baby, then the signature session is for you - we can create something meaningful, and show stopping - something just as unique as your baby.

If you would like to discuss you newborn session, any ideas you have or you aren't sure which option is best for you, just drop me a message, or give me a call!

I didn't get into newborn photography for awards—I simply love capturing those tiny, fleeting moments that pass by so quickly. But this year has started with some incredible news…
I’ve been awarded Newborn Photographer of the Year and Photographer of the Year! It’s such an honour to receive these titles from The Guild of Photographers and to win a Newborn Photographer of the Year title for the third year in a row is something I never expected.
Entering competitions, for me, has always been about pushing myself to create something special for every one of my clients. I want to be able to capture something unique for each and every baby that comes through the studio door.
The Guild of Photographers run a year long competition, where you must enter consistently to be in with a shot of placing in the top ten. This year, not only was I the highest scoring newborn photographer, but I got the most points in any one category! When my name was called for Photographer of the Year I couldn't believe it, it truly was such a huge moment for me.

The ideal time for newborn photography is within the first two weeks of life. At this age, babies are still very sleepy and curl up naturally, making it easier to capture those beautiful, peaceful poses. If you’re based in Sidcup, or nearby areas like Bexley or Bromley, I recommend booking your session while you’re still pregnant, ideally during your second or third trimester.

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable newborn photography session, I recommend bringing the following essentials to my Sidcup studio:


- Nappies & Wipes: For any quick changes during the session.
- Favourite Blanket: A familiar item can help soothe your baby.
- Feeding Supplies: Whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, it's helpful to have feeding items ready for breaks.
- Dummy (Pacifier): If your baby uses one, this can be great for settling them between shots. Even if you baby doesn't use one at home, it can be really helpful during your session if you are happy for one to be used short term.
If you have any personal items, such as a family heirloom or special toy, feel free to bring those along too. Personal touches can make your photos even more meaningful.

For your newborn, simple is best. Soft, neutral colours like cream, white, grey, or pastel shades work beautifully. Avoid bright patterns or logos, as they can distract from the focus on your baby.

For parents and siblings, I recommend coordinating outfits in soft, neutral tones such as whites, greys, or earthy colours. These shades create a timeless feel and help keep the focus on your newborn. The goal is to ensure the photos look harmonious without outfits overpowering the shots.

Your baby’s comfort is my top priority during the session. Before coming to the studio, it’s a good idea to feed your baby to ensure they’re full and relaxed. A well-fed baby is more likely to be sleepy, which is ideal for capturing those peaceful, posed shots.
Here’s how I’ll ensure your newborn is comfortable in the studio:
- Warm Studio Environment: Babies love warmth, so I keep the studio comfortably heated to make sure your baby stays cosy throughout the session.
- Dress Your Baby Lightly: It’s best to dress your baby in something easy to remove without disturbing them, as I’ll be swaddling them or photographing them without clothes.

I always allow plenty of time for breaks, whether for feeding, changing, or soothing your baby. There’s no rush—the session is designed to be calm and flexible, so I can capture beautiful, natural moments.

If you're in or around Sidcup, Kent, booking your newborn session early ensures you’ll have a spot during those precious first two weeks of life. I offer different packages that will suit your needs and budget. My studio in Sidcup is fully equipped with a variety of props, backdrops, and everything we’ll need for a successful session. It’s a calm, welcoming space where you can relax while I take care of capturing your baby’s first moments.

Newborn photography is about more than just taking pictures—it’s about preserving the magic of your baby’s first days. By preparing ahead of time and following these tips, you can ensure a relaxed and enjoyable experience that results in photos you’ll treasure for years to come.

If you’re ready to book your newborn photography session at my Sidcup studio, or if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch. I look forward to helping you capture these special moments.

1. How long does a newborn photography session last?
Newborn photography sessions typically last between 2-4 hours. This allows plenty of time for feeding, changing, and getting your baby settled.
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2. Can siblings be included in the newborn photoshoot?
Yes! I love including siblings in newborn sessions. I’ll guide you on the best ways to incorporate them into the photos for beautiful family shots.


3. What if my baby is fussy during the photoshoot?
Newborns can be unpredictable, and that’s perfectly normal. I plan for plenty of time for feeding, comforting, and breaks. Patience is key, and we’ll capture great images even if your baby needs extra soothing.


4. How far in advance should I book my newborn session?
I recommend booking during your pregnancy, ideally by your second or third trimester, to ensure availability within the first two weeks after birth.


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By following these preparation tips, you can feel confident that your newborn photoshoot in my Sidcup studio will be a relaxed and memorable experience that results in beautiful, lasting memories.

Last year I completed my Craftsman panel with the Guild of Photographers. I was completely overwhelmed and delighted to be upgraded to Mast Craftsman, a title which only 8 photographer's in the UK holds.

Below I have detailed my statement that was read to the panel of judges and the images I created for the panel. Majority of the images were created during my regular newborn client sessions, keeping the work very much in keeping with what I offer my wonderful families visiting my Sidcup based Studio.

I have been self employed within this industry since I graduated from my degree in photography over 12 years ago. The first newborn that I photographed was my nephew, 10 years ago this year and it was then a spark of joy grew and I knew what I wanted to do with my photography business. The images I took that day for my sister could not be further from the ones I show you today. During the last decade I have trained, studied, practiced, and then trained some more. I have been a member of the Guild for 7 years, entering the Image of the Month competition since I joined and I enjoy the challenge and push IOM provides me. Jo Bradley has been my mentor for a number of years now, helping me gain my Qualified status in April 2021, giving me numerous feedback sessions, and most recently she has mentored me with this panel I am showing today. The improvement in my work over this time is clear to see when looking at my first entries into the image of the month. With every session - images from these shoots here today - my goal is always to make images that parents treasure, and so regardless of the other elements I bring in, the baby is always the most important. In every image lighting is carefully considered, props and foliage used to add to a story, to work with colours and skin tones. All these elements that I have learned to work with, and have incorporated into my business, to the work that I am known for. ​

Click the button below to find out more about how we can work together to create your perfect session!

​Now, about gender swaying. For some couples, it's a way to feel more in command amidst the uncertainty of conception. Whether it's following specific dietary guidelines rumoured to increase the likelihood of conceiving a boy or a girl, or meticulously timing intercourse, these methods can offer a sense of agency in an otherwise unpredictable journey.


Let's talk diet. According to some theories, consuming foods rich in potassium and sodium, like bananas and potatoes, may boost the odds of conceiving a boy. Some say a high calorie diet helps your chances of having a boy - The theory is that during famine and war—when times are difficult and food may be scarce, women are more likely to conceive girls. But when food is plenty, women tend to conceive more boys.

​Conversely, a diet high in magnesium and calcium, found in leafy greens and dairy products, is believed to lean towards conceiving a girl. A diet low in sodium is also rumoured to help to conceive a girl.


While these dietary tweaks might sound promising, it's essential to approach them with a pinch of salt (pun intended). The science behind these claims is murky at best, and there's no guarantee of success.

​As for timing, some methods suggest pinpointing ovulation to sway the gender in your favour. For those hoping for a girl, intercourse a few days before ovulation is purported to be more favourable, as female sperm reportedly have greater endurance. Conversely, aiming for intercourse closer to ovulation may boost the chances of conceiving a boy, as male sperm are said to be faster swimmers but have a shorter lifespan.


However, it's vital to temper expectations with realism. While these methods might yield success stories for some, there's no magic formula for guaranteeing the gender of your baby. Mother Nature likes to keep us guessing, and sometimes, the best-laid plans go awry.


Ultimately, whether you're dreaming of bows or bowties, the most important thing is a happy, healthy baby. And when that precious little bundle finally arrives, we'll be here to capture the moments that you'll cherish forever.


If you're in Kent or South East London and seeking newborn photography that celebrates the beauty of new life, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to schedule your session, and let's create memories that will last a lifetime.

