Newborn and Family Photography - Harpenden

Capturing Precious Moments: Newborn and Family Photography

There are few things in life as fleeting and beautiful as the newborn stage. Those tiny fingers curling around yours, the way they fit perfectly in your arms, and the purest expressions of love shared among your family. As a newborn photographer in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, I know how quickly these moments pass, and that’s why I’m here to help you hold onto them forever.

The Magic of Natural Light

One of the secrets to creating stunning, timeless photographs is understanding light. Natural light is my favorite tool, as it creates a soft, dreamy quality that flatters every subject. Morning and early evening provide the best light, often referred to as the “golden hours.” For newborn sessions, a sunny spot near a window becomes a perfect little studio. Families cuddled together under dappled sunlight or soft shade create warm, authentic images that feel alive with emotion.

When you book your session, we’ll discuss the best time of day and location to ensure your photos reflect your family’s unique connection.

When to Book Your Session

Timing is everything when it comes to newborn photography. The ideal window is within the first two weeks after birth. During this time, babies are still in their sleepy, curled-up phase, making it easier to capture those sweet, peaceful poses. However, it’s never too late to celebrate your little one’s arrival! Lifestyle family sessions are perfect for older babies and showcase the natural bond your family shares.

For family sessions, consider booking around key milestones, like your baby’s first birthday or a special holiday. These moments not only mark a point in time but also serve as a celebration of your family’s journey.

Why Family Sessions Matter

Life moves fast, especially when you’re raising a family. It’s easy to let the days blur together, filled with nappies, bedtime routines, and endless cuddles. That’s why taking a moment to step back and document your family as they are today is so important. Photographs become a legacy for your children—a way for them to see the love, laughter, and stories of their early years.

Imagine your child flipping through an album decades from now, seeing how you held them, how their sibling kissed their forehead, or how they were the center of your world. Those images are priceless.

Tips for a Successful Session

Here are a few tips to make your session smooth and enjoyable:

1. Keep it Simple: Neutral and soft-toned clothing works best. Avoid bold patterns or large logos, as they can distract from the connection in the photos.

2. Prepare Ahead: For newborns, having extra nappies, a favorite blanket, and time for feeding breaks can help keep everyone relaxed.

3. Let the Kids Be Kids: Don’t stress if your little ones don’t want to pose. Candid moments of laughter, curiosity, and even those cheeky expressions often make the most cherished images.

4. Relax and Enjoy: Your family’s love is all that matters. I’ll guide you through poses and moments naturally, so there’s no need to worry about perfection.

Let’s Create Something Beautiful Together

Booking a newborn or family photography session is more than just taking pictures. It’s about celebrating your journey and capturing the essence of your family’s story. Whether it’s those early newborn days or the laughter of siblings chasing each other in a sunlit field, these are the moments you’ll treasure forever.

If you’re looking for a newborn photographer in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, or a family photographer in Hertfordshire, get in touch to book your session. I also offer new baby photographs at home in Harpenden and serve the surrounding areas, including St Albans. I can’t wait to meet your family and help you tell your story through beautiful, heartfelt images.

Cosy Family Photography session

Cosy Baby & Family Photography Session

Simple, timeless & emotive Portraits

Using natural light in the studio creates such soft, gorgeous light to these portraits.

Step into the warmth of family moments captured in time. When you join me for a session, it's not just about the perfectly posed smiles, it's about embracing the snuggles, the kisses, and those beautiful in-between moments that truly paint the picture of your family's love story.

Meet little Luan, just 8 weeks new. His eyes, a mesmerizing shade of blue, twinkled with curiosity and wonder as he interacted with his adoring mum and dad. It's these precious interactions, filled with genuine emotion, that I treasure capturing the most.

Sure, we'll snap a few photos for grandma where everyone's looking at the camera, but it's those candid shots that truly steal the show. The ones where love radiates from every frame.

As I look back on the shoot together, I'm reminded of the magic that unfolds when families come together in front of the lens. It's not just about creating stunning images (although we certainly did!), it's about freezing moments in time that you'll treasure for a lifetime.

Thank you for allowing me to capture the beauty of your family's love story. Here's to many more precious moments shared together.

Motherhood Photography - Passion Project

Beautiful Breastfeeding Photography and Motherhood Photography

I start my ‘beautiful breastfeeding’ project when my son decided to self wean unexpectedly just over 2 year ago. I had a tricky start with my breastfeeding journey with both kids however with the help of an amazing lactation consultant, I was a pro. I loved nursing and it was such an amazing experience and bonding time with my kids. The project has evolved to be more inclusive to a "motherhood project" as I want to capture and encourage more pregnant mama's to capture their glowing mums.

My project is aimed to help mothers captured these incredibly special moments and bond in a natural and candid way. I love to encourage and inspire mums that breastfeeding is tough but beautiful and no matter how long you are able to do it, 1 day, 1 month, 1 year they are amazing!

The Mission

The mission of my passion project is to inspire, encourage and celebrate breastfeeding mummy’s. It's to encourage more mums to capture their beautiful bumps. To be brave and be present in your children's childhood so we have gorgeous memories preserve for your families history.

Baby Photography Hertfordshire

Your baby’s first year will fly by. Before you know it, they’ll be sitting in front of their birthday cake, smiling for the camera.

Capturing the first twelve months with the help of a professional baby photographer gives you unique keepsakes of this very special time.

Today we are celebrating little Austin’s first birthday with a fun outdoor photography shoot. First Birthdays are always so special and a big milestone for most families. Your little one changes from newborn to baby to toddler all within 365 days.

Lots of families book a one year baby photography session with me so that they can capture and record these special memories for the future.

I offer my families the option to book a single baby photography session and focus on one precious age or choose regular photoshoots to document your baby’s story throughout the year.

I hope your year is fulled with exciting adventures, learning new skills and lots of snuggles with mummy.

Words - @jessurlichs_writer The talented author

People sometimes ask of my favourite days.
And I think of you being placed in my arms.
So small and new with those perfect wrinkles.
Those little cries I didn’t yet recognise.
At times I needed holding too, but oh, how I loved holding you.
Never had I felt so complete on empty.
Those slow motion days now harder to glimpse.
You are the sun to my rise,
as I think back to my favourite days.

And then I wasn’t supporting your neck anymore.
You were bouncing round on my hip instead.
Suddenly you were crawling and so was I,
discovering your new view with you and all you would get into.
You wore your personality with pride and as your confidence grew so did mine.
My heart was open and you filled it up.
You are the softness to my edges,
as I think back to my favourite days.

And then you were standing and I was standing a little taller too.
Growing into myself with you.
You were the chaos that gave me life.
As you took your first wobbly step you looked at me.
‘Is This OK’? you asked with your eyes.
‘It’s OK’ I nodded back.
And off you went.
I’d do anything for you.
You are the piece to my puzzle,
as I think back to my favourite days.

And now you’re growing into those bloated cheeks, a little boy before my eyes.
I think of the way your hand fits in mine.
The way you say, “I love you Mummy”.
You are the beat to my heart.
We’re lying on your bedroom floor and you’re soaring your toy car in the air.
“It’s REALLY fast Mummy, it’s my favourite car”
I look at you and tell you it’s my favourite too.
My absolute favourite.