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Laura x

lauraphotographylondon

At the end of a very relaxed and amazing weekend (

At the end of a very relaxed and amazing weekend (last weekend) in the Cotswolds.

I do like to show my face on here from time to time and this felt right.

What will you find here?

Photographs most of the time, some reels and stories. Photographs of the work I do for clients but also of my boys, how I work, events I organise and attend, places we visit and places in London and Tooting where we live.

Things you might not know about me

I am from Albania originally and have lived in London for 14 years.

I have been tempted to do a teacher yoga training (still tempted)

I have started playing netball and really enjoy it, not having played it before. It is never late to learn new things.

2 books I’m currently reading and enjoying:
- The Magic Years, Selma Fraiberg
- The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron

A quote that I enjoyed today

“Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” Eddie Cantor.

What’s inspiring you at the moment?

How precious do moments like this become in 2 year

How precious do moments like this become in 2 years time? In 5 years time?
In 20 years time?

All it takes is to find the right time, right location and the right person to photograph your family together.

Don’t leave it too late.

#family #memories #timeisprecious

Back in March in Cannizzaro park! The park has c

Back in March in Cannizzaro park!

The park has changed a lot since then. With many more leaves, colours, and blossoms.

Have you been to the hotel du vin restaurant that is in Cannizzaro park?

We went last time and discovered a great children menu, which I now recommend to all clients that book for family shoots in the park.

@cannizaro.park @hotelduvin

Special moments that tell our story, are every day

Special moments that tell our story, are every day moments.

Moments like this, filled with love, the time of being together and appreciating every second.

#wandsworthmums #tootingmums

Maternity & newborn photography can help record your story, that of your family and your children. From being tiny little to growing and changing but still melting our hearts away.

Get in touch to record your family’s story!

photography@shimilimears.com

Mini Sessions this Spring. Celebrate & capture st

Mini Sessions this Spring.

Celebrate & capture stunning photographs of your family outdoors this Spring.

My mini sessions are now open for this spring season.

Hosted in Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon, 15th May - updated 2 slots available now.

These go fast as I only release a small number of them for each date.

Do you want to make sure one of them is yours?

To book follow the link in the bio and fill the form.

Or email me: photography@shimilimears.com

Photoshoots are about joy, excitement, love and fu

Photoshoots are about joy, excitement, love and fun.

They are also about hugs, quiet moments, time to reflect.

Babies and children do get tired and we joke every time with families about “how hard it is to be a model”.

Embracing the moments as they come and celebrating them quietly or with excitement are both part of the experience.

Besides how cute is the hair bow of this little one?? 🤩🤩😍😍

Loved the session with this family, a maternity before the baby and then the baby shoot.

Happy bank holiday! A glorious day in London, su

Happy bank holiday!

A glorious day in London, sunny & warm.

What are your favourite parks in london?

Below is my list:

Canizzaro park, Wimbledon
Isabella plantation, Richmond park
Kyoto gardens, Holland Park
Battersea park
Peckham rye park
The Rookery, Streatham
Ravenscourt Park

I also love St Paul’s area, the park, the top of the new change shopping centre and millennium bridge.

Tower bridge is another favourite.

What are yours?

Spring outdoor photo shoots, common issues. It is

Spring outdoor photo shoots, common issues.

It is that time of year again, we will be spending more time outdoors, in parks and playgrounds.

There is a flurry of bookings and families wanting to capture their growing little ones as the outdoor season approaches.

Some families will be used to it and some won’t.

This family had not had a Photoshoot in a park before and it took a little convincing. And glad to report it paid off.

Their little boy was delighted, he could explore, he could walk and run and I made sure to engage him in looking at the different spots I had planned for the family shoot itinerary.

His baby brother, being only a few months old was less “aware” but parents were delighted to see their older one happy! Only one child to worry about 😎

For every family shoot, I plan the itinerary very carefully, taking into account the children’s ages, their routine and we have mini breaks for playing and relaxing.

