baby photo shoot - Victoria Ashman Photography

06/10/201714/03/2024

Timelapse Video, newborn shoot, youtube

Timelapse Video, newborn shoot, youtube

So, I made a timelapse video of one of my newborn shoots. It’s funny seeing me on the video! But I wanted to give an idea of how it looks during the shoot. You can see me shooting away and you can then (at the end) see the finished pictures.

Timelapse video, newborn shoot, youtube…

My newborn shoots take a fair amount of time, primarily because I wait until the little one is comfortable before posing. I work around them and as I don’t have an assistant I always have Mum or Dad helping me. This is nice for two reasons, I know that I can step back and take a photograph as they are in the safest hands possible. It also includes the parents in the shoot and the pictures we achieve from that shoot.

21/09/201714/03/2024

Sebastian’s Newborn Photo Shoot

I have photographed the lovely Osment family for the past four years. Their first shoot was a newborn shoot with their daughter Amelie. Sebastian is their newest arrival and I have just had the pleasure of shooting Sebastian’s newborn photo shoot. Sebastian was born early, so his shoot was much later than usual. But he still really looked like a newborn. He was very sensitive and just wanted to be with his Mum, so it was a challenging shoot. I took my time and we still got some beautiful pictures. His sister Amelie just wanted to cuddle and look after her baby brother and amazes me with her posing – she just seems to pose herself. This image below with Amelie and Sebastian was not engineered by me. I had to be quick though, as Amelie just wanted to hold Sebastian and was a bit overzealous . Sibling and newborn images are generally the most stressful part of the shoot… and sometimes toddlers flat out refuse to get into a picture with their newborn brother or sister. I try every trick in the book and the majority of the time I can get the shot. In this instance though Amelie wanted to be in every picture!

After the sibling images I began the individual pictures, the first blanket we used was sentimental and belonged to the Osments. They’ve had this blanket since Amelie was born and I always like to use an item that is special to the family. This is the picture that went on the thank you cards that went out to the Osment’s friends and family.

I used this fur in Amelie’s first shoot so wanted to have some continuity, this was also where I could get a good feet shot..

In Amelie’s shoot there is a picture where Amelie is in this basket with this fur and she is looking off to the side and she is looking at her Dad. In this picture Sebastian is looking off to the side and he is looking at his Mum. I love that.

Samantha brought a little outfit and we got some side pose pictures whilst he was in this outfit. I wasn’t sure if we could get this side pose as he was that much older and usually they don’t find it comfortable. But he soon settled and look very relaxed in this pose. If I see that a little one doesn’t like the pose I will take them straight out and find a position that makes sure they are comfortable.

Of course I had to get some pictures of Amelie on her own. These teddie were both bought when Sebastian was born. Sebastian’s teddy is the one facing the background and Amelie’s teddy is looking at her whilst she is looking at me. I got a similar shot when Amelie was 6 months old.

Finally I wanted to share this picture with Mum, Amelie and Sebastian. Sebastian looks so relaxed in Mum’s arms and I adore this picture. I just see complete happiness and a tenderness from Amelie. A lovely end to Sebastian’s newborn photo shoot.

15/09/201714/03/2024

Maternity Shoot

I always enjoy photographing a maternity shoot. I don’t photograph many, so I love it when the opportunity comes along. Its even more enjoyable when there is a sibling (to be) that is really excited about being in the pictures! I am used to toddlers and they don’t always do as I say, which can make it challenging but then so rewarding when you get the shot. Big sister Indy was lovely and I just adore these pictures with Indy and Mum’s bump.

Second time Mum (to be) Lisa was lovely too and up for any of the poses I suggested. She is a fitness trainer so I think this helped keep her so limber. If I remember rightly her son Rafferty was born 10 days after the shoot. I normally do maternity (bump) shoots around 37 weeks so it was a little bit later than usual. I’ve done a few shoots at 35 weeks, but I think around 37 is a good time as the bump is big so you can really see it in the photographs. I’ve also found that Mum’s are still able to do a shoot at this stage. It just gets too uncomfortable any later than 37 weeks.

Maternity Pictures

We took this image with a view to doing a similar shot in the newborn shoot and then posing the baby on the tummy. As I am writing this I have just literally finished editing the newborn shoot and we did get the shot, which I will share at a later date. We also had to get the hands on the bump shot. This proved to be tricky, not for Dad but for Indy, who’s arms wen’t long enough. We got there in the end though.

This was one of the last shots and one of my favourites. You can just see the bond between Mum and daughter. All their lives are about to change and it was wonderful marking this special time.

