Capturing the Charm of Jude: A South West Family Portrait Session
Being the offspring of the South West’s most accomplished drama coach, I naturally assumed that photographing a baby as charismatic as Jude would be child’s play. I placed our pint-sized star beneath a softbox of such cavernous dimensions it could have doubled as an aircraft hangar and prepared for the magic.
As a professional portrait photographer, I’ve seen it all, but Jude dialled the cuteness up to a level that would have rendered a hardened Victorian schoolmaster misty-eyed. My shutter clicked, the flashes popped, and for a moment, I thought I had mastered the art of the infant portrait.
It is an established maxim of the human experience that one can have too much of a good thing. Quite who "they" are, that dour, faceless committee of fun deniers I cannot say. But I am reasonably certain they never had the pleasure of meeting young Jude during his recent baby photoshoot.
Jude is currently eight months into his earthly residency and possesses the sort of effortless, devastating charm that suggests he is destined to leave a trail of broken hearts from here to the Cotswolds. While we are on the subject of biological unfairness, we must discuss his hair. It is a mane of such implausible, swishing voluptuousness that I found myself gripped by a sudden envy; some fellows are simply dealt a better hand by the follicular gods.
Behind the Scenes at My South West Photography Studio
Being the offspring of the South West’s most accomplished drama coach, I naturally assumed that photographing a baby as charismatic as Jude would be child’s play. I placed our pint-sized star beneath a softbox of such cavernous dimensions it could have doubled as an aircraft hangar and prepared for the magic.
As a professional portrait photographer, I’ve seen it all, but Jude dialled the cuteness up to a level that would have rendered a hardened Victorian schoolmaster misty-eyed. My shutter clicked, the flashes popped, and for a moment, I thought I had mastered the art of the infant portrait.
The Challenge of Family Photography
However, pride goeth before a fall. Having secured a "bag" of winning solo shots, I decided to raise the stakes by introducing Mum into the frame. This, it turned out, was my Waterloo.
It appears that a happy, beaming eight month old is far more interested in the familiar, radiant face of his mother than in some sweating chap pointing a heavy glass and metal contraption at his nose. To capture that perfect mother and baby smile required a level of physical exertion I hadn't prepared for. I found myself scooting across the studio floor with the frantic grace of a startled crab, desperately seeking an angle to preserve these fleeting moments of domestic bliss.
If capturing such joy is indeed a "good thing," then I must respectfully disagree with the faceless overlords: I don’t think I could ever possibly have enough of it.
Ready to Capture Your Family’s Story?
Those "fleeting moments" pass by in the blink of an eye, especially those implausible hairstyles and gummy smiles. Whether you are looking for a relaxed baby photoshoot or a natural family portrait session in the South West, I would love to help you tell your story (even if it involves me scurrying across the floor like a crab to get the shot).
A curious toddler with blue eyes and blonde hair wears a white long sleeve shirt and a tan sherpa vest, posing on their stomach against a neutral studio background.