What the Davies' do: Studio time with Miles.

A little collection of my son and his favourite slogan t shirts.  Some more relevant than others. Ha!

I love that I am able to capture him and all his expressions.  Kids do pull the funniest of faces and don't even care and I love that too.  So we spent a short while in my studio a few weeks ago taking some photos for his room (and for my memories).

I bet your kids are full of character...  Make sure you capture them as much as you can.  Remember and preserve those expressions and funny little faces they make while they're still little.   

Thanks for looking.  Fleur x

(click into the images for better quality viewing...  thanks!)

And when they're famous, I'll have ALL the (embarrassing) photos...

Have I ever blogged about the avenue I live in?  I feel like I have, but I'm not sure.  I think I've made Facebook albums and such about the antics we all get up to; water fights, barbecues, family days, evening drinks, day drinks, and all the other general goings on in our small, friendly avenue of 8 homes.

Over the years our children have grown - they mostly attend the same schools and spend after school evenings, weekends and school holiday doing as children should; getting outside in the fresh air, playing tag, chalk drawing the pavements and generally having a pretty fun childhood with a group of great kids.

In this gaggle of around 10-12 kidlings we have a fab foursome who have their hearts set on a career as the next big girl group!  They are 'Girls Next Door', and you guessed it - they're the neighbours at number 5 and 7 of our avenue.  Two of which are my own daughters.

Lilli, Poppi, Macy and Layla make up this gorgeous group and spend a lot of their time rehearsing songs and writing lyrics in their bedrooms.   They have made their debut performance already at our annual summer BBQ and they were amazingly confident and well rehearsed.  No doubt we'll be treated to many more concerts in the future!

On a warm evening at the end of June the girls were doing as they usually would.  I was working on something in the studio and they all popped in to say hello.  Before I knew it they had me clicking away at them as a group.  They didn't know they were actually helping me get used to the dimensions I have to work with in my studio and finding the best focal lengths for the space, but we had a blast.  They directed themselves on how to sit, what facial expressions to use and how they would like their portraits to look for their Instagram account!  It was hilariously good fun.

There were far more images than the ones included here in their blog and the girls were thrilled when I sent them all to them.  What was a fun half hour to them really helped me start to see the potential of my studio space.

So here you go...  Thanks for looking.

x Fleur x 

(as always, better quality version can be viewed by clicking into the images...)

At home with the Chesters family...

When you arrive at a family's home and are welcomed in so warmly by everyone it really is a great feeling.  I know that a lifestyle 'at home' photography session isn't for everyone, but as it's what I am used to documenting most with my own family I feel right at home doing the same for others.  And I think there is true value in it too.  You capture people where they are comfortable.  Where they feel safe.  And where they spend time together living and loving.  To me it just makes sense to document it and preserve those memories.

The morning I spent with the Chesters family was wonderful.  They are a family full of energy and love.  Super happy kids and relaxed parents.  I couldn't have asked for more.  I think I possibly gained an assistant in their son too, taking after his Mum's creative talents - as he was able to direct me on the shots he wanted me to take.  What a star!  And not that you would be able to tell here, but the youngest of the family was still getting over chicken pox.  If it wasn't for the smallest of spots still present on her face I would not have known.  She was full of smiles and perfectly happy to have me snapping away.

The following images show a small selection of my favourites from the hour I spent with them.  I loved every minute!

Many thanks for looking ~ Fleur x

(as always, click into the images to see them at a better resolution...)

My youngest studio client so far...

I am writing this post with just 2 more sleeps to go until I get to meet my brand new niece!  Yay!  I'm an Aunt - Aunty Fleur.  I'm so excited right now.  So it seemed fitting while thinking about all the newborn scrumminess I'll be indulging in over this coming weekend while visiting my brother and sister-in-law in London that I get round to putting a blog together of the youngest client so far I've had the pleasure of welcoming into my studio...

