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The sitting stage is such a beautiful age to capture. The ‘sitting’ age amongst baby and family photographers is the term given to babies around 7-10 months of age who are able to sit up confidently and unsupported. As a baby photographer in Stockport  this is one of the most desirable ages to capture and photograph after the newborn stage. Usually at this stage your little one is giving out lots of gorgeous smiles and their personality is there for the camera to capture and adore. The newborn stage is equally magical, but there is something so captivating about a baby who is discovering the world around him/her and learning, growing and changing so very quickly. This beautiful milestone is like no other because at this stage you can ensure baby’s full attention before they get that little bit older and start to crawl or walk around.  

Baby Reuben was no exception to this rule. His mummy Kathyrn booked in little man’s session in September wanting some lovely photos of her first born and this I delivered! Reuben was full of smiles for his session. I always work with mums to ensure that photos sessions are booked in at appropriate times during the day to make sure we get those beautiful and cheeky smiles that every mother and father will love. To ensure a happy and smiley baby I know that baby needs to be well rested and fed so scheduling in a session shortly after a nap and a feed is ideal. With young babies the opportunity to capture lovely photographs is also very narrow so once baby has arrived at the studio I allow for some time for baby to relax, maybe do some singing and playing and then try to get started and move through all the set-ups fairly quickly before baby gets tired or bored.

Baby photography is so very special and the opportunity to capture your child when they are little is so very important. Every parent soon realises, how quickly their little one becomes big and so having beautiful keepsakes to remind you of such a precious time is invaluable.

Reuben’s mummy came for her viewing session today and chose an exquisite driftwood, multi-aperture frame with a selection of images from Reuben’s photo shoot. These frames are really popular at the moment with clients as you are able to have a large wall-art piece but you can choose a selection of favourites.  I love the selection of images Kathyrn chose for the final piece and I cannot wait to receive it back from the labs to show her! The most perfect Christmas present for any home and any family! I use the most amazing photography labs that produce the most beautiful wall-art pieces that I know will prove to be that ‘stand-out’ feature for any wall in any house. I have written before about the importance of displaying photos of your child in your home for their self-confidence. If a child can see their photos up on the wall everyday it helps them realise their worth and reiterates to them how loved they are.

Please take a peek at some of the beautiful images Kathyrn chose today during her viewing session. I hope you love them as much as I do! I had such a lovely time capturing and editing this gallery!

To start with here is mummy’s favourite for the feature photo in her multi-aperture collection. What a gorgeous smile!!

I am a sucker for all of these gorgeous little faces Reuben is pulling! He has the most beautiful face and rosy cheeks and I hope to be able to capture many more wonderful milestones yet for him!

For more information about Sitting Photography sessions or Newborn, Cake Smash and Family Photography sessions in Stockport-contact Nikki at nchopesphotography@outlook.com

It’s that time of year already…the build up to Christmas. I know it seems too early to be talking about it but many people have been contacting me to find out availability for photography sessions as they plan on giving photographs to family members as Christmas presents. In order to get all those perfect prints and wall-art ordered the earlier you book in the better. At the end of the day what grandparent, mother, father, auntie or uncle isn’t going to love an up-to date amazing portrait 🙂 Many of my recent clients have put me on a social media ban until the New Year once all the presents have been distributed so I can’t share them all just yet….! 

However, as well as all my usual newborn, baby photo sessions, cake smash and family photography portraits in the studio I have also been outside doing lifestyle Autumn sessions. I will blog about some of these in the coming weeks so keep a look out for all the gorgeous autumnal photos!

The last few weeks have also been really hectic with Christmas mini-sessions and my studio is full of glitter and all things festive! Take a look at some of the cuties below who are ready to adorn those Christmas cards!  

To book your session get in touch! 

Baby Photography, Cheadle, Bramhall, Poynton, Stockport

Newborn photography is hugely popular nowadays and is easily considered an early milestone. From a personal perspective and speaking as a mother having the memories to look back on of your baby in their first few days of life are priceless.  You will never regret the decision to have a new baby photo shoot and will treasure the photos for a lifetime.

The next most common milestone, particularly for photographers is the Cake Smash. A Cake Smash photoshoot is equally as popular as a newborn session in the Cheadle, Bramhall and Stockport area and is a fun way of celebrating your baby’s first year! Cake smash birthday sessions are great fun for babies and parents. There’s bubbles, balloons, cake, a bath…what’s not to love!!

Somewhere in between the two. we have the ‘Sitter’ photo sessions.

What is a sitter session?
Sitters are babies between 6 and 10 months who can sit up unsupported. The session is a portrait session where your baby is captured at the most perfect age. Their personality is reflected so well at this age…smiles, giggles, baby bubbles and babbles and the best bit for all concerned is that they can’t yet crawl or walk…meaning a much easier photoshoot for all involved.

These sessions are very hands on and every effort goes into getting those perfect baby smiles! We sing songs, we dance, we play peek-a-boo…so parents I warn you…bring your best tricks and plenty of energy 😉

The session usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, and in order to get the best out of your little one we aim to work around nap time so your baby is well rested beforehand. Unless a particular styling has been requested, we will mostly photograph your little one with a neutral surrounding, very few props, and a timeless colour scheme.
For more information on how to book your Sitting session get in touch!

