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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.

It’s been a good while since I have taken some time to write a blog. After having a baby myself just over a year ago I have had to take a step back from some of the admin side of having a business which means I have some catching up to do!  However, now I am back to it and I have promised myself that this year’s resolution is to be more organised and better at updating the website and giving you guys a little bit more of me…showing you what I am up to and letting you know about projects I am working on! 

Anyway…back to baby Sofia! This little darling was born in December and came in for her shoot just over 10 days later. Mum Ellie was no stranger to me as I had had the pleasure of capturing her first born, Harry just under 2 years ago. As a newborn photographer I am so grateful to be in a position where I get to meet so many new babies in the first few weeks of life! All so different to each other, even so early on. Being able to document families as they grow from one to two, then sometimes two to three children is such an honour and I am grateful to Sofia and her family for making the journey to see me in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport as they are not local. Having your own business can be really challenging at times so when clients return to you, ultimately you know you are doing something right. 

Sofia was generally really sleepy during her shoot and with such a beautiful head of hair and the most perfect little button nose she was incredible to photograph. I can see already that she will be the image of her mummy as she grows up…and mummy is a stunner let me tell you, so she is one lucky babba :) After this session I found myself looking back at the pictures I took of Sofia’s little brother Harry to see if I could find any likenesses with them both. I have posted a couple of images of Harry at the bottom of the post so you can see what you think?

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Baby Harry below from two years ago….. I can definitely see the likeness!

Baby Grayson arrived in to this world in a huge hurry and weeks before anticipated! What a beautiful baby boy he is. It’s hard to look at him and not be wowed by his dreamy skin and button nose <3

Accompanied by his equally gorgeous and proud big brother, the boys really were an absolute pleasure to photograph and both so chilled out during their session! Photographs with a new baby and a young sibling can be really difficult to create at times but big brother made my job so easy here. He must be the best behaved 4 year old I have ever met! I can see already that these two are going to be the double of one another and break a heart or two as they get older!

Grayson suited the creams and neutrals so much and the combination together make for a really fresh and organic looking finish for a baby boy session, don’t you think? 

Are you expecting a little one in the next few months?? Your very own newborn session….

Find out how you can capture your baby’s first year by booking your newborn photography session with us creating images that you can treasure for a lifetime. To book your session call 07422528951 or email us on nchopesphotography@outlook.com

Janet and Gary tied the knot this summer in Dukinfied, Tameside. Blushing bride Janet contacted me earlier this year to ask if we could take some photographs at their wedding. I first met Janet after I photographed their beautiful daughter Freya as a newborn last September at our studio in Cheadle Hulme and have stayed in touch with her ever since. It was lovely to see Freya again and to see how much she had changed and to be a part of such a beautiful celebration.

Janet had been specific when she contacted me and explained that both herself and Gary wanted a wedding that was really low-key, fuss-free with just family and a handful of friends and some informal photographs to remember the day by.

When we arrived at Dukinfield Town Hall we were met by the lovely couple and their guests. There was such a warm and friendly vibe in the room and you could see how happy everyone was to be there to witness the union of Janet, Gary and Freya…officially!

Despite only being there an hour, Chris and I both left feeling utterly overwhelmed by the emotion and love we had witnessed between a couple and their closest. There simply wasn’t a dry eye in the room! It just goes to show, that even a ‘fuss-free’ wedding as Janet put it, can be every bit as beautiful as any other big white wedding. We feel so privileged to have been present and wish the happy couple (and Freya) a life full of happiness, love and laughter!

What can I say about handsome Henry??? He was an absolute star during his sitting session. He laughed the whole way through at his mummy as she performed all sorts of antics behind me! There were nursery rhymes, games of peek-a-boo and lots of general silliness! This proved successful though because I got some great photographs of his gorgeous little smile. 

Baby photography can take place at any stage. However the best time is to either do a newborn baby photography session during the first two weeks after the baby is born or to wait until the baby is 6 months old or at the ‘sitting’ stage.  At the newborn stage in those first couple of weeks the baby is generally at its sleepiest and therefore this makes it easier to get those lovely newborn images that you so often see. After this point the sitting up stage is a great opportunity to capture the babies’ personality in a variety of set-ups.

All these sessions take place at our home studio in Cheadle Hulme in Stockport and vary in length depending on the baby’s age. 

If you would like to book a baby photography shoot then please get in touch via the contact form below.