8 tips for what to wear for your family photoshoot ~ guest blog from Jill Tracey, Little Threads UK
The photographer is booked, the location and timings are set – now, what do we wear? Styling your family (particularly little ones) for a photoshoot can feel daunting. After all, you have invested time and money in your shoot and want to treasure your images for years to come. But it needn’t be something to worry about - here are some tips from Jill Tracey, founder of Little Threads, to help you select the right outfits for your family to ensure a comfortable, relaxed experience and cohesive images that you can enjoy for decades.
1. Choose clothes they feel comfortable and happy in
If you can, try to incorporate one of your child’s favourite pieces into their outfit or, if it’s something they haven’t worn before, let them choose which they feel best in. Feeling good in clothes automatically makes children feel comfortable, happy and confident and that will shine through in the images. Don’t try to force them into something they wouldn’t usually wear as you want the images to reflect their personality at that point in time.
2. Think practicality and dress for the weather
Think carefully about the types of activities you’ll be doing on your shoot, and check the weather forecast. Make sure your child’s clothes cover underwear fully and fit well when they’re on the move. It’s so important to make sure your child can move comfortably in their outfit (particularly for outdoor shoots) so the photographer can capture shots of all the things your child would usually do – from tree climbing to running races! For babies, pants to cover nappies are a lovely idea. For baby girls, consider sets such as dresses with matching briefs.
On colder days, put together layers that work together (think t-shirt/blouse with cardigan/jumper) and don’t forget to consider which coats, hats, scarves and gloves compliment the outfit. If it really is chilly maybe consider putting thermals under your child’s clothes. A cold child is a miserable one and will prevent you getting the most out of your shoot.
And, of course, always choose comfortable, practical shoes...or wellies if it’s wet!
3. Keep it simple – think “timeless”
A key tip is to keep outfits simple and timeless as opposed to too “fashionable”. Think plain colours that will continue to look wonderful in years to come. You can still add personality to simple outfits by mixing in different materials and textures such as wool, linen, frills and lace. You can accessories too with belts, scarves, hair bands...
Brands such as White Company, Petit Bateau, Boden and Jojo Maman Bebe are often good for producing classic styles.
4. Avoid strong patterns and characters
The focus of your photos should be your family’s faces and expressions, not their t-shirt, so I’d avoid strong patterns such as bold stripes and checks. Large words, logos or your child’s favourite Disney character can also distract the eye so steer away from large motifs.
5. Reflect your family’s personality and style
Give some thought to how you usually dress as a family and stick to that. Do you like to dress more formally in tailored clothes? Or are you a casual family who feel most relaxed in t-shirts and jeans? Whichever it is, choose a common style to run through all your outfits for a lovely, coherent look.
6. Think about the colour palette and theme as a family
By no means do you want all family members to “match” as that can look staged and cheesy, but choosing a basic colour palette and finding clothes from that palette that can work together is really effective. You could base your colour scheme around the colours in the room where the images will be displayed, or around your favourite items of clothing, or even yours and your children’s favourite colours! Your photographer can help you with this, but some effective ideas include:
- Neutrals and denim
- Varying tones of the same colour
- Nature’s colours
- Bright bold tones
- Pastel tones
Remember, it’s about co-ordination not matching – but giving some thought to consistent colours can really help enhance your images and bring it all together.
7. Have a back-up second outfit ready
We all know the reality of a day with kids (particularly little ones) and accidents happen to the best of us, so it’s advisable to be prepared with a suitable spare outfit for them to slip on without a frenzied search through wardrobes to find a clean top in the right colour!
8. You don’t have to spend huge amounts on new outfits
There’s no need to spend large amounts of money buying brand new clothing specifically your your shoot (particularly the spare outfit!). Why not consider buying preloved items – it’s a more sustainable option and costs a fraction of the price of new. Plus services such as Little Threads can hand-pick brands, colours, season and styles of preloved items to match the style and scheme of your shoot to save you the time searching.
Thank you so much Jill for sharing these top tips - I couldn't agree more with everything you've said. Follow these pointers and your family will look stunning for their photoshoot!
About Jill Tracey Jill is founder of Little Threads, a convenient way for busy parents to buy and sell beautiful pre-loved children’s clothes without the hassle of searching, scrolling and negotiating. Like a preloved personal shopper, Little Threads put together hand-picked selection boxes of stunning preloved clothes, tailored to the items your child needs and the styles and brands they love to wear. They will also purchase your outgrown but not outworn pre-loved items, ensuring they find a loving new home whilst helping pockets and the planet.
