Norfolk Guest blogger the pregnancy diary part 3 - 22 weeks pregnant
Norfolk Guest blogger the pregnancy diary part 3 - 22 weeks pregnant
Week 22 and I've definitely grown. Luckily the dungarees still fit and I've dragged out my old maternity tops too. It feels like time is flying by. We have four months left till the little lady arrives and in some ways that seems a way away and in others it feels like we need to get our skates on to prepare! Nesting has almost certainly commenced. Lounge and kitchen have been spring cleaned and the bedrooms are underway. I should be on first name terms with the ladies at the charity shop!
Our experience at the Sonography School was brilliant. We had two trainees 'surf the bump' which was great. Nothing beats seeing your little one moving around. I love how clear you see the spine and its movements. Plus the skill required in learning to use the equipment is pretty impressive as you have to almost think in 3D to get the right angle on the scanner.
I was lucky enough to win a launch 'like & share' competition for The Barns Beauty Rooms in Norfolk (Sprowston) last month and I'd booked my 2hrs of relaxation this week. The facial was dreamy and my skin was in need of some hydration. I then had a soothing massage that completely relaxed me, to the point of feeling wiped out when I got home. This leads me nicely onto napping! I'm feeling much better now aside from afternoon tiredness. So much so to encourage Jasmine to have a rest we both snooze together. I now feel like a toddler and when I wake, I'm refreshed like a Duracell bunny!
https://www.facebook.com/TheBarnBeautyRooms/
Jasmine has tuned in more to the baby. Her latest thing is pretending she has a baby in her tummy that miraculously pops out every so often. If only! She also likes to blow raspberries on my tummy which she finds hilarious and gets the baby squiggling too! Movements have stepped up a gear and usually happen around 5am or if there's a sudden noise. Which in our household happens quite often.
My husband also can't get over the idea that the baby could be moving in my tummy without me knowing when I'm asleep! I read somewhere that mums are superheroes and our super power is growing another human. Oh so very true.
I hope you have enjoyed my pregnancy diary part 3 - Till next time where we may have thought of some baby names and how we're gonna approach this birth.
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Ali other blogs can be found here and her scan blog too.
Looking for a baby photographer to capture your newborn’s first few months?
Baby Photographer Norfolk Blog: 2017
Looking for a baby photographer in Norfolk to capture your newborn’s first few months?
As every parent will tell you, those first few months of a child’s life will fly by in an instant. Before you know it, your newborn will be crawling, walking, talking and heading off to nursery. Capturing this unique time in photos won’t just give you precious memories to look back on, it will also give your child an important and beautiful record of their very first days, weeks and months. If you’re currently searching for a talented baby photographer in Norwich, here’s what to look out for to ensure you get images that capture the unique personality and beauty of your baby.
Choose a photographer with experience
As you probably know by now, taking photos of newborn babies isn’t always easy. Most newborns sleep for the majority of the day, and if they’re not asleep, they’re often feeding, being winded or being changed. Taking a beautiful image that captures the personality of your baby takes time, patience, understanding, and skill, so it’s important you choose a photographer who knows exactly what they’re doing. And though all babies will react in a slightly different way – and you can’t always guarantee they’ll play ball - an experienced photographer will be able to get the best out of your baby and take photos you’ll be able to treasure forever.
Photographing newborns
Newborns are typically brought into the studio when they’re between 5-14 days, I photograph newborns up to 3 weeks old and then offer a mini newborn shoot for 4-12 week old babies. In those early days, babies have that distinctive newborn look, (little flakes of skin, button noses, wispy hair) something that’s wonderful to photograph. Often, newborns will be photographed asleep. Though you may also want images of them with their eyes open, sleeping photos make wonderful mementos and will look great on your wall for years to come.
As parents of newborns will know, it can take a while to get a brand new baby settled when they’re in a new environment. That’s why it’s a good idea to book a shoot that’s at least two hours long. As well as making the experience more relaxed, this helps to ensure you’ll get great images even if your baby is a little unsettled for part of the shoot, the photographer's job is to soothe and settle making this your chance to enjoy a hot cuppa.
Siblings
When looking for a baby photographer in Norfolk, it’s a good idea to book a photographer who’s happy to take images of your older children too. That way you can ensure all the family feel included in the occasion and capture priceless images of your babies together.
