Newborn photos with 22-day-old Luca

Luca’s mum and dad met at university: she studied psychology and he studied IT. Since then they’ve both been rising in their chosen professions and soon felt ready to take on a new challenge together: parenthood. 

The couple have a wide network of friends dotted around the country, and love visiting them and going for country walks (preferably with a pub stop for lunch, of course!).

Dad is a big sports fan, playing tennis in summer and squash in winter. He also loves skiing and can’t wait to teach his son how to glide down those snowy slopes as soon as he is old enough for his first lesson!

Of course, the pandemic put a stop to a lot of dad’s sports, but luckily this couple have a ping pong table at home. The couple met up for ping pong matches throughout the lockdowns as a way of having a break and getting some exercise in while working from home.

The regular practice worked wonders, and mum managed to beat dad more than once!

Dad is really looking forward to reading Luca stories, giving him baths and having the excuse to buy and build Lego once again! 

For mum, she’s anticipating lots of cuddles, and taking Luca on walks in the baby carrier. She loves how cute and tiny he is, and can’t wait to see how he takes after each of his parents.

She was particularly hoping for a swaddled image of Luca looking content and peaceful in his tiny cocoon and I’m delighted to say she was spoilt for choice, including this favourite one of mine:

Mum is from Canada and moved around a lot as a child, while dad is from Italy, so they are truly an international family.

Luca’s paternal grandparents are coming to stay over for a couple of weeks and cannot wait to meet the new arrival, especially as he’s the first grandchild on both sides of the family!

Luca’s maternal grandma has been regularly sending pictures of different outfits to Luca’s mum, and is looking forward to seeing how he looks wearing them, now he’s finally here!

She’s been travelling up from London to stay with the family for a couple of nights each week, and her presence has been a huge help, enabling mum and dad to get things done or even just to rest a little.

Mum had booked my Baby’s First Year package and was very much hoping to swap the First Birthday sessions for a maternity photoshoot instead.

Unfortunately, I was fully booked at the time, so mum went on the waiting list in case of last minute availability.

A gap finally opened up, but it was a few days after baby due date. Nevertheless, we popped it in the diary in the hope baby would sit tight for a couple more days.

Luca, however, must’ve known he was the star of the show and decided to arrive shortly before!

While of course it’s sad that mum didn’t get her maternity images, there is an upside in that I will get to see little Luca and his fab family two more times – I can’t wait!

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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).