Parenthood: Blink and You’ll Miss It
“The days are long, but the years are short.” - Gretchen Rubin
When you welcome your newborn baby into the world, there is one theme which is common across all the well wishes - enjoy, it goes quickly. You get so used to hearing this tidbit of advice that eventually, it becomes background noise, just another of the many stock phrases you hear day in, day out. It isn’t until you look back on this time that you realise just how right those well-wishers were.
The early days, weeks and months parenting a baby are incredibly tough. Whether you have a baby who miraculously sleeps through the night or one who’s nocturnal, the physical and emotional strain that your body undergoes is immense. It’s no surprise that many parents look back on this time in a bit of a blur. Ask any parent of a 3+ year old what the differences were in their child between 2 and 4 months old, and you’ll be met with a blank stare.
While at the time you can’t fathom that you may one day not remember your child exactly how they are in that moment, those memories soon fade and are replaced by the new milestones, quirks and developments of your child’s life. This is one of the reasons that photo-documenting the early years is such a precious way to capture those memories.
This week I had a special visitor to my studio. A little boy I first met 8 months ago when he was the focus of a newborn photoshoot. In just 8 short months he has changed so much, as you’ll see from the photos below. These changes may be subtle when you spend every day with your child, but the difference between Point A and Point B really is astounding.
Mum recognised that her son had well and truly passed through the tiny-baby stage and that, while she missed those early days, these moments of having a not-so-tiny-baby soon too would be over. It was a pleasure to have them back in my studio and get to experience the great personality of this little guy.
Just like marking height on a doorframe, having professional photographs taken during the first few years is a fantastic way to visualise the passing of time and to celebrate the growth of your child. As they get older and growth slows, an annual family photo is ideal, but I recommend new parents consider seeing a photographer at least twice a year for the first 1-2 years of your child’s life.
As a passionate baby photographer in Surrey, I love to work with family’s to create mementoes that can be treasured. Whether you have already had newborn photography done with me, or wish to update your baby album with something more recent, get in touch today to discuss availability.
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