If you would like to try out the service (perhaps you need some specific items for a shoot of your own?) and order a box for your child, Jill is offering 20% off with code ABIMOORE20.
You can also check out Little Threads on Instagram & Facebook or at littlethreads.com
4 ways that brand photography clients use their images in marketing
You’ll often hear me talking about providing my branding clients with images to help them stay visible and connect with clients. But what does that mean in practical terms? I’m sharing some real life examples of how clients are using my photography to boost their sales and marketing.
1. Social media
This is perhaps the most obvious one. Professional photography can really elevate the perception of your brand.
Starting with the simplest action, by showing your face in your profile pictures it humanises your brand. A professional photo shows that you’re a brand that takes their business seriously.
Furthermore, showing your face regularly in your social media is proven to increase engagement. It also builds trust with your target audience, we’ve all heard it before that ‘people buy from people’, but it’s so true - by showing up regularly on your social media pages, your audience will get to know you better, ultimately building trust.
Sumantha is a business coach running Upgrade your Education Business to help tutors and other educators to grow their businesses. She combines her brand photos with great visual content and infographics for a strongly branded Instagram grid.
If you run a product business, like Gemma from Cheeky Little Smiles, then holidays are a great opportunity for promoting offers. We created 12 months of seasonal content to help her boost sales of her beautiful luxury baby journals. Looking at her grid from autumn, you can see how she has combined seasonal images and branded visuals for an effective result.
2. Website
Whether you’re a service or product business, your website is your virtual shop window. Excellent on-brand professional images are always going to ensure visitors stay longer on your site, take you seriously, and ultimately purchase from you.
Isla & Fraser is an organic baby brand, making beautiful super soft blankets, comforters and clothing. I’ve worked with them over the years to create consistent content that fits their brand values, from hero front page images, to individual product listings.
If you’re a service brand without a physical product, it’s important to use imagery to illustrate what you can offer your clients.
Michaela from Spear Wellbeing Clinic is an amazing reflexologist (I speak from experience as a patient of hers - she honestly has magic hands!) and uses images of each treatment type to illustrate her treatments page. I’m looking forward to working with Michaela again next month as she expands into Chinese Acupuncture, we’ll be creating a portfolio to showcase her new skill.
Aungelique O’Regan runs Bare Brilliance Aesthetics offering a fab range of non-surgical aesthetic treatments from her clinic in Windsor. As soon as you land on her website, you’re greeted by an image of her, also featuring her branding and clinic, alongside a welcome message. Immediately, this builds trust with potential clients as they can see the face behind the brand alongside her skills and experience.
3. Email
If you’re in business, you’ll know that one of your most powerful tools is your email database. These are people that have purchased from you before or have actively opted in to hear from you. Regular emails help your audience to know you better and keep you top of mind when they’re considering a purchase. After experiencing stress in her law career, Kate Hughes qualified as an accredited meditation teacher. She teaches transformative meditation to help her clients feel happier and healthier. Kate shares tips and updates in her newsletter, illustrated with her brand photos, to build familiarity.
4. PR
Media coverage in the right publications can help build brand awareness and sales. In addition, when reputable online news and magazine sites share links to your website, it can boost your SEO.
Take a look at any newspaper or magazine and you’ll find it’s rare (if not impossible) to find a page of text without images. If you’re issuing a press release, then professional accompanying imagery significantly increases the likelihood of your story being covered. In fact, national publications are unlikely to include a story without professional photos.
Isla & Fraser have been featured twice in British Vogue. The Feb 2021 edition included a ‘Little Valentines’ article on baby fashion. It featured one our hero shots of their scallop blanket range.
When it was announced that Prince Harry and Meghan would be marrying in Windsor, the Duchess of Cambridge created a gin in celebration. I worked with them on developing a portfolio of images of the Gin&’er gin to accompany the PR. It resulted in significant media coverage, including a piece on Hello! magazine’s website.
Every brand photoshoot begins with a discovery call where we’ll discuss your brand and begin planning your shoot. With more than a decade’s experience running a successful business and a decade in marketing and PR prior to that, I’ll share ideas for using brand imagery to market your business. However you choose to use your images, a portfolio of brand photos is guaranteed to give your sales and marketing a boost. Get in touch today to book your free discovery call or find out more.
