Well, it's not something I've done before ? But here goes ! This will probably be the place to find out what I'm up to behind the scenes of Small Prints Photography. I've always been a bit baffled by the reason for blogging. But since starting my business I have looked back many times and really wondered how I got here myself ? I'd thought it would be a good idea to keep a record of where it started and how far I'd come, instead of thinking everyday of the list of things I didn't get to. 

One of the things I think every mum is guilty of is not looking back and seeing what we have achieved, (or encouraged our children achieve). Instead we look back and beat ourselves up at the end of the day over what we've not done ! Why do we do that ? So, if nothing else this will be a written record of the journey along the way. People often ask me "How do you do it ?". People often said that before I had a business ! That is, when they weren't asking "don't you know how it happens?"  and if your a grand multipara you'll know what I mean LOL.  Now, I have a business and five beautiful children (sorry to the 4 boys, I know beautiful maybe isn't 'cool' ) and we are awaiting the arrival of our 6th child in July 2012. Quite honestly I have no idea how anyone does it, you just get on with it ! So her goes, what have I done with my year so far. Juggling this and a young family isn't easy, but anything worth doing is never easy is it ? 

Apart from keeping my family happy and at times, no doubt sacrificing time with them, over time spent on business. I've had a very hectic start to the year. Here we are almost in May and so far I've invested a lot of time and money into training & upgrades in the last few months. Post production equipment has been upgraded, and software changes, so I have had all those new thing's to learn too. Once familiar with all the new arrivals It will allow me to deliver better quality and work faster for my clients.

During January & February I did course work with Stephanie Robin, and had work critiqued by her on areas to improve on. While I participated in her course on baby safety and posing.  As a mum you think you know almost everything there really is to know about handling babies, I've done it 5 times over ! But wow ! Stephanies course was just amazing ! I learned so much. Baby safety is always a topic of hot debate among newborn photographers, I have always been aware that certain poses and props should only be used and the resulting shots obtained by creating 'composite' images, and merging them together ! Even when I first started the business. Even with this knowledge I felt this course was an essential addition to my development.  Stephanie isn't just photographer; she is also a registered physiotherapist. So she teaches from a safety first point of view, as well as an artistic one. 

During March and AprilI took a course with Sarah Ulrich of Uniquely you. Sarah has no natural light available to her, many of us are in the same position here in Scotland in our homes. Or in my case my family friendly working hours mean I am almost nocturnal - unless it's week end. Sarah is a master at making flash photography look as natural as possible and this is what I hoped to learn most about, although the training I have already makes for great results, I can already see a huge progression in the quality and consistency of the light in my images. Beautiful babies deserve beautiful lighting !

Later in April I trained with John Denton, and his lovely wife Liz in Yorkshire.  John, is an author of photography books, business mentor and a Master Photographer of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers.  I throughly enjoyed my day shooting with John and his fantastic model Claire Marr. This training was to help develop a whole new side to my business which will come later, although may things I learned can be applied to my business now. 

Phew, what a busy start to 2012, only my second year in business. SO much learned so much still to learn and achieve. I can't wait ! 

Well, I thought I'd have nothing to write, so it's time I wound this up ...

I have met so many parents now, and during our session with their little ones, they tell me about their journey to parent hood, and the ups and the downs, the heartbreaks, the tears and then finally the total joy of their little ones safe arrival ! My husband I have been incredibly lucky to have such a smooth journey. So, in a way, I feel like doing this is perhaps giving a little something back to those who have had the roller coaster ride. Helping parents keep theses precious memories of their babies tiny days is a very rewarding thing to do.  Being trusted to cradle so many precious newborn babies in my arms while I calm them prior to posing feels like a complete privilege, and, the more I do this job the more I love it !

Thank you to each and every one of you who have helped me along the way in my journey to becoming an even better newborn photographer.