5Without a doubt, the most rewarding part of my job is watching the tiny babies that I photograph grow up and turn into their own little characters. Whilst my main focus on newborn photography , I absolutely love photographing families too. I often see babies come back for their first birthday, and some families continue their journey with me long that, so to the families that have chosen me to capture their story time and time again I am forever grateful, this is my ultimate reward. One particular little client has recently been to me for his 15th photography session, and he is only 6 years old! I wanted to share some of his beautiful memories with you all from his photography sessions over the past 6 years. He has had every sort of session that I offer from newborn to family to all the special ones in-between; daffodils, bluebells and even his watermelon smash for his 1st birthday. I first met him back in 2017 for his new born photography session after meeting his parents at a baby event that I attended in Upton just beforehand when they were expecting him. Later on that year he was my first ever outdoor Christmas baby! In 2018 he came came for a bluebell photography session. Bluebell photo sessions in Dorset are my most popular outdoor sessions. I do mini sessions in evenings in April/May. Shortly after the bluebells was his first birthday session. I was so excited that his Mum chose my signature watermelon smash session to celebrate. I was lucky enough to see him again for a third time in 2018 for his Christmas photography session. Our next session was in Spring 2019 , when I started offering Daffodil photography sessions. Shortly after that we met again at the Bluebells. In the summer of 2019 he turned 2 and we celebrated with a family photography session at Sandbanks beach, my favourite outdoor location in Dorset. We met for a 4th time in 2019 for his third Christmas photography session. in 2020 Covid got in our way of so many things and we almost missed out entirely this year! But we just managed to get a mini session in just before Christmas, yay! In 2021 we managed to get a bluebell session in and then again a Christmas one. I can't believe he is now at school! In 2022 we met at the daffodils again. We enjoyed playing in the flowers and getting some more up to date precious memories. In December 2022 we met at Wareham forest again for our annual Christmas photography session. I can't believe how much he has grown since we last met in the Spring! In October 2023 he came to my studio for the first time for his annual Christmas photography session. We had lots of fun! Here is to capturing many more adventures as you grow! I can't wait for our next session together whenever that may be.
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Is anyone else as excited as me for October half term? I think a break is definitely due and we absolutely love this time of the year. My kids seem to be more excited about Halloween than Christmas, I think it might be all the sweets! As usual, I have put together a list of FREE events and things to do across Dorset this half term to keep the kids amused without spending a fortune. I hope you enjoy it, and please share it with your friends. Mr Merlin show in Blandford. 23rd October - 11amCome to the Corn Exchange in Blandford for a FREE Mr Merlin and Okey Dokey the Dragon show at 11am. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tesco - House of HalloweenFollow the clues, find the six members of the Spooky Squad and solve the puzzle to win a prize and inspire all your Halloween celebrations this year. You can also sample delicious food and drink. The Halloween party is taking place on these dates: Tesco Fleets corner, Poole - 21st October Tesco Riverside, Bournemouth - 20th October For more information please visit the Tesco website. The Parks Foundation, FREE events throughout OctoberThe Parks Foundation offers lots of free outdoor events for the family across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Above are just a few of the locations that they offer events at. For more information please visit their facebook page. Castlepoint's 20th Birthday PartyCastlepoint turns 20 years old on 27th October. Save the date and join in 27th & 28th October from 11am - 4pm for our 20th Birthday party outside M&S. Activities will include; Hand outs including free gifts, exclusive discounts and more. Join us every hour at 20 past the hour on both event days between 11am - 4pm to receive a free birthday gift on us. Giant ‘2 0’ installation partnering with Arts University Bournemouth. - Branded cupcakes partnering with @scarlettbakescakes Enjoy a glass of Nozeco Live music Check out