To find out more about newborn photography in the Norwich area, give me a call/ email or take a look through my newborn galleries.
Jess
Guest blog : Pregnancy diary part 2 Ali Mills - 20 week scan
Guest blog : Pregnancy diary part 2 Ali Mills - 20 week scan - we welcome Ali back for another installment of her pregnancy journey!
2017
What's happened since I last put fingers to keyboard.
I've bought dungarees, started moving more and found out we're having a .... ?
Well, first of all let's get priorities straight. I've joined the dungaree club and bought two pairs! Sooo comfy I'm practically living in them. I've managed to kick myself into gear and started yoga with Debbie Bagley, Babyfit at Rowan House Wellbeing Centre. Love it! I've not been able to get to a pregnancy yoga class because of various commitments so my little hour of breathing and stretching on a Tuesday morning is fab. It's been particularly helpful for stabilising my pelvis as I think it's starting to feel the strain. Swimming has been a blessing too. You can't beat that feeling of weightlessness until you have to drag yourself out, then you feel like a sack of potatoes! The main thing is my energy is back thank goodness and I can go a whole day without sitting down for a nap. Tiredness drifts in and out but that happens pregnant or not! Headaches have been uncomfortable and come and go but I think it depends what I'm doing and how hydrated I'm keeping. It's amazing how much growing tiny humans zap out of you, let alone the ones already here!
It's felt like a complete age waiting for our second scan (20 weeks) to come round. Bubs has been kicking but I want to make sure all is ok, plus not knowing the gender is killing me! So the moment came on Thursday. We had a late appointment just to eek the wait out a bit more. We finally made it and I lay on the bed. Jasmine wasn't particularly impressed with the amount of ultrasound gel the sonographer used, however loved seeing the baby wave and then waved back! It never ceases to amaze me how much detail you see on a scan. The heart pumping away, brain a butterfly shape and the spine moving as the baby moves. Totally mind blowing. My husband can't get his head round the fact I have, in effect, two hearts, two brains, twenty toes etc. Plus he says he's suffering from Couvade syndrome. I'll let you google this one. Makes me chuckle!
Once all the checks were done and measurements made we found out the gender. Drum roll ... we're having another little girl despite me feeling sure it was a boy! Jasmine is over the moon as she wanted a sister. Andy and I are chuffed to bits although I'm contemplating what it'll be like with two girls. He's slightly more relaxed about it as he'll be at work most of the time! It means we're pretty set up for clothes, although I'm still gonna buy that first newborn outfit. Just got to be done.
So, twenty weeks and half way there. It'll be bump growing time now and continuing to keep myself fit and well. Plus I've volunteered to be a bump for the sonography school training so I'll get to see little Miss Mills a bit more. Exciting!
Guest blog: Ali Mills on the trials and tribulations of pregnancy
Guest blog: Ali Mills on the trials and tribulations of pregnancy 2017
Hi everyone, a quick intro before I launch into pregnancy stuff ... I'm Ali a full-time mum to Jasmine a very cheeky but awesome two and a half-year-old, a part-time massage therapist and a wife to Andy, my very patient, and loving husband.
I can wholeheartedly say even though I've been through one pregnancy already this time it's completely different! Both conceptions have been through fertility treatment which in itself brought challenges not to mention a rollercoaster of emotions. So worth it though.
Second time around, when we found out we were pregnant I think both myself and my husband were amazed. I'd been umming and arguing about whether it was gonna be successful as my physical feelings, not to mention emotional ones, were all over the place. Then when we actually got the results, I couldn't believe it. My husband, on the other hand, was over the moon. Even though the blood test was accurate I still had to scurry home and do a home test myself!
We didn't tell Jasmine straight away as we wanted to get to the 12-week marker first. Now she knows, she likes to rest her head on my tummy and tell me that the baby's heart is going boom, boom, boom! Our next thing to tackle will be telling her if it's a girl or boy. She's adamant she's going to have a sister, and my inklings are it's gonna be a brother (watch this space). Why do I think that?
Well, it's mainly down to the way I've been feeling. My first pregnancy was hunky dory. Yeah, I felt tired but carried on as normal, working full time, no sickness, no cravings, no sore boobs, no heartburn, nothing. This time I've had nausea running throughout the day for three months, afternoon exhaustion, a heightened sense of smell to the point I couldn't wear perfume, sore boobs, no appetite for food unless it was carb based and difficulty in drinking unless it was icy cold! I felt pretty glum and sympathise with all you ladies out there who've gone through it or are going through it now. It really tests your sanity, wellbeing, and relationships with those close to you.
