Nov 16, 20214 min read

South Wales Photographers story of why she has teamed up with Charity Santa for Christmas.

Christmas Newborn Photoshoot

My love of Photography started when I first picked up a camera to take a family portrait at the age of 6, and has always been a significant part of my life, having lost my grandmother through cancer looking at photos helped me keep memories of her alive.

After many years teaching and freelancing in the media industry, it wasn’t until I became a mum of 3 children 3 and under, I decided to launch my Photography business during covid. Being a mum, I understand the importance of capturing moments whilst they're still little, which is why I specialise in newborn, children and family portraiture as I wanted to also help my clients to have the same experience. I have been fortunate enough to work with and learn from some of the top newborn photography trainers to safely pose newborn babies, this gives my clients peace of mind that they’re precious newborn will be in the safest of hands.

Image taken at Newborn training with Tracy Willis.

Launching the business as Covid occurred and the impact of lockdown rules was extremely challenging while having to isolate when I had found out I was pregnant with my third bundle of joy, I quickly learnt to diversify and offer my clients safe alternatives with the same high-end experience. Much of my newborn work is composite based, built up from layers of photographs that are cleverly edited to create a beautiful portrait. It's key for parents to look for a specialist trained newborn photographer's who are trained in the art of newborn posing safety. Having transferable skills meant I was able to guide clients to do virtual shoots and provide me with all the elements required to do their portraits. As well as virtual shoots I did a series of Doortep portraits to help raise money for NHS and to help Porthcawl residents keep connected with loved ones. Some time was put aside to fully design and build my website, not outsourcing gives me full control over moulding the website with how my business is growing. Juggling 3 little ones during Covid has brought its challenges, childcare being one, collaborating with businesses who specialise for baby and children gave me more flexibility to grow my business, such as working with Green cheeks meant I could test drive their reusable nappies whist photographing my children in them, it is also a company who mirrors my beliefs in striving for a sustainable eco friendly business.

Christmas mini created from a composite

Child photoshoot created during lockdown in isolation.

As a creative person I am also always learning and improving my skills and regardless of living in isolation for the majority of the last two years, most of my work has been internationally published in Bump, baby and Beyond international magazine, International Kid Magazine, Child couture, Your South Wales wedding magazine, Swansea Life and many more. Picked up multiple awards from The guild of Photographers, SWPP, Babies and Photographers Association, and may more. And most recently been awarded Licentiate of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (LSWPP), I am one of only a handful of Welsh based newborn and Portrait photographers to have achieved this qualification and achieved only in three months. The Licentiate is awarded to photographers who show that they produce work to a professional high standard and consistently create images of excellence and gives you the peace of mind that you’ve chosen the right photographer. The launch of my business accelerated the way it did after being mentored by Gareth Lewis and receiving guidance from Jessica Jones at communities for work at Bridgend council, it meant I had access to the correct resources at the right time, giving me the professional push my business needed to be accessible to the local community.

Press release about the "Ultimate Christmas Experience" with Steel Works Santa and the Family Claus.

The support and achievements I have gained has meant I can continue to give back by capturing beautiful memories whilst volunteering for The Butterfly Wishes Network, where I offer my photography services to families and children with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. The local community also play a huge part in the work, where my work is focused around family which is why I have teamed up with Steel Works Santa to help raise money for Alzheimer’s Wales and GIST cancer Uk, which are two charities I feel very passionate about. The Ultimate Christmas Experience with Santa and the family Claus is just one of the events we have set up, whilst the children will be making unforgettable memories during their private meet and greet time with Santa, the magical experience is being captured to result in the most beautiful fine art portraits which families will treasure forever and pass down for generations to come. The event is being hosted at Kenfig Nature Reserve on the 20th and 21st of November, which also supports the preserve one of the last remnants of a huge dune system on the coastline of south Wales, which again is something significant to the local area.

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