 A cake smash photography session is the perfect way to celebrate your baby turning one. The sessions are so much fun for your baby, and also for you to watch, and best of all you get to keep the beautiful memories to treasure forever. My cake smash sessions are the same natural style as all of my work, but you still have a few choices, you can choose which type of cake you would like , and your favourite props and outfit. Cake smash - prop choices  I have two beautiful wash tubs to choose from if you are having a splash and smash session. As well as lots of different lovely cake stands, and other decorations.  Cake smash - cake choices   Buttercream sponge, or donuts? Cant decide - have both! They all look great with any of my set ups. I also have a selection of lovely wooden cake toppers. If your baby has an allergy, please do get in touch to discuss your options.I can provide a dairy, gluten and nut free cake for them instead.  Cake smash - outfit choicesI have a beautiful collection of outfits in the studio for you to choose from. Or you can bring your own if you prefer. Cake smash - decoration choices    I love setting up cake smash sessions with my beautiful range of eco friendly decorations. Many of these are hand made by myself from up cycled materials. I don't use balloons or other disposable decorations during my photography sessions. Please visit my cake smash photography section to find out more about these sessions including prices. 
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 I LOVE photographing extended families. I sell lots of gift voucher that people buy for their parents for a family photography session together. What better gift to give than a beautiful day together at the beach (or elsewhere) and some timeless memories to treasure forever. I spend a lot of time each summer doing these sessions , and I wanted to share a recent one with you all.   Being outdoors is so much more fun than in the studio for family sessions. The backdrops are naturally stunning, and you don't have to sit still and pose for every photo. The children can run around and everyone gets to enjoy the fresh air. I offer family photography sessions outside between March and October, so you have the choice between a spring/summer session on the beach or elsewhere, or an autumn session in the forest.    When was the last time that you had a photograph taken with your partner? Probably a family wedding, sometime before you had children? Now you have children, everything centres around them, and even if you have had a photography session with them , most if not all of the photos taken would have included your children. I love being able to capture just the grown ups during these photography sessions too.    I love to capture natural moments during photography sessions too, it is not all about posing for the camera. Those natural moments are always that ones that will be treasured.  If you have a family celebration coming up or would simply like some gorgeous updated family photos, you can find out more about my family photography sessions and my prices here. I sell beautiful gift voucher which are the ideal gift for special birthdays and Christmas.   For many families coming to me for their newborn photography session, they are not first time parents. Siblings are always welcome during your newborn photography sessions. Depending on their age, they might be a little reluctant to lay next to their brand new baby sister or brother, if they are young themselves, they will still be getting used to them. I don't force anything during sessions. If they are not ready, we will try again later. Or we try a different set up. Whilst most older siblings are happy to come over and have a photo taken with the new addition to their family, the typical 2 year old is not. With plenty of patience and letting them go at their own pace, we get the perfect photos for you of your babies together. And some family ones of you all together too.      Things don't always go to plan. And not just for sibling sessions, for newborns on their own too , every baby and every child has their own schedule and agenda and they don't run by ours, which is why every single one of my sessions from newborn, to family and all the babies in between are completely led by you, not me. My aim is to capture your family, as they are , beautifully and naturally and to make this into beautiful memories that you will treasure forever.   If you are expecting again please take a look at my newborn photography section or drop me a message I would love to chat about your session.   My cake smash photography sessions are the perfect way to celebrate your baby turning one. They are so much fun for all involved. Read on to see some beautiful images all from one single session , so that you can see what to expect at yours!  A cake smash session is all about your baby. The aim is to capture some gorgeous memories whilst celebrating their first birthday at the same time. I have a beautiful range of eco friendly props for your session, along with neutral outfits and cake, I provide everything that you will need. You will even get to take home a beautiful engraved wooden spoon and any leftover cake with you, which trust me "usually" means loads, unlike this session here where he completely trashed his cake haha!      Splash time!If you choose a smash and splash cake smash session your session will include bath tub time! This is the perfect opportunity to clean your little one up after all of their cake smashing fun whilst I capture even more gorgeous memories for you. I even have two gorgeous bath tubs for you to choose from!      This gorgeous little one enjoyed his splash time just as much as he did smashing up his cake! We got some gorgeous photos and we all had a great time watching him. If your little one is turning one soon, you can find more information on my cake smash photography sessions here.