Berkshire Mummies' autumn and winter walk recommendations
If you don't yet follow the Berkshire Mummies blog, then you should! I love their tips for things to do around our county, from the best parks to soft plays and recommendations for free days out. I know lots of the families that follow me are very outdoorsy, and a bit of a chill in the air is not going to stop you getting out and about over the coming months. I asked Berkshire Mummies to share their favourite walks if you need a bit of inspiration this winter...
"We are fortunate to live in a very picturesque county and we like nothing more than to explore everything our surrounding area has to offer – from bustling parks to peaceful walks, Berkshire Mummies has so many recommendations of places to visit this autumn and winer if you are looking for stunning scenery (and some great photo opportunities too!).
Windsor is one of our favourite places to visit. Alexandra Gardens is a beautiful green open space sitting next to the Thames with views of Windsor Castle. You might also want to visit the Diamond Jubilee fountain and children will have fun walking round the Brick Maze at Goswell Park.
Windsor is also well known for the Long Walk. We enjoy walking down here, away from the Castle towards the Copper Horse. Here, the views of the Long Walk and Windsor Castle are just spectacular and the colours of the trees in the Great Park all look so beautiful in the Autumn. (If you think that little legs won't manage the distance, then Windsor Carriages offer a great way to explore - check out my recent interview with them on my blog - Abi).
Ray Mill Island in Maidenhead is another firm favourite of ours as there is so much for the children to see here. We usually watch the boats for a while at Boulters Lock and then cross over the bridge to the island. Here, we feed the ducks and swans and visit the guinea pig enclosure. At the far end of the island is Boulters Weir which makes an impressive site to watch as the water cascades back into the Thames. We always love being by the river as it is so beautiul at any time of year.
Swinley Forest stretches over 2,600 acres between Bracknell and Crowthorne. We tend to use the Look Out as a base when we go walking here. There are lots of places to build dens along the way and a vast number of trees to admire which all look incredible during the Autumn months.
Venturing just over the Berkshire border into Surrey, you will find the National Trust site of Ankerwyke.
We have had some lovely walks here in all seasons (it can get a little muddy across the fields as the weather turns but that just adds to the fun when you’re kicking through the leaves - just don't forget your wellies!). You can also find the National Trust’s oldest tree here which is 2,500 years old!
For even more inspiration of things to do and places to visit this autumn and winter please follow Berkshire Mummies on Facebook and Instagram as well as checking out the blog on our website. Happy Exploring!"
Laura & Tom's Beaumont Estate Old Windsor Wedding
I was delighted when Laura & Tom asked me to be their wedding photographer... I'd already photographed them twice before when Laura was bridesmaid at her brother's wedding in 2018 and her best friend's wedding last year. It's always lovely photographing a wedding where lots of the guests are familiar faces, and a real honour to have been recommended.
When we met for their pre-wedding shoot we discussed the potential for rain with a November wedding (it's always good to choose a venue, such as the Beaumont Estate, that has lots of indoor options for photos during the winter months). However, despite the downpours for most of last week, the sun shone down on them on Friday!
I love autumn/winter weddings, not least because the light in the afternoons as you're taking pictures can be stunning. It was an extra treat to have fairy lights in the grounds as the sun was setting making for a gorgeous backdrop before they sat down for their wedding breakfast in the beautiful chapel.
Laura & Tom are obviously made for each other and their day was filled with love and laughter. Thank you for choosing me to be your photographer - I wish you every happiness for the future!
An interview with Rebecca Seear of Windsor Carriages
There are few more magnificent sights than a horse and carriage on the Long Walk with Windsor Castle in the background. I’ve been fortunate to work with Windsor Carriages both during weddings, where couples can take a romantic ride into the Great Park, and also as a brand photographer taking photos for their website and marketing.
I’m fascinated by the history of the business… they’ve provided carriages for weddings and events at Windsor Castle since 1963 - more than 600 to date! I asked Rebecca Seear who now runs the family business, to share some of her stories.
Can you share any favourite stories about the Great Park?
“Windsor Great Park is full of history, with a story behind everything from the statues to the trees. There are many stories handed down from coachman to coachman over the past 100 years - these aren’t in the history books and are often more popular with our guests.
A favourite story my father would tell me is about the ponds that Prince Albert had dug out in the village. These were originally a functional design to bring water to the estate workshops - one of many examples of Prince Alberts incredible engineering expertise seen across the estate.
However, one pond in particular had an additional purpose which my father would point to as the carriage travelled past. ‘Look at its shape… does it remind you of anything?’ Prince Albert had the pond shaped to represent the Isle of Wight, one of his and Queen Victoria’s favourite places. An island-shaped pond is a pretty romantic gift to your partner, one hard to top. I like to use it as a backdrop for proposals on our Crown Experience. A truly special place.”
Tell us something interesting about the history of Windsor Carriages.
“The horses are always the star of the day and usually come to us in their retirement as it is easy work for laid-back horses. Each horse has a story.
Franco, one of my father’s favourite carriage horses, started out in Argentina and was flown here to play high goal polo for the owner of the Coworth estate. He was sadly injured and so dad retrained him to be a carriage horse. It was always very exciting when we went past the polo pitches as his ears would perk up and you could see he was remembering his past successes. He even made it to the Royal Windsor Horse Show in the team! (See picture)
Then there are Minos and Hector who pulled carriages on the Long Walk for over 27 years right into their mid thirties. They had the privilege of pulling royal carriages for Her Majesty due to being smaller than the royal mews horses so more suited to the smaller Victorian carriages.
As you can imagine we can talk all day about our horses past and present! Joey is our newest addition and in his spare time is a show horse competing and winning at Trace Classes throughout the country. Prince and Captain (who our brides from the past 3 years will recognise) had an illustrious film career before joining the team, starring in The Crown and UK TV classic Midsummer Murders to name a few!”
Do you have any specific wedding memories?
“I have always loved weddings and as a child I would even save the confetti in jars that I found when cleaning the carriages afterwards. It is always such a happy occasion and wonderful to see the joy on faces when the carriage arrives.
A specific memory I have is the first wedding I did after my father (who had driven on The Long Walk for over 50 years) passed away. It was on The Long Walk for a local bride, Elke, who had selected to have the carriage decorated with flowers - a service we love to offer. A friend had married a few days earlier at Wentworth, with the entire ballroom filled with flowers. My florist suggested we add all the flowers from the ballroom to those that Elke had chosen. It was beautiful! Flowers from the horses’ ears to their tails, a moving floral display with the wonderful scent of fresh flowers as we travelled down The Long Walk. Elke was very moved - as we all were - and it was such a magical day. My dad would have been very proud of the whole team!
Proposals are becoming the more interesting event nowadays. We often wonder ‘will she, won’t she’, but they always say yes! We have mastered the art of pretending it is a regular experience and work with the guest to pick the perfect location. While it happens we quickly prepare the prosecco and really feel part of the moment. I have shed a happy tear many times!”
What's your favourite view in the Great Park?
“It has to be the Long Walk, there is no where like it.
The Long Walk has been closed to cars for over a hundred years but carriages are still permitted under our licence, which we have held all that time thanks to the dedicated coachman before us.
The Castle is a magical backdrop for wedding photos and we always find a quiet place in the trees for beautiful shots of the couple. It’s a welcome break from the high energy of the day.
It’s genuinely exciting when we return to the town, often with cheers from guests as their carriage arrives. A passion and privilege for the whole team, and the horses love the attention they receive.
Continuing a tradition we have had in Windsor town for over 150 years is the cherry on the cake! We are grateful to be able to move with the times and add more special events like proposals and 90-minute wedding photoshoots to ensure the future of Windsor Carriages in this historic town.”
Windsor Carriages have a wealth of experience and excellent testimonials from hundreds of happy couples. They can also help in completing the relevant application for photography permissions on the Long Walk. Visit their website to find out more.
Lynda & Dave's Windsor Guildhall & Macdonald Hotel wedding
After meeting Lynda and Dave for the first time, I knew their wedding day was going to one of fun and joy after they spent much of their practice shoot giggling - and they didn't disappoint - it was a day full of love and laughter!
The day started with Lynda getting ready with her bridesmaids in the Macdonald Hotel overlooking the Guildhall and the Castle. This was followed by Lynda and her bridal party being piped across the road by an Irish Piper. Their ceremony at the Windsor Guildhall ended with the new Mr & Mrs dancing and singing down the aisle. Then we were back to Macdonald for lots more fun...
If you've spotted the birthday cake in my slide show above, you might be wondering if the wrong cake was delivered, but the wedding day was also Dave's birthday (a guaranteed way to never forget your wedding anniersary!). Their reception included the happy couple entering the room whilst high-fiving all their guests, Dave entertaining us all with a song, and a game of Mr & Mrs before they danced the night away.