28/06/2017

Newborn Shoots & (possibly) a model call

Newborn Shoots

So, for the last six months I have mostly been photographing newborn shoots. Luckily for me! as I love photographing newborns. It’s such a precious time for my clients and truly so wonderful to be able to capture this special time. Each year I feel I add to my skills and improve them. Above all it takes patience and calm and following the cues of the baby. This area of my business continues to be strong. I think its because newborn shoots are not about simply clicking the shutter. It takes time. I’ve photographed a fair few photographer’s babies and they tell me that they tried but newborn photography wasn’t in their skill set.

I have been posting far fewer pictures on Facebook though, partly because my clients ask for privacy which I completely respect. If a client asks me to post to social media then of course I am more than happy to oblige. I mainly use Facebook now for news or for offers. For example, every year I offer a model shoot. I am hoping to do a model shoot in August. The pictures I take in model newborn shoots are used to update my website, or to try some poses that I would like to master – but don’t want to do so on my paying clients time.

Digital Backdrops

I am also still adding to my catalogue of digital backdrops. there are twenty or so at the moment. I have added a gallery to my website where you can try some of my backdrops (small images) for free before you buy! If you go this gallery http://victoriaashman.zenfolio.com/p259041982 Click on the picture that has ‘Aura Digital Backdrops’ written on it and then click ‘menu’ by hovering over top left of the picture, you can then click download. If you go back to the gallery the picture next to it is an example of what you can do with the image, and the third image is the high resolution download, which you can download and pay for through my website.

Here is a little video with a few of the backdrops that I have on offer. It includes some instructions on how to use them. I sell them at my etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AuraDigitalBackdrops

16/03/2017

Easter Digital Backdrops

My Etsy Shop – https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/518847367/easter-digital-backdrop-a-digital-prop?ref=shop_home_active_1

Easter Digital Backdrops

Here are a couple of my Easter digital backdrops. I sell my digital backdrops on Etsy in my Etsy shop, and I also use them in my shoots if they are requested by the parents. I’m using my nest again, but I figured I don’t own anything that says Easter like my newborn nest prop! I added some euphorbia flowers, that were taken from my garden and of course I had to use daffodils. The green/yellow combo is particularly nice against the red/browns of the wooden nest.

We photographed the nest on a wooden floor with a damask background. The reddish colours of the wood (in the nest) pops against the wooden floor, I hadn’t really noticed those tones before. I also left a well in the nest so that I could fit a baby inside and it worked beautifully.

I then decided I wanted to do an image that would allow a baby to sit in the nest. I changed the damask background as I didn’t want it to overpower the baby sat in the nest.

I’m looking forward to Easter now, and I have to admit I had some mini eggs yesterday. Photographing digital backgrounds for Easter just made me think of chocolate!

14/02/201714/02/2017

Baby Photography – the first year

Baby Photography, the first year.

I photograph newborn babies up to five weeks and then babies from four months. These shoots are best when babies can lie on their tummies and hold their head up unaided. At 6 to 8 months, babies are learning to sit unaided and this is a great time for photo shoots. Babies are interacting with the world and are much more expressive. I love capturing all the stages in the first year, but this is normally my favourite. At a year, little ones are normally starting to take first steps, these shoots can be challenging as understandably they don’t want to stay still! Hence, why there are cake smashes and bubble shoots, as they hold the little ones attention (for a short while!) Capturing these milestones are important as they go by so quickly.

My niece is almost 3. There was a folio frame containing photographs of Maddie at 4 months, 6 months and a year in her living room. It was taken down recently and apparently my niece kept asking where baby Maddie had gone. It is now back in the living room. It’s not only important for parents as a reminder of these milestones, but its important for the little ones too.

17/01/201717/01/2017

New Year, new studio space

So, its 2017, a new year and its a new studio space for me. I was at Charmborough Farm for years, so it was tough decision to move. The move was necessary though, as I recently went onto the transplant list. If I get the call I will have to drop everything, so I needed to have a space I could rent as and when I needed it. I live in Frome, so its nice to be close to the studio space. I had my first shoot last Saturday and all went well, I’m very pleased to say! My new space is above epicocity gym, on the Marston trading estate. The owner Jo Beale has been very accommodating, which has made the transition much easier.

I have been photographing babies for 6 years, and many of my clients, very loyally have stayed with me. So, my business has changed in that I am now photographing more children. Outdoor photo shoots suit children perfectly. They are able to run around, be free and I think it is much more enjoyable for them. I also love being outdoors, so its great for me too. If only the british weather was a bit more reliable!