 Welcome to my haven. My beautiful, calm space. My beautiful baby photography studio backs onto my house in Oakdale, Poole, Dorset. If you haven't already visited, I would love to show you around. Baby photography studio in Poole.I have been photographing babies for over 11 years now. I have been in my current space for 2.5 years so I thought it was time for an update! As a natural light photographer, the available light is absolutely essential when choosing a space for my newborn photography sessions. My studio is ready for all light conditions, and in the summer I add diffusers to the extra sunlight that comes in. In the colder months I have extra heaters to make it warm and cosy for happy content little bundles. Home comforts, and more.... My photography studio has a beautiful comfy sofa which doubles up as a cosy place for parents to chill out during their session (whilst I take care of their baby and create beautiful memories) and a place for the parent and baby photos. I have found myself migrating to the sofa over the past few years rather than a backdrop as parents are more comfortable and relaxed, so this helps produce beautiful natural images. It also makes the perfect setting for cosy family photos should you have any older sibling(s) that you might wish to bring to your newborn session. I have a lovely coffee machine , which uses recyclable pods (I am working on getting reusable ones) and plastic free snacks available, as well as cold drinks. I have wi-fi access for you to use, with the password on the wall. The studio is attached to the back of my house, with the kitchen right next to it should you need to warm up bottles. I am a naturally clean and tidy person so you should feel at ease if you need to use the bathroom whilst you are here. I ensure this is thoroughly cleaned. Beautiful neutral propsMy studio is kitted out with everything we will need for your baby photography session, and more! Whilst your beautiful little one will be at the centre of every single photo that I take, I do have a gorgeous collection of props, wraps and outfits to make those photos just that little bit more special. It is my job to work with your baby to create the most beautiful, natural images for you to treasure forever.   Newborn photography      I offer beautiful, natural newborn photography from my studio for babies from just 4 days old up to 6 weeks. Please visit my newborn photography pages for more information. Cake smash photographyCake smash sessions are the perfect way to celebrate your baby turning one. Please visit my cake smash photography pages for more information. View my gorgeous wall art and photography books   When you come to me for your photography session, you will see my stunning range of wall art on display, as well as some of my photo books. Should you fall in love with any of these, I have a special "on the day" price list for these products. If you are expecting or have a little one under 1 year, I would love to hear from you to see how I can help you capture this special time for you. Please do get in touch for more information.
 Recently, I photographed my largest family to date. I do lots of these sessions every Spring/Summer but this was the most people for one session that I have had before. A lovely couple, with their 6 children and their families. I absolutely love these larger family sessions, I know how much the photos will be treasured, even more as the years pass by.  Unfortunately it turned out to be a very grey rainy morning! Usually, I would try to re arrange a session when the forecast is bad, but this is not always possible, especially when everyone was already together and probably would not be again for a while. Everyone was amazing during the session, they embraced the weather and we got some lovely photos.    I always like to take the opportunity at family photography sessions to get some photos of just the grown ups too. When was the last time you had a photograph taken with your partner?    These are just a few of the photos from the session.