My husband has been a rock and I'm glad to say, 18 weeks on I'm just about over nausea and am ready for baby number two. Yoga, swimming and online shopping here I come!
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Ali's next blog will be after they have been for her 20-week scan - eeek!
Thanks Ali :)
Yoga Mini Retreat Norfolk -for beginners?
Yoga Mini Retreat Norfolk -a beginners guide! 2017
I started this blog on the evening before my very first Yoga Mini Retreat in Norfolk, with Jackie from Yogabuds or also know for her wonderful co-owned business The Orange Grove clinic. I am feeling a little nervous because despite it being on my list of things to do this year I haven't been to many yoga classes.
I am feeling a little nervous because despite it being on my list of things to do this year, I haven't been to many yoga classes. I think I can count on one hand how many yoga classes at my local gym i actually went too. I wanted too, but something came up or it was fully booked by the time i knew i could go.
So why did i book onto the Yoga Mini Retreat ? Well firstly Jackie! I had attended Pregnancy Yoga with her about 4 years ago now (yikes time flies as a mum of 2) and i loved her approach and attitude . I know it will be relaxing it is set at stunning Caistor Hall in Caistor St Edmunds Norfolk . I have been before to chat to some of Jackie's ladies, and loved the tranquil setting.
Photo by Jess Wilkins Photography (me)
Jackie knows her stuff, I wanted this retreat to kick start my yoga and know i will find it informative, challenging (well for me) but also fun! And she promised me it is suitable for total beginners. It means I can see what I am signing up for when I start her weekly YogaBuds class in the new year. She teaches at various locations across Norwich and Norfolk.
I need the break! November and early December is my busiest time, and with the holidays approaching i wanted some 'me' time . A Yoga Mini Retreat including lunch made by someone else really really appealed to me!
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I went along and had an amazing time! I met lots of lovely ladies of all ages . A real genuine mixture of lovely warm people.
Some like me had not really tried yoga before and some ladies were more experienced. It was not intimidating as everyone could go at their own pace, no one was looking at you. And I didn't feel being a beginner, that I was lagging behind. As everyone quite rightly, is focusing on themselves and enjoying the day.
Jackie was very good at explaining what moves to do, why we were doing them and the benefit too. For me, this was great to make sense of it and helped me coordinate my body better. she also reminded you to 'breathe' which may sound silly to some but I need to be reminded.
We had a yummy lunch and everyone was chatty and friendly. The afternoon focused on more gentle yoga with some fab relaxation, which again is all new to me. It was sooooo good for me to quieten my busy mind and chill/ breathe.
I came away totally calm, relaxed and recharged. I loved it and really believe anyone wanting to try yoga should attend a class with Jackie or get on the next retreat. It is great for total beginners and for any ablity . As Jackie said on the day , having some 'me' time is not selfish. It was very much needed , and I cannot wait for the weekend retreat - yes 2 whole days child-free& full of yoga eeeek!
Jess x
What is the Positive Birth Movement? Norfolk - Guest blog
What is the Positive Birth Movement Norfolk - Guest blog 2017
Happy New Year everyone! Thank you, Jess, for inviting me to let you all know about the Positive Birth Movement.
In 2012 the founder (amazing writer and campaigner Milli Hill) had a free meet up in her living room to chat about pregnancy and birth. This has now become a global network of over 400 groups!400 groups!
We believe that every woman deserves a positive birth in which:
· Women are where they want to be · Choices are informed by reality not fear · Mothers are empowered and enriched · Memories are warm and proud
We aim to:
· Challenge the culture of negativity and fear that exists around birth · Share positive birth experiences · Share information about choices and rights in childbirth · Encourage women to raise their expectations of childbirth
I’m Chloe, I run the Norwich group at Silver Road Community Centre, which is a lovely space with a relaxed atmosphere, toys and a cafe area. There is also a second monthly meet up in NR12 at the home of Joanna Collins.