their facebook page for more information. Winchester Winch Word HuntOk so technically, Winchester is in Hampshire, but its less than an hour away from Poole and makes a great day out if you are looking to go a little further a field for a change. This October and during the school half-term week(s), there is a free and fun-filled, Halloween-themed trail around the city. The Spooky Winch Word Hunt will run from Saturday 14th October to Tuesday 31st October 2023. Enjoy taking part in the trail and once completed enter a prize draw to win a Halloween-inspired hamper. Before heading out across the city, collect a copy of the Spooky Winch trail sheet from The Visitor Information Centre, The Arc or Winchester City Museum. Hard copies of the trail sheets will be available to collect at these venues from Saturday 14 October 2023. The city centre will be split into nine areas and each area will have its own coloured pumpkin sign. Using the map on the trail sheet, explore the mysterious and eerie cobbled streets of Winchester and seek out all nine Halloween-themed words, hidden in pumpkin signs displayed in the windows of local businesses. Once you've found all nine words, return your completed trail sheet to either of these three locations – The Visitor Information Centre, The Arc or Winchester City Museum, to collect a Halloween-themed treat and be entered into the prize draw to win a Halloween-inspired hamper, filled with lots of great gifts, kindly donated by local businesses. Halloween at Brewery Square, DorchesterFancy Dress: Show off your scariest or most creative costumes! Pumpkin Carving Competition: Carve your way to victory! Trick or Treat: Satisfy your sweet tooth Stilt Walkers: Prepare to be amazed by our eerie entertainers! Music: Dance the time away to hauntingly good tunes! Balloon Modelling: Get twisted with spooky balloon creations! And lots more! Don't miss out on the Halloween event of the year. Mark your calendars, invite your friends, and check their facebook page for more updates. FREE children's events at BCP librariesBournemouth, Poole and Christchurch libraries have some great FREE events going on during October half term. For more information or to book a space, please visit their website.
Christmas is fast approaching and what better way to celebrate than a fun, beautiful photography session for your little ones. After 10 years of providing Christmas outdoor photography sessions, this year I am excited to announce the launch of a brand new type of Christmas session, in my photography studio in Poole, Dorset! Last week I had a few little ones in the studio to test out my new set and I think it is fair to say that they absolutely loved it. I wanted to provide much more than just a photoshoot, so we had milk and cookies, and even snowball fights! Christmas photography sessions are just £95, last up to 20 minutes and you get a minimum of 3 digital images included. Christmas photography sessions are now open to book and spaces are filling up fast. If you book your session before 8th October, you will receive a FREE set of beautiful hand decorated biscuits from Biscuits by Sarah B!
A few weeks ago I met a lovely family at Hengistbury Head in Bournemouth to capture the latest part of their family story. I met them there 2 years ago when their first born was one , and I had the pleasure of seeing them all again with their new addition who has also just celebrated his first birthday. It means so much to be asked back to photograph beautiful growing families and I am excited to be able to share some of their beautiful images with you all. It was a bit of a windy day so we decided to stay off the actual beach, and look for some more sheltered spots for photos. Fortunately Hengistbury Head has absolutely stunning sand dunes and greenery on the cliffs so we did not miss out at all. I love sand photos with greenery in, I always look for these spots during family photography sessions. Outdoor family photography sessions are the perfect opportunity to get some lovely snuggly family photos, some gorgeous natural portraits of the children and also some fun photos of them playing. They get to run around whilst I follow them capturing some beautiful moments that I know will be treasured for many years to come. I had a lovely time with this family capturing these beautiful memories for them. Hengistbury Head is becoming an ever popular choice for outdoor family photography sessions and I am sure that you can see why. If you would like more information on my family photography sessions please check out the family photography page on my website. I would love to capture some beautiful memories for you and your family to cherish.