To find out more you can visit my family photography area of my website. I am really excited to announce the launch of my latest wall art products. These beautiful fine art board mounted prints are the perfect affordable way to display your beautiful photographs on your walls at home. They come in a variety of sizes from 7 x 5 up to 16 x 12 inches. They are a stunning and unique way to display your favourite photos from your photography sessions.  They fit perfectly onto a picture shelf (as pictured above) or they can simply be attached to the wall using adhesive mounting strips which you can buy on the high street. The picture shelves that I have displayed in my studio are from Ikea and you can buy them in white or wood effect to match your home decor. The print that I am holding in the photo above is the largest size at 16 x 12 inches. I am super happy with the quality and the price of these products and I think they are the perfect solution as you will never need to change photo frames when you change your home décor. I have been there myself and I have recently changed from all wooden to all white frames! These beautiful products make the perfect alternative to a photo canvas, they are printed onto fine art matt paper so they do not reflect light and because they are not stretched around a frame you wont loose any of your photo. These stunning prints start at just £25! You can view the prices of these beautiful art prints on my product price page. Orders of sets of 5 prints come in a stunning linen folio box as pictured.    In April 2024 I hosted the 7th Poole Baby Event. It was an absolutely fantastic day, and it was our busiest event to date. We ran out of goody bags by lunchtime!              Along with 12 other amazing local businesses, we put on a full schedule of talks, demos and taster classes throughout the day. Biscuits by Sarah B was with us again and Sarah provided free hot drinks throughout the day and offered free biscuit decorating for our visitors (and we got to have a go too!)     Marial from Sing and Sign was with us for the day providing a play area for the small guests and also a free taster class in the afternoon. We held a fantastic tombola style raffle and raised £180 for SPRING Support who help families who have lost their baby. Our next event! We are back again on 3rd November 2024. Join our facebook event to keep updated. If you are a local business interested in attending, you can join the waiting list here.  Photo disclaimer: these photos are a collection of snaps from phone cameras, I did not take my professional camera along to the event.
 Newborn photography sessions take place when you baby is around 7 days old. It is always a good idea to book in whilst you are pregnant to secure space around your due date. Before your newborn photography sessionYou will have looked at my portfolio before booking your newborn photography session with me you will know the type of images to expect when you visit the studio. It is worth thinking about if you might like some parent and baby photos and if you have other children that you would like to bring along to the session also. When you book I will send you an information pack which should answer your questions. You can find more information and Q&A's about newborn photography here.  During your newborn photography sessionWhen you arrive at the studio you will have plenty of time to choose some of your favourite props, outfits and wraps whilst I make you a hot drink. Your baby will likely to need feeding and changing during your time here, the morning is yours and totally baby led. I never book more than one photography session in per day so we have up to 3 hours if we need it. Most sessions last around 2 hours. You get to sit back and enjoy your tea or coffee whilst watching me working my magic with your little one. I have 11 years of experience so I will work with your baby to produce beautiful natural photos that you will treasure forever.  After your newborn photography sessionYou get to go away with lovely memories and most likely a tired sleepy baby! Your images will be presented in an online gallery which is sent via email for you to choose your favourites. Then you will receive your images via email or in the post (depending on the package you have chosen) and you get to treasure them forever.  For more information on my newborn photography sessions including prices please take a look at my newborn photography pages.
 When you are looking to book a newborn photographer it is always a good idea to look at examples of full sessions and not just their favourite hand picked images for their online portfolios. Whilst my website will give you a feel for my natural style and exactly what to expect, I always think it is nice to share an entire gallery so you get to see an example of everything you get not just my "favourite" images that I choose to share on social media and on my website portfolios. I am pleased to be able to share all of the images from a recent newborn photography session here with me in my baby photography studio in Poole, Dorset. This gorgeous little girl was just 7 days old when she came to see me for her newborn photography session. Her parents chose to add a little touch of pink to the session. I have a gorgeous selection of neutral props, outfits and wraps in my baby photography studio but I also have a little bit of pink and blue when families like to add a little bit of colour. The colours work well with all of my lovely neutral props to create some beautiful natural photographs for you to treasure. She brought her older brother with her to the session, I also photographed him as a newborn so it was lovely to see them all again. I have so many beautiful wraps to choose from in my baby photography studio. Wraps are always a popular choice for newborn photographs. During a newborn photography session, depending on which package you have paid for, you will get to choose 2-3 different props for me to take some photos of your baby in. I always include photos of your baby with no props also. If this is not your first baby, you are more than welcome to bring your other children along to your newborn photography session. I love including them in the photos.   