My most favourite photo-sessions are almost always those of returning clients. Not only is it lovely to already know who will be walking through the studio door and to get to see them again but it’s also a huge compliment to have them come back to me. It’s a really special feeling to know that they were happy with the results from the first time around and that I am trusted to capture even more beautiful memories!
So you can imagine my delight when ‘A’ messaged to arrange a second photo-session with me, 18 months after her first session. This time she was bringing along the new addition to her family.
Her two little ones are almost the same ages as my two, give or take a month either way, and we had messaged back and fourth discussing the session and what it was she wanted so I was nice and prepared before she came to the studio. She arrived full of smiles, along with her was her almost two year old, just over six month old and her Mum (always a great idea-I try and get my Mum to go anywhere with me for the extra pair of hands).
We got started and all was going great. We had planned to try and replicate the images from her first session as closely as we could and get some extras of the two siblings together. It was lovely to be able to talk to a Mum a similar age to me who had children similar ages to mine. We briefly spoke about how much more difficult it was getting out of the house with two, how we didn’t realise how good we had it before but also that neither of us would change it for the world. We had one more pose we wanted to capture when the atmosphere in the studio took a slight turn. Her toddler had found her confidence and got bored of my crisp white background and wanted to explore other aspects of the studio, whilst baby was getting tired and had started to cry. I could see the familiar expression (I see it on my own face rather regularly) of defeat creeping across A’s face.
How do you control a curious toddler and a tired baby? The answer is-you can’t! Not even when your Mum is at hand. And there certainly wouldn’t be any judgement from me! I know that fact inside out.
I tried my best to reassure her that it was fine-we had as long as it needed to take to get this final pose! I was determined to not let her leave without it. We could’ve taken some time out to calm down or just to have a mini break. What actually happened was whilst she held baby boy, I stupidly bounced up and down, hiding behind the camera playing peek-a-boo to entertain him. We managed to get our toddling little lady involved too!
We had one last photo to capture and we got it!
I know she left the studio feeling slightly overwhelmed and like it hadn’t gone quite as smoothly as it ‘should’ have. All faith was restored at the viewing a week later when she saw what beautiful, natural and true photographs we had captured of her babies. I never told her at the viewing that this had been one of my most precious sessions I had done. It made me feel connected to another Mum who was going through the same trials and tribulations as I was at home (or at the supermarket, or at the park/play area). It reinforced for me that I was not the only one doing this. These small hiccups in our daily lives are the incidents that don’t get thrown about on social media so it’s hard sometimes to remember other people have them too!
In my opinion one of the best things we can do for our children is let them be themselves without any apologies. The people around us who are understanding and compassionate will not judge and will see you are doing a great job as a parent.
And for anybody who sneers when your two year old doesn’t come straight to you when you ask them to, or when you can’t stop your six month old from crying because they saw somebody near them with food that they want, I simply try my best to withdraw myself from the problem that THEY have with children being children and think of one of my most favourite quotes.
“Be who you are and say how you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr Seuss
Thank you so much Abbie for bringing your gorgeous little children to the studio. I loved every second of it!