I'm also the pbm regional representative for the East of England you can read a bit more about me and team pbm here http://www.positivebirthmovement.org/team-pbm.html
Meetups are free and informal. A safe space to chat about birth and share stories. It’s ideal if you are pregnant or have given birth, like the sound of our aims and want to surround yourself with positivity and support 
♥
You can also hire great quality maternity clothes from the 'waddling wardrobe' for just £1-3 per item. There are lots of great quality jeans and work clothes, saving you the expense as you bloom! We also have x2 birth pools which you can hire for free! (Just a security deposit needed).
Hope you can make it to our next meet up: Sunday 15th January at 3.30pm. Our topic will be ‘Choice in Birth’. There is free parking too! Really looking forward to meeting some of you soon,
Chloe xx
Contact: chloe-willis@thedaisyfoundation.com or 07905 936 960
More info/ where to find us online:
The Norwich and Norfolk Positive Birth Movement is on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/pbmnorfolk/
I'm also a birth and baby mentor for the Daisy Foundation, running pregnancy and baby classes from the same venue.
9 life lessons from a year of professional photography - Norfolk Photographer
9 life lessons from a year of professional photography - Norfolk Photographer 2016
2016 has been a really exciting year of professional photography for me at my Norfolk home studio. I expanded my newborn photography packages, built relationships with lots of wonderful business women across Norfolk, had a shiny new logo designed and even gave my website a tweak or two!
Now that the year is coming to a close, lots of people are talking about goals for 2017. And although I’ve got BIG plans for my Norwich photography studio next year, I like to take some time to reflect on the year gone by.
There have been highs and lows and plenty of life lessons learnt along the way!
Here are my 9 life lessons from a year of professional photography
1. You can never start planning Christmas photoshoots too early!
My special Christmas photography sessions sold out really fast this year. I was thrilled, but in retrospect, had I started marketing the shoots just a little earlier I might have been able to squeeze a third shoot day in and welcome even more gorgeously festive families to my studio.
Good planning meant that I was fully prepared for my little cherubs with lots of Christmas themed props and accessories for them to play with. I actually started shopping in July! Alongside super cute Christmas rompers, cards and the obligatory reindeer horns, were some fab-yule-ous decorative blocks from Missy Dunning of Sweet Dreams Art.
2. Cake smashes bring out the stereotypes in parents!
Almost every mum asked me if I needed them to help clean up the mess after a cake smash shoot, whilst pretty much every dad was eyeing up that giant cupcake and looking for a way to get involved with the chaos! It’s lovely seeing parents have fun with their children and it makes for great photos too!
P.S. Don’t worry mums; I do all the cleaning up! Your job is to enjoy yourself!
3. But it takes less time to clean up after a cake smash photoshoot than you might imagine!
I have to admit, at the start of this year cake smash shoots made feel a little nervous. I’d heard horror stories from other photographers about babies having a meltdown in front of their cake, screaming at it in angst and terror! I was wondering if my luck would run out and babies would not find it fun anymore!
Norfolk babies must be a little hardier than the rest of the UK because each and every one of them was a little photo star! They tend to fall into one of two categories, they either demolish the cake face-first (literally), or poke gently at it until curiosity finally gets the better of them and they grab themselves a big spongey chunk!
And of course, for afterwards I’ve got my totally cute miniature bathtub for them to wash off in if they so wish. My yummy cakes are made by local mum and bakery Vanilla Cloud Bakery.
4. Networking makes a real difference
Being self-employed can be a lonely experience, especially when you need advice or want to share your successes with like-minded people. So with a bit of trepidation, I dipped my toe into the networking pond, making time to attend the monthly meeting of Her Business Brew in Norwich. I’d heard mixed views about networking and although I was keen to give it a try I was a little nervous too, as a photographer, I’m so not a suited and booted type!
I’m really glad I gave it a try as I’ve met some exceptionally nice and very talented women, made new friends and met some great contacts for my business too! The highlight though had to be having cuddles with organiser Serena’s newborn little boy, Alfie whilst I learnt about Search Engine Optimisation… now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d say!
I’m really keen to support other local businesses and thanks to the networking community I am now able to source many of my props and accessories locally. Hurray! The giant cupcakes for my cake smash photoshoots come from Rachel at Vanilla Clouds Bakery, whilst many of my oh-so-adorable hairbands come from Sonia at Purple Stars Baby Hair Clips.
