Newborn photoshoot with five-day-old Ava

The above image has just won a Highly Commended Award in the monthly competition run by the Master Photographers Association (MPA).

Judge Sarah Tate FMPA commented, “This one I think is beautiful – it’s very well put together, very well thought out. You’ve got it all: baby is beautifully lit, hands are lovely, you’ve got your colours going on with a nice texture in the background. I feel that this is a lovely, lovely image – you should be very proud of yourself. It’s very, very pretty and the colours are truly fabulous.”

---

Chelsea and Dann were one week overdue when they snagged one of my last available newborn photoshoot sessions for April. 

Adorable little Ava Madison was clearly quite comfortable inside, so was nearly two weeks overdue when doctors induced labour.

Indeed, Ava is the first grandchild on both sides, so her parents and her wider family were very excited about meeting her, and were starting to get a little impatient as time rolled on!

Finally she has arrived, filling the hearts of her proud parents to bursting, and giving the long, slow journey to becoming mum and dad a very happy culmination for this lovely couple. 🙂

Dann was a best friend to Chelsea’s younger brother while at school, so they knew of each other from a young age.

Years later, Chelsea and Dann were on the same team at a local pub quiz and got chatting. Between them they supplied the answers for any music, film and TV-related questions.

They clearly worked well together, and their bond grew until they decided to tie the knot with a beautiful ceremony at Weston-on-the-Green’s stunning manor in August 2018.

Although moving to the bigger town of Didcot has meant that the local pub isn’t quite the same, they still hold an annual quiz with their families at Christmas, and are looking forward to introducing little Ava to the joys of general knowledge!

In the meantime, there’s so many things Chelsea and Dann are excited about sharing with Ava as she grows up.

They’ve wanted to become parents for such a long time but have tried to protect themselves from disappointment by not getting their hopes and expectations up too much.

Now that she’s finally here, they can’t wait to get stuck in, and are ready to learn from Ava as much as they are looking forward to teaching her themselves. 🙂

“Sarah made us feel completely at ease during our shoot with our newborn baby (first time parents). She was brilliant with our little girl too, very calming and gentle. We didn’t feel rushed, able to tend to our daughter as needed and ultimately came away with some fantastic photos that have captured our new little family perfectly. Highly recommend!”

Dann, newborn photography client from Didcot, Oxfordshire

---

If you’re interested in newborn portraits or 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).