Newborn photos with 15-day-old Joshua

January 2022 update: The above image won a Highly Commended in the November 2021 monthly competition run by the Master Photographers Association. Judge Sarah Tate FMPA commented, “I love this one, I think the lighting is beautiful; it’s not been over-edited; the colours are lovely. You’ve done a beautiful knot, [baby is] beautifully laid out, the colour and lighting are fabulous. It’s beautiful, Sarah.”

I last saw Laura, James and their eldest son Joseph just over a year ago, for Joseph’s first birthday photos (see them here).

As our session drew to a close and Laura and James were gathering their things together, James turned to me and said, “Hopefully we’ll be back here with another newborn in the next year or two.”

Laura laughed and responded, “Maybe.”

James grinned before adding, “Definitely maybe.”

Indeed, true to his word, here they are within the promised time frame with their newest arrival, tiny Joshua.

Joseph, who not all that long ago was just as tiny (see his newborn photos here) is now a bright, happy and curious toddler who is loving his recent promotion to Big Brother.

Joseph likes to point out Joshua’s eyes, nose and mouth every time he sees his brother – although he sometimes follows this with his current favourite phrase: “I don’t like it!” :-)!

Once we had all the sibling and family photos done, James led Joseph out of my studio so we could focus on Joshua’s solo portraits.

Joseph was very concerned about leaving Joshua behind, a sign that perhaps he loves he new brother a lot more than he sometimes lets on!

James loves being a dad-of-two, particularly on those rare moments when they’re both asleep! 🙂

It’s been a bit of a shock to the system going through the early sleepless nights again, but there’s much to look forward to.

He’s planning to buy Joseph all the toys he hankered after when he was little, and recently bought him a remote controlled Mercedes truck, with an engine strong enough to pull an adult in its trailer! 

For Laura, every new stage with Joseph has felt even better than the one before it.

She can’t wait to experience that again with Joshua, and to watch Joseph continue to grow into his own person.

It’s always an honour to capture a baby’s first professional photos, but especially so when their mum and dad have travelled for over two hours to get to me.

Having seen this family every year for three years, it’s also been a pleasure to watch them grow, develop and settle happily into family life. And they might just be back next year…

Indeed, when leaving hospital with Joshua, James said goodbye to the midwife and added, “See you next year!”

To this Laura responded, “I’m not sure who’re you’ll be coming back here with, because it won’t be me!”

So will they be back again in another year or two?

Whether it’s for another newborn photoshoot or simply to update their family photos, I very much hope so 🙂

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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).