Older newborn photos with 9-week-old Isabella

“The last few weeks have been a blur,” Karl told me. Karl works for the RAF, and that’s been fortuitous as his accrued annual leave and paternity leave, combined with the force’s current one-week-on, one-week-off working pattern has meant that he hasn’t had to go back to work just yet. That’s given him plenty of time to get used to being a dad and help the family settle into a new routine.

As Isabella was born during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Karl was only able to stay at the hospital with partner Gemma and his new daughter for just an hour. After those short minutes were up, it was time to go.

Gemma was still recovering from a C-section, was dosed up on morphine and not completely sure what was going on. The midwives laid Isabella on her chest, and the pair stayed that way for hours, falling in love with each other.

The next day, Karl kept checking his phone, waiting for a call from Gemma to say she was allowed to leave. The morning passed, then lunchtime, then the afternoon. Time dragged on with no news.

Then, finally, at 8pm Gemma got the go-ahead to head home. Karl pulled up outside the hospital doors while midwives helped Gemma down to the ground floor. They loaded Isabella’s car seat into the vehicle and sat there awhile, sometimes talking, sometimes staring and all the time processing everything that had happened in the previous couple of days.

The couple found out about me through Lily’s From Bumps to Babies antenatal group in Bicester. They said the classes really helped them prepare for their new arrival, particularly the challenges of breastfeeding.

Despite initial struggles, Gemma had all the traits she needed to persevere with it. One of my favourite phrases is ‘patient like a tree, persistent like grass’. Karl tells me Gemma has both qualities, and it seems that helped her try, try and try again until feeding became second nature.

Karl brings a laid-back approach to everything, and the couple hope that Isabella inherits his calmness. Judging from her wide-eyed curiosity during our shoot, and particularly her interest in staring at my camera, I wonder if she’ll have Gemma’s creativity and love of photography, too. Isabella’s certainly got Karl’s eyebrows already, with about a hundred expressions flickering over her face every minute:

Karl and Gemma knew what name they wanted to give their baby when Gemma was still only 20 weeks’ pregnant. They shared the name with family, and from then on, everyone was already referring to the new arrival as ‘Bella’. She’s got two equally beautiful middle names, too: Lily Eve. Lily is Gemma’s mum’s favourite flower, and Eve is in honour of Gemma’s nan.

Karl and Gemma met in English classes at college, where their teacher would tease them about their continuous flirting. What’s meant to be will be, however, and the couple have been together ever since.

The pair have a four-year-old niece and one-year-old nephew, so they have a lot of experience being around little ones. Their niece has loved meeting Isabella, and wants to kiss and cuddle her. Their nephew is slightly less interested in the baby, and more interested in her toys. I’m sure in a few years’ time, they’ll spend every minute they can playing together, though, helped by the fact that the families are all fairly local.

That family focus is pivotal for this couple. They are all about the family, with a weekend packed full of visits so that everyone can get to meet their new arrival.

Indeed, starting her own family has always been a priority for Gemma, with maternal instinct flowing through her veins. She’s always felt ready to be a mum, and now her arms are full with this very sweet, very lovable daughter. Life is finally complete 🙂

After our shoot Gemma said:

“Our whole experience from start to finish was an absolute dream. From attentive emails to helpful little texts, Sarah went above and beyond to make sure she fulfilled our vision for our photo shoot and provided our perfect once in a life time memories. Sarah is kind, accommodating and will make you feel like a million pounds. If you’re lacking in a little confidence, Sarah will give you the boost you need to not be anxious in front of the camera. As well as being kind and accommodating, Sarah was also gentle, calm and so very patient with our baby girl. Lots of cuddles, soothing techniques and the harmonious environment helped get the cutest pictures that have melted the hearts of many! Sarah really took the time to get to know us and tailored our shoot to incorporate personal touches so that our images suited us as a family. Thank you Sarah, we are over the moon with our gorgeous pictures!”

Gemma, newborn photography client from Ambrosden, Oxfordshire

If you’re interested in newborn portraits or family photography in and around Bicester, Oxfordshire, please get in contact.

Sarah Plater LMPA is an award-winning qualified, certified professional newborn and family portrait photographer based in Bicester, Oxfordshire. She is the Master Photographers Association Newborn Photographer of the Year 2019 for the Central Region (covering Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire).