Family photos with 18-month-old Michael

One night in Cowley, Oxford, Anna spotted Dom across the bar and decided to offer him a drink. The pair hit it off and soon created a life together with Frank, a pug who turns seven this year.

Frank was the centre of the couple’s attention for so long, but took it well when Michael was born a year ago, demoting Frank to second place in their hearts. Now, Frank and Michael are the best of buddies, and can often be found curling up for a cuddle somewhere.

Michael has recently become obsessed with buses, with ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ now his favourite nursery rhyme. He’s got a couple of little bus toys, and the metal one featuring in some of these images was his favourite on the day of our photoshoot – he felt very strongly about not putting it down! Indeed, if you look closely you can also see little bus shapes featuring on his knitted jumper.

Due to the pandemic, Michael hasn’t yet had a chance to travel on a bus. I’d love to be there and see how he reacts when he finally gets to meet the driver and sit at the front of the top deck!

There has been one huge positive to the pandemic, though: Dom has been able to work from home. That means he’s been able to see a lot more of Michael as he’s raced through his first year milestones: first smiles, first word (“dog”, with a finger pointing at Frank) and first steps. Now Michael’s favourite word is ‘Yuck’, and he’s keen to use it to label as many things as possible!

Anna found out about me through her NCT group: I’ve already had the privilege of photographing two of their friends’ newborn babies, Thea and Sonny. And while her recovery from an unplanned C-section meant that Anna couldn’t come in for a newborn photoshoot, she’s so glad to now have images of her new family together, with the added bonus of lots of smiles and interaction now Michael is 18 months’ old.

The NCT friends still meet up, and the group has been a vital support as the new parents go through similar challenges at the same time together.

The family are particularly looking forward to going to the beach at Portsmouth (especially now the weather has improved!). Michael has been to the seaside once before, between lockdowns, but he was too young to really enjoy it. I have a feeling that he’s going to love feeling the sand squish between his toes and having a splash in the shallows!

And sometimes it’s crazy to think that for one small change – Dom deciding not to have a drink that night in Cowley or Anna not having the courage to go and say hello – it could all have been so different. It’s certainly a better world for having Michael in it: his grins, his cuddles and, of course, his passion for buses. 🙂

After our photoshoot, Anna said:

“I highly recommend Sarah’s photography, we are so happy with the outcome of the pictures of our 18 month old. Sarah is so professional from the initial booking to helping choose what to wear she gives you all the information you need to help you feel prepared and relaxed . She is very good at making you feel at ease in front of the camera and has produce the most wonderful pictures for us to decorate our home with and remember this special time having a lively toddler! Who might I add Sarah was fantastic with so patient and kind :)”

Anna, family photoshoot client from Oxford

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If you’d like to book your child’s first birthday 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).