I always love to capture the tiny little details during newborn photography sessions, I take lots of close ups including those ever gorgeous little baby feet pictures. If you are expecting a baby and would like to find out more about my natural newborn photography, you can visit the newborn area of my website, or you can drop me a message and I would love to send you a booking information pack.  There is SO much going on over the Easter school holidays for families for FREE! I have done all the hard work for you and put everything together in one place. If you have seen anything else that I haven't already listed please do add it to the comments section so help other families. Happy Easter to you all. FREE Easter Egg Hunt in Blandford. Friday 5th April 10am-12pm Join in on Friday 5th April in Woodhouse Gardens for our FREE Easter Egg Hunt. Solve the clues and collect your gift. The event runs from 10am - 12pm The event is free and open to all however one ticket must be booked per child to ensure that we have enough chocolate gifts. To book your child's ticket go to https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/blandford-forum-town-council This event is very kindly sponsored by Sarunds. FREE Parks Foundation eventsAs usual, the Parks Foundation have a jam packed schedule of events in April. Check out some of them here, or visit their website for more information: Home - The Parks Foundation Little Gizmos FREE Easter Event - 3rd April Little Gizmo's Entertainment have got 2 events coming up at Colin's Nest Coffee Shop Luxurycare with loads of fun and games and soft play as well as special guests. The event runs from 11am-1pm. FREE Orienteering at Upton Country Park 6th April 1-5pm Have fun, start a new hobby, learn new skills, and get some exercise all in one afternoon! Join in for the launch of the new orienteering course and explore Upton Country Park. Members of Wessex Orienteering Club will be on hand to provide some friendly support to people new to orienteering or to help you refresh your skills. Visit the event on Facebook for more information: Orienteering at Upton Country Park | Facebook FREE Easter Maze at Castlepoint 29th March - 7th April Explore our Easter Maze, where you'll find letters hidden on large eggs waiting for you to discover as you wander through. Piece together the puzzle by finding the letters and spelling out the secret word on your trail sheet. Then, drop off your completed sheet at Hotel Chocolat for a chance to win one of three delicious Hotel Chocolat Easter eggs! When you want to take part, trail sheets will be able to pick up at the maze entrance. And as an extra treat for joining in the fun, once you've submitted your completed sheet, indulge in a complimentary chocolate sample courtesy of Hotel Chocolat! The Easter Mini Maze activity will be running from Friday, 29th March, until 7th April. Located outside M&S Please visit the facebook event page for more information: Mini Maze Easter Adventure at Castlepoint | Facebook FREE Easter Eggstravaganza Weymouth Friday 5th April 1-3pm Easter Eggstravaganza - Chickerell Town Council - Tickets (eventcube.io) Following success of the Halloween Spooktacular at Willowbed Hall, an Easter Eggstravaganza will take place on Friday 5 April 2024 . This FREE family fun event is set to entertain with lots of activities. https://bit.ly/3v0PBN5 to book your FREE TICKET for entry. FREE Streetdance workshops Free street dance workshops at the Henry Brown Centre. Please email katie.neal@[email protected] to book your place. FREE Family cooking workshops This Easter, join The Friendly Food Club to cook up a storm. Eat what you make and open to all ages. Book your space by emailing : [email protected] to book with the number of adults, number of children and any dietary requirements or allergies FREE Biscuit decorating workshop at Gather, Poole Dolphin Centre -30th MarchJoin 'The Great British Bake Off' contestant, Maggie the Seaside Baker, at Gather inside Poole Dolphin Centre for a fun-filled kids' workshop on decorating homemade Easter biscuits! Don't miss out on this chance to learn new decorating techniques and enjoy tasty treats! Ticket must be pre booked. Reserve your spot for the 10:30am - 12pm session here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../easter-biscuit... Reserve your spot for the 1pm - 2:30pm session here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../easter-biscuit... FREE Easter Egg Hunt - 11th April 10-1130am Bournemouth Join in for an EGG-citing morning of fun searching for chocolate eggs around the LIFE.CENTRE. There will be crafts, games and of course, an Egg Hunt! It's all free, so do drop in for an EGG-cellent time! Please visit the Facebook event page for more information: Egg Hunt No Yolk | Facebook Local attractions with FREE entryIf you are looking for somewhere to visit locally with no entrance fees, I have put together a little list for you.
Do you know anywhere else? Please do add in the comments section below. Please check with event providers for more information before travelling to events.
 A baby photography session is the perfect way to capture your fast growing baby whilst they are still small. These sessions are suitable for babies between 6 weeks and 5 months. For babies between 6-9 months (who can sit unaided but are not yet crawling) I offer sitter photography sessions. I also offer newborn photography sessions and cake smash photography sessions in my photography studio here in Dorset.  What type of images can I expect?The type of photographs you can expect from your session will largely depend on the age of your baby. A 6 week old baby is likely to still be very sleepy during the day and we may still get newborn style images, where as an older baby will be awake and more smiley.   Can I have a family photo at my baby photography session?Yes of course, family photos can be included at no extra cost during any baby photography session. Siblings are welcome too, but please bear in mind that I only offer baby photography sessions in the studio during school hours.  Before your baby photography sessionIf you have time, have a look through my baby photography gallery to see which props / colours you might like to use. At this age, most parents choose to bring a couple of favourite outfits with them also. I have a beautiful collections of outfits and wraps in the studio so you do not have to bring anything if you don't want to.  During your baby photography sessionWhen you arrive at the studio we will have time to get your baby changed and I will set out a couple of props (if you would like to use any) of your choice. The session is led completely by your baby. It lasts up to 1 hour which allows plenty of time if you baby is still young and needs to stop for a cuddle or a little top up feed. If you baby is still very young or premature you may wish to consider booking a newborn photography session, which allows more time.  After your baby photography sessionYou get to go away with lovely memories and most likely a tired sleepy baby! Your images will be presented in an online gallery which is sent via email for you to choose your favourites. Then you will receive your images via email or in the post (depending on the package you have chosen) and you get to treasure them forever.   For more information on my baby photography sessions including my prices, please take a look at my baby photography pages.
 A cake smash is the perfect way to celebrate your baby turning one. You will remember this special birthday forever so choosing to capture it with a professional cake smash photography session is a decision that you will never regret. Before your cake smash photography sessionIf your baby has not tasted cake before or participated in messy play you might like to let them have a go at this. You might also want to buy a special outfit, or you can choose from one of mine in the studio. Please feel free to let me know beforehand if you have a particular prop/set up request. When booking you will get a choice of donuts, or cake. Please do let me know about any allergies upon booking. During your cake smash photography sessionWhen you arrive in the studio, you will have a chance to get your baby changed into either their own outfit that you have brought with you, or you can choose one of mine. The cake and decorations will be set up ready. My set-up is very minimal, as this keeps the focus of each image on your baby not an elaborate bright set up. I have a semi naked style cake on a lovely wooden stand, usually some kind of neutral bunting/bead decoration, and some ONE letters. We can change anything around if you would like to before we start the session. When your baby is ready, we will sit them next to the cake and wait for the fun to begin! I will be there capturing your baby reacting to the cake and getting stuck in. After the smash , if you have booked the smash and splash package I will get your choice of bath tub ready with some warm water and bubbles whilst you undress your baby for the next set of photos. Splash time is always super fun as most babies absolutely love the water. We always get some more gorgeous photos of them splashing around and playing with the bubbles. After the bath tub time, it is time to dry off and get changed to go home.   Will I need to get involved in the session?Most likely. Please do wear something you do not mind getting messy as the chances are that you might need to encourage your baby a little bit or show them what to do with the cake if they are unsure. I will give you a spare spoon to get stuck in with them if they need a helping hand. However, some babies get their hands right in as soon as we sit them by the cake and do not need any help at all! Even if that is your baby, they will likely be walking or crawling around with cake on their hands so be prepared to get some on you too, I usually do!  Will my baby just eat the whole cake?To be honest, no. The idea of the session is not to present your baby with a cake for them to eat, If you think of it as more of a messy play session. If your baby loves getting their hands messy , the chances are they will absolutely love playing and smashing up the cake. They will likely eat some of it, but they usually don't each much at all.  Leftover cake?9 times out of 10 the cake is still good enough to be wrapped up for you to take home and eat. However, I cannot guarantee this as on occasion we have ended up with just a pile of crumbs at the end and you wont want to take that home! After your cake smash photography sessionYou get to go away with memories of the special day, along with an engraved wooden spoon whilst you wait for your photos. Your images are presented in an online gallery for you to choose your favourites. Then you will receive your images via email or in the post (depending on the package you have chosen) and you get to treasure them forever. If you would like the photos back in time for your baby's first birthday I would suggest booking the session around a month before their birthday. Or many people chose to do the session on their actual birthday.  For more information about my cake smashes including prices, please take a look at my cake smash pages.
 I am super excited to share that my ever popular mini accordion albums now come in 3 sizes! These make the perfect little gifts for family or for you to display at home with your brand new beautiful memories in. These gorgeous little books come in a choice of 3 sizes: 8x8cm - mini square album - 18 pages 12x12cm - large square album - 10 pages 10x14cm - large portrait album - 14 pages All sizes come in a selection of colours and materials with your bespoke choice of personalisation on the cover. ~ Dove Grey suede (light grey, as pictured) ~ Iron Grey suede (dark grey, as pictured) ~ Soft Rose velvet (light pink, as pictured) ~ Off White velvet (as pictured) ~Deep Sea Blue velvet ~ Emerald Green velvet ~ Liquorice Black velvet ~ Dijon yellow velvet ~ Crimson red velvet (Christmas red) - Aquamarine blue velvet (as pictured) These little book are perfect as you can use them as a mini book or open them out and keep them on display. They look great on a shelf or mantlepiece. They hold together with a magnetic closure.   You can find a price list for these mini accordion albums on my product page.
If you would like to order a book please contact me. It seems like the Christmas holidays were a really long time ago and I don't know about you but my children are definetly ready for their next break. February half term can be a tricky one though, especily if you are on a budget as the weather isnt usually great and there is not much to do for free indoors so it can end up costing a small fortune keeping them entertained. This is why I have put together my usual list of FREE local activities and events for families in Dorset again. I hope you enjoy reading and please do share with your friends. The Parks FoundationAs usual, the Parks Foundation have a great line up of FREE events for the children over the holidays. Here is Februarys schedule. For more information please visit the Parks Foundation Facebook page FREE Boxing Workshop - 15th February in FerndownThis must be booked in advance, please see information below. Event is at The Centre in Ferndown.  FREE Arts and CraftsThis must be booked in advance, please see information below. This is at The Centre in Ferndown.  Snowdrop walk Snowdrops are starting to appear around now. These always excite me, they are the first sign that spring is on its way and the warmer weather is coming. Why not take the kids on a walk to try and find some. This particular stunning display is in Damerham. Float to Live RNLI Festival - Saturday 17th February Fundraising and Raising awareness for Poole Lifeboat Station. Join in at the Gather space downstairs in Poole Dolphin Shopping Centre for FREE fun activities for the whole family. Get your face painted as a pirate or mermaid, play some fun casino style games and come and learn more about Poole Lifeboats. Please check out their event on Facebook for more information. Visit a FREE museum!Visiting a local museum to learn about the history of the area is the perfect rainy day activity. Many museums also have free trails for young children. Did you know that many museums have free entry? Some of the museums with no entrance fee include Wareham Town Museum, Red House Museum in Christchurch, Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum, Gold Hill Museum in Shaftesbury, and the Bournemouth Natural Science Society which is open on selected dates throughout the year. Please check ahead before visiting for more information on opening times etc. Durlston Country Park - Wild Wednesday 14th FebruaryEntrance is free and on Wednesdays they host Wild Wednesday which is also free. Drop in at the Learning Centre from 11am - 3pm to have a go at painting, crafts and activities with a birdy theme. Wild Wednesdays runs every Wednesday of the school holidays and is free to take part, although donations (via cash or card) are much appreciated. Other local attractions with no entrance feeDorset has many beautiful places to visit at no cost. Here are a few of my personal favourites:
I hope you have found this article useful. If you know of any other FREE local events or activities please do share them below. What do you like to do in Dorset that does not cost anything? Please make sure you check details online or by phoning ahead before you travel to any of these places or events.
