Maternity photoshoot with Evgeniya, Craig, Annabelle & Olivia

February 2023 update: The above image won the Gold Award in the January monthly qualified photographers competition run by the Master Photographers Association (MPA).

Judge Sarah Tate FMPA commented, “This one I really like: the connection, the expression on their faces, the lighting, the editing – it’s a well-constructed shot that ticks all the boxes. I love the way that she’s looking at the camera and he’s looking at her; he’s looking really lovingly and it just looks natural and really pretty. The parents are going to love it and treasure it for a long time – and I love it as well. Spot on.”

Christmas may be over but the biggest excitement is still to come for this gorgeous family: a baby girl will be joining them in February, transforming them into a trio of sisters and a family of five. 🙂

The new arrival will be joining a loving and talented family.

Eight-year-old Annabelle is already showing incredible aptitude across the board: she’s sporty and loves swimming and gymnastics, but also enjoys playing the oboe and piano. 

She’s creative, passionate about art, drama and drawing, and is very sociable, too.

Annabelle has enjoyed watching baby’s growth via an app which shows how big the baby is at each stage of mum’s pregnancy.

Three-year-old Olivia, meanwhile, is super-excited about being promoted to Big Sister.

She’s already very caring and maternal towards her toys, and is looking forward to helping out when the new arrival makes her appearance.

Olivia is clearly following in Annabelle’s footsteps in terms of her love of learning: she’s currently enjoying ballet, swimming and reading books with mum and dad (the current favourite is The Snail and the Whale).

When she’s not watching Peppa Pig and In the Night Garden, Olivia can most often be found playing hide and seek, being chased and going on bear hunts!

Welcoming their new sister won’t be the only adventure for these sisters in 2023: the family are also moving house, and taking on some renovation work to bring their new pad into line with their vision.

I don’t often guess things this accurately, but after asking Evgeniya and Craig to stand together, I picked up on their poise and grace.

“Have you got a dancing background, I asked?”

Indeed, it turns out they do have a little experience – they are not just British Champions, not just European Champions but World Champions in ballroom dancing!

Years ago, when Craig asked his dad to pay for dance lessons when he was a young boy, his father was worried it would be a waste of money.

He agreed Craig could try it for a few weeks, after which his dad asked his dance teacher whether there was any point continuing.

“He talks a lot,” the teacher said, “But when he’s dancing, he shows a lot of promise – he could go quite far with it.”

So the lessons continued, and proved to be a more than worthwhile investment.

The couple have since retired from competing, and successfully transitioned into judging and coaching roles.

Their biggest role to date, however, is their role as mum and dad.

They’ve loved watching Annabelle and Olivia grow and learn every day, and can’t wait to expand their family further, in the space and comfort of their new forever home. 🙂

You can see Craig and Evgeniya perform and read more about them here.

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If you’re interested in maternity photography and you’re based in or around Bicester, Oxfordshire, please get in contact.

Sarah Plater AMPA is an award-winning qualified, certified professional newborn and family portrait photographer based in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

She is the Master Photographers Association Young Families Portrait Photographer of the Year 2022 and Newborn Photographer of the Year 2019 for the Central Region (covering Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire).