Newborn Photoshoot with three-week-old Elliott

Mum-to-be Perrine had been looking forward to another week or two of maternity leave before her baby made his arrival, but this little one was keen to meet his mum and dad, so came early!

After Perrine’s waters broke, there was no sign of any contractions, so dad-to-be Gareth headed off to work, keeping his phone on loud just in case. 

Perrine and Gareth knew that if their baby wasn’t born within 24 hours, the doctors would need to force things along, so they were relieved when he arrived half an hour before that deadline expired!

This is their first experience of interacting with a newborn baby, so they were really grateful to have the help of midwives to learn how to change the first few nappies – now, they are experts at it.

Elliott was one of the first names Perrine and Gareth loved – as well as Alvin – but they took plenty of time to ensure it would be a good fit for him before agreeing on it for definite.

Elliott takes strongly after his dad’s features. The couple showed me an image of Gareth at a similar age, laying on a blue blanket, and we recreated the same image with Elliot – including the very same outfit that Gareth was wearing at the time!

This isn’t the only heirloom that’s been passed through the family. The couple showed me a picture of the nursery room they’ve prepared for their baby. There are jungle animals across the back wall and a traditional crib, which Gareth spent the first six years of his life sleeping in.

In addition, Elliott’s middle name is Jacques, which is in honour of his maternal grandfather, and which has now been passed on through each of four generations.

While the couple’s sleep has – naturally – been affected, Gareth has experienced an unexpected upside.

He’s less stressed about work than he used to be, no doubt helped by the fact that every spare hour is now spent bonding and playing with Elliott, which means less time on phones and screens.

Gareth is also working hard to improve his French, so that he can keep up with Perrine’s bi-lingual conversations with little Elliott, and so that he’s prepared for their first trip as a family.

This spring, they are driving over to Perrine’s family’s farm on the west coast of France, where Elliott will be able to enjoy some close-up interactions with baby calves and newborn lambs.

Until then, Perrine’s parents have spent two weeks with the couple, and their help has been invaluable.

The extra pairs of hands has meant that Perrine can hand Elliott over and take a shower, and also means the couple have been able to enjoy home-cooked (French!) food and a clean home.

It’s also meant that Gareth could delay taking paternity leave for a couple of weeks. This means Perrine will have help with Elliott for longer, giving them all time to settle into family life.

This newborn photoshoot (as well as the couple’s maternity photoshoot) was a Christmas gift from Gareth to Perrine.

Clearly, Gareth has a talent for thinking up incredibly thoughtful gifts as, the day after Elliott was born, Gareth turned up at the hospital with a charcuterie board full of the cured meats and cheeses that Perrine hadn’t been able to enjoy while pregnant.

She told me it was the best breakfast ever – and a real highlight of her hospital stay.

Perrine also mentioned how pleased she is by Gareth’s growing interest in photography.

He’s invested in a new Canon DSLR with a kit lens, and is looking forward to improving his skills over the next few months.

And with perfect little Elliott as a muse and model, there can be no better time to capture the precious moments and many milestones of their much-loved new arrival. 🥰

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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).