Huge congratulations to you both, Lynda & Dave!
As always, it takes a team to make a wedding day, and it was lovely to work with the following suppliers:
Photographer: Photography by Abi Moore
Ceremony venue & drinks reception: Windsor Guildhall
Reception venue: Macdonald Hotel Windsor
Piper: Rob Williams
DJ, lighting & confetti: Lee Rusell
Flowers: Longacres Nursery
Croquembouche: Le Papillon Cakes
7 ways to help soothe a crying baby ~ guest blog from Michelle Brown, The Baby Sleep Experts
When we train as a newborn photographer, as well as how to light and compose images, and safely pose your baby, we're also taught tricks for settling them. I'm always happy to rock babies to sleep if you'd like me to, and I'm very baby-led, so if your baby is awake but content, that's the way I'll photograph them; if they need a feed or a change, then there's plenty of time for that too, they are in charge of the session! I've been following Michelle Brown, sleep coach at The Baby Sleep Experts, on Instagram for a while now - the tips she shares are really helpful and I love that she also takes a very baby-led approach.
I asked Michelle if she could share her tips for soothing a crying baby (a few of which you'll also see me using during a newborn photoshoot). Here are her top 7...
Crying and babies often go hand in hand and it’s completely normal for a baby to cry. However, it can seem like you spend your whole day (and night) trying to soothe a fussy baby. The first step towards soothing your crying baby is always to stay calm yourself. Easier said than done but getting worked up will make you both feel stressed. Remember all babies are different and what works for one may not what work for another. It may take a few tries but with some patience and practice you will be able to find out what works and what doesn’t work for your baby.
It's always best to respond to your baby’s cries as soon as you can in the first few months. Being close to you is what will help them feel safe, secure and loved. You cannot spoil a baby and answering their cries promptly can get your baby to stop crying sooner and can help your baby cry less in the long run.
Try these 7 soothing methods to learn which one works best to help calm your baby:
1. Skin-to-skin This is a great way to calm your baby. You may even want to take a warm bath together as this often helps to calm a fussy baby. Being in contact with your skin helps to stabilise your baby’s body temperature and heart rate as well as stimulating the release of oxytocin (the love hormone) in you both.
2. Offer a swaddle
Experts think swaddling soothes babies because it creates a warm, secure, snug feeling similar to that in the womb. Many parents find that swaddling helps their baby settle faster and stay asleep for longer.
3. Try a carrier or sling Babywearing and walking around is a great way to soothe a fussy baby. The gentle movement and closeness to you mimics life in the womb and babies are calmed by the rhythm of your steps. Using a carrier or a sling is also convenient as it leaves your hands free to get on with other tasks if you need to. Babywearing is also a good option to help fathers bond with their baby.
4. Massage A gentle, relaxing baby massage can be a great way of soothing and bonding with your baby. A gentle tummy massage can also help relieve any trapped wind, or constipation. Why not check out your local baby massage classes.
5. Turn on the white noise Some babies are calmed quickly with rhythmic whooshing sounds which reminds them of the womb. Vacuum cleaners, hairdryers and fans provide white noise but you can also invest in a white noise machine. Try playing white noise continuously when your baby is sleeping or shushing when you are settling your baby.
6. Head outside The change of scenery and new sounds and smells can be a great distraction and help to calm everyone down. Even just a 15 minute walk outside can be enough to help your baby to relax and calm down. The motion may also encourage them to fall asleep and stay asleep.
7. Put on some soothing music Singing and moving about gently can also help calm your baby down. Try a few different playlists to find out what works best for you. You might find that your baby prefers to listen to music that you listened to when you were pregnant.
Remember that some babies just cry more than others. It’s nothing that you have done wrong, it’s just the way they are and it won’t last forever. Sometimes it might seem that your baby won’t stop crying whatever you do. If none of the usual tricks and techniques are working, there might be another reason for your baby’s crying which warrants investigation.
Thank you Michelle for sharing your tips! I hope you find them useful. If you have any other tips for soothing your little one's please add them in the comments.
About Michell Brown Michelle is founder of The Baby Sleep Experts and The Good Night Sleep System helps exhausted parents with children who struggle to sleep, by sharing gentle, loving and responsive sleep solutions that benefit the whole family. If you would like personalised advice and support, please get in touch with Michelle or head over to her Facebook or Instagram pages for regular sleep tips and advice. I also recommend her blog for lots more tips!
