What to expect A cake smash photoshoot is so much fun! Since little ones tire quickly, I work fast. The shoot will be around one hour long and I pack a lot into that time! Your little angel is guaranteed to be tired afterwards! I always start with some classic portraits, so you have some nice, clean images before chaos unfolds. I love to keep my set ups really simple, often using a giant white
Where will the session take place? Newborn photoshoots will take place in my studio, a beautiful log cabin in the garden of our family home in Anna Valley, near Andover. The space is designed to be warm and comfortable. The room temperature will be set to around 21C and a small heater is used to heat the area where baby will be lying to 28C, so baby does not get cold when posed. I want
Before the shoot Get kids excited about the shoot Kids are big part of your family and most likely the reason you want these photos, so involve them in the entire experience. If they want to bring their favourite cuddly toy along to the session, let them. These are details that reflect their personality and mark this time in their life; you want those captured. Get them excited about the shoot far in advance. Plan
Congratulations on your pregnancy and thank you for choosing me to capture this incredibly special time in your lives. I’m really looking forward to creating some beautiful images and treasured memories for you. Imagine how thrilled your child will be to see these special photos too! What to expect at a maternity photoshoot At a maternity photoshoot, I aim to provide you with a set of beautiful, flattering photographs, documenting this amazing stage of your
Happy New Year to you all! I hope you have all had a restful and healthy Christmas and that 2022 brings you bucketfuls of happiness. Rising COVID Cases It is sad to see the cases of COVID escalating so rapidly at the moment. My photo studio is fully open but I am now taking additional precautions, to try to reduce the spread of Omicron. I am now asking all clients to take a lateral flow
Well… I’ve jumped on the bandwagon and decided to offer something special this Black Friday. I am delighted to offer you all ZERO SESSION FEE on all photoshoots booked over this weekend (26-28 November 2021). The offer My session fees are usually £45 (£65 for baby shoots or cake smash) but all sessions booked this weekend will be waived. This offer is for sessions that will be held January – March 2022 only, for new
If you’ve booked a family photoshoot in the lavender fields with me, it is a good idea to plan what to wear. Whilst we don’t want you all to be wearing exactly the same thing or exactly the same colours, it does make for a better photo if you coordinate to some extent. I strongly recommend avoiding bold patterns and large logo as well as avoiding black and neon colours. Pastel colours, white and navy
My style is to take natural, timeless images of this wonderful time. I completely understand that a lot of people (myself included) do not like having their photo taken. I will make you feel relaxed and comfortable, helping with posing every part of you, to make you look amazing! How & when to book Book your maternity session for when you’re around 7-8 months pregnant, or later if your bump is small. To book, please
Hi everyone! I hope you and your families are all well and bearing up ok, as we head towards what we all hope will be the end of lockdown. I don’t know about you, but I am finding it hard to keep track of what is happening when. One big date in my mind is the date that I am able to reopen my business – 12th April. I cannot tell you how much I am
It’s back!! Following the huge success of my fundraising project during the first lockdown, I am now offering doorstep photo portraits for a donation to Andover foodbank. Together, we raised over a whopping £2,000 in Spring 2020, so I’d love to try and smash that, although any amount we can raise would be awesome. Back in May 2020, the foodbank reported, “The Andover foodbank has been overwhelmed by people’s generosity during the COVID crisis. Over
Take your photo in a light, bright location but NOT in direct sunlight. Ideally, find a spot close to a north facing window, where the light will be lovely and soft. Have your children look up like the girls in the image above.Position your children against a plain white/light coloured background and floor – hang up a white/light sheet and have them kneel or sit on one too.If using a phone, check your camera settings
During these crazy times in which we find ourselves, more people have been asking for outdoor family photoshoots in Andover and the surrounding areas. I recently had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful family, for an outdoor photoshoot near Winchester, at Micheldever Woods. Chantal and Kevin’s youngest, Kelbey, had been born during lockdown, so like many other families, had missed out on a newborn photoshoot. They still wanted some photos to remember him as a
From June 15th my studio will reopen! I’ve really missed seeing everyone and taking photos of your babies, children and families. To begin with I will be rescheduling all my older clients, so cake smashes, sitters, families and maternity photoshoots. Then from July I’ll be open for newborn photoshoots, as these are a little longer and require closer contact. I’ll be in touch with everyone in the next few days to reschedule sessions. I maintain a
Since my studio has had to temporarily close due to social distancing rules, I’ve been really missing my newborn photography, cake smash photoshoots and family portraits. I started thinking of ways that I could continue to take photos of people, only for my family to quickly become irritated with me constantly asking if they’d pose for me. Scrolling through Facebook I spotted that several portrait photographers around the world have been offering free doorstep portraits
Good morning! I hope everyone is coping OK during this lockdown. These are exceptional times and we all have to cope as best we can. We have two daughters, 7 & 8, so we are trying to do some home schooling. I was completely freaked out by this to start with, thinking that I had to take on the role of their (awesome) teachers. I had no idea what to do and not much idea
At this time of year everyone seems to be poorly – there are so many bugs about, some of them quite worrying at this particular time. So, what do you do if you have a newborn photoshoot scheduled and your baby is poorly, you are poorly, or I am poorly? Well… the answer is that we communicate and agree on the preferred course of action. If you or your baby are unwell and you have
3 tips on how to relax in front of the camera Are you nervous about your boudoir photo shoot? Here are some tips to help you relax during your shoot: Deep Breathing – Practise deep breathing. This is a proven relaxation method. Breathe in deeply through your nose and exhale through your nose. Repeat until you feel better. Take a Break – If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we can take a break from shooting and talk,
How to incorporate your partner’s interests in your boudoir session Need help planning your boudoir session? Here are some tips on incorporating your partner’s interests for a truly personalised photo shoot: Sports – This is a popular one. If your (wo)man loves sports, bring some sports gear with you. For example, you could wear a top from their favourite team/player, or bring a ball, scarf, club, bat, etc. Occupation – If your partner loves their
Trying to figure out what to wear at your boudoir session? Here are a few tips to help you out: 1. Wear what makes YOU feel sexy. Boudoir photo shoots are all about bringing your sexy side, so if you put something on and you feel uncomfortable, move on to the next option. Consider it sort of like searching for the perfect wedding dress. When you put it on and can’t help but spin in
I’m really nervous. Is that normal? It is definitely normal to be nervous for your boudoir session, so don’t worry. Most people are nervous until the session has gone on for a few minutes. After it starts, you’ll begin to loosen up. If you’re still nervous, try out these relaxation tips provided in another blog post: Click here. How do I know how to pose? Don’t worry about posing. We’ve totally got you covered in
Understanding your newborn baby’s behaviour Cuddling, sleeping, feeding, crying. That’s what newborn behaviour is all about in the first few months. Although your baby might give you some eye contact, crying is probably the main thing you’ll notice about his behaviour. For example, he’ll cry if he’s hungry, unsettled, wet or uncomfortable. Newborn crying: what to expect Crying is a newborn’s main way of communicating, of telling you what she needs. It’s a sound that
Are you coming to the end of your maternity leave? Are you dreading going back to work, feeling guilty about leaving your baby, yet excited to be returning to adult company? Whatever is going through your mind, there are bound to be mixed feelings. As parents we feel guilty about all sorts of things and what we feel guilty about one minute we may not the next, but something else is sure to arise
The Importance of Maternity Photos Even though pregnancy comes with a lot of difficult trials, it is an amazing time in your life. It is a time of celebration and of anticipation as you prepare to meet your little bundle of joy. It’s a time where you become strong – stronger than you ever thought you could possibly be. During this time, you create your initial bond with your child that will continue throughout your
Just for you, here are some tips to ensure your Spring outdoor photoshoot, such as my Bluebell Photoshoot, is stress free and flawless… 1. Wear layers. Spring can be finicky in the sense that you can go from frozen to over heated in a matter of minutes. I suggest wearing layers – vest top, t-shirt, cardigan, scarf, etc. That way each family member can peel off, or add, a layer as they see fit and
Welcome back to the blog, dear readers! Today I’m sharing a preview of the newborn session I recently had with baby Maggie, who was welcomed into this big world on 5th March 2019 to Bláithìn (mum), Kav (dad) and big sister Zoe. As you can imagine, Mum and Dad are equally exhausted and delirious with their new baby girl, and I feel so lucky to have been given the chance to be a (small!) part