Raising confident and self assured children is incredibly difficult! Most of us are fumbling our way through this parenting journey and we are constantly being thrown challenges to overcome. But noone gave us a manual for this right? Our children are inundated with media messages about how they should look, what they should eat and wear.  It is frightening to think that our little ones’ self-worth can be influenced so much by a world of people they don’t even know nor have ever met. As parents the best we can do is help fill our little ones with the love and self confidence they need to feel secure enough to question all the influences out there and develop their own strong minds and self-worth.

DISPLAYING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
What did your mum do with the very first drawing you brought home from school?
She more than likely hung it on the fridge.  Soon the fridge was plastered with so many of your beautiful pictures you could no longer make the fridge out.  Can you remember how proud you felt when you saw your hard work there, displayed for everyone to see? Displaying these little accomplishments and praising our children for their efforts are beautiful little ways that we tell our children that their accomplishments matter and that their hard work is recognised by us.
We are living in an ever expanding digital world. Rather than printing and displaying family photographs, families are increasingly sticking to enjoying the images in a digital form, be it a mobile device, Facebook or laptop. But does an image on a tablet, computer screen or social media site have the same impact for helping families boost a child’s self-esteem?
David Krauss, psychologist from Cleveland, Ohio said…
“My bias is very simple. I think family photographs should be on the wall. I am very conservative about self-esteem and I think placing a family photo someplace in the home where the child can see it every day without having to turn on a device or click around on a computer to find it really hits home for that child this sense of reassurance and comfort. They have a certainty about them and a protecting quality that nurtures a child. It let’s them know where they are in the pecking order and that they are loved and cared for,”

​When put like that it sounds so logical, doesn’t it? Children see their image at home on a wall, framed  by their parents or made into wall-art of some kind and they see and understand their place in the world and the people who love them the most.  It serves as a daily reminder of who they are and where they belong. This in turn strengthens their self-esteem and confidence. 
Krauss also went on to say, ”I think it is really important to show a family as a family unit. It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part…A photographer’s job is to create and make the image look like a safe holding space for kids where they are safe and protected. Kids get it on a really simple level.”

DISPLAYING VALUES
How do we let our children know that they matter?  We say “I love you” but is this more about how ‘we’ as parents feel rather than about them?  We tell them they are destined for great things and can achieve anything they set their mind to.  That’s not the same as showing your children that they matter or that they really belong.  
“When a child sees a family portrait with them included in the photograph they say to themselves: ‘These people have me as part of what they are, that’s why I belong here. This is where I come from.”
Judy Weiser, licensed psychologist 
​

​WORK OF ART
Our children are changing every day, learning and growing. Sometimes we don’t even notice these changes in our crazy busy lives…but a photo reminds us. Unfortunately time isn’t endless and moments we cherish will pass, but seeing family photographs and having them in our everyday lives makes us feel special and reminds us how lucky we are to have and ‘be’ a family. 

I love being a family photographer in Stockport. I love being a part of each journey. I love being able to create memories that will be treasured for generations to come. But please, if you only take one thing from reading this blog….get in front of the camera, build memories, build that self-worth and feeling of belonging and get those images off your PC and on your walls!!

If you would like to book a Family photo session or some beautiful portraits of your children I am based in Cheadle Hulme/Bramhall and photograph all over the Stockport and Cheshire area. I have clients visiting me from Poynton, Marple, Cheadle, Woodford, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge to name a few. As well as family photography, I also specialise in newborn, baby and cake smash photography. If you are looking for photographers in the Cheadle area then look no further!  

Newborn, Baby and Maternity Photographers, Cheadle, Bramhall, Stockport

Babies are a real gift, only tiny for such a short time. Newborn and baby photography is becoming more and more popular and it is the perfect opportunity to have those tiny details captured professionally. When clients come back for their viewing sessions to my studio in Cheadle Hulme, they are often amazed by how much their little one has grown in just a matter of weeks. Baby photographers love being a part of such a special time for so many families. When I have a booking for a maternity photography shoot I have the opportunity to meet my mums-to-be in that exciting run up to their little one’s arrival and this wonderful mamma below was no exception to that.

I met Abeer at a baby fair at the Hallmark Hotel in Wilmslow.  At the time Abeer was pregnant with her third child. Already mum to 3 daughters she was expecting a boy! Abeer explained to me that she had never had any bump or maternity photographs taken with any of her other children so she wanted this to be special as it was her last pregnancy.

Abeer’s maternity session was 24 hours before her little man arrive.  Take a peek at some of the photos from her beautiful maternity and newborn photography galleries. I had so many people say to me after I posted this maternity photograph on my Facebook and Instagram pages about how beautiful Abeer looked and how happy! 

As well as being a maternity and newborn baby photographer based in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport I also photograph babies, families and older children. Some of my most popular photo sessions at the moment are my Autumn Lifestyle sessions capturing families at locations all over Stockport including Poynton, Wilmslow, Bramhall, Alderley Edge, Marple, Cheadle and Didsbury.  Another really popular session this month has been Cake Smash and Birthday photography photoshoots.  These are a great way of celebrating your child’s special milestone. To see my reviews or to book your session please get in touch, I would love to hear from you. Nikki 🙂