Newborn photos with five-day-old Isabelle and one-year-old Ada

Second-time parents are often nervous about how their first child will react to the arrival of a new sibling. For her whole life, Ada has been the centre of Brandi and Roff’s attention, as they told me during Ada’s first birthday photoshoot with me.

Brandi knew that in the long-term, the perks of having two girls so close in age would pay off: they’d have each other as a play partner while they’re young, and a best friend as adults. But in the meantime she was worried about Ada missing having mum and dad to herself, and how Brandi could manage her time between both daughters amongst the happy chaos of having two little ones both under two years old.

However, Brandi had a plan. She bought some books filled with stories of big sisters welcoming a new baby into their lives. Ada loved looking through the books, and started putting what she’d seen into practice, ‘feeding’ and ‘bathing’ her dolls.

The plan worked. When Ada first met Isabelle, she ran up to her, saying, “Baby!”. Ada gave Isabelle a kiss and a cuddle and then ran off to get one of her toys to share with her new sibling. Their first interaction couldn’t have gone better.

There are other positive changes in the pipeline, too. After seven house moves in seven years due to Roff’s job, the family are finally heading home to settle down for a while in Georgia, America. They can’t wait to be closer to their friends and family, and for Ada and Isabelle to be able to play and grow up with their cousins.

Brandi tells me they only know two families in the UK: one of them they bumped into at the hospital during Isabelle’s arrival. The other, fellow American family Tamisha and Vince, are their neighbours. Tamisha and Vince recommended me as a photographer after having their maternity and newborn photoshoots with me. The fact that Brandi had been to my studio before for Ada’s first birthday photoshoot shows what a small world it can be!

Grandma Susan has some of the photos from that birthday photoshoot on her walls, and can’t wait to add more from the family’s newborn photoshoot. Susan helped deliver Brandi’s first baby, who was born in America, and agreed to fly out here to help with her second.

Due to the pandemic, that meant a lot of expensive virus testing before and after arrival, as well as a 10-day-quarantine. The expense and hassle has been well worth it, with her help indispensable, especially with young Ada at such an active age!

Indeed, after we’d captured a beautiful set of images, the rest of the afternoon focused on a rota of nap-taking, with Grandma’s help meaning that mum and dad could both catch up on some much-needed sleep. After all, with a new baby, and an imminent return home to America, they’ve got a busy and exciting year to look forward to!

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).