Celebrating a family occasion with a photoshoot: My top tips!
If you have a big birthday coming up, an anniversary or even a family gathering with everyone together for the first time in a while, a photoshoot is a perfect way to celebrate the occasion.
If the last few years have taught us anything, it's that family are the most precious thing we have. A photoshoot for your extended family captures precious memories with those you love.
In this blog post, I share some tips for planning a successful photoshoot with your extended family along with some tips on what to wear.
Location
For large family groups, I suggest an outdoor location to keep it relaxed and enjoyable.
There are a number of things to consider when choosing your location, including convenience if you have different family members coming together from around the country. If you're all staying in one place, then it may be ideal to meet there, whether it's a hotel or your own garden. If it's a hotel, it's worth checking that they're happy for us to use the grounds for your photoshoot.
There are three main things I'm looking for in a location: 1. Shade. It's ideal if there is shade from the sun to avoid harsh shadows and squinting. 2. Backdrop. We want to ensure you have an attractive backdrop for your photos. 3. Staggering. By this, I mean ways of staggering the family so you're not all standing in one line - this may be steps to position you at different levels, fallen tree trunks that can be sat on, or a bench that you can gather round.
Planning
Once you've found a date and location that works for you all, it's always a good idea to have an idea of what groupings you'd like. This will help keep everyone organised and avoid any last minute drama!
Aside from one of everyone together, you may wish to consider the following: each smaller family unit, each generation, parents with their children, grandparents with their grandchildren, sibling groups, etc. If you're unsure, then I'm happy to make suggestions.
It's worth compiling a list so I can tick it off as we go to ensure we don't miss any. And share the plan with the rest of the family to ensure that everyone knows what to expect on the day.
What to wear
With a large family group, it can be difficult to co-ordinate clothing but it really will give your pictures an edge if you all agree what to wear. The best advice is to avoid patterns and instead dress in block colours, picking a colour scheme that you can all work from. This could be any of the following: different shades of one or two colours, all in neutrals, all in pastels, or all in bold colours. The key is to look co-ordinated but not all 100% matching! Again, I'm always happy to discuss and offer advice.
Whatever the occasion you're celebrating, a photoshoot is a perfect way to mark it and capture memories when you're all together. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to book for your family. If you're booking for a celebratory occasion, then I provide a boxed gift voucher free of charge when you book your shoot.
Jordan & Scott's fabulous country house wedding
I absolutely love photographing weddings, and each one is unique and special in it's own way. I was particularly looking forward to this wedding as I'd worked alongside Jordan for a couple of years when he was the wedding co-ordinator at Windsor Guildhall, so was delighted when he asked me to capture his big day!
It was an early start for me with a long drive to Somerset to their gorgeous venue, Crowcombe Court, but so worth it. Their ceremony was very emotional with lots of giggles, smiles and happy tears, followed by a fabulous day of fun celebrating with their guests, including an impressive outfit change for their evening reception.
Jordan and Scott, thank you so much for asking me to photograph your day; wishing you huge congratulations and every happiness for the future!
Venue: Crowcombe Court
Decor: Creative Collections
Flowers: Flourish & Grace
10 Gift Ideas for Expectant Mums & New Babies
If a friend or relative is pregnant, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their baby, you may be wondering what the perfect gift is for her and her new little one. I have asked some mums what gifts they found most valuable and have put together tips and ideas for families with a new baby. Thank you to everyone for sharing your ideas!
1. Home-cooked meals. This is my absolute number one and something I'll always do for friends and family that have a new baby. New parents are often exhausted in the early weeks and months after giving birth, so a home-cooked nutritious meal can be a real treat. Ensure you know what they like to eat and any dietary requirements, then choose meals that can be frozen and heated easily. Knowing there is a meal in freezer on the days you haven't got the energy to cook is a real blessing.
2. Put together a basket of little gifts. Whilst there are ready-made hampers out there, it's extra thoughtful to put together a basket of things you know will be useful. Consider a basket with water bottle or lidded cup, healthy snacks, and a magazine to keep handy for when she's feeding baby and little one falls asleep on her. Or a basket with changing supplies, baby toiletries or practical gifts (see next point). Whatever you choose to put in it, once the items are used, little baskets are perfect for keeping around the house with nappies and wipes when baby is small, or as toy storage sa baby gets older.
