...or lack of them!

 I have got so much to blog but at the moment I am concentrating on album designs and editing for my lovely clients so bear with me, I promise I will be back to blogging some gorgeous wedding photography and babies very soon!!

For now, here's a cheeky little shot of beautiful Elsie from her First Steps package - where we capture your little 'un as a newborn, once sitting up and toddling!

...A few weeks ago I travelled to a little village just outside Royal Berkshire to meet up with the lovely Sarar and Naysam, and their new baby daughter Aaliyah.

I photographed their wedding almost 2 years ago and a few months ago we met up again for a baby bump shoot in Greenwich.

I was so excited to meet beautiful little Aaliyah and use some of my new pretty things that I use for my baby photography.
Fortunately Aaliyah played along nicely and slept well after a few milk top ups.

Such a pretty little girl, she is going to be spoilt rotten by all of her lovely family!!

Here are just a few sneaky peaks...

As 2012 comes to a close I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of my clients, both past, present and future, and of course the fantastic venues and wedding suppliers who recommend me for all your support in 2012.
I'd especially like to thank my husband, daughter, family and friends for putting up with me!

It's been a fantastic year, full of lots of memories - both for me and for my lovely clients. Lots of beautiful weddings I've had the priviledge of photographing, lots of gorgeous families and lots of scrummy newborn babies who I've photographed.

I'm very lucky to do something that I love and it really is a priviledge, and a honour, to be asked to be your photographer.

This year has had lots of highlights for me, the first was becoming a finalist at the Kent Wedding Awards for the Wedding Photographer of the Year. Sadly I didn't win the title but I will be entering again!!
I also travelled to County Mayo, Ireland to photograph the beautiful wedding celebrations of Alannah and Tom at the gorgeous Mount Falcon Country Estate. You can read about it and see some of the photographs earlier in this blog.
I photographed the youngest newborn I've ever photographed (apart from my own daughter), baby Jack at just 4 days new.
I photographed the daughter of one of my wedding couples exactly one year on from their wedding - and their daughter has the same name as my daughter.
Lots of highlights in 2012 that I can't list them all.

I'm excited as we enter 2013, lots of lovely weddings to look forward too and new babies already booked in for their first photo shoot with me.

BUT, I'm most excited about 2013 as it is my 15th year as a professional photographer so I will be celebrating my 15 years with monthly offers and the odd giveway! So, please do keep an eye on the blog and also keep up to date by giving my facebook page a 'like', www.facebook.com/level11 and you could just benefit!!

I am also excited to be exhibiting at the Wedding Fair at Glow, Bluewater (http://weddingfairatbluewater.com/) in February, 8-10th, and again in October. Plus I will also be exhibiting at the Baby and Toddler Show at Glow, Bluewater in April. 
So, if your planning your wedding please do come along in February and see me at stand S8 for some very special show offers and a look through some of my gorgeous wedding albums.

I have 20 pairs of complimentary tickets to the wedding show to give away, to grab yours please just email me at claire@level11.co.uk

Finally, I'd like to wish you all a very Happy New Year! I hope it's full of love, happiness and fun with good health to enjoy every moment!

Here are just a few of my favourite photographs that I've captured in 2012...

Here's to a sucessful 2013 filled with lots more wonderful memories!

Claire xxxxx

A couple of weeks ago I met up with Carly and James whose wedding I photographed at Cooling Castle Barn last year on Guy Fawkes Night.

It was lovely to see them again exactly a year later to photograph their beautiful baby daughter, Elsie. I love the name Elsie - it's my own daughter's name too!!

Elsie was a little bit older than the usual 10 days new, which is when I like to photograph newborn babies, however at only 5 weeks we still managed to capture beautiful, scrummy photographs of her 'newness'.
After some milk top ups from mummy and daddy, Elsie and I had some cuddles as I settled her for her photo shoot. Such a good girl once she went off and we were able to capture some gorgeous baby photographs that her parents and family will treasure forever.

Here are a few of my favourites....

If your interested in having your newborn baby photographed or if you have a young baby and would like some baby photographs please give me a call on 0845 0711178.

Claire x

Meet 5 week old Baby Elsie

I photographed Elsie's mummy & daddy's wedding day at Cooling Castle Barn almost one year to the day - it was their first anniversary the day after I went to their home to photograph her - so it was lovely to see them again with their new daughter!

At 5 weeks new, Elsie was a little older than most of the babies I photograph as I usually photorgaph newborn babies within the first 10 days.
Elsie took a while to settle but once she was asleep and settled I managed to get some beautiful shots of her.

More to follow....x

Last week I photographed a gorgeous little cutie by the name of Megan who was just 10 days old.

Megan was such a good girl, she didn't murmur once whilst I was with her, a perfect little model for me!!

I also photographed Megan's beautiful and proud big sister, Daisy.

Here are a few of my favourites!

Today, I found a few messages on my facebook page which were hiding. I didn't realise that they were hiding within my messages folder so apologies to anyone who has 'facebooked' me and haven't had a reply - I didn't know, until today!

Anyway, it was there that I found this lovely little comment.

"I have just seen your photography on your website and facebook page. Beautiful photographs..really beautiful. Individual, characterful. I was recently exposed to a presentation of the most stunningly boring portraiture. Your photographs are wonderful. Congratulations. Where are you based? You have to be a lovely person to see people so richly!"

 Thank you so much Clara!

Comments, from my clients or just 'admirers' really do mean a lot to me, so do feel free to comment on my blog or facebook page. Just click the 'comment' tab below each blog post or click on the Facebook icon below each post. You can also follow me on Twitter @Level_Eleven

Meet Baby Jack, at just 4 days young he is my youngest newborn baby so far!

Jack was such a great little model, with regular milk top up's we managed to get him sound asleep and worked quickly, and quietly, to get the shots I wanted.

I am looking forward to capturing Jack's first year as part of my very special Tiny Moments baby package.
I love seeing 'my' Tiny Moments babies grow, they change so much within the first year and it's such an honour to be able to capture such a special time for parents.
Unfortunately the newborn phase is over all too quickly, although it sometimes doesn't feel like it, and it's such a lovely way to look back on and remember how tiny they were.

As a mummy myself, to a now 2 and a half year old little lady, I can appreciate even more now how important it is to record and capture your new baby's early days. I spent so much time (and still do) watching my little girl, whilst she slept, played, gurgled, explored, slept, yawned, smiled, crawled, climbed, walked, fell over, explored some more and most important and special of all, just watched me watching her! It's an amazing experience and one that I feel is so important to capture forever and look back on in years to come.

Here's a very sleepy Jack...

Sucking his thumb..

A little windy smile...

Pondering...one of my personal favourites.

Here is beautiful baby Maximus, or Max, at just 6 days old.
What an absolute cutie he is!!

If your interested in having some professional baby photographs taken please contact me to arrange a newborn session.
I can work around your due date, as we know babies come along in their own time. I like to photograph newborn's as soon as possible, ideally in the first 7 days.

Remember my special offer for all newborn sessions booked in April, you will receive 20 complimentary announcement cards.

I look forward to hearing from you...
Claire

Book your newborn portrait shoot with Claire during April and receive 20 complimentary baby announcement cards.

Just one condition, baby should be 7days or under.

If you are expecting your baby during April and would still like to take advantage of this offer please contact Claire to book your session around your due date. We can always re-schedule when baby arrives.

To book your session, quote 'ft4' and call Claire on 0845 0711178 or email claire@level11.co.uk