Behind the scenes with Nicolle and Otis

I first met Nicolle and her partner Matty through Bicester Rabble, where we played team games like Dodgeball, Capture the Flag and Frisbee.

When I recently asked friends if they would like to get involved with my latest photography book, Nicolle put little seven-month-old Otis forward as a model.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes shot of the image above, showing you don’t need fancy equipment to create something like this – just a bit of black cardboard, foam board or even fabric!

Nicolle and Matty heard the name Otis fairly early on in their pregnancy (amongst other brilliant suggestions from nieces and nephews, including ‘Triangle’ and ‘Star’) and loved it.

The challenge then was to keep quiet until Otis arrived, so they could announce his name after birth.

Indeed, Nicolle tells me that Otis’ birth was a real highlight, and especially being back at the JR with a baby she could take home, a few years after enduring a baby loss there. The same surgeon was present, making for a particularly emotional moment all round.

Little Otis loves his food and is a proper carnivore, just like his dad (Otis had ham for breakfast just before his photoshoot with me).

He also loves being outdoors (like his dad), wakes up early (like his dad) and is super extroverted (just like his dad!).

Otis switches between whether mum or dad is his favourite depending on the day – luckily when Nicolle brought him into the studio, she was his first choice!

That meant we were easily able to get everything we needed for the book, including a stunning backlit bubble shot and a shot of Otis cuddling up with his mama, as well as a couple of bonus ones, too!

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If you’re interested in a 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).