Last week my lovely friend Sarah who runs baby signing and sensory classes celebrated her first business birthday and she invited me along to capture the fun. I first met Sarah almost a year ago when she attended the Poole Baby Event last October and she has been to all of the events since. She kindly came along to my 10th birthday party back in January to run a class for the babies who came to the studio to celebrate with me. The party took place at Nicks Farm in Bournemouth and Crawl and Climb supplied a lovely little farm themed soft play set up. Sarah was of course on hand for lots of singing and signing fun throughout. It is not a party without cake! There was cake and other treats to be enjoyed. If you are interested in finding out more about the classes Sarah has shared this information: Little Leaps Sensory & Sign was founded in 2022 to bring a fun baby sign language class to the South Coast. There are many benefits to learning baby sign language for both parent/carer and child. Not only is it a great bonding experience, but it also allows your baby to communicate with you before they can talk. This will reduce frustrations for your baby and for you. Research has also shown that learning baby sign language improves speech and language development. Babies can start signing back anywhere from 8 months onwards, but it is great to expose them at a younger age as they will start to understand the meanings of signs from around 5/6 months old. At Little Leaps Sensory & Sign we believe that learning baby sign language should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all. We run six or seven week courses and once enrolled, each six week course over the year will be different. This will help you and your baby to build on your Little Leaps journey. If you attended the party I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you enjoy looking through the photos. There are many more, so keep an eye out on Little Leaps Sensory and Sign Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Getting your family together to capture some special memories that you will treasure for many years to come is one of the most valuable things that you will ever do. Memories become more and more precious as the years go on, and capturing your growing family is something that you will never ever regret. I love going out and about all across Dorset meeting families to capture such special memories for them and I would love to do this for your family too. Extended families are also more than welcome, family generation photography sessions are something that I do a lot over the summer months. Choosing a location for your family photography sessionIt is completely your decision where you would like to meet in Dorset for your family photography session. Think about what type of background you would like in your photos. What would suit your family better? Where do you like to go together? Are you a beach family, or do you prefer the countryside? Or maybe you prefer something a bit more urban. The main types of outdoor photography sessions that I usually do are either on the beach or in the forest. I have favourite locations across Dorset that I am happy to recommend but I am also happy to meet you at any other place that is special to your family. Choosing the time of day for your family photography sessionIf your photography session is taking place during the summer months, the best time is either early evening (2 hours before sunset) or first thing in the morning when the light is at its best. When you book in we can discuss this to work around your family. If your photography session is taking place during the autumn we can be more flexible with times. Where possible, it is always advisable to work around your little ones naps so that they are happy during the photography session. Choosing clothing for your family photography sessionI like to keep my photography sessions as natural as possible so it really does not matter to me what you wear. It is up to you if you want to think about what clothing you think will go well with your chosen location, or if you prefer to simply wear something that represents what your family usually wears. If you would like to you can have a look through some of the many family photographs that I have taken over the years. This will give you an idea of how different colours look in different locations. If you would like some recommendations, neutral, pastel colours, or blues with no bold logos or text look great on the beach. For the forest you can add in some more patterns and bolder colours. If matching clothing are important to you, with the linen or bamboo package there is time for outfit changes if you would like to do so. I might ask you to take little shoes off on the beach to suit the location and also because I love baby feet! Preparing the children for your family photography sessionDepending on the age of your children, it is a good idea to tell them about what will happen when we meet. Tell them my name beforehand, and I will talk to them and I like to show them my camera and what it does. Most children will be unfamiliar with cameras as they are used to most people having just phones now. We will spend some time taking some family photographs together, and then usually some of the children on their own. If you have booked the linen or bamboo package there should also be time to capture some natural photos of the children playing. They will enjoy looking through the photo gallery with you at home after your session and will love looking at the printed photos when you put them up on your walls or in frames too. You will be creating such special memories for them which will only grow in value over time. Watching themselves grow up is a very important part of learning about who they are. How to find out more about my family photography sessionsYou might also like to read another recent family photography blog that I have written here:
