Frankie is a professional newborn photographer based in Buntingford, Hertfordshire. She also specialised in Cake Smash Photoshoots.
On Saturday 19th December it was announced that Hertfordshire would be plunged into Tier 4 at midnight, for the third time in less than 12 months my little business was going to be forced to close.
Yet again I sat in my front room and cried. I was just about to head out the door and hand deliver the last few orders from my Christmas Mini Sessions when the announcement took place. The realisation that I would not be meeting any of my pre-booked newborns due over the Christmas and New Year period dawned on me, and I can't pretend that this didn't break my heart. Newborn photoshoots mean so much to me, they are so precious and I feel so grateful that expectant Mums trust me with these most precious moments. To not be able to carry out newborn photoshoots for the forseeable future quite literally, broke my heart.
I had a session booked the following morning for one of my closest friends and my thoughts instantly flew to her new baby who I was yet to meet, and who's images I wouldn't be capturing now.
Some people might find it strange that I feel so strongly about being closed, who wouldn't want a bit of extra time off over Christmas? I often moan that I never get a proper break over Christmas like other people do. I never truly "shut up shop" so to speak. Babies don't stop being born just because it's Christmas, I think every midwife in Hertfordshire will agree with that! ;)
For. my pre-booked newborns I work right up until Christmas Eve, and I start shooting again on the 27th
Newborns are only newborns for the most fleeting of moments, if you blink you will miss it. That sounds like an exaggeration but come back to me at the end of the first week of your baby being Earthside and tell me it wasn't the fastest week of your life. It's so important to me that parents get to capture those precious first few days, no matter what time of year their baby arrives.
But for the greater good this year it wasn't to be and I'm still yet to meet any of my "Christmas Babies".
On the 4th January 2021, a further announcement confirmed what I had already suspected, that we would enter a 3rd full national lockdown. I knew watching the announcement that it would now be even longer before I got to meet you all and your precious new arrivals. It was unlikely now that any sessions would take place in January, and as for February, who knows!? It certainly isn't looking likely at the moment.
The one thing I can promise is that as soon as I am able to reopen, anyone who has missed their session and is patiently waiting to book back in (there are more of you added to this list each day that passes!) I will work day and night to ensure I get you all booked back in ASAP before your little ones change even more.
Obviously it's not ideal to be closed for so many reasons, but the main one for me is.... I actually LOVE my job. My business is my 3rd baby. It's up there with my children when it comes to the things in my life that I'm proud of, and I class it as one of my greatest achievements. What started out completely by accident after I took some photographs of a friends baby as a favour, has completely snowballed and 5 years later I sometimes forget how far it's come.
I've gone from visiting people's homes and lugging my equipment all over the county, from Hertford to Royston, Letchworth to Welwyn Garden City, Ware, Hertford, Stevenage, Baldock and everywhere in between! I don't think there's a town or village in Hertfordshire that my camera hasn't visited! I couldn't be happier now to have my own little studio space, a warm cosy hub where I have everything we could possibly need to hand settled in my hometown of Buntingford, just off the A10.
I miss being in there more than I can explain, it definitely is my happy place! There's something a. little bit special about a room that captures so many precious memories. It's definitely seen its fair share of tantrums, bribery and emotional new Mummy moments too! It's all part of the fun, and I miss it so so much!
I am filled with so much hope that this lockdown will be 3rd time lucky for us all, (I know....I'm an eternal optimist!) and hopefully if we can do it properly, this might be the last time we have to do this.
I really, REALLY hope so, because I can't wait to see all of you and your precious new bundles....hopefully SOONER, rather than later.
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