Older newborn photos with five-week-old Rufus

It feels like just the other day when Mackenzie and Joel came to the studio for a newborn photoshoot of little Finley.

But this month Finley reappeared at my studio door, this time as a big brother, with the family now celebrating the arrival of Rufus. Finley has been enjoying his promotion to older sibling so far, with lots of cuddles and kisses for the baby.

Finley loves dinosaurs and – although a little shy at first – is a little chatterbox once he gets going! Mackenzie told me that Finley has become Joel’s best buddy, and loves hanging out with his dad (although he is a mummy’s boy when sad or tired!).

Mackenzie’s America-based family regularly come over to visit Finley, and now Rufus is making that trip doubly valuable, with both of Mackenzie’s parents and her sister visiting recently.

Currently, their visitors are staying at local hotels. However, Mackenzie and Joel are looking to buy a larger property, and have their eye on one that’s got a little annexe. This will be ideal for accommodating visitors while ensuring everyone still has their own personal space, too.

The house move has been pushed up the list of priorities now that Rufus is here, especially as Rufus is growing so quickly!

Mackenzie loves his little button nose while Joey adores his teeny pout.

Rufus loved being swaddled so much during his photoshoot with me that he treated us to this sweet smile to show his appreciation (ok, ok, maybe it was wind, but still!):

Both Mackenzie and Joel love sports, albeit slightly different ones. Mackenzie enjoys playing tennis, cricket and other bat and ball games, while Joel is a fan of football and full-contact rugby.

Joel would love to show his boys how to play rugby when they’re a bit older, however all the stories of his experience with on-pitch concussion have understandably made Mackenzie a little nervous about the idea!

When I last saw this entrepreneurial couple, Joel was running a restaurant with a business partner. Since then, the couple decided that they wanted fewer of the 18-hour (!) shifts and unsociable working patterns and so started up a cleaning company.

This has grown rapidly, with clients coming back to them again and again for domestic and commercial cleans, thanks to the couple’s diligent and professional approach.

The change in sector has come with a huge learning curve, but the couple are enjoying the challenge very much, not to mention the ability for Joel to be much more present at home now he is working more reasonable hours.

Mackenzie and Joel are absolutely lovely to work with, so if you’d like to come home to a clean house or are looking for a local and reliable cleaning service for your company premises, do ask Collins Cleaning Company to quote for you!

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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).