Can you guess where this location is? I love that pink salmon coloured wall.

What could go wrong in a newborn shoot with siblin

What could go wrong in a newborn shoot with siblings???

First let me reassure you nothing went wrong in this shoot or other shoots I have had with other families.

The best thing is to take one step at a time. First start with the baby, and slowly incorporate the sibling (s) and then the whole family.

Currently leading times for shoots are 3 weeks for week day appointments and 1 month for weekend dates.

I loved shooting with this lovely family on the arrival of their second little boy ❤️❤️

“When I’ve had my hair done”, or “after I’ve lost the extra pounds” I hear these “reasons” often from mums & dads about planning a family Photoshoot.

The truth is that the time of children being little is short and it goes very fast. Before we know it they’re not that little sweet toddler that does anything to please (or doesn’t depending on characters).

Before we know it those early years have gone and too many things got in the way.

When we look back at beautiful family photographs, all those “reasons” don’t exist anymore because what we see is love, fun, our younger selves (which to be honest are always better 🤩) and the little ones as they once were.

I was doing just that for this family and for other families that have booked for family shoots this spring, helping them capture their family moments together.

Family shoots can happen in your home, local parks, london - the choices are too many.

Leading times at the moment are 3 weeks for week day appointments and 1 month for weekends. Don’t let the “reasons” get in the way ❤️🙌🏼

Part 2 - attraction park and other things. Café

Part 2 - attraction park and other things.

Cafés aplenty, Jardin d’Acclimatation, jardin de Luxembourg & playground, there are quite a few options for kids in Paris which the boys really enjoyed.

Jardin d’Acclimatation is really nice, it has loads of rides, a rollercoaster, flying chairs, mechanical mouse, boat rides, video gaming, nice cafés etc.

We went on a Monday and it was very quiet and with no queues! The boys could do the rides as many times as they wanted (which they did 😂).
Next year Disneyland maybe??🤔😎😍

Trip down memory lane and making new memories with

Trip down memory lane and making new memories with the boys.
Sending love notes to my 20 year old self ❤️❤️
Coming from Albania to Paris at 20 was intense and with so many emotions.
I still remember buying my first camera here in 2001 with money from working in a creperie/ restaurant.
We went to visit the restaurant which has changed owners but the building is still the same.
Showing the boys where I lived, the university in Place du Pantheon, the parks I used to take the children I looked after as an au pair, all part of the revival.
Some things I had not done before, we did. Going on a bateau mouche / Parisian clipper on the Seine and going to the rooftop of Galleries Lafayette.
This is part 1, part 2 will be about the attraction park which has no queues and other things. I can see a blog coming with tips on visiting Paris with kids.
Hope you’re having a good Easter break!

How to photograph babies in the home, instalment 2

How to photograph babies in the home, instalment 2.

2. Babies are growing

*When babies are out of the newborn phase, the world is an exciting place & they don't sleep as much. When something out of the normal happens they get even more animated.

*How can we make sure that we still get cute photos of them even if they don't sleep?

*By allowing them time & space so they can get used to a new face & a new person in front of them.

*By making sure we communicate with the parents so they feel their main carers are still there and they feel safe.

*Whether they will be in a good mood, smiling or not will depend if they have just woken up and are still sleepy.

*Or if they are tired or hungry.

*The ideal conditions can be met with some prep from parents, feed beforehand & ideally the time of the shoot is in the middle of their awake period.

*Ideal conditions are ideal and sometimes reality is far from that.

*In which case we adapt & adjust.

*Parents become more active, we play games, peek-a-boo, tickles, kisses & hugs, in the air or down on the floor, flow raspberries, singing favourite tunes.

*What is the most valuable most of the time is the interaction, the moments of joy, unplanned laughters & reactions.

*It usually ends up with moments of quiet & calm (followed by a nap) which can also be captured.