Baby girl Murphy was an absolute joy to photograph.  I'm fortunate enough to be good pals with her wonderful Mummy and Daddy, our older kids being in the same Primary School.  And if I'm honest, as soon as Lorraine's pregnancy was announced I started thinking about capturing all the newborn details.

It was a dull Monday morning when the Murphys arrived at my home.  But meeting Annabel was definitely enough to brighten up my day.  She's a little doll of a babe - just adorable.  I feel like I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed the time spent with her.  We spent a relaxed hour or so together, Dad enjoying a coffee, us three adults nattering away and 4 week (to the day) old Annabel being her lovely little self; letting me capture her between soothing cuddles from Mummy and satisfying feeds.

So here we go.  Enjoy the following pics.

And if you know someone who is expecting soon on the Wirral and think they would love to document their baby in a similar way; natural and unposed - point them my way!  Thanks peeps.

x Fleur x ~ [Fleur Davies Photography]

(As always, click into the images to see them at full resolution.  Cheers loves!)

Just relaxing...

You've always got the capture the newborn squirminess too!

Not a planned shot, but quite possibly my favourite of the lot!

Her gorgeous head of mousy hair and those wrinkly knees!

Annnnnd she sleeps....

A Mother's Dream: A breakfast for champions.

A Mother's Dream blog circle:  'A Breakfast for champions', by Fleur Davies.

Have you heard of the Harvester pub restaurant chain?  I bet you have.  But have you tried their breakfasts?  Well, if you haven't - get a move on.  I first discovered the wonder of their morning time menu a few months back with my son when we had a Mummy and Son date.  We wanted to try somewhere new.  

We'd been to the Derby Pool in New Brighton a few times as a family over the years for dinner and have frequently visited for a drink and crisps on a warm summer evening.  But breakfast was a new venture.

Basically, for me, it's breakfast heaven!  With any 'all you can eat' cooked breakfast ordered (and this also goes for the kids) you get free access to the continental buffet offerings too.  AND the option of unlimited coffee.  Can I get an "Amen"?!  All this for around £8 per adult and £3 per child aged 10 and under.  Of which we have three - with hefty appetites.  Bargain and a half.  

Now I'm obviously very excited about this, and I'm sure I have friends who will be dragging their bacon, sausage and egg loving backsides and offspring down to their nearest Harvester asap.  And why not?  You get to stuff your face like some sort of gorging animal with no need to eat again for like a week.  If you are familiar with the Friends TV show, refer your memories to the scene where Joey is left alone at the restaurant dinner table while everyone's meals arrive and he says to the waiting on staff:  "You boys are about to see something really special."  That's kind of how I approach a buffet style meal...  #sorrynotsorry

We had this breakfast in the diary for a week or so.  It's half term right now on The Wirral and keeping the kids occupied and alive is a must.  Breakfast is always a winner for us as we talk the kids into a lie in, bribing them with tablet time for half an hour or so.  Then we head out at about brunch time.  Knowing that we're in no rush and can take our time.  I always make a note to explain this to the kids.  I don't know why but for some reason it's like a survival skill in our household that eating as quickly as possible is standard practice.  

I knew I wanted to document our morning that day.  I was excited about it.  It's been a little while since I purposely took my camera out to document a whole event.  And I got everyone in on this one.  My hubs took some photos.  AND my middle kid did too.  She has a great eye and surprisingly strong arms to hold up the decent sized camera body and lens I took with us.

So here you go.  Our family brunch together.  This Mother's Dream - not only for spending some quality time with my nearest and dearest, but also unlimited bacon.... mmmmm bacon....

Thanks for viewing peeps.

Fleur xx

And once you've had a peruse through my set of images, you can follow the rest of this month's A Mother's Dream blog circle here: Its by the lovely Julie Grant Photography. 

(As always, click into the images to see them at full resolution.  Cheers loves!)

Photo by Carl

Photo by Carl

Photo by Carl

Photo by Poppi

Photo by Poppi

Photo by Carl

Photo by Carl

Photo by Carl