 Wow I just can hardly believe that my business turns 11 this month! If someone had told me 11 years ago that this is where I would be today, with my very own studio , doing what I love every day, I would not have believed them. The trouble is now I believe I can do anything! I mainly wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all so much for being there, for helping me live my dream, to every single one of you , whether you have had a session (or numerous sessions!) with me, told your friends about me or just helped to support me on social media, I could not have been where I am today without your support.   How I got into PhotographyThe year was 2003, I had finished school , started my first "proper" job at Sainsburys and had just started studying Media at Bournemouth & Poole College. The media course allowed me to do one A-Level alongside, so I choose Photography, as sure, why not, that sounded like a fun course! At that time I wanted to become a magazine editor (hence the media course) But that was all about to change. From the moment I was handed my first SLR camera, and told to go for a walk around outside and shoot a roll of film, I was totally hooked. Walking along Bournemouth seafront and capturing images on film on a cold fresh morning, and then coming back to college and developing my first roll of film that is where the magic started. Watching the photos appear as the negatives were developed then making my own prints, it was pure magic. And the smell, I can still remember the darkroom smell now. This is what I wanted to do. After my media course and A- Level I went on to do another 1 year photography course at The Arts Institute (now known as The Arts University), followed by the start of my degree. Things were a lot different back then though, I was studying at the very start of the digital age. We were taught how to shoot on film and at the time digital was very discouraged, we were told by tutors that it would never take off! It was only during my degree that we began learning digital, when we had one digital unit as part of the course! I remember learning the basics of photoshop, and hating it, I am much more a fan of analogue anything, even now I prefer pen and paper to a computer screen any day. Ironically, my least favourite genre of photography whilst studying was people! We were taught to shoot portraits in a formal studio setting with 3 lights. I still was not sure where I wanted my career in Photography to go , but I was sure it was not there. I spent my work experience with a very well known photographer in London who photographs celebrities, and whilst this was an amazing experience, it taught me that it was absolutely not what I wanted to do. I decided not to finish my degree as I knew I did not want to take the path that was show to us. College and university taught me a lot, the basics of taking photographs, but nothing to do with running a business. This is something that I have completely taught myself over the years.   How I started my businessAfter leaving university, I had a couple of photography jobs which didn't amount to much but they were a start. During my second photography job I fell pregnant and was very sick so I had to leave. I enjoyed being a full time Mum until my children were 3 and 1 then I realised I really should start working again. The thought of ever going back to a day job and leaving them behind filled me with dread so I thought I would give it a bash at getting paid to offer family photography sessions. Apart from taking photos , I literally had NO idea how to run a business! I registered with HMRC, got myself insured, created a facebook page then dived right in at the deep end! The first few years were quite slow as my children were still so young and I was learning what it was like to run my own business. It was when my youngest started school that I took the plunge and went full on it my work. I decided that I wanted to specialise in newborn photography as I love babies so much and know how fast they grow and change and how precious those early days are.   Where I am nowSo much has changed over the past 11 years, but all for the better and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have gone from photographing anything from weddings, to christenings to specialising in newborn and family photography and I even opened my very own studio 2 years ago! When I started 11 years ago I had no idea where it would take me! I have been able to be there to watch my children grow into the wonderful caring teenagers that they are and running my own business has meant that I have never missed a single moment of their childhood. It seems so weird that they are now an entire generation different to the babies who I am currently photographing. I could go on forever about my business, but I mainly want to thank you all for your support over the years, I would not be where I am without you all.    As I start to wind down the business for the Christmas holidays and reflect on the year, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all so much for supporting me this year. I have had a truly amazing year business wise, one that I could never have imagined, even this time last year and I could not have done it all without you. So thank you all so much, whether you have had a session with me this year, recommended me to a friend, or just been there to support me on social media. I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a super happy 2024. 2023 what a year!   This year has been absolutely incredible for me. Whilst I am good at setting my goals and aspirations for the year, this year has been so much more than I ever expected it to be! Here are a few of Samantha Prewett Photography's highlights from 2023:
However, you cant win at absolutely everything, and this year came with some life lessons, the main one being that I cant do everything! In September I set up TikTok and got rather excited about it all, until I quickly realised that I didnt actually like it, and it was sucking up far too much of my time. I have also ditched Twitter (or X as it is now called) this year as it just dosent work for me and I do not find it interesting!    2024 - What is happening 2024 will be kickstarted with my 11th Birthday celebration in January. No party this year, but I will be having a sale/offer so please do keep an eye out out for that. I have planned 2 baby events for 2024, you can find out more, and register your interest as a business here. And of course, due to this years huge success, Christmas mini sessions will start in October.  Once again, thank you for all of your support and I hope you and your families have a fantastic Christmas and New Year.    I often get asked what to bring or how to prepare for your baby photography session with me here in my beautiful studio in Poole, Dorset. The short answer is that you do not to bring anything or prepare in anyway. If you have specific clothing or photos that you would like this guide may help you. However, otherwise I have everything that you should need here.  What should we bring to our baby photography session?Please bring your normal change bag with nappies, spare clothes and milk if needed. You may wish to bring along a few favourite outfits, however this is completely up to you, I have some in the studio and plenty of lovely wraps for you to choose from when you arrive. I have a coffee machine in the studio for you to enjoy, as well as cold water and snacks.  What should we wear ourselves to our baby photography session?Again, this is completely up to you. If you would like some photos of yourselves with your baby you might want to think about what you are wearing. It might be helpful to know that my background is pure white. Or you can have a less formal photo snuggled up with your baby on my lovely grey studio sofa. This really depends on how you would like the photos to look.   How should we prepare for our baby photography session?You will have looked at my portfolio before booking your baby photography session with me you will know the type of images to expect when you visit the studio. I will ask you when you arrive if you have any particular props/colours that you would like to use . If you have not had chance to decide I can show you my beautiful collection of props, wraps and outfits and you can choose when you are here so please do not worry. My images all follow the same natural, neutral style so I do find that most people are happy for me to choose what to use but please do let me know if you have any preferences.  If you have any more questions about a newborn photography session you might like to read my baby photography FAQs page.
Or please do get in touch, I would love to hear from you as I love talking to clients before their baby photography session. Last weekend I hosted the 6th Poole Baby Event at the Dolphin Centre in Poole. It was such a busy 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. Sarah from Biscuits By Sarah B sponsored the event and all day she gave out free hot drinks and showed lots of lovely people how to decorate their own biscuits. Sarah from Little Leaps Sensory & Sign provided a baby play corner which everyone loved. We held a tombola style raffle for SPRING Support and raised over £160!  There was lots of advice on hand from everything baby related from slings to nappies to breastfeeding. There were also some taster classes from Fledgling Love Baby Massage and Bourne Calm Hypnobirthing. We had 14 charities and businesses attend on the day.
How awesome are these booby cakes! They went down a treat!  Little Leaps Sensory and Sign's play area was a huge hit with the babies and toddlers.
So many people of ALL ages enjoyed decorating biscuits with Sarah. We are currently planning the 2024 Baby Events but dates have not yet been set. If you are a business who are interested in attending please do get in touch to register your interest. 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.
 I get really excited when clients ask if they can bring their parents to their family photography sessions. Yes of course! These are my favourite type of family sessions. I know how much these beautiful memories will grow in value over time, as every year passes you will treasure them even more. No one ever regrets having an extended family photography session. And the best part, there is no extra cost, I do not charge per person so it really is the more the merrier!   These precious moments captured between grandparents and their grandchildren are absolutely priceless. And knowing what joy they will bring over the years makes my job even more special.  The perfect locationPerhaps you have a favourite place to go to together as a family that already has lots of lovely memories? Or I have a list of my favourite locations that I love to go to to create beautiful family memories.   The perfect giftI sell a lot of gift vouchers for family generation sessions, the most popular being grandparents milestone birthdays or wedding anniversaries. People also like to buy photography vouchers for gifts for Christmas. I have beautiful printed vouchers that can be sent out in the post, which are perfect for family members to gift.   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 - 11am Come 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 Halloween Follow 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 October     The 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 Party Castlepoint 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 Hunt Ok 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, Dorchester Fancy 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 libraries Bournemouth, 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. |
