Maternity portraits with Nicola & Mark

Nicola wanted to do good in the world. She studied hard, got her degree and went out looking for jobs where she could have a positive impact. What she got instead was rejection: she didn’t have any experience yet and no-one was willing to give her an opportunity to get some.

Nicola persevered, eventually interviewing for a position at the mental health charity where Mark worked. As part of the hiring process, Nicola took a Myers-Briggs test. Everything about her matched exactly with the skills and traits that Mark was hoping to add to his team. Nicola got the job. For a few years they were just friends and colleagues but over time, they found themselves drawn to each other on a deeper level. They started dating, keeping the relationship under the radar at work. They had both accrued enough life experience to understand and recognise what they wanted from a partner, and this meant things became serious quickly.

Bored of the secrecy, Mark kissed Nicola on the dance floor during a work night out. Their colleagues were initially surprised, but then considered the match and were asking, ‘How come this didn’t happen sooner?!”.

Mark tells me that Nicola is loving, joyful and energetic, with so many people who’d call her their best friend. Nicola describes Mark as funny, intelligent and loyal. He’s also super-cheeky, wondering what the cheekiest thing is that he can get away with saying. During our maternity photoshoot, Nicola introduced me to the concept of a ‘push present’, a gift for new mums after labour. She’s dropping hints for a diamond ring but Mark jokes that he’ll get her a Haribo jelly ring instead 🙂

This baby will be the first grandchild on her side of the family, so Nicola’s parents and sister are particularly excited – indeed, they all clubbed together to buy the couple a Maternity Photoshoot and Newborn Photoshoot with me for a baby shower gift. On Mark’s side of the family, the new baby will be the third grandchild, but the first new arrival in a few years, as the older grandchildren are four and 24 years’ old.

There are still some shelves to go up, a breast pump to buy and a few other bits and pieces to get done. But one thing they haven’t needed to worry about is clothes for the baby. Generous friends and family have bought, hand-made and passed on enough outfits to keep their new arrival clothed through to the end of next year. Anything electronic and high tech is Mark’s domain. He’s researching baby monitors at the moment (makeup artist Kate recommends this Motorola one) and he can’t wait until the baby’s old enough to try out some of the new games available, especially those using virtual reality devices. But in the meantime he’s looking forward to meeting and cuddling his new daughter, watching her grow and sharing his love of history with her.

Nicola hopes their baby will inherit Mark’s curiosity. He’s a collector of knowledge, with a museum-worth of information tucked inside his head (and definitely the person you want on your pub quiz team!). One thing’s for sure: their little one will be a force for good in the world, taking after mum and dad’s passion for helping others. Because, after all, wanting to do good is where her mum and dad’s story started. 🙂

Hair and makeup by Kate at Ruby Rouge.

If you’re interested in newborn portraits or maternity 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).