My first shoot and I used greys, whites and blues, which I think are the colours that many people are using in their homes this year. I always love neutrals and whites, and greys look beautiful on camera. Little Marlowe was three weeks old, she was apparently a very sleepy newborn. But she decided to be wide awake for the shoot! We got both awake and sleepy shots though and it is always nice to get both.

Happy new year to all my clients and anyone reading this blog. Hopefully 2017 will be a great year for us all!

02/11/201606/12/2016

Digital Backdrops, on Etsy.

Digital Backdrops – Link to my etsy shop – https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AuraDigitalBackdrops?ref=hdr_shop_menu

I’ve added more digital backdrops to my Etsy shop. One of my clients wanted a Christmas image with fairy lights. A simple request, but it took me a little while to get right. My studio lights are brighter than the fairy lights and so I couldn’t get the lights to show on camera. The image was so bright, so you couldn’t see the fairy lights at all. I realised, after some thinking that I needed to use my continuous light and a reflector. It worked well. I just had to make sure I was back as far as I could go, zoomed in, on my widest aperture and voila I could see the fairy lights! I’ve had fun thinking of ideas and creating backdrops with the fairy lights. I have also already used the fairy lights backdrop (from the bottom image) as a background on some of my sledge shots.

img_2647-with-baby — Christmas Present digital backdrop.

Christmas Present Backdrop – With baby composited into the shot. The backdrop for sale on etsy, has an overlay (the front of the box) so that you can correctly position baby. The backdrops are ready to buy as an instant download through my etsy shop.

img_2612_ — Digital Backdrop. Fairy lights with red baubles.

18/10/201618/10/2016

Family Photo Shoot

I have just photographed a family photo shoot for my brother, sister in law and their children… and their dog. Pet photography isn’t something I usually partake in, but it was my brother’s pet, so, I gave it a go.

The shoot went well, even if there was my two year old niece and a puppy running around my feet at the same time! We started with Madison and I wanted to capture her endless, boundless energy and her enchanting smile. There was no way she was going to stay still, so we embraced that and let her dance around. I adore the sequence of pictures we captured, and love them altogether.

Next up was my niece Taila, she has not long started school, and although she loves it. It is a massive change in her little world. She is a little thinker which I think you can tell from her portrait.

The next two were the girls altogether, I love these pictures but particularly the one with all four of them. I think it is a timeless image.

The poor dog was getting a little restless at this point so it was his turn! He actually did really well, I just had to make a noise and he looked up. He also wanted to run towards me, so I had to be quick!

We did some more family shots, lying down, sitting up and standing. The picture below is my favourite from the family pictures, it just seems to capture them all so well.

Finally we have a picture of my brother and his beautiful wife. We are doing a big wall piece for their lounge, but it’s going to be hard to just choose one. I think we might have to find a wall piece which enables multiple pictures.

Most importantly my littlest niece will be happy. Their last family photo shoot was three years ago and Madison keeps asking where she is in the pictures. Now as she points at everyone on the wall and says their name, she’ll be able to say her name too.

28/09/2016

6 month old Baby Photo Shoot

This 6 month old baby photo shoot with Ava, was a joy to do. Ava’s big sister 3 year old Amy joined in too and we got lovely photos of the both of them. 6 months is such a lovely age, babies are very expressive and Ava was so smiley! She even woke up smiling. I must have done close to 500 baby shoots and you don’t see that very often. Ava was just starting to sit, although she was a bit wobbly. So Ava’s Mum used her hand to prop her up a few times. I was then able to photoshop Helen’s hand out of the picture. We did images on Ava’s back and tummy and also in a prop. Ava didn’t like staying on her back for long, so I had to be quick! I’ve been told babies can concentrate for a minute for every month, so at 6 months babies can concentrate for 6 minutes. There are lots of breaks and I’ve got quite proficient at reading baby cues. So I generally know when they’ve had enough. The shoot normally lasts an hour (with lots of breaks) and I can get quite a few different pictures in that time.

I normally find 3 year olds the most difficult to photograph. They are at an age where they are independent and it’s difficult to get them to be in a picture if they don’t want to do it. They have also found their freedom, so understandably don’t want to sit still. But Amy was great, such a lovely big sister and we were able to achieve quite a lot. This was a lovely 6 month old baby photo shoot, it is usually one of my favourites and this shoot was no exception!

So smiley! and just adorable. 6 month old babies like grabbing their hands at this stage and I love being able to capture this.

Both Ava and Amy’s first teddies are in this picture. I love it when parents bring items that are sentimental and we are able to incorporate them in the shoot.