Newborn photoshoot with 7-day-old Olivia

November 2020 update: The above portrait has just been awarded a Highly Commended Rosette by the Master Photographers Association (MPA). Ray Lowe, Chairman of the MPA, commented, “I think it’s quite clever [and] you’ve done a brilliant job. Your lighting is good and I love the shoot-through-the-middle [approach] which creates a shape that brings the whole thing together. A terrific shot. Keep doing it. It should become one of your ‘signature dishes’.”

Karlene and Emre met at work, in the accounting department of an energy company. Karlene had just brought her first flat and was looking forward to enjoying life as a free and single young woman.

So Karlene initially demurred Emre’s advances. Luckily, his persistence paid off – that, and his ability to cook the Turkish foods he grew up eating: flatbreads, Baklava and Turkish delight (done properly, not the sickly sweets sold here in the UK). Like me, Karlene is a foodie, so Emre cooked his way into her life and heart.

They moved out of the town centre and into a large doer-upper on the edge of town instead. There are adjoining fields next to the property, melting into open countryside beyond. That’s given this couple and their new arrival the best of both worlds: city life for London-born Karlene and fresh-aired nature for Emre.

Karlene loves her sleep – really loves it – so newborn life has been a bit of a shock. Nevertheless, she’s powered through the last seven nights with good humour, snoozing as best she can in the 150 minutes between feeds.

I think little Olivia loves chilling out just as much as her mum. Olivia’s due date was 9 September, but that day came and went. A week passed, then another week. 

Karlene and Emre headed to hospital for an induction and were turned away as the maternity wards were too full. They returned a second time and were turned away again.

Eventually there was space, and Karlene underwent an induction. And another one. And then a third. Finally, two weeks and two days after her due date (and four days of labour for her poor mama!) Olivia reluctantly agreed to experience life outside of the womb.

Emre tells me that it’s been a steep learning curve, and that they still feel there’s so much they don’t know. Despite this, I watched them admiringly through their newborn photoshoot with me, as they had already figured out what Olivia’s gestures and expressions indicated: hunger or a full tummy or a poonami, for example.

I watched them work seamlessly and patiently together to change Olivia’s nappy and prepare her food. No wonder she’s so chilled – she can see mum and dad have got it sorted. As a bonus, every interaction between Karlene and Emre is threaded through with banter: you can tell these two are the best of friends, as well as co-parents.

Indeed, Karlene loves beating Emre at Uno, but it’s Emre turn to win whenever they play Monopoly. They can’t wait to teach these games to their little girl, as well as more active pursuits.

Emre can’t wait to get her cycling, playing tennis and joining them on their National Trust walks – he and Karlene are a particular fan of Waddesdon’s Christmas Fair – and experiencing these much-loved activities as a dad for the first time.

It was Karlene’s birthday a couple of days after Olivia’s newborn photoshoot with me. There is, however, very little that Karlene wants for right now – she has Emre looking after her and little Olivia to snuggle with.

The only thing that’s missing in her life is a little Baklava… better get cooking, Emre! 🙂

After our shoot, Karlene said:

“Sarah made me feel at ease straight away. It’s a bit daunting going with a new born baby to a photoshoot. You pray your baby doesnt cry (my baby did), doesn’t soil their nappy (my baby did) or decide that they dont want to play along with the photo shoot (my baby did this aswell). However because of Sarah’s professionalism and obvious experience she was able to handle all of this and still capture some truly amazing photos. Post baby the last thing any mum wants to do is a take a photo of themselves… however the images she captured didn’t make me feel like the slightly over weight tired mum that I thought I looked like! I woud highly recommend Sarah. Added bonus that her studio was super sterile and she took all precautions needed in regards to COVID. I am more than likely going to use Sarah again.”

Karlene, newborn photography client from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

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).