The wonderful Stevie at Serenity by Stevie offers womb and fertility massage therapy  and says:
Whatever chapter of life you’re navigating I want to help and support you.
 
Womb and fertility massage therapy can help you;
 Prepare your body physically and emotionally for IVF treatment
 Offer menopause relief
 Improve IBS and digestive issues 
 Support C- section scar healing recovery 
 Support you physically, emotionally and spiritually after baby loss 
 Assist you at any stage of your fertility journey 
 Relieve heavy and painful periods 
 Offer relief for endometriosis and fibroids 
 Assist with improving egg health 
 Break down scar tissue that can cause blockages in the fallopian tubes 
 Clear internal congestion caused by inflammation and cysts 
​
If you’re looking for an alternative more holistic approach then please contact me via email or
Instagram;
serenitybystevie@mail.com
@_serenitybystevie_
I can’t wait to meet you and start your healing journey.
Love
Stevie

Capturing Fleeting Moments that Change and Disappear

A Newborn's Fleeting Nature:

Newborns have an extraordinary ability to change and grow in the blink of an eye.  Their tiny fingers and toes, the soft tufts of hair, and the serene expressions are snapshot moments that deserve to be cherished forever, before you know it your tiny baby will be crawling away, climbing and exploring, eating and maternity leave will be over.

As a newborn photography specialist, I am dedicated to preserving these fleeting moments and creating timeless artworks that capture the essence of your little one.

The Power of Photography:

Photography allows us to freeze time and preserve memories that otherwise might fade away within the sleepless nights and endless nappy changes. Each photograph tells a story, a beautiful narrative of your journey as a parent. The gentle embrace, the adoring gaze, and the delicate connection between you and your newborn are captured in the form of parent portraits, with love and care, creating memories that will be treasured for generations.

The Guild’s 2022 awards ceremony was  held on 4th February 2023 in Stoke-on-Trent - the evening celebrates the success of photographer’s from not just around the UK, but internationally also, across a wide variety of genres.
The Image of the Year in the different categories kicked off the evening for me - The judges had chosen their 10 favourite stand alone images in each categories back in December and at the awards they announced the runner up and winning image.
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​Not only did one of my favourite images of the year win runner up in the Baby and Toddler category, but one of my newborn images also came runner up in the Newborn category.

The image of Amaya (left) was a follow on from a photograph from her newborn session - during lockdown I had to temporarily close my business, like parents up and down the country I had to homeschool my daughter and we ended up spending a lot of time at our allotment. The allotment became such a joyful break from the world around us - and whilst I could not grow my business, I could grow food and flowers. This lead to me commissioning my greenhouse prop and creating the images that combined both my favourite things. This has continued to develop my use of florals which has grown and become more refined. More recently I have been exploring the meanings of flowers and plants along side my newborn imagery. The newborn image of Aarika shows her sleeping, surrounded by shasta daisies - which mean: 'happiness', 'cheerfulness', 'friendship' and 'wholeness'.

During the past year I have been submitting images regularly, pushing myself to create beautiful photographs for my clients, and, with their permission, entering them into competition. For me this is a good way to obtain feedback from internationally recognised judges and find ways to improve the standard of my work.

In doing so I was creating a body of work that on Saturday night gained me the title of Newborn Photographer of the Year 2022 and Photographer of the Year 2022.
I can honestly say that my jaw dropped when my name was called!

I am so excited to see what 2023 brings, I want to continue to develop my work with flowers, but most of all, I want to capture your precious babies and freeze time for you so you can remember always how teeny they once were.

