As a newborn, baby and family photographer in Hampshire, creating beautiful photographs is only one part of my job. Creating a calm, safe environment where parents can completely relax is just as important.
That's why I recently completed an Emergency Paediatric First Aid course with Winterbury Training.
Although I sincerely hope I never need to put these skills into practice, I believe that being prepared is part of being a responsible professional when working with babies and young children.
Newborn photography is a specialist area of photography.
Sessions often involve tiny babies who are only a few days old, along with excited older siblings and toddlers. While every session is carefully planned, babies and children don't always follow the script, and that's perfectly normal.
Knowing how to respond quickly and confidently in an emergency gives me additional peace of mind and, I hope, gives parents reassurance too.
The course covered:
These are practical skills that I hope never to use, but ones that are invaluable to have.
The training was delivered by Carolyn Port at Winterbury Training, and I thoroughly enjoyed the day. The course was informative, hands-on and full of practical advice that would be invaluable in a real-life situation.
One comment Carolyn made afterwards particularly meant a lot to me:
"It's great that, as a photographer working with children and babies, you are keen to learn the skills to be able to help in an emergency."
That simple statement perfectly sums up why I wanted to attend.
Photography is about preserving memories, but when you're entrusted with someone's baby, their safety will always come first.
Running a photography business isn't just about cameras and editing.
Behind the scenes, I regularly invest in training that helps me provide the best possible experience for every family who visits my garden studio near Andover.
Over the years this has included:
Every course helps me improve what I do, whether that's creating a more relaxed experience, handling newborns safely, or simply giving parents extra confidence that their baby is in experienced hands.
You can find out more about my experience, qualifications and approach on my About Me page.
When you book a session with H Jones Photography, I want you to feel completely at ease.
From the moment you arrive, my aim is for you to relax with a cup of tea while I gently guide your session at your baby's pace.
Your baby's comfort and safety always come before any photograph.
Every time.
A huge thank you to Carolyn Port and Winterbury Training for delivering such an engaging and practical course.
I'm pleased to have added another important skill to my professional toolkit, but hope it's one I never need to use.
If you're looking for an experienced newborn photographer near Andover who places your baby's safety, comfort and wellbeing at the heart of every session, I'd love to welcome you to my garden studio.
As an added bonus, every newborn booking also includes a complimentary Mini Maternity Shoot, giving you the chance to capture another special chapter of your family's story before your little one arrives.