5. Clients come from the most unexpected places
When I agreed to do a photoshoot for Jackie of YogaBumps pregnancy yoga and YogaBubs baby yoga in Norwich I thought it would be a great opportunity to refine my on-location skills. In fact it’s been a great way to meet new clients and Jackie and her team at the Orange Grove Clinic have been really supportive, sharing my posts on social media and telling their clients about my maternity, newborn and family photoshoot offerings. I attended her pregnancy yoga way back when I was pregnant with my first born. I love her energy and commitment to all things bump and mum related.
I was really thrilled when the organiser of Her Business Brew, Serena Fordham booked me to do a photo session of her beautiful son Alfie and her family. We had a great shoot and the photos looked amazing. Funnily enough, Serena and Alfie are now doing regular YogaBubs Baby Yoga classes together! It just goes to show that recommendations are pretty powerful.
6. I discovered I love toddlers too!
I’m a total sucker for newborn babies. I love everything about them, from their curled up little hands to their little button noses. I adore older baby and toddler photoshoots too. I thought I would ensure people knew I photographed babies of all ages and toddlers by offering ‘baby studio sessions’ and I also relaunched my baby plan to An awesome ‘Watch me Grow’ package.
And I have loved these sessions! Babies are just as super cute at four months, six months and eight months too! I’ve loved doing my 'Watch Me Grow' package this year and will continue to offer it next year alongside some new family photoshoot packages. This will be perfect for families with toddlers who are on the move, and families with older children.
7. Parents-to-be will always be slightly superstitious
Throughout 2016 my newborn shoots continued to be my most popular package. To secure your spot I advise mums-to-be to book in after their 20-week scan. Babies can come early or late and booking your date in advance means that you’re much more likely to capture those gorgeous first few days before your baby starts to ‘uncurl’. For some pregnant mummies though, this can feel like they are ‘jinxing’ their pregnancy… almost assuming that everything will be just fine, from bump to baby! And of course, most of the time it is, but as a mother of two children, I get it… and whilst I still advise parents to get booked in as early as possible, I’ll always try my best to accommodate last-minute requests.
8. Sometimes you just need to pay a professional
I’ve always been quite proud of running the majority of my business myself, but I found that during my busy times I was neglecting my marketing, which potentially meant periods of quiet too. I really wanted refine my brand, update my website and get a grip on my content marketing so that I could rely on a steady stream of leads. It was time to bring in the professionals!
I hired Kerry at Write to Win Business to review my website, my SEO and all my social media channels and report back to me with her recommendations. It was a super enlightening experience and revealed lots of areas on my website where I needed to be clearer and stronger with my messaging. I was pretty pleased with the initial SEO report; I was already on page one for most of my keywords, but Kerry said there was room for improvement so I let her loose on my website copy! Just a few months later I’ve got a shiny online shop and I’m ranking at position one on page one of Google for all but one of my keywords (we’ll get that one next year!) my site is being ranked for double the amount of keywords it was back in the summer and my traffic is on the up. hurray!
I also hired the lovely Laura at Pen and Mouse Design to create a new logo for me, which I love! It’s much more representative of my brand and takes pride of place on my website. Now I just need to update the logo on all my images… oh dear!
The big lesson for me here was that getting outside help is one of the most important things you can do when growing your business. As much as we may want to, we simply can’t do everything alone and if it’s not your area of expertise, it’s usually quicker and cheaper in the long run to pay someone else to do it for you.
9. And finally… competition doesn’t exist!
Like most people when I started out, I spent many an hour stalking other people in my industry and the surrounding area; comparing my website, social media and images to theirs and worrying about how I could compete. It’s exhausting isn’t it?
This year I finally shook off my comparisonitis. I’ve come to realise that people choose to work with you because of you and that by simply being yourself; you set yourself apart from everyone else. My style is very clean and classic so my work probably doesn’t appeal to those parents who want more of a staged shoot. That used to worry me but now I’m feeling more confident than I ever have about my business and the services I offer, I can’t wait to get stuck into 2017!
Look out for my new Outdoor photoshoot Package, launching early spring and running from April to October.
I’d love to hear what life lessons you’ve learned in your business over the last year, did any of mine sound familiar? Leave a comment and let me know!
Want to book a photoshoot with me ? Get in contact with me today: info@jesswilkinsphotography.co.uk
Guest Blog: Top Tips for Juggