And the winner is...

A few months ago I hosted a giveaway on my Facebook page for one family to win a mini session. And I could not have asked for a more appreciative winner than the lovely Emma! I met Emma and her beautiful family at Lady Dixon Park on a perfect, early summer's day, and by the end of our session I felt more like I had gained a new friend than a new client! It's really one of the best parts of this job, meeting people in the middle of their lives and sharing just an hour or so of it with them. I should clarify that I was also knackered after running around after one very fast toddler and a super crawler of a one year old!So I just want to say thank you to any and all of you who entered the giveaway for your support of my photography, and to Emma and her family for being such a fun family to work with and for all the kind words she has shared with me over the past couple of months. It really was my pleasure!

Beautiful Devon

I am so thrilled that my lovely sister is producing the prettiest little subjects for me to photograph! Not content with just one beauty, she recently added this tiny one to her family. She is actually teeny and can display around 10 different facial expressions in 5 seconds! I had no idea how awesome it was going to be to be an auntie! So before I actually bore you with my gushing, let me introduce you to beautiful Devon.

Polka dots and pony tails

The biggest challenge I face on every photo shoot isn't the kids' moods or the parents worrying about getting their offspring to smile. It's the weather. Sure isn't the weather the biggest challenge to life on a daily basis in Northern Ireland?!But blustery wind and freezing drizzle did not deter these two in the slightest! They are quite possibly the most enthusiastic, obliging, camera loving girls I've ever photographed! Personality in bucketloads, which made my job easy peasy. And to top it off, they are just beautiful! Go on, have a peek at our session in the Walled Garden in Bangor.Oh I do not envy their parents in years to come as they deal with the steady stream of boys knocking on their door!!Thank you girls for such a fun shoot! I love that you wanted to do it again another day and take me for coffee! You are total sweethearts and it was my pleasure documenting these memories for you xx

A rather rainy photo session

It occurred to me recently that I never actually got round to sharing this fun photo session from late autumn, when one lovely family donned their rain coats and kicked the butt of the appalling weather! They were totally up for the fun and even some pretty heavy downpours couldn't dampen their spirits. It just goes to show that even when you can't guarantee the sunshine, you can bring your own in bucket-loads! Also, love me some sweet, lovely brothers!

                     Look at them trying to keep a straight face in the bucketing rain!! Only the tiny one managed. Love it!

And of course, when possible, you should always bring a superhero to your shoot! #goeswithoutsayingIn the event of not enough costumes for all involved, you may revert to 1970's duffel coat action, using your hood to create the magic cape!If you're thinking of having some family photos taken anytime soon, why not drop me an email via that wee contact button up there and we can chat about whether you'd look better as Elsa from Frozen or Woody from Toy Story! 

Four generations

When I'm asked to photograph a tiny baby with her mum, nana and 2 great grannies my heart actually skips a beat and flutters for a while! It's such a privilege to capture moments like this in a family's history, and getting a sneaky cuddle myself was a total bonus! I've known this family for a long time and it was a joy to see the angst-ridden 12 year old girl from the days of yore all grown up and transformed into an amazing woman and beautiful mum! Such a blessed little baby with all this love surrounding her.I've endorphins running wild just looking at these photos again! If you'd like more information on newborn sessions you can get that from the menu, or to book just fill out the contact form!

Dear mums

I wanted to let you know that you rock. Really, you do!  Just stop and think about it for a minute.How many birthday parties have you organised, sent invitations to, made party bags for, ferried your kids and their friends to and from, and held back all those thoughts about more Lego and how there is no need for McDonald's Happy Meal toys?How often have you cleaned a nappy that was just so awful you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy? Or wiped noses that just refused to stop producing snot for actual weeks on end?What about the tears and bad dreams you've soothed away in the wee small hours? And the fads you've indulged so your kids wouldn't be the odd ones out in the playground (thank you Bumpeez!)Could you even begin to add up the hours you've spent shopping for food, making food, feeding the food to the kids, wiping the food off the child/table/wall/high chair/yourself? Or could you work out what percentage of your day you spend worrying about your children's anxieties, health, progress or crazy hair?And that's before we even think about the physical toil these small people have taken on our poor, lovely bodies!So I want to say again, you rock! Truly. Nobody else could do for your kids what you have done and keep doing. And even if they don't always show it, I thought I'd remind you. Because my camera has seen it so many times and it never ceases to amaze me! So I give you - mums! I would love nothing more than to capture your amazing mum super powers for you too. You can contact me via the button at the top to book a session or to buy a voucher for a mum you would like to celebrate. These moments should be documented. Mums are worth celebrating. Truth!

Boys are the best

I'm going to make a bold and drastic statement here, but photographing boys is my favourite and my best.  Maybe it's because I have two boys and I know a bit about what makes them tick and what makes them laugh (fart noises every time!)I was so lucky to get to photograph these brothers at the end of the summer.  Their mum wanted them as a surprise for their dad's birthday, and if happy boys racing in the sand and jumping around like lunatics doesn't make for a great birthday present, I don't know what does!! This is a little bit of their life documented. If you 'd like a little bit of your family's life documented, whether it's just to update the family photos, a birthday, christening or other family event, go ahead and click the contact button up there - I'd love to hear from you!