Prenatal Yoga is a beautiful practice of self-care, offering many benefits
for yourself, as well as your growing baby. It is an excellent way to
prepare the mind, body and spirit for the many transitions you will
experience during your pregnancy, labour and childbirth as well as the
wonderful transition of being born into a Mother. Classes offer
invaluable support, breathing techniques, modified poses, specifically
for the pregnant body, which can help strengthen and relax your body,
and sooth your mind during pregnancy, labour & the birth process.
Additionally, these practices will give you the opportunity to connect
more deeply with yourself and your growing baby.
Through the practice of prenatal yoga it can help woman to gain
physical & mental strength & emotional support, power and receptivity
during their pregnancy. Classes offer a nurturing, safe space & the
opportunity to discuss how you are feeling, any issues arising in your
pregnancy which you may find wonderful tips and ideas from other
Mums. We work on yoga postures and breathwork which may help
manage or ease discomfort you may experience during each trimester.
As baby grows and our bodies change, the practice of prenatal yoga
offers tools to help manage the mental and physical energy and
strength required during pregnancy, labour and birth.
There are so many amazing benefits Prenatal Yoga can offer such as
helping woman to enhance, strength & stamina, improves posture &
circulation. As your baby grows within more energy & strength is
required for the tremendous amount of work your body is doing daily
to nourish little one, as well as carrying the weight of growing baby.
Yoga helps our posture, alleviates tension in the pelvis, lower back,
hips, chest, upper back, neck and shoulders as well as help us find our
balance which is physically challenged as baby grows. Circulation is
enhanced within our joints and our muscles are elongated during
practice which helps decrease swelling & enhances our immunity
creating a thriving place for baby to grow.

Breath work practice is an invaluable tool to you will learn in prenatal
yoga to help support you through your pregnancy, labor, birth and into
motherhood.
Through deep breathing, the nervous system goes into
parasympathetic mode, which helps us relax, releases all the wonderful
natural hormones in the body which can help ease discomfort, help
sleep, digest food better & helps our immunity operate at optimal level.
You will learn to consciously breath during each yoga pose, which may
sometimes be challenging. This is a good tool for labor during surges
/contractions. If we are consciously breathing, our blood pressure and
heart rate is regulated keeping us in parasympathetic/relaxation mode.
Calm mama means calm baby.
This transfers into the time of labor, allowing one to practice being
"comfortable with the uncomfortable" through our breathwork. As you
inhale, you acknowledge the tension that is felt. As you deeply exhale,
you let go of it more and more with each breath.
These are some of the many wonderful benefits of prenatal yoga - one I
encourage in all my classes is building a community! It can be very
comforting to practice with other Mums to be who understand what we
are going through. The age old saying “It takes a village to raise a child’
is very true! However now days with living across the globe, family or
our village may not be close by. Prenatal yoga classes are a wonderful
opportunity to gather your village and build a wonderful community to
help support you during your pregnancy and into motherhood!

Beginning a prenatal yoga practice allows us to slow down and focus
attention on what is going on within our bodies. Through working with
our breath and practicing each pose, you become more aware of what
is going on within helping you to connect more deeply with baby.
The practice of prenatal yoga is a wonderful invitation that allows us to
stop and slow down from our busy days. Through the practice of yoga,
you are setting an incredible intention of taking care of yourself and
your baby.

By ​Natalie Yunnie – Postnatal Doula & Yoga Teacher specialising in Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga

Natalie teaches regularly at The Calm Collective in Sidcup and The Yoga House London.

You can find out more about Natalie and the wonderful services she offers on Facebook or instagram @nattieyoga

Are you a small business in and around Bexley that offers a wonderful service to mums to be and new mums? Get in touch and let me know if you would like a guest blog space!

I think it as fair to say it's been a long 16 weeks since I shut the doors to my studio. I am thrilled to be back open now. It has been a stressful time, trying to ensure the safety of my wonderful clients and my family too, BUT I would not open unless I felt I could keep you all safe. 

With that in mind, I want to share with you what I have done to reassure you that my safe is safe.

Now, most of the following points I did anyway - I always use hand santiser during a session, outfits, wraps and fabrics have always been washed between sessions and I have always cleaned. This should be standard practice with all photographers. I am now, however, leaving a minimum of 24hours between sessions, this does mean I can book fewer sessions but it allows me to air the studio trying to give any germs less of a chance to be transmitted between clients.

