Surprise photos for Nina’s 50th birthday present

“How do you think your mum will react, when she finds out what you’ve done?” I asked.

Siblings Alex, Zoe and William had snuck out of the family home, claiming to be off to play football, when really they were booked in for a photoshoot with me.

Eldest brother Luke, who lives with partner Zoe and their son, 16-month-old Alfie, came too, and the whole thing was a big secret from their mum, Nina, organised with the help of their dad, Terry.

After all, Nina’s 50th birthday is in mid-August. An exotic long-haul holiday would’ve been very difficult to plan with the ongoing pandemic, and nothing from a shop really seemed sufficient for such a big milestone birthday.

Instead, Terry came up with the perfect plan. He knew Nina loves pictures of their family more than anything, and the professional photos they have are proudly displayed all over the house. But they were taken around ten years ago, and much has changed.

William – who was two years’ old at the time of the family’s previous photoshoot – is now 12. Terry and Nina now have a grandson. It was definitely time for an update, and what better excuse than for a very special birthday?

So the whole family went into Secret Squirrel mode. A separate WhatsApp group was formed, dates and outfit ideas were exchanged, and within a matter of days, plans were put into place.

Of course, Nina had been a wife and mother long enough to know something was going on. A few overheard whispers, some escaping giggles and generally suspicious behaviour had been flagged by her internal radar. But while she waited for more clues, the plan was already well underway.

The siblings arrived at my Bicester photography studio, and we created a wide combination of images: the whole group together, just the siblings, just the three-person family unit and each person on their own, too.

That meant that when Nina saw the photos, she could decide how she’d like to display them, whether as Framed Wall Art, on a Fine Art Canvas or in an Heirloom Album.

The siblings couldn’t wait to see their mum’s face when she found out and saw the images for the first time.

And how did Nina react? Terry told me she absolutely loved them, thought the selection was fantastic and particularly loved the one of little Alfie on the black background with the bubble (above). Exactly the kind of reaction Terry and I were hoping for when he first got in contact! 🙂

After the photoshoot, Terry said:

“We decided for my wife’s 50th birthday to get Pictures of our children and grandchild. From the moment Sarah contacted me her attention to detail was spot on, talked me through plans and on the day she was so good with the kids and Little Alfie our grandchild. The reaction from my wife to these pictures was beyond belief, fantastic memories for us to cherish. If your thinking of using Sarah and not sure,my advice don’t have second thoughts!! do you won’t regret it. Thanks, Sarah.”

Terry, family photoshoot client from Bicester, Oxfordshire

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If you’re interested in family photography in 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).