Have a quick look through the photographs on your phone.
There are probably hundreds of your baby sleeping, smiling, eating, playing and discovering the world. There may be plenty with Dad, grandparents and siblings too.
But how many include you?
For many mums, the answer is very few.
Recent research involving more than 500 UK mothers found that 58% were rarely or never photographed with their baby during the first year. Nearly nine in ten said they were usually the person taking the family photographs, and two thirds felt sad that they did not have more pictures from that time.
It makes complete sense. You are often the one who notices the moment, reaches for the phone and makes sure it is remembered. But slowly, without meaning to, you can begin to disappear from your own family story.
Motherhood changes so much
Life after having a baby can feel beautiful, exhausting, joyful and overwhelming—sometimes all before breakfast.
Your routines change. Your body changes. Your priorities change. You spend so much time caring for somebody else that it can be difficult to recognise yourself for a while.
That is also why many mums avoid the camera. You may tell yourself that you will book photographs when you have lost some weight, when you feel less tired, when your hair behaves or when life is calmer.
But your baby does not see any of those things.
They know your voice, your arms and the way you make them feel safe. They know the smile you give them and the little games that always make them laugh. When they look at these photographs years from now, they will not be searching for a perfect version of you.
They will be looking for their mum.
Everyday phone photographs still matter
You do not need a professional photographer for every memory. Hand your phone to your partner. Ask a friend to take a quick picture. Use the timer and get into the frame, even when the room is untidy and nobody is perfectly dressed.
Those everyday photographs will become part of the story too.
A professional Mummy & Me session offers something slightly different: a little time when you do not need to take the picture, organise everybody or watch what is happening from behind a screen. You can simply hold your child, play, cuddle and be present while somebody else preserves it for you.
A Mummy & Me session does not have to feel posed
Many women worry that they will feel awkward or will not know what to do. Please do not let that stop you.
You do not need modelling experience, and your child does not need to sit perfectly and smile at the camera. In fact, the loveliest photographs often happen between the planned ones—the sudden giggle, a kiss on the cheek, little hands reaching for you or the way your child settles against your body.
I will gently guide you into flattering positions and help with small things such as where to place your hands. After that, I want you to focus on your child rather than the camera.
The session can be soft and simple, playful and full of laughter, or a little more styled and artistic. We can choose something that feels like you.
These photographs are for your child as much as they are for you
When we book photographs, we often think about how much we want to remember our children at this age. Their tiny hands, funny expressions and the way they still fit into our arms.
But one day, your child will want to remember you too.
They will want to see how you looked at them, how small they were beside you and how completely they were loved. These images show more than what you both looked like. They show the relationship between you.
That is why it is worth being present in the photographs, even if you do not feel completely confident today.
What should you wear for a mother and child photoshoot?
The best starting point is something that makes you feel comfortable and still feels like you. Soft neutral colours photograph beautifully, but richer tones can create something more dramatic and artistic.
Try to coordinate with your child rather than wearing identical outfits. Cream, beige, soft grey, dusty pink, muted blue and earthy tones all work well together. Avoid large logos or very busy patterns, as they can distract from your faces and connection.
You are always welcome to ask for help before the session. We can look at your ideas together and plan a colour palette, outfit and setting that suit the feeling you want.
When is the right time to book?
There is no wrong age for a Mummy & Me session.
It can celebrate the newborn stage, a first birthday, the toddler years or an older child who is beginning to find their independence. Motherhood keeps changing, and each stage deserves to be remembered.
You also do not need to wait for Mother’s Day. A session can be a present to yourself, a thoughtful gift for a mum you love or simply something you decide to do before another year slips by.
Mummy & Me photography in Clitheroe, Lancashire
My Mummy & Me sessions take place in my Clitheroe studio or outdoors around the beautiful Ribble Valley. My approach is relaxed, warm and focused on real connection. You will receive guidance, but there is no pressure to perform or be perfect.
You spend so much of motherhood making sure your child’s story is remembered.
This is your reminder that you belong in that story too. 🤍
If you would like to plan a Mummy & Me session in Clitheroe, the Ribble Valley or Lancashire, please get in touch and tell me a little about you and your child.
