Mabel’s mummy contracted me to book a woodland shoot in for her up and coming first birthday.

It was an nice dry day for the latest of late autumn days and I knew the perfect place we could go that still would have the colourful oranges and browns and provide a gorgeous backdrop for this shoot.

Rachel Mabel’s mum had asked me what to dress her in, this is vital to having a successful children’s shoot as styling along with perfect placement is key. The best dressed cutest children in the world wont have the best picture to hang on the wall if they are in the most unattractive places, equally if their clothes have massive patterns and logos on the child will be lost in all the fuss and glare of the clothes distracting the viewer from seeing the beauty of their child.

On my website I give clear advice of the things to wear along with anything to bring like a favourite toy as a comfort, as a wedding photographer in Barrow in Furness I know what to do to help get the best out of a shoot and children need to be relaxed and happy that is for sure.

On the shoot please do not worry if your child runs around as these fun natural pictures are what I am all about and eventually your child will settle as the excitement of me with my camera passes. I have no orders or requirements like you child must sit and smile now as this will never work and why should it children are free spirited and should run and be natural and not contained and stifled with instructions and orders, after all who would like that.

Mabel’s mum brought some amazing sets of clothes and you can see they worked perfectly with the woodland setting I couldn’t have chosen better if I tried, the muted colours really worked in harmony with the woodland and their subtle vibrancy didn’t dominate the images.

Mabel has just and so learnt to walk but not quite confidently as yet, mum Rachel was keen to get some shots of her standing and I carefully placed her near areas where if she felt unsafe and unsteady she had something to hold on to to balance. Mable did hold on and steady herself but she was so happy and relaxed and caused no upset to her as she felt safe, these photos are so natural you would never think they had been pre planned with all things taken into account.

Rachel and John were over the moon with the photographs and here are a few on them below for you to look at.

Children’s shoots are £90 and are 1 hour long