A family photoshoot is a fantastic gift for all the special Mums (and Mums-to-be!) out there, a keepsake that will last a lifetime.

Keep your eyes peeled on this blog, because very soon I will be offering a 10% discount on all Bumps, Babes and Beyond Gift Vouchers which would make the ideal present for a special Wife, Partner or Mum…. Watch this space!

Now that I have a little time on my hands (between being huge and pregnant and attempting to run around after my 2 and 4 year old crazy boys) I thought, time to get cracking!

I am now pleased to say that at last, you can now purchase branded ‘Bumps, Babes and Beyond’ Portrait Photography Gift Vouchers to be used against the cost of any package, in any denomination, and personalised with a message if desired . They are valid for 6 months from date of issue and would make a wonderful present for someone special.

Perfect for Mothers Day!

I was experimenting with a mid grey background as you can get some really good effects with it – I think these came out really well!

The photography is very physical and I have been under strict orders to take it easy throughout this pregnancy (easier said then done when you have a 2 year old and a 4 year old who want play time!) but I have had a notice on my main site to say I’ll be accepting new clients from April 2012.

Well… April 2012 is now fully booked which is great news… I can’t wait to get back into the swing of things and have spent my time servicing my gear, checking out new equipment and software, and come March I’ll be dusting off the lenses to capture the new arrival!

I now have a ‘Newborn’ section on my main website, and I have refreshed some of the other photos on there too.

Here’s a link to the Newborn gallery….

Comments welcome!

Anyone with a digital SLR camera will know that sensors can and do get dirty and leave unsightly dust spots on a photo. I am pretty lucky and rarely suffer from this, also I am a dab hand at cleaning up minor spots myself so it never becomes an issue, but it’s always good practice to send off your camera once a year to make sure everything is in tip-top condition and get it professionally sorted.

I am also getting my most used lens looked at, just to check the focusing and glass alignment. My camera and lens take a lot af wear and tear and abuse in all weather conditions, so it’s really important to make sure everything is spruced up and still working as it should be.

Servicing is expensive… but worth it!

Some sneak peek pictures below; I don’t normally upload so many but I had so many favourites!

Tara is so photogenic it was like working with a seasoned model!

I love this combination of studio + lifestyle as it really is the best of both worlds. You get the opportunity to get those slightly more formal/controlled family shots, and then we can move on and take some beautiful fun and natural pictures of the children doing what they do best – being children! I really enjoyed this session as we got such a variety of styles with all different sorts of natural window light, plus the family was just lovely!

Now I am obviously completely biased but clearly he’s going to break some hearts in a few years

Bobby was a few weeks early and was a tiny lad, even my newborn size props were too big! It’s lovely to photograph babies when they are very small though, as you can really emphasise the tiny-ness of them. It’s wonderful for parents to look back and be reminded of just how small they once were and how much they have grown. With Bobby’s appetite I am sure Mum and Dad will be looking back at that pretty quickly!

I really enjoyed photographing him as he has such a handsome little face and his Mum Sandie (who I have photographed before) was a real inspiration, such a natural Mum and so patient and easy going. A lovely family.