I recently had the pleasure of running a newborn photoshoot for the latest edition to the Gay family, baby Henrietta. Little Hettie is the youngest of three daughters to Victoria and Ed, big sisters being Caroline and Philippa. The Gay family are big fans of camping and I am sure it will not be long before Henrietta is taken on her first family camping holiday. Mum, Victoria, chose me to take newborn baby photos
https://hjonesphotography.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/John_s_Cake_Smash.mp4 I recently had the pleasure of taking some milestone photos for this little chap’s first birthday. John was just about to turn one when his cake smash and splash photoshoot took place at my home studio near Andover. Parents Tiffany and Adam wanted some images that were simple, where John was the focus – definitely my style of photography – less is more! We started the session by having a chat and a cup of
This was my first time photographing the very photogenic little Ava, for her first birthday photoshoot, a milestone photo session. I honestly cannot put into words just how much I enjoyed photographing this young lady. Mum, Natalie, says one of Ava’s favourite new things is her new slide that she got for Christmas and walking, holding someone’s hand. “The session went really well and I’m very happy with the outcome,” says Natalie. I’m glad to hear she
Hello dear Blog reader Today I thought I would share some thoughts on breastfeeding and bottle feeding, after listening to a very interesting programme on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour this morning. The programme talked about women’s experiences of feeding their babies, following the results of a poll commissioned by BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour and BBC Radio Sheffield revealed that over a third of mothers felt ashamed for giving their child formula. These results are
Gather round dear blog readers Today’s post is all about a certain baby that will surely put a smile on your face. Miss Anna was so much fun to photograph and our newborn photo session turned out so perfectly! This particular session was a very special since Anna had been born prematurely at 26 weeks and 5 days, weighing just 2.1lb. Little Anna was still on oxygen, hence the tube in the photos. Her story
Introducing… BABY ROSS! I’m still flying high from one of the most awesome newborn shoots I’ve had in a while. The adorable little guy in front of the lens is the son of Megan & Dale and brother to big sister Jennifer, age 3. Baby Ross was a little angel and was very chilled out through the majority of our 3-hour baby photo shoot. I’m not gonna lie. When he looked all bright eyed and
Happy New Year blog readers! I’ve had a wonderful year photographing some amazing clients and their families and businesses. I’m so excited to see what 2019 will bring. I have a packed calendar of maternity photo sessions, newborn photoshoots, cake smash photo shoots, family portraits and corporate photography too. I will also be running a series of Mini Sessions themed around the seasons, so join my mailing list and follow me on Facebook to keep
Hi again, Let me stop for a second to tell you that I am seriously the luckiest photographer in the world. My clients are always so wonderful to work with. That’s true of my family photo session with the Palmer family, too! I met up with them in the Summer at Danebury Iron Age Hill Fort and the weather was perfect for photo-taking. It was warm and slightly overcast, so not too bright. While the
When it comes to a family photo shoot, a lot of stress is typically associated with days leading up to the session. I’m here to help you relax and be prepared all at the same time. Here are some tips: Choose clothes that are colour co-ordinated and avoid bold, clashing colours. Pastels are good! Choose clothes that you all feel comfortable in to be as natural as possible, whether formal or informal. Think about where
Gather round awesome blog readers! Today’s post is all about a certain baby with the kind of big blue eyes that will surely put a smile on your face. Mr. Joey was so much fun to photograph and our session turned out so brilliantly! This particular session was a very special since Joey was born at 11.11 on Remembrance Sunday and his dad is a serving soldier. This added a whole other level to our
Whilst it is a good idea to get a newborn photoshoot when your baby is around 7-10 days old to capture the squishiness of your tiny baby, please don’t be put off from having a photo session if your baby is older. I can capture beautiful images of your little one at any age. Below are some examples of different developmental stages I can capture at different ages. Of course all babies are unique and
It’s Competition Time at H Jones Photography! I’m so excited about my Magical Christmas Photo Sessions that I have decided to run a competition for people to win a FREE Magical Christmas Photo Shoot via my Facebook Page. The competition is super easy to enter – simply find the post on my Facebook Page and write in the Comments below the post… 1) why you should win, and 2) what you’d do with your image.
Last weekend I ran some mini photo sessions on the pumpkin patch at Bourne Valley Pick Your Own near Andover, Hampshire. This proved to be so popular that I have announced some more mini sessions for the weekend of 27-28th October. This is such a fun thing to do and I can capture some magical photos of your child, children, family, pets and even get a baby picture in the pumpkins for you! Look for details
This week I have the lovely Steph from La Di Da Interiors with me, painting my bureau. Steph is an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint approved stockist and owner of a fabulous shop of interiors, luxuries and gifts in Andover. She also runs an interior design service plus regular painting and craft workshops, details of which are available on her website, www.ladida-andover.com. I have worked with Steph several times over the past year, photographing her
Hello out there! I’ve got a super cute baby and family photo session to share with you that features a fabulous family, who I photographed not too long ago on a training day with a fantastic Hampshire photographer who also just happens to be a world renowned and multi award winning photographer – Tracy Willis. I love to continue to learn and improve my photos and learned so much from Tracy on this training day.
I absolutely love this image from a previous Christmas photo session. The little lady was really not very sure about having her photo taken at first, but did quickly warm up and shared lots of smiles with me. I’m really excited about my upcoming Christmas photo shoots. I am putting the final pieces together to create a truly unique vintage style photo shoot and will soon be opening bookings. The photo sessions will take
I am so excited about my truly unique and exclusive Magical Christmas photo session that is coming soon. I am going to be offering a vintage style Christmas photo shoot that will be different from anything you can get elsewhere! In addition I will also be offering my fun Christmas Mini Sessions. Details of both will be coming soon. Like my Facebook Page to keep up to date with the latest announcements.
I hope you enjoy these few photos from a recent newborn photo shoot with the Huxford family. Baby Noah was born in July via a planned Caesarean section due to baby being breech for most of the pregnancy. Mum & Dad prepared for their baby photo session by giving Noah a bath in the morning and a big feed before the car ride over, to help baby sleep during the photo shoot. However, Noah had other ideas
I recently did a newborn photo shoot for a teacher at a local primary school. Mum Sarah had been given a photo session voucher as a very kind and thoughtful gift from the parents and children that she has taught as an end of year gift as she left school to start maternity leave. Baby Isaac was born on 29th July 2018, 5 weeks early, a little surprise as he wasn’t due until September! Sarah
This was one of my favourite maternity photo shoots so far ? A beautiful young couple with a little boy due in November came to have some bump photos taken and they were just awesome in front of the camera. Mum-to-be Bryony brought along some tiny shoes and we had fun getting creative and involving them in the photo session. I’m so pleased with the results and can’t wait to take some baby pictures of
I recently did a family photo shoot for a mum who couldn’t get her three children to smile at the same time. Mum, Rachel, said very little preparation was necessary for the photo session, just making sure the children were clean! She opted for an outdoor family photo shoot as they all love being out in the countryside. Here are a couple of photos from the session and some very kind words from Rachel (thank
Welcome back, I recently had a fantastic newborn and family photo session with the Adegbite family. Wale, Dad, enjoys travelling; Yerome, Mum, is an aspiring writer; Daniel, big brother, he loves cars and street vehicles; and last but not least, David, little brother, loves being cute, as he is still a little baby! We met at my relaxed home studio. I love shooting at home because it instantly makes people feel relaxed and I feel
Hi blog readers I wanted to tell you about my recent session with the Johnson-Ferguson family. I met up with them in July at my home studio near Andover as they wanted an extended family portrait to be photographed, printed and framed the same day, to give as a gift to granny. Three brothers and their families came from across Europe to meet for the big birthday celebration. The weather was perfect for taking photos
Guess what I have for you today? It starts with T and ends with WINS. That’s right, I’m bringing double trouble to the blog today via these two, who were really no trouble at all during our newborn photo session we did at their home earlier this year. The photo session was great fun and I used all natural light for this one. Mum said that they were surprised when they heard that they were getting a two-for-one deal, especially as
I have a busy weekend ahead and am looking forward to 4 photo shoots, all of which will be very different! On Saturday morning I am going to be taking a family portrait with a lovely family who had a newborn photo shoot recently. Saturday evening I am doing an outdoor engagement photo shoot with a couple soon to be married. Sunday morning I will be at the Trout n’ About festival in Stockbridge, taking
I really enjoyed this recent photo shoot. Mum, Colleen, tells us about her experience… Tell us about your birth story We were already parents to our beautiful 15-month-old twin boys when our beautiful little girl, Hattie, arrived on the 2nd May. When the boys were born life is too hectic to get round to having a photo shoot and I was determined to get a photo shoot of Hattie done while she was still little.