I will be wearing a mask throughout the session and I have face masks available for any clients who do not have their own. I will be asking that siblings are only present in the studio for their photographs - this is to minimise the time they spend in an enclosed space.

Prior to all sessions I will need to confirm everyone has been well for the previous 72 hours. I will be taking my children's and my own temperature on a regular basis in order to comply with this.

If you are a newborn client your session will be arranged between 14 and 21 days post birth, this is to allow a 14 day isolation from the hospital (this maybe changed depending on the hospital protocol).

During your session I will be asking you to social distance as much as possible, sometimes, with older babies I do need some help reassuring your little one, in these situations I will move further away to allow you and your little one space. I have rearranged the studio to allow a bit more space between my shooting area and your seating space as well.

With all these adjustments in place I feel the studio is as safe as it can possibly be, I am more than happy to discuss any points with you prior to your session to make sure we are all comfortable and I very, very much look forward to creating some beautiful images for you to cherish...Even if your little one is a little older than my usual newborn window - Little Asees just above came in at 3 months old for her session - we got some gorgeous sleepy shots, and some brilliant smiles too!

I have made a list of activities to try. I hope that most of them are using things around the house, so and I have avoided anything with dried pasta or rice where possible!!! :)

I would LOVE it if you can share any images of your kids doing these activities with me - I will have my camera out a lot in the new few weeks, so it would be amazing if you can grab some photos too <3

• Create a hopscotch with bits of cardboard, paper, paper plates - great for number recognition and for older children you can get them to jump to number using sums.

• Hoop toss using kitchen roll tubes and paper plates with the centre cut out. Great for motor skills, paint and decorate the ‘hoops’ for fun with colours too.

​

• DIY scavenger hunt! List toys you can see on the floor, mark out a space or get a toy box for them to fill with the treasure, get them to race around and see who can complete their list first! Tidying up need not be a battle!

​

• Create a dice with cardboard - give 6 exercises/instructions “Jump 5 times!”, “spin in a circle”, “flap like a bird”…great for burning a little energy!

​

• Finger print art - what can you turn painty finger print into?! Bumblebees, lady birds, aliens, sweets…create a story with your little creations!

​

• If you have a cardboard box, cut out arm holes, with the open side facing away from your child, get them to reach in and guess an object that you place inside! You can use toys, fruit, explore texture, cold items from the fridge, soft, hard!

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• Empty milk cartons? Excellent!! Cut the bottoms off, use them as scoops in the garden, in the bath, use it to catch balls in the garden, the possibilities are endless!

​

• Spare balloons and a spatular can create a great game of tennis!

​

• Create rainbows or pictures using cut up magazines and newspapers, try to get your little one to sort colours for an educational element!

​

• Empty loo rolls can become skittles! So can plastic cups left over from a party!

​

• Packets of chalk are brilliant! Create a hopscotch of instructions, they have to jump from instruction to instruction, “roar and stomp!” “touch your toes” You can get them to throw a beanbag if you have one!

​

• Cover the end of a plastic bottle with a sock, dip in water and washing up liquid and blow for a bubble snake!

​​

• Use decorating tape or masking tape, create paper/card arches for the kids to roll balls through and around, get them to use wooden spoons, their feet.​

• Salt dough is an all time favourite in my house, the basic recipe can proved great entertainment, bake it and then they can paint it for an even longer activity!

​​

• Create magic wants with lolly sticks, stickers and craft supplies!

​​

• Build bridges with cups and lolly sticks for toy animals to walk along!

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• Beads and pipe cleaners can create fab counting and colour based activities! Cut out some kites and attach the pipe cleaners to the base, number them and get your child to add the correct number of beads, colour the kites and get them to thread all beads of the matching colours, write sums on the kites for older children! Make sure you don’t leave little ones alone with beads!! Pegs and a coat hanger is a fab alternative to this :)

​

• ​Colour hunt! Grab some paper of different colours - or just uses pens - get your child to find objects inside or out that match!

