BABY’S FIRST BIRTHDAY IDEAS FOR PARENTS

BABY’S FIRST BIRTHDAY IDEAS FOR PARENTS

BABY’S FIRST BIRTHDAY IDEAS FOR PARENTS

Congratulations, you have made it through the first year of parenthood!

When your baby turns one, you’ve both reached an important milestone… and you might soon realise that for you, as a mum, this is an emotional one!

You might find yourself saving every “first-year-anything” for their memory box, frantically trying to catch up with filling their baby book and get all teary staring at them, praying that you will never, ever forget the feel of their soft skin against your chest.

 

MAKE THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY SPECIAL

As you approach the end of the emotional roller-coaster that the first year as a new parent is, you will also start wondering how you can also make their first birthday extra meaningful and special.

If you are here, chances are you have done a bit of Googling and if that’s the case you have also probably ended up scrolling through Pinterest suggestions for a perfectly planned, colour-coordinated extravaganza.

And… yes, you’ve guessed it. We are not going to overwhelm you with “top ten activities” guides or endless checklists to plan their first birthday party.

Instead, let’s look at 5 stress-free ideas to celebrate and cherish this incredible, precious journey your family is on.

 

START A NEW FAMILY TRADITION

Family traditions are a beautiful way of creating lasting memories to reminisce about in the future, across generations. So, what better way to start than your baby’s first birthday?

Here are some ideas:

 

1 – A BIRTHDAY LETTER

If you enjoy writing, start with a birthday letter to your little one.

 

While they won’t be able to read or appreciate it just yet, having a handwritten note from you detailing favourite memories from their first year will be a treasured keepsake down the line.

 

Of course, you can even get your partner involved!

 

And since this will become a yearly tradition, you might want to get a little box to keep these memories safe. Should you not already have one you like, the Tiny Box Company is a great place to find ideas.

 

2 – PLANT SOMETHING

This is an idea many of us discard if a garden isn’t in the cards just yet… but actually, you don’t even need outdoor space!

 

You can start with something smaller than a tree, flowers or herbs for example, and let your little one dig into the dirt with you while you other half snaps away.

 

Alternatively, you can use websites like One Tree Planted to plant trees for you for as little as $1 (they even issue a certificate for you).

 

3 – CREATE A MEMORY BOOK

And get your loved ones involved!

By the end of your baby’s first year, your phone will be overflowing with cute snaps and there is a chance that this is also the case for your extended family.

Ask them to send you a photo of their favourite memory with your birthday boy or girl and tell you what makes it so special to them.

Ensure to have all of these photos printed out and collect them in a nice album or a box, for your little one to have when they grow up.

… AND GET SOME PHOTOS DONE RIGHT!

 

Sure, phones are great to snap a few shots at home, but these memories are way too precious for you to only rely on your phone camera!

 

Imagine your little one, not little anymore, looking at your family album 30 years from now: would you want them to only find faded photographs where one important person of the family is always missing (someone’s got to take those photos!)?

There are a couple of options for you in this sense:

 

1 – A CAKE (OR FRUIT) SMASH SESSION

 

Fun, frosting and bubbles (soapy ones, before you ask!) … What more could you want for a birthday?

 

Cake Smash photoshoots are a parents’ favourite when it comes to celebrating the first birthday as giving your baby a fun, exciting and new activity is ideal for creating some truly adorable candid portraits.

 

Cake Smashes at Slice of Life Photography are even more special because include 3 sessions in one:

1 – A Mini Sitter 

 

To capture some simple portraits of your little one in their birthday finery.

 

first birthday ideas
 

2 – Introducing… the Cake!

Time for some fun! We’ll bring the cake in and capture some “messy”, fun shots. And if you prefer a more natural alternative, we can replace the cake with fruit! 

 

first birthday ideas
3 – Tub time!

Finally, a little tub time in a wonderful child size roll top bath to allow your little one to clean up and relax.

 

first birthday ideas

2 – A FAMILY SESSION

 

 If you want to focus more on classic fmily portraits, then a Family Photoshoot might be the best choice for you.

 

This session focuses more on the family, including siblings and parents in the poses, to capture timeless portraits that you can cherish forever.