What to expect at your family photography session in Dorset (samanthaprewettphotography.co.uk) I would love to hear from you to capture your beautiful growing family. Please visit my family photography page on my website for more information, or request a booking information pack. Wow, I bet you can't believe how fast that first year has gone. Your tiny little bundle has changed more in their first year than they ever will in any other year. They will have likely learnt to sit up, crawl, and may have even taken their first steps by now or you may have heard their first few words. What a tremendous amount to learn in one year! They are still your little baby though and they are still little and you will want to capture them before they change again over the next few months. A cake smash is the perfect way to celebrate your baby turning one and these sessions are so much fun for both your baby, and for yourselves to watch. You might like to read another recent cake smash blog that I have written. Cake Smash Photography in Dorset (samanthaprewettphotography.co.uk) I have written this guide to help you prepare for your baby's cake smash. Do I need to bring a special outfit?I have lots of lovely outfits in the studio for you to choose from but if you have bought something special for your baby to wear please feel free to bring that along. Please bear in mind that it will get messy! Do you supply the cake?Yes, a cake is included. You can choose from a buttercream sponge or a donut stack. The donut stack is vegan. If your baby has any allergies please do let me know upon booking. Can I choose the decorations?Yes of course. I have a beautiful collection of neutral, eco friendly props that I clean and re use for cake smash photography sessions. What do I need to bring with me?I always advise parents to bring some of their baby's favourite snacks. If you have booked the smash and splash package please bring a towel and some baby wash/bubble bath. If you use baby wipes please bring some along, otherwise I have wet clothes to use to help clean them up. What else can I do to prepare for my baby's cake smash photography session?If your baby has not tasted cake before it is a good idea to give them some to try before you come to the studio for their cake smash photography session. Be prepared to get stuck in during the cake smash photoshootThis is a brand new experience for your baby and they are at that age now where they may be very wary of what is going on around them and might need some time to settle into new situations. The best thing that you can do is be prepared to sit with them for a short while and maybe even help them smash up the cake! What happens to the cake after the photoshoot?Usually, the cake is still in an edible state after your baby has finished with it so I wrap it up for you to take home. Learn more about my cake smash photography sessions and find out how to book here:
Cake Smash Photography in Dorset (samanthaprewettphotography.co.uk) In July 2023 I hosted the 5th Poole Baby Event at the Dolphin Centre in Poole. As usual, it was a fantastic day with lots of amazing local baby related businesses getting together to put on a display of their products and services and holding taster classes and talks throughout the day. The event was free to attend and the first 50 attending received a free goody bag which had amazing treats from Organix, Hot Tea Mama, Pregnacare and more! Sarah from Little Leaps Sensory & Sign provided a baby play corner which everyone loved. We held a tombola style raffle for SPRING Support and rasied over £65. Taster sessionsThroughout the day we had taster sessions from some of the amazing local businesses that attended including breastfeeding advise, hypnobirthing, baby massage and more. Save the date we are back in November!We all love putting on these events so much that we are pleased to announce that we are back again in a few months time! Disclaimer : These are not professional photos they are just a collection of some of the photos that we all took on the day on our phones. I did not take my camera along to the event this time.
Summer is here and it won't be long until the children are off school. Our summer holiday is 7 weeks this year! I love summer, we have lots of family days out and we live in such a great place who needs to go on holiday! Maybe you are lucky enough to be going away or you have other plans, but 6-7 weeks is a long time to fill and the holidays can be expensive. I have put together a big list of activities and events that are FREE for families in the Dorset area this summer. Summer reading challengeThe summer reading challenge is hosted by local libraries and encourages children to read books across the school holidays. When they sign up they get given a folder and they can set a goal of how many books they would like to read over the summer. Along the way they can collect rewards and depending on location they may receive a medal for completing the challenge. You can read more or sign up online here: Summer Reading Challenge Pop up PlaygroundsPoole Museum is now On The Move! As part of their redevelopment plan, the museum is going out into the community to bring the museum closer to you. Thanks to their Creatives in the Community funding, we are delighted to be creating Pop Up Playgrounds for 0-99 year olds to experience a playground like no other! Warning! We are not your average stay & play. We celebrate the power of play; when people play with Big Blue Play all sorts of magic occurs. Play is a process. There isn’t a thing to make, instructions to follow, or something to take home at the end of a session (except memories and endorphins). Children’s