One of the most common things that I hear as a photographer is "what a lovely job you have".
Yes, I have the best job in the world and I am so lucky that I do the job that I do and even luckier that I still love it as much as I did when I first started as a photographer 15 years ago!!

One of the best things about my job is that I get asked to photograph the most special times in people's lives such as weddings and I get asked to photograph the most precious things in people's lives, newborn babies, children and families. For that I am truly priviledged, honoured and thankful.

Back in early 2011 I met Kate and Craig who came along to see me about photographing their wedding in the forthcoming November. As soon as we met I instantly liked them, I liked the way Kate made herself comfy in my home by kicking off her shoes and putting her feet up on my sofa! We had a cup of tea and talked about their wedding. A few days later they booked me and we met up a couple of months later for their pre-wedding shoot with their 3 young children.
Forward to November and the day of the wedding. We all met at Brandshatch Place Hotel and started with the preparations of both the bride and groom. I met up with Craig and their eldest son who was Best Man whilst they got ready and then made my way to see the bride who was very calm and relaxed as she got ready. The initimate family ceremony was full of love, smiles and emotion, with their youngest son giving his mum a cuddle as they signed the register.
The rest of the day just flowed beautifully, we had a few pictures, had dinner and then guests started to arrive for a big party. Kate, Craig and their 3 children started the dancing off with the cutest first dance I've ever seen. Everytime I hear 'their song' it just reminds me of them!

Kate and Craig were over the moon with their wedding photographs, I delivered their album a couple of months later.

Fast forward to early this year. I had an email from Kate asking me about a family photo shoot. I was delighted. I love it when my wedding clients get in touch with me about photographing their babies or their families. And besides, I like to know what they're up to so it's nice when we stay in touch.

We discussed options but what I didn't know, and what came as a shock, was that this was to be a very special family shoot. I remembered Craig hadn't been well during the album design stages. Kate had explained to me in a further email that Craig had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that was in fact terminal just 6 months after the wedding.
As I read Kate's email, tears rolled down my cheeks.

I offered to do a 'day in the life' shoot with the family to capture all the precious family moments such as playtime, bath time, story time. And so we set a date.

The date was last Sunday. I spent the afternoon and early evening with Kate, Craig and their 3 young children whose ages are (almost) 6, 4 and 2.

We had a fun day, the children were play 'wrestling' with daddy - the highlight of my day, because I have a young daughter and I'm surprised by how much energy the boys had!! I learnt all the names of the wrestlers!
The children were great! Despite having broken her arm a few weeks earlier, their young daughter joined in with the wrestling and then made me (pretend) tea and read me a story.

Once the children were all in bed, Kate, Craig and I had a coffee and a chat. I then took a few quiet photographs of them together...and some fun shots of Craig on his own, despite feeling a bit of a wally doing so it was  worth it, we got some great fun pictures!

Throughout my time with the family I didn't do many 'posey' photographs, I just stayed in the background and captured everyday memories, for the children. In years to come as the children get older they will appreciate the photographs that they have with their daddy and will treasure them.
Kate and Craig are a true inspiration, they've coped phenomenally with everything that has been thrown at them within their first year of marriage. The love they have for each other is special.

This is why I do the job I do. I love to capture memories. Every day is a memory and every memory should be treasured.

With Kate and Craig's permission, here are a few photographs from the day.

Homework time, Daddy building a dinosaur!

Enjoying a cuddle in front of the tv...

Bathtime...so precious!

I'd like to thank Kate and Craig for having me in their home and allowing me to capture precious memories for them. I wish them all the very best!

xx

Last month baby Harrison entered the world so I photographed him when he was just 10 days new. 
We spent a few hours together, and after a few top ups from mummy we got some fantastic photographs.

Here are a few of my favourites....

If your interested in having some newborn baby portraits taken please contact me claire@level11.co.uk

Claire x

Meet Jemima, 5 days...

...if you would like to book in for some un-forgetable photographs of your baby please call Claire on 0845 0711178 to book your session.

Baby photographs, especially newborn, are so important to have as they capture the expressions and character of your little baby.
Newborn photographs are best taken in the first 10 days. Capturing the newness of your baby, the soft, scrummy, curled up, amazing little creation that you have made - treasured memories that pass so quickly.

Claire travels to you so that you can relax without the worry of packing every possible baby necessity into your changing bag...and being a mummy herself to an 18mth old little girl, she has personal experience of 'baby time' - things happen naturally, which means the session can be finished in under an hour...or perhaps 3 hours!

For more information on booking your baby portrait photography please contact Claire.
If you are pregnant and want to book in for your baby bump session...or would like to schedule your newborn shoot please call Claire so we can pencil a date in the diary.

Earlier on, further down, in this blog you will see some baby bump photographs of my friend Sabrina.
Well, here is her beautiful baby Elena born weighing 8lb 4.5oz.

I love shooting newborn babies, it's best to do it within the first 10 days when baby still has the natural curl.

Here are a few of my favourites...

I'm excited to announce the arrival of my new birth announcement cards.

The double sided cards are personalised using photographs that I take at your baby's portrait session. You can choose the photographs that you want to use, your preferred design from my selection and of course add the baby details that everyone wants to know. These new cards not only look fantastic but also make a great keepsake for friends and family.

Here are a couple of the card designs from my selection....

To book your newborn's portrait session and for more information about the announcement cards please call Claire on 0845 0711178 or claire@level11.co.uk 

What better way to announce the arrival of your baby??!

Last week I photographed little baby Layla...who was 10 days old at the first session but I went back to see her for another session when she was 16 days old. Even in those 6 days Layla was so much more alert and awake.
When I photograph newborn babies I like to photograph them in their first 7 days - the earlier the better. I like to photograph them asleep. Layla's mummy was great, she just left me to it and let me move Layla into the positions I wanted her in. I love it when parents trust me like this, being a mummy myself I know how to handle new baby's...plus I have been photographing Michelle's family for over 6 years now so she trusts me completely. I love photographing newborns - they're so scrummy!!

Here are a few favourites.

Big brother...cheeky chappie!

Big, big sister....I love photographing this little family so much, always a joy!

A couple of weeks ago I photographed gorgeous little Leo, 6months old.

Here are a few favourite shots from his session.

Leo with his mummy...celebrating Yummy Mummy week.

This weekend I photographed beautiful Jessica for the MPA Wedding and Portrait Awards.

I love photographing babies, each little person has their own little personality and all are so different. They amaze me, my own little girl who is now 14 months old, fascinates me every day!
6month old Jessica was so smiley, such a happy little girl - with the most fantastic hair! She really was a pleasure to photograph.

Here are a couple of my favourites from the session....

If you are interested in booking a portrait session for the MPA Wedding and Portrait Awards I still have a few spaces left so please do contact me.
You can read more about the competition earlier in the blog. 

Last week I met up with Emma & Justin to meet their new addition, beautiful baby Sonny.
After a bit of a worrying time and nearly two weeks in hospital mummy and daddy were allowed to take home their little man.

When I photograph newborn babies I like to capture them within their first week if possible. I find this is the best time for them as they quickly loose their natural curl. I also like to photograph babies naked or with just a nappy on however this little poppet didn't like to be naked so we kept him wrapped up in his favourite blanket throughout the shoot.

Here are a few of my favourites...

Rock God!!