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• Got some baking soda in the cupboard? Sprinkle a good layer into a baking tray, using food colouring in vinegar and call syringes make a fizzy colour experiment!

Don't forget to share some photos with me - please! I need to see other faces soon ;)

Stay safe, and sane... Parents, check out the self care blog I did - you need to look after yourself in all this!!!

Cx

Being a new mum the concept of self-care might seem impossible, between the sleepless nights and a baby that seems to want nothing but you through the day finding time for yourself might be the last thing on your mind. I often have new mums come into my studio that say they barely have time for a shower or a hot drink in the first few months of motherhood. 

Self-care is a little bit of a buzz word at the moment and its often a little misunderstood. Self-care is basically just caring for yourself as you do your new baby. I've listed a few ideas below that take less than 20 minutes for you to do and will leave you feeling recharged and ready to go.

•  Try five minutes of guided meditation, there are a lot of free apps out there that  can help you if you've never done this before. Sit somewhere comfortable or lay down if you prefer and take five minutes to listen to your breath, focus on your body and calm that mind of yours.
• Make sure you're drinking enough water. This is such a simple thing to do but something that can really change how you feel – psychically and mentally. Treat yourself to a reusable water bottle and carry it with you.
•  Take some time to be outside, if you have a garden just sit in it and breathe in the fresh air. If you don't have any outside space pop your little one in buggy or sling and head to the nearest park.
•  Watch an episode of your favourite comedy, Schitts Creek on Netflix is a favourite of mine and the episode are less than 20 minutes each.
•  Before you fall asleep, quickly write down three things that happened that day that made you smile, feel happy, or you enjoyed doing. You can also write down all the things you are grateful for – it helps put things into perspective
• Pop on a face mask, this is something that can be done while the baby is napping. Lay back and just be still, although a little nap would be great sometime just being calm and still is as replenishing as a short sleep.
•  Call someone who makes you happy, it could be your mum or best friend, maybe even someone you haven't spoken to in while. Laughter really is the best medicine and if you're feeling a little under the weather a good catch up might be just what you need.

​
Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, take a little time for you, you are just as important as your new addition.

Little Kickers

Have you got a budding footballer in the family or maybe dad is just being hopeful. Either way Little Kickers gives a great introduction into the world of football on a Tuesday morning in Kidbrooke. The great thing about this class is that there is a progression all the way up until 7 years old.

Lily's Learners

A Wednesday class here but who doesn't love a good messy play session especially when its somewhere that means you don't have to clean up! Messy play is extremely important for a child's development. It provides children with an exciting tactile and sensory experience that inspires their curiosity, allows them to explore the world around them and enhances their learning, language and creativity.
Crayzee Barn, Sidcup, DA14 5ET
​

Whilst you are blog reading, why not check out Falkirk Newborn Photographer Nicole. She has written about the best time for a newborn photography session :)

Some smashes are super messy, the cake goes everywhere. The cakes are included in the session fee, and made by my fab baker at Belles Bakery.

Some are a little more reserved, have a good taste and explore but prefer to leave the cake for Mum and Dad to enjoy at home with a cup of tea ;) you get to take the remaining cake home with you!

Cake smash sessions are £99 and you can find my image pricing here

As you can probably tell from the photo spam that is this blog post, I do enjoy a cake smash! They are full of laughter and celebrations.

I'd love to see more of you in for cake smashes in the new year so get in touch if you'd like to book in for your little ones first birthday shoot.

Check our Yeovil photographer Sarah's blog this week on photos to capture this Christmas. She has a massive list of photographs you might want to capture this year to remember your festive fun.

​Each day has a little box tied to it with a treat inside and a festive picture underneath to count down the days. I love it so much each year it brings such memories of my childhood, Christmas Eve always contained a little gift, earrings when I was older, or a treasure hunt when my sisters and I were younger. I am so incredibly lucky to have such a talented mum. 

