Newborn photos with 7-day-old Milana

Elena and Alex love to travel. They attended the same high school in North Macedonia, and started dating on a school trip to Budapest, shortly after Elena treated Alex to an ice cream.

After school Elena worked as an au pair for an American family for a while, saving up her days off to travel home and see Alex whenever she could.

They moved in together, and lived in Slovenia. They really enjoyed the beautiful countryside, with its lakes and mountains every bit as stunning as Switzerland, but struggled to find work there.

Elena and Alex saw hospitality jobs being advertised in the Falklands Islands, and realised it was a perfect opportunity to try life in a completely different part of the world.

They told me that the wildlife there is truly wild, with so many birds, ducks and even penguins wandering around at close proximity.

As they worked in the hospitality sector, they got four months annual leave during the Falklands’ winter months, which fell during July and August.

Alex told me that at this time of year the wind was so fierce that you had to walk while bent almost horizontally into it to get anywhere!

The weather gave them the perfect excuse to hop over to South America, and pop home to visit friends and family back in Europe.

Now they’ve bought a home in Banbury. They had hoped to fit in one more epic trip before they became parents, but Covid forced a decision on them: should they continue to delay parenthood, not knowing when the pandemic would end?

They decided it was time for a different type of adventure, this time as a mum and dad.

When they found out they were expecting a baby, they started compiling a list of names.

Most of the names they thought of were for a girl, so they were very happy when the baby’s gender was confirmed.

Elena loves feeding Milana, cuddling her and staring at her.

Sometimes after a feed, Milana will stretch, pout and smile, as though appreciating the meal she’s just had.

“She nearly made us late,” Elena told me as she gazed adoringly at Milana, “because we didn’t want to have to stop staring at her and leave.”

Alex is particularly taken with Milana’s beautiful eyes, which turn from dark to pale blue depending on the light.

He can’t wait to see her character develop, and is very excited about fitting a seat for her on the back of his bike, and eventually buying her a bicycle for herself when she’s old enough.

Milana joins the couple’s first ‘baby’ – their dog Moomoo.

Moomoo is a little confused about who the new arrival is, but is very keen to get to know her, although Elena and Alex are waiting until Milana is a bit older and bigger before letting Moomoo give her all the licks and cuddles she’s saved up!

They also can’t wait to take Milana to as many different European countries as they can, and further afield as she gets older.

They’d particularly love to see Africa, Japan and China.

For now, though, the couple are enjoying the current adventure of parenthood: becoming a family, having a child to look after and discovering that staying in one place can be just as exciting and joyful as traveling, particularly when you’re holding baby Milana. 🙂

“Had an amazing experience with Sarah, this was our first ever photoshoot and we’re really happy we chose Sarah for our newborn. Her place is very clean, tidy and organised, she is very friendly, relaxed and patient. We couldn’t have chosen better. Many thanks Sarah!”

Elena, newborn photography client from Banbury, Oxfordshire

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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).