First birthday cake smash and family photos with Evelyn and Eloise

What’s the best part about being a big sister? Eloise tells me it’s all the cakes and cookies: she loves baking with her mum and sibling.

However, she’s equally passionate about standing up for her little sister, cuddling her, playing with her and informing us all what she does and doesn’t like 🙂

I last met this lovely family at Evelyn’s newborn photoshoot a year ago (see the photos here), when Eloise was two years’ old and Evelyn was a tiny little dot.

For dad, the loveliest moments over the past year have been watching the two sisters play together. He and Alex are looking forward to them being able to play more complicated games as Evelyn gets older.

At the moment, the game of choice is one where Eloise topples Evelyn over, making them both explode with giggles. Alex and Stephen are trying to discourage this by putting Eloise on the naughty step, but as soon as she’s in place Evelyn wanders over to keep her company. 

Evelyn has not only mastered the art of walking already, but also pulling herself up on the furniture. Gone are the days when mum and dad could leave Evelyn on the floor and find her still there if they step out of the room.

Now Evelyn wants to be wherever her big sister is, even if that means pulling herself up on the sofa to be next to her. It’s like they already can’t bear to be apart 🙂

The Covid-19 lockdown has been an interesting experiment for this family: normally Stephen works nights and weekends, while Alex works part-time during the day as an Account Director in a graphic design agency. That means their schedules pass like ships in the night, taking turns to take care of the children and rarely being able to enjoy family life with all four of them doing the same thing at the same time.

For the first time in all the years they’ve been together, Alex and Stephen found themselves with each other 24 hours a day for months at a time. Luckily, the result was a happy one, and the family are closer than ever*. Sadly, the day of our shoot actually marks the end of their lockdown experience.

Eloise is starting playgroup next week (and can’t wait to get her hands on a promised sandpit there). Alex is back to work from maternity leave on a phased return, using saved-up holiday to transition back to the workplace gradually.

All this means a sad farewell to a blissful few months enjoying each other’s company.

They’re planning a last lunch out and an afternoon at home together, followed by a day out the next day. Then, they’ll be back to their normal(ish) lives pre-lockdown, and no doubt looking forward to the next chunk of time together. 🙂

* Alex’s top tip for family harmony? Get the kids a broken or second-hand Sky or TV control so that you don’t have to fight over the real remote. She got a free one from Facebook Marketplace and says it’s been a game-changer. You’re welcome! 🙂

If you’d like to book your child’s first birthday cake smash photoshoot, or if you have any questions about family photography with me, please get in contact.

Sarah Plater LMPA is an award-winning, qualified, professional 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).