I had a really lovely newborn photo shoot recently with the Young family and their new arrival, Henry. I asked Mum, Petra, about her experience of her baby photo session … Why did you choose H Jones Photography for your newborn photo session? “Recommended via Winchester babies group.” What did you like best about the session? “How chilled you managed to get Henry and how relaxed the environment was. It didn’t matter that he pooped
I was delighted to meet the lovely Carrie-Anne Gumn and her daughter Olivia recently, when they answered my call for a newborn model. After delaying the session due to my daughter being poorly, I finally got to meet them at my home studio for their newborn photo session. Carrie-Anne answers some questions about the photo shoot below. Why did you choose H Jones Photography for you shoot? We had a newborn shoot done with our
I also do maternity photo shoots, for those ladies that want a memory of their amazing achievement in becoming pregnant. I only wish my bumps had been as beautiful as this one… although, of course what was on the inside was perfect! If you’d like a bump photo session or a bump to baby photo shoot, get in touch via my Contact page.
I recently took some photos for the lovely Stephanie Briggs of La Di Da, Interiors, Luxuries & Gifts, a fabulous little shop in Andover. Steph stocks all kinds of beautiful objects, is an approved Annie Sloan paint stockist and runs some amazing workshops. She sells a range of upcycled furniture in the shop and online, hand painted by Steph, with nationwide delivery. I asked Steph to answer the following questions to inform and inspire us…
I’ve got a poorly little girl and so the past week or so has been a bit of a write off. I was due to do a few newborn photoshoots but have had to postpone them in order to look after my daughter. I am sorry to those who’ve had to have their photo session changed but I’m looking forward to taking some more baby pictures very soon!
I’m really pleased to have had a lot of interest in my recent model call for a newborn photo session. I have some new props, such as different coloured blankets, wraps, headbands etc, which I wanted to try out, plus a new workflow. I’m delighted to have already done one of these newborn baby photoshoots at my home studio near Andover. Little Sophia Grace came with her mum Lilli one day last week and we
Hello! I’ve got a newborn photo session to share with you that features the fabulous Pickles family, who I photographed not too long ago at my home studio near Andover in Hampshire. The entire family was present and ready for action: 10 day-old Theodore, 2 year-old Tabitha and Mum and Dad. Theodore was born at Basingstoke hospital at 10.53pm weighing 8lbs. Mum’s birth story: “I went into labour properly from around 5pm but had had
Model call alert! I’m giving my newborn photography portfolio a seasonal boost and therefore seeking newborn babies ages 6 days to 11 days old to photograph before the end of March 2018. You’ll receive a free photo session, 2 free digital jpeg files, and a profile on my website and social media pages. This is a 2 – 4 hour commitment and the session will take place at my home studio, located in Anna Valley,
My friend Neil Smith of Neil Smith Illustration, has designed me a logo, which I absolutely love. I wanted it to be soft and gentle, to reflect the work I do as a newborn photographer in Andover. I love the use of sweet peas, one of my fave flowers, and the beautiful script he has chosen. Neil is based in Salisbury and you can find out more about his skills at http://www.neilsmithillustration.co.uk Thank you Neil!
This week I have been driving around my local area putting up posters and distributing flyers to local toddler groups, to advertise my newborn photography in Andover area. I thought it might be useful to provide a list here! If I have made any errors or if you know of any I have missed, please get in touch via my contact page. Mondays ~ Longparish Baby and Toddler Group, Mondays 09:00-11:30, £1 per adult &
The diary of a newborn and baby photographer is a complicated place. Nobody told your baby that they are expected to turn up for their portrait session and while some can’t wait to get here, some are fashionably late. This makes my diary a wonderfully fluid place. How & when to book The ideal time to have a newborn photography session is when your baby is around 8-10 days old, before they lose that special
As a newborn and baby photographer, I have to take the safety of my little clients very seriously. It might surprise you to know that the newborn photography industry is completely unregulated. Photographers like me, who take safety seriously, have to take it upon ourselves to be trained and educated on how to ensure the beautiful images we create, are done safely. For example when you see a beautiful image like the one below, you