Sacha Blackburne Photography: Babies

Showing posts with label Babies. Show all posts

Monday, 20 December 2010

Melissa's Grannies in town!

You may remember Craig and Laura from their amazingly creative and personal maternity session. The two had loved the shoot so much, they were keen to capture Baby Melissa's first year at various stages and on momentous occasions. So what better opportunity than when both grandmas were visiting at the same time? The new parents had asked their mothers to come and help to care for Melissa after Laura had to go back to work, in order to extend the sweet baby's home time as long as possible. Both the grannies were so generous with their time and so when it came to booking flights, they made sure there would be a weekend overlap where everyone was in Bermuda together. And of course, this was a perfect chance to schedule the first of Melissa's photo sessions.

First up was Laura's mum, Trish, who lives in Ottawa, Canada. Trish loved to read to Melissa who was very alert and keen on her books even though she was only just four months old.

Next up was was Craig's mum, Bette who came from Oakville, Canada. She had just arrived so had lots of memories yet to make.

These delicious booties had been Craig's when he was tiny.

Melissa is also the first grandchild on both sides of the family so her arrival has been extra special for everyone and she is adored and spoiled just as she should be.

Three generations of beautiful mamas

I usually prefer not to shoot babies after the first two weeks and before about five or six months. There are many reasons, mainly due to the fact that the expressions most babies make during that period if they are awake look utterly adorable in motion, but any one of the expressions frozen is often not how they really look. Sleeping babies under 5 months look more how they look naturally, but after two weeks, that is harder to make happen. So I generally only shoot over 6 months when wee ones are sitting up, grinning up a storm and more relaxed in their faces. That said, since this was a special occasion with only a narrow window of time when everyone was all together, I broke my rule. But I didn't want to focus too much on Melissa, but rather all the whole family all being together. But I did shoot one, and of course, her parents will know she has a thousand other looks, but hopefully this did indeed capture at least one of them.

I adore this series below - here her expressions are hilarious and just love her parents in the background making out!

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

A Star is Born

Anita distinctly remembers the exact moment that she and Rick settled on the name of their baby girl. One evening, shortly after they discovered that they were pregnant, the expecting parents were in the car headed out for dinner when Rick asked, "if if is a girl, what do you think we would call her?" Anita replied that she had always liked the name Estelle because it means 'star'. Within moments the car rounded a corner and saw a spectacular shooting star fall over Shelly Bay. It was an amazing moment for both of them and they've loved the name ever since. And now that sweet Baby Estelle is here, her parents have no doubt that she is a gift from above, just like that little star.

When Rick and Anita's dear friends, Daniel and Andrea, told the couple about their wedding plans in Provence, the two were over the moon at the prospect of a trip to France. The wedding sounded magical and they couldn't wait to see the incredible winery their friends had chosen as the wedding location. So when Rick and Anita discovered they were going to have a baby, they realised the pregnancy would be too far along for then to travel to the wedding after all. After their initial disappointment, they decided there was no need to miss out on everything. They packed up and traveled to France in the second trimester. And just to get a feel for how amazing the wedding was going to be, they journeyed all the way to the little winery, the Bastide do Marie, in Provence. As expected, it was a beautiful setting in fabulous countryside and they loved every minute of this first trip with Baby Estelle, even if she was still sung in her mama's tummy enjoying it. Apparently she thrived while in France and grew in leaps and bounds in Anita's belly. They brought back a crate with the Bastide de Marie wine to share with their friends to help them plan the big day and although the winde is long gone now, the memories still last, as does the crate. So it seemed the perfect vessel to capture tiny Estelle in her first weeks as yet another layer of good memories to add to the tapestry.

Friday, 26 November 2010

Meredith and Freya

Meredith is a photographer. Her work work is edgy, original and downright stunning. So when she asked me to photograph her with her darling baby, Freya, I felt the pinch of pressure. I was so worried she would not like the results, or catch me out that I am really a fraud (I am not, of course, but when I am with someone in the same industry, someone who is good - sometimes, I suddenly feel like I am one!). And on top of that, she just wanted a mini session at my house so I didn't even have time and lots of wild backdrops to work with to make the magic. But she came, she trusted, I shot, and I have to say, I am thrilled. It is odd how sometimes, when you know someone well, you do not necessarily see them objectively, or possibly at all (physically that is - I generally notice more what is on the inside than on the outside). I have always thought that Mere was attractive, but as I processed these images, I was bowled over by what an utterly beautiful woman she is - how did I miss this all these years? And then I realised she was not just aesthetically lovely, but it is how she is as a mother that has added to her beauty. As I worked on the images, I stared into her eyes on my screen and really saw her in a new light, and she is indeed a beauty-full woman. Of course it helps to have a baby as darling as Freya attached to her at all times!