3. Be practical. Whilst luxury gifts can be lovely, there are some things that a new parent needs in constant supply. Useful gifts such as breast pads, nappies or muslins are perfect. On the subject of muslins, you can never have enough! Perfect for soaking up spills, using as a makeshift bib, wiping dirty hands and faces, and even for swaddling baby in warmer weather.
4. Choose clothing carefully. When buying clothes, most mums found they were inundated with newborn and 0-3 month sized outfits, so consider buying an outfit for when baby is a little bigger (don't forget to think about the season it will be when baby reaches that age). Sometimes a voucher for a baby clothing outlet is a better option so they can choose clothes that they need and to suit their style. Instead of clothing, a hooded towel is a great option for wrapping baby up warm and snuggly after a bath.
5. A baby blanket. Baby blankets are another thing that you find you need lots of... one for the cot, one for during the day, one for the car, the pram, etc (plus at least a couple in the wash at any given time!). I regularly photograph for the brand Isla & Fraser who make beautiful and super soft organic cotton baby blankets (as well as a whole host of other baby essentials). They feel luxurious and natural, and are the closest thing you'll get to something home-knitted if you don't have the talent for that (which I certainly don't!), bringing me nicely onto my next point...
6. Homemade gifts. If you have a talent, then homemade gifts are always a treasured keepsake. Whether it's a knitted cardi, crocheted hat or hand-sewn quilt are sure to be gratefully received. When I had my babies, knowing someone had put their time and care into making something for them made it extra special - we still have the knitted, crocheted and quilted items that were kindly created and gifted to us.
7. A pamper kit. As a new parent, a lot of the focus is on the new baby, it's important to make time for self-care. Consider products that can be used quickly in the shower or after, as well as bath products for when she has a little more time to herself. Products with essential oils for relaxation and self-care, or a natural nipple cream, were all suggested as gifts that were well-received.
8. The gift of time. A new mum will appreciate some time to herself, whether it’s watching the baby for an afternoon so she can nap or pop for a coffee, or if she's not ready to leave the baby yet, she may like some help with household chores such as dusting or vacuuming. Alternatively, print you own vouchers for babysitting time, so the new parents can use them when they feel ready to go out and leave their little one.
9. Ask the new parents. Sometimes it's tricky to know what is needed and some families may be inundated with gifts from well-meaning friends and relatives. Don't be afraid to ask them what would be helpful. If you're stuck for ideas, but don't want to ask directly, then vouchers are a great option meaning they can choose what they'd like. Vouchers for department stores where they can opt for baby items or a treat for themselves are a great option, as are vouchers for a local coffee shop so they can pop out for lunch or grab a hot drink when meeting with other new parents.
10. A baby photoshoot voucher! Of course, I couldn't complete my list without including my own services. So many new parents tell me how fast the first year goes and how much their baby has changed, it's important to capture those early memories. They will treasure these images, great for both sharing on Instagram to announce their new arrival as well as as an heirloom that records the family history. My vouchers include the session fee as well as a collection of images (as I don't want parents being given a gift that means they then have to spend more after the shoot), so they start at £445. I find the vouchers are popular with grandparents who would like to document their new grandchild's arrival, as well as a gift where a collection is being put together, such as for co-workers or a group of friends for a baby shower. The vouchers are valid for 15 months, so if the new parents don't feel up to a newborn shoot in baby's first few weeks, there are plenty of other milestones they can capture in baby's first year. If you'd like to gift a photoshoot voucher, please contact me.
I got to ten and still had tips, so here are a couple of bonuses...
Bonus tip 1: Something a bit different. One of my followers suggested name labels with your baby's full name on. Whilst they aren't likely to be needing them immediately, the little one will eventually start nursery, pre-school or school and these will definitely come in handy!
Bonus tip 2: Don't forget siblings. The arrival of a new baby brother or sister can be an unsettling time for little ones, particularly if they were an only child before their sibling arrived. Making a fuss of them with attention as well as a gift can make them feel special and help ease this anxiety. A tip (that I always use when I photograph a newborn and sibling shoot) is to focus your language on them rather than the new baby, e.g. rather than asking about the new baby, ask them if they enjoy being a big sister/ big brother.
I hope you've found these tips useful! Thanks again to everyone that made suggestions. If you received an amazing gift that isn't mentioned above, please pop it in the comments and I'll update the post.