Newborn photoshoot with 13-day-old Ruaridh

Claire and Alan’s relationship didn’t have the most auspicious start. They met at work, but initially clashed due to their teams’ differing approaches to getting the job done.

However, as colleagues moved on and they got to know each other better as individuals, their initial animosity transformed into something more favourable.

They started spending time together outside of work, formed a connection and then fell in love, soon deciding that one of them better find work elsewhere!

They also discovered that the differences that remained between them became a source of strength, with Claire’s emotional depth complementing Alan’s practicality. 

They hope that baby Ruaridh inherits the best of each of them, with Claire’s thoughtfulness and emotional intelligence helping Ruaridh navigate life’s complexities with grace and understanding, while Alan’s practicality will ensure Ruaridh is resourceful in finding solutions, even while under pressure.

Claire would be very happy for Ruaridh to inherit his dad’s height, too!

Claire and Alan have lots to teach Ruaridh as he grows up, from Alan’s knowledge of baking to their mutual adoration of all things Lego: they even have a bouquet of Lego flowers on the windowsill.

As someone who struggles to even keep a spider plant alive, I think this is an ace idea!

Both Claire and Alan have loved parenthood so far, helped by the fact that everything has gone smoothly with Ruaridh sleeping and feeding well already.

After so many years together Claire and Alan have also enjoyed seeing parenthood bring out new sides in each other.

Although Ruaridh is the first grandchild for Claire’s dad, both her mum and Alan’s mum are veteran grandparents.

Alan is one of five siblings, one of whom has four children, so Ruaridh will have plenty of cousins to play with.

He’ll also have lots of places to stay and visit, with Alan’s family hailing from Norwich while Claire’s is based in Aberdeen.

One day soon, Claire would love to take him further afield, too: on safari in Africa where she is particularly interested in seeing gorillas up close in the wild.

Talking of steps, Alan is particularly looking forward to seeing Ruaridh learning to walk, while Claire is most excited about seeing his first smiles.

In the meantime, Claire is making the most of having Alan around (especially when it comes to changing the nappies!) before his paternity leave finishes.

And in those quiet moments with a sleepy Ruaridh tucked up on mum or dad’s chest, both Claire and Alan can’t quite believe how lucky they are to have found each other and created such a perfect little family of three.  ?

“We recently spent the morning with Sarah for our son’s newborn photoshoot. Not only is Sarah extremely talented at photography, she was also a delight to spend some time with and get to know. Our little one had us running ragged, changing nappies & feeding away, Sarah was so patient and seemed to genuinely enjoying spending time with him. The cherry on top was of of course the photographs themselves! Sarah sent them way ahead of when we expected them which was a lovely surprise and we had a lovely family evening watching the slideshow in awe of what she had managed to produce. A tear or two may have been shed. These are precious memories we will cherish forever and I’m so glad we chose Sarah to capture them.”

Claire, newborn photography client from Banbury, Oxfordshire

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If you’re interested in newborn portraits or family photography in 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).