 

Since the feel and look of these two sessions (Cake Smash & Splash and Family Photoshoot) is so different, many families choose to book both at different stages of the first two years of the baby’s life… with the Cake Smash done around the baby’s first birthday.

family portrait by boston family photographer
AND ENJOY…

As a mum myself, I know what a whirlwind of emotions and events your first year as a parent is… and I also know how incredible and amazing some moments are.

Those are memories you will keep with you forever, regardless of how you choose to celebrate your baby’s first birthday.

 And if you want to know more about how I can help you capture some of those moments with a Cake Smash or a Family Photoshoot, get in touch!

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    Spalding Photography Studio Tour

    Spalding Photography Studio Tour

    Spalding Photography Studio – Take a tour

     Slice of Life Photography studio  is easily accessible from Spalding, Sleaford, Boston, Kings Lynn and Peterborough.  

    My beautifully fully refurbished brand new Studio is bigger and better and is the ideal environment to create wonderful memories for your family.   Sit back and relax during a baby photoshoot, celebrate your little ones first birthday with some cake smash fun or create some wonderful family portraits. Step inside my photography studio to see where the magic is created.

    Sleford Photography studio

    The photography studio is designed perfectly to allow me to work seamlessly during photoshoots.   A cosy and relaxing  space for you to enjoy watching me create beautiful photographs of your family means you get to enjoy some R&R while I work my magic.  Set out with several shooting areas I am able to move efficiently between props and poses ensuring your baby is happy at all times.

    A range of props, outfits, wraps and headbands are available to view and select at the start of your session to ensure that colours and styling will suit your family perfectly.  

    Sleaford photography studio
    Sleaford photography studio
    Photography Studio near Sleaford

    The Spalding photography studio is the perfect relaxing environment to capture your family memories.  Before each session I am able to prepare the studio with sufficient space to capture your newborn photos, create first birthday cake smash photos or beautiful family portraits to display proudly in your home.  

    Find out more about this photography studio

    If you would like to find out more about the services available at Slice of Life Photography please get in touch via the form below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

    Keywords: baby photographers boston, baby photographers spalding, boston photographers, photographers boston, photographers spalding, photography studios near me, photography studios spalding, spalding photographers

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      Photography Award 2020 – Maternity, Newborn and babies Photographer Bar

      Photography Award 2020 – Maternity, Newborn and babies Photographer Bar

      Photography Award – 2020

      The Photographer’s Bar – Maternity, Newborn and Babies

       

      What a way to start 2021!  Each year The Guild of Photographers holds its annual awards night!  This year it was held virtually and live streamed online!  During the event Photography Award winners for image of the year and photographer of the year are announced in various genres of photography, including Pet Photography, Portrait Photography and Newborn Photography, along with overall Photographer of the Year.

      The Photography awards process also acknowledges Photographers that have displayed an exceptional level of professional skill and consistency throughout the year!  To be awarded this distinction photographers must have successfully had images assessed by the Guild over the course of the year within a specfic genre!

      I am truly delighted and honoured to have been awarded The Photographers Bar within the catagory of Maternity, Newborn and Babies.   A huge thank you to the Guild of Photographer’s team and Members for being such a fabulous supportive bunch of fellow photographers.

      newborn and baby photographer award

      Below are the images that contributed to me recieving the honour of this Photography Award!  I’d like to say thank you to my wonderful clients that continue to support my little business and grant permission for me to submit images of their children to the Guild for competition and assessment!  Without your support I would not be where I am today, so from the bottom of my heart I thank you.

      Photography Award – What’s next?

      The first round of images for the 2021 Image of the month award have already been submitted for assessment and so the wait begins for results day!  Whilst I would love to one day be short listed for an Image of the Year award or recieve a nomination for Photographer of the Year, at the moment I will continue to chase the elusive Silver within the Image of the Month Competition and hope I can achieve the Photographers Bar within Maternity, Newborn and Baby catagory again for 2021!  I also hope to look at entering a second catagory in the future.

      As soon as lockdown begins to ease and I can reopen my doors I would also like to begin working towards achieving my Craftman Status within Baby Photography with the view of gaining this recognition before 2021 is over.  With this in mind if you visit the photography studio in 2021 plese consider signing the release form for me to use your images as it really is appreciated. 

      A final thank you to each and every one of the beauitful models above and I look forward to seeing you all during 2021! 

      Marie 

      Get in touch

      Please feel free to use the contact form to contact me and discuss your photography requirements and what I can offer to you.

        Or contact me via:

        Telephone

        07545 778016

        Email

        marie@sliceoflifephotography.co.uk

        Keywords: baby photographers boston, baby photographers spalding, boston photographers, photographers boston, photographers spalding, photography studios near me, photography studios spalding, spalding photographers, newborn photographers near me, Spalding baby photographers, Boston baby photographers, Peterborough baby photographers

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          Beginners guide to a DSLR Camera

          Beginners guide to a DSLR Camera

          Beginners guide to a DSLR camera

          Have you recently brought yourself a DSLR camera or recieved one as a gift for christmas and been intimidated by the thickness of the manual and all the dials.  If so it can be very tempting to put the manual down, flick it onto ‘Auto’ and start shooting.

          Whilst this will create some lovely images you can create so much more if you learn to use your camera settings.

          This post is designed for a beginner who wants to learn to take their camera off auto.  Alongside your camera manual it will help you learn to use your camera in manual mode, using the basic principles of photography ,aperture, shutter speed, and ISO., to capture images you will be proud of.  

          There are many principles to creating a great image, but correct exposure is one of the many key elements and the first thing you need to learn.  To create a correctly exposed image within manual mode on your camera the 3 elements of Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO work alongside one another within the Exposure Triangle.  Manipulating each element will influence how your image looks.

          How to use a camera – Understanding the principles of the Exposure triangle.

           Here is a summary of what each one does:

          Aperture controls the amount of light entering the lens. The aperture is controlled by a diaphragm within the lens that adjusts its width based on the f-stop being used. The higher the f-stop, the smaller the aperture opening, and the less light coming into the lens.

           

          How to Use a DSLR Aperture illustration

           

          Aperture directly influences the depth of field, that is, the amount of an image that is in focus.  A large depth of field (achieved by using a small aperture, large f- stop number) would mean that a large area within the scene is in focus.  This is often used when shooting landscapes.  A shallow depth of field (achieved by using a large aperture, small f- stop number) would create an image where only the subject is in sharp focus, but the background is soft and out of focus.  This is often used when shooting portrais or wildlife images.  The confusing part for many people is that the size of the aperture is inversely related to the f-stop number, meaning, a large aperture is indicated by a small f-stop number.

           

          Shallow Depth of field.  Low F-stop number

          Large Depth of Field.  High F-stop number

          Shutter speed controls the length of time the light falls on the lens.  A fast shutter speed means that the shutter opens and closes quickly, minimizing how long the sensor is exposed to light.  Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second.   You would select a short shutter speed if you wanted to freeze a fast moving subject, such as shooting sports, action or wildlife.  You would use a long shutter speed if you wanted to blur a moving subject, for example water rushing over a waterfall.

          Fast Shutter speed, Freezes movement

          Slow Shutter speed, Motion Blur

          ISO is responsible for the sensitivity to light  of the camera’s sensor.  Once the light has passed through the aperture and been filtered by the shutter speed, it reaches the sensor. This is where we decide how to set the ISO.  As you turn the ISO number up, you increase the exposure. But, at the same time, the image quality decreases. There will be more digital noise or “grain”.  The easiest way to consider your ISO is once your aperture and shutter speed are defined, go with the lowerst ISO needed to maintain the correct exposure.

          So that is an overview of the 3 settings you will need to consider when you want to take the leap and take your camera off  ‘Auto’.  However if only it was that simple.  There are many more principles to photography that you will need to impliment to create images you will be proud of.  

          If you can get to grips with the basic elements of photography and get out in the field and practice then it won’t be long before you are achieving the results that you bought the camera for in the first place.

          Due to the Pandemic lockdown restrictions I have not been able to hold my annual beginners course so have put together a training video explaining the above priciples and much much more in more detail!  Its a. great starting point in the absense of face to face classes. 

          Would you like to know more about Beginners photography training?

          If you would like further information about beginners photography training available at Slice of Life Photography please get in touch via the form below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

            Keywords: baby photographers boston, baby photographers spalding, boston photographers, photographers boston, photographers spalding, photography studios near me, photography studios spalding, spalding photographers

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              Photography Studio 2020 review

              Photography Studio 2020 review

              Photography studio – 2020 a year like now other!

              When I started to think about writing my photography studio 2020 review my heart sank!   How was I going to be able write something positve and uplifiting?  But actually once I started to prepare my material I realised that 2020 had been pretty spectacular for my photography studio.  The year like no other has forced me to think outside the box and push my boundaires like never before.

              2020 newborn photography collage

              Despite my photography studio being closed for over 4 months of the year I have been able to photograph lots of adorable new babies.  The first Lockdown back in March meant that by the time some of the babies were able to visit the photography studio they were as old as 10 weeks.  Prior to 2020 this would have sent me into a wave of panic but the reality proved to be much easier than I imagined and I was able to still create stunning baby photos despite them being less interested in sleep then I was used to.  

               Being closed for 12 weeks was a very challenging experience and I know I am not alone in the financial worry that this caused.  Creating the wonderful digital creations via photos taken by my clients gave me a little income and gave me something to keep me busy why my photography studio was closed and trapped at home for days at a time.    

              newborn composition by Lincolnshire photographer
              baby in floral basket, baby photoshoot Lincolnshire photographer

              Photography Studio Lockdown Project

              The lockdown had a massive impact on families and businesses across the world but it also had a massive impact on the funds that chairities recieve.  Many many charitable events were cancelled and so the money raised from these also lost.   I wanted to do something to help them, so in my little corner of Lincolnshire I did my own little Lockdown doorstep project.   As we were only able to leave our homes for exercise I took to walking the local area with my camera and capturing families at their front doors in return for a donation to the Lincolnshire Air Amubulance.   I loved that as well as supporting a local charity the project reflected life in 2020.

              Covid 19 Lockdown doorstep project, spalding photographer
              Covid 19 Lockdown doorstep project, boson photographer
              Covid 19 Lockdown doorstep project, boson photographer

              During the first lockdown I spent some time in my little photography studio working on some personal projects.  It was nice to be able to work on some things for myself and experiment a little.  Sadly my youngest isn’t always a willing model but my eldest was keen to help and as alway my four legged children were keen to co-operate in return for sausages.

              dog portraits Spalding photography studio

              In the absence of squiggy babies to photograph I was also able to finally take time to put together a panel of images for submission to the Guild of Photographers and was delighted to be awarded my qualified status.  I have since started to think about my panel for craftsman and look forward to submitting another panel in the future. 

              Qualified photographer Lincolnshire photography studio

              As restrictions started to lift in June and I was able to reopen my photography studio I noticed a shift in enquires. as well as capturing my usual babies, sitters and cake smash clients there was an increase in Family photography enquires.  I guess the change in lifestyle and not being able to visit family had brought home the importance of capturing loved ones and making memories.  It has been a true honour to record so many wonderful families this year and I really hope this trend continues going into 2021. 

              photography studio family collage

              Finally I would like to say thank you to all of my wonderful clients for trusting me to capture your memories for you. It truely has been a pleasure.  It really is true,  If you do a job you love then you never have to work a day in your life.  I am really blessed to be in such a postion.

              I look forward to meeting many more adorable babies and families in 2021, along with seeing lots of familiar faces who have sessions already booked. I do love that you all come back time and time again and I am able to enjoy watching your little ones grow.

              Wishing you all a fantastic 2021!

              Marie 

               

              Get in touch

              Please feel free to use the contact form to contact me and discuss your photography requirements and what I can offer to you.

                Or contact me via:

                Telephone

                07545 778016

                Email

                marie@sliceoflifephotography.co.uk

                Keywords: baby photographers boston, baby photographers spalding, boston photographers, photographers boston, photographers spalding, photography studios near me, photography studios spalding, spalding photographers, newborn photographers near me, Spalding baby photographers, Boston baby photographers, Peterborough baby photographers

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