Having my own local business in Cheadle, Stockport is something I am incredibly proud of. However, like with most industries and professions…from time to time I can get stuck in a rut and need to look around for new inspiration. I love meeting new clients every week and getting to know them and what they are all about. Although working alone can at times be quite isolating, it’s my clients that inspire me and give me a reason to strive to be better every day! It is always my intention that clients coming in to my studio feel relaxed and at home. I want to create a nurturing environment, especially for new mums. At this point they don’t know me very well, so it’s my job to make them feel relaxed and comfortable. Each family or couple that walk through my door have their own story to tell, their own journey that brought them to this ‘here and now’. It always makes me feel so incredibly lucky that so many of them choose to share their journeys and life experiences with me during their sessions. I hear all about their lives and their families. They often talk to me about their fertility troubles, or previous miscarriages. They share really personal and honest truths about their lives and trust me with that information. From that moment onwards I cannot help but feel like I have known some of these incredible people for longer than just a few hours….crazy hey! Quite recently I met a couple who battled with fertility for a long time, faced cancer along the way only to be blessed with a miracle baby after 3 failed attempts at IVF. Hearing their story and knowing that these people had brought their baby to ME to photograph in it’s first few days in this world was a humbling and emotional experience. It’s moments like these that make me realise the true value of the job that I do and the role that I have in some of these people’s lives. It isn’t just about taking photographs, it’s about celebrating with them and capturing memories that will be some of the most special, intense memories for the rest of their lives. Memories that they will share with their children as they get older. Memories that their children will share with their children. I mean…if you want to get to the point here…I’m making history really aren’t I!! (laughing emoji).
So although inspiration comes from many different places in my life, my children, my husband, my friends and family….if I am truly honest…it’s my clients that give me that real drive. I take their stories and I make them something special in return and this gives me true job satisfaction knowing that I was also a special part of the memory that we created. Just the other day I did a session with a couple from Heaton Moor. During the session they happened to tell me that when they were looking for a Stockport newborn photographer they spent a long time browsing at different photographers and their work. They then went on to say that when they found my page they absolutely loved my work and had to book me. As well as blushing…and doing an internal happy dance, this was one of those moments where I reminded myself that this job is flipping fantastic and so are the people I work with! #inspired
As well as my clients another source of inspiration for me has to be other fellow photographers. Some local and others on social media groups where not only do we discuss ‘all things photography’ but also form friendships and share experiences and expertise. It’s lovely to be able to help one another and give each other the confidence to try different things and give each other ideas about new set-ups or ways of achieving a different look. I have many photographers who I follow on social media. Photographers whose work I really love and am motivated by. Every day my Facebook feed is jam packed full of photographers from all over the world, many are also mums who have set up similar businesses and like me have a young family. It is lovely to be able to follow their journeys and acknowledge their fantastic work! 🙂
The images below don’t necessarily relate to any of the stories shared above….but just demonstrate how lucky I am to have such beautiful subjects to make memories with. x x x
Please also take a look at another Baby and Family Photographer in Hertfordshire whose work I love, Jenna Marshall Photography.
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