​Since my Christmas Mini shoots finished I've been left with a  little less Christmas cheer in my day so I fell into the google and Pinterest black hole and started looking at all the other gorgeous ideas out there for re-usable calendars and who knew there were so many out there! 

Hobby Craft have some amazing sets, so you can personalise yours as you wish.

Glitter and Caffeine (amazing blog tittle!!!) has some beautiful ideas to get crafty this advent season.

If you don't feel so crafty, but still want to invest in a re usable advent calendar to start a new tradition and reduce waste Etsy and Not on The High Street have some amazing UK sellers, here are a couple of my favourites:

LisaAngelLtd   has a beautiful personalised LED calendar, or a wonderful advent train!

BettyLovesUK has a really sweet tree which you add colourful baubles to - but her last Christmas order is tonight! So get in there quickly!

Phoebesflummery offers a wooden box calendar with a scandi feel, perfect for little toys or treats!

The Alphabet Gift Shop has a very festive wooden reindeer! I know my kids would love one of these (but nothing beats Nanna's special calendars in this house!).

Bespoke & Oak Co offer this fabulous personalised 'Count Down to Christmas Advent Box'

From wooden boxes to fabric designs, reusable advent calendars are the way forward and here are some ideas of gifts to go inside them.

• small toys (depending on the size of your boxes)
• handmade treats

• chocolates from a box instead of individually wrapped ones
• jokes
• quotes or poems
• funny little memories from the year.

I can't wait for Joshua to see his calendar and I'd love to see pictures of yours this year too!


On my googling search I came across Natalie Moss's blog, a few weeks back she posted about Christmas gifts. Natalie is a Maternity photographer in Surrey, she has blogged about this week.

​Sitter sessions are usually done around 6 months, your little one can sit up independently but isn't quite the crawling escape artist they will soon become. Its such an amazing age to capture on camera, their personalities are developing and they are full of smiles and funny faces that make for amazing pictures to look back on. It is a great chance to capture the incredible changes that happen in such a short space of time.

​Before each session I speak with the you and get a feel for what colours and props you'd like included in your shoot. Each one is as unique are your little one, just take a look at these recent sitter sessions to see what sort of thing you can expect. Sessions are around 45 minutes long in my Sidcup studio, giving up the perfect session to capture your little one showing off their new sitting skills, on their tummy and chewing toes!

If you'd like to find out more about my sitter sessions click here or contact me on clare@clarelongphotography.com

This clock change has my toddler up SUPER early, I was looking at some photographer friend's blogs and thought I would share Derbyshire baby photographer Kathryn Hill's link for tips on settling newborn babies!

I wouldn't be me though if I didn't always want to push to improve and this month after an impromptu model call for an Autumn themed newborn shoot I managed to set up this image which finally scored me hopefully the first of many Silver Awards - which The Guild of Photograph's describe as: "A Silver Bar .. Images that are very well crafted (difficult to achieve)."

​I always want offer my clients something new and be at the top of my game so to have my work recognised like this just pushes me to try harder. The Newborn Photography category must is such a difficult one to judge, I'm not sure I could do it so I'm incredibly happy one of mine scored so highly, alongside some truly incredible photographers.

All of these images are set up in my studio, you get to see your baby in all the set ups and poses. I don't use digital backgrounds as a general rule which means you get something handcrafted for you. You also get to coo over your tiny baby surrounded by seasonal props or as per the image below, the mum's wedding sari.

​My newborn sessions are booking up fast with almost all my spaces for January already taken so if you're expecting or know someone who is that would like a newborn shoot make sure you get in touch with me soon. 

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I'm looking forward to seeing some of you for family shoots over the coming weeks and of course Christmas Minis are almost here too. There's still a few sessions free on Sunday the 10th if you've not booked yet. Whatever you choose to do make sure you take lots of pictures and have fun! 

I love checking out other photographer's work, I have a couple of maternity shoots soon, and love Brooke's work over at Sandpiper Photography, she is a Sunshine Coast Maternity Photographer x