brains evolve when they play freely without instructions from an adult. Check out the pics from our pop ups with Poole Museum so far and tag a friend to join us at one of the following: Bourne Community Hub on Saturday 22nd July 11-3pm Bourne Hub // Free entry Pop Up Playgrounds commissioned by Poole Museum Branksome Centre on Tuesday 25th July 11-3pm Branksome Community Centre // Free entry Pop Up Playgrounds commissioned by Poole Museum Oakdale Library on Wednesday 26th July 2-6pm Oakdale Library // Free entry Pop Up Playgrounds commissioned by Poole Museum Upton Country Park for National Playday on Weds 2nd August 11-3pm National Play Day! // Free entry Pop Up Playgrounds commissioned by Poole Museum For more info including bus routes and parking visit https://bigblueplay.wordpress.com/events/ Free children's entertainment in Bournemouth town centreThere is lots of free entertainment going on this summer at Bournemouth Town Centre. Please visit the Summer Live website for more information. Summer Live Bournemouth - Summer Live Bournemouth | Free Entertainment Bournemouth Air FestivalThe Bournemouth Air Festival is back. The perfect end to your summer holidays. For more information visit their website: The UK's largest air festival - in the air, on the ground & at night! - Bournemouth Air Festival Poole Quay for my carQuay for my car is back this summer at Poole Quay on Fridays in August from 6-9pm. Each week has a different theme. If the kids are into cars you wont want to miss this. Friday 4th August – Best of British Friday 11th August – Italian Stallion and Supercars Friday 18th August – Aircooled VWs Friday 25th August – American Dream FREE fireworks displays across Dorset all summer!Christchurch is hosting a free fireworks display as part of the Christchurch carnival on 12th August 930pm Lyme Regis are holding a free fireworks display on Friday 4th August at 9:30pm as part of Lyme Regis carnival week. Weymouth are holding free fireworks displays on Monday evenings through the summer between 31st July to 28th August. You can see this from Weymouth Esplanade at 930pm. As part of Swanage carnival week, you can enjoy free fireworks displays on the following dates at 9:45pm: Saturday 29th July Wednesday 2nd August Saturday 5th August Poole Quay are also hosting free fireworks displays every Thursday evening at 10pm between 27th July and 31st August as part of their family fun evenings. Bournemouth are also hosting free fireworks displays every Friday at 10pm between 4-25th August. Also, as part of the Air Festival on 1st and 2nd September, also at 10pm. Poole Baby Event 30th July 2023 - Poole Dolphin CentrePoole's Baby Event is back at the Dolphin Centre for its 5th time this July. Samantha Prewett Photography is proud to host this fantastic event aimed at expectant and new parents, older siblings are always welcome to attend. We have amazing FREE goody bags with freebies from Organix, hot tea mama, vitabiotics and more! Throughout the day we have an amazing line up of FREE talks, demos and taster classes. Come and meet lots of other local baby related businesses and enjoy the baby play area hosted by Little Leaps Sensory and Sign. Dorset MelaGirls only Cricket in ParleyGlow BadburySign up below to a FREE workshop to help create artwork to be illuminated at the Glow Badbury event which will be held on 29th & 30th September. Glow Badbury Workshops – EMERALD ANT Information correct at time of publishing. However, please always check with event providers before travelling to events. Netwalking - 9th August 2023 Potterne to Moors ValleyIf like me you run your own business and would love to meet up with other lovely likeminded people, AND bring your children along, then Netwalking is the perfect summer activity for you. We meet at 10am at Potterne Park and walk together through the forest to Moors Valley. During the summer we bring our children along with us too. You can read more about Joanne's netwalking event here: Netwalking August 2023 Summer Special | Facebook Other ideas for free activities in the school holidaysYou don't need a set day to have fun. How about getting the kids to choose something from this list or pherhaps they have their own ideas of something that you can do for free in the holidays.
* Crabbing at Poole Quay, Lake Pier or Mudeford Quay. Check out this great article on top tip for crabbing in Dorset. * Visit the beach * Try geocaching * Go to the park * Fossil hunting * Watch the sunset/ sunrise * Picnics * Prize bingo night * Movie nights * Games nights * Do some baking I hope you all enjoy the summer as much as we always do and I hope that you get some inspiration from reading this. If you know of anything else please do share in the comments section. I am very excited to announce my brand new "little sitter" baby photography sessions. These sessions are the ideal solution to capture the next milestone in your babies journey at a super special price How are these sessions different to a regular studio photography session?
What shall I dress my baby in? You are welcome to use any of the beautiful outfits that I have in my studio or you can bring a favourite outfit. I would recommend bringing the outfit with you rather than dressing your baby in it before you leave the house. There will be time for you to get your baby changed when you arrive. We can use some of my beautiful props and layers or a little crate for your baby to sit in if you would like to. When do the sessions take place? The next date for my little sessions is 10th October 2023. Sessions take place between 9am-12pm. Only 5 spaces are available. How do I book a session?
Please contact me to book your space at my next sitter day. A £50 deposit secures your space and chosen time, with the remaining payment due on the day of your session. |