*Hope this is useful, I will continue with the baby tips in the coming posts.

I don’t know where the time is gone and I am onl

I don’t know where the time is gone and I am only now catching up & posting these photos of this lovely mama ❤️❤️

Have you ever wondered why we take maternity photos?

I know the reason why the lovely mamas I photograph want to, is because it is a unique and special time and one that doesn’t happen every day.

They want to remember the moment, the feelings & the way their bump and body looked.

When was the last time you were photographed professionally?

When photographing babies in the home, what could

When photographing babies in the home, what could be the main issues that can arise and how do we fix / prevent them?

I am going to share my tips for doing just that - seeing the issues arise and managing them.

1. Baby can be unsettled

This is very common and the best way to deal with it is to make sure baby is fed, winded, changed and is feeling sleepy.

But how can we make sure all of these things happen? By allowing plenty of time to get ready before the photoshoot. I advise parents to keep the baby awake one hour before I arrive, ideally on some sort of awake activity - in the bath for example, they love it. Or in arms or in the baby mat. About 15 minutes before I arrive, it is a good time to start the feed and allow for the baby to be winded after the feed. We don't want any air trapped in the stomach as that might cause discomfort.

Once I arrive it could be time for a top-up or last minute nappy change and then we start. Having the baby in a baby vest and with a blanket around is perfect as they will start to feel warm and sleepy and we can start with the baby on the bed or in mum’s arms.

Hope this is useful, I will continue with the baby tips in the coming posts.

#newbornphotographerlondon #babyphotographerlondon #newborntips #sleepynewborns #photographingbabies #tooting #wandsworth

Happy Mother’s Day to my lovely mum! We love it

Happy Mother’s Day to my lovely mum! We love it when you’re here and we’re sad when you go back… but soon we will be together again.

I also loved these beautiful cards made lovingly by the boys and the flowers from Roger ❤️❤️❤️

#happymothersday #mothersday #mothersdayweekend #londontirana #mothersdaycard

Lovely couple! We took these photos for the mate

Lovely couple!

We took these photos for the maternity shoot in the busy northcote road area and used one of the restaurants as one of the sets.

Can you guess which one?

Expecting a baby is such an exciting time! The e

Expecting a baby is such an exciting time!

The expectations of 9 long months that will soon transform into the biggest love we ever feel.

Loved working with this amazing mum to be!! 🤩🤩

Maternity photoshoots can take place in the home, outdoors or in the studio. I love keeping it simple & capturing the essential ❤️❤️

Edited to add all the awareness days we have today. World Poetry day! World Down syndrome day! International day of forests! International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination! International Day of Nowruz.

If you were to receive my newsletter you would be knowing this as I included them in my march issue. To sign up for my newsletter and get 10% sign up from the home page (link in bio).

5 ways to have a stress free family Photoshoot.

5 ways to have a stress free family Photoshoot.

Have you ever wondered how a family Photoshoot works?

What it takes to produce a smooth & seamless experience?

Most people will be nervous coming for a Photoshoot and parents will worry about their children ‘s behaviour and reaction.

What works most of the time is to have fun, to let go and just let the children be. Once the children start having fun, I can see parents relaxing.

See my 5 tips on how to make sure it all goes without a (or maybe not too many) hiccups 😉❤️

Something is coming up soon! Mother’s Day! Cel

Something is coming up soon! Mother’s Day!

Celebrate with a photography voucher and show appreciation for mother’s day with a gift that goes a long way.

The Gift Voucher is valid for 12 months and can be used towards any photoshoot with me.

I run regular family sessions outdoors from end of March until late autumn.

To get hold of a voucher get in touch with me by email or order from the website.

This shoot was so much fun and with a family who had never had their photos taken before. A bit nervous to start with we parted like old friends… you know what I mean, that feeling of being friends on this common journey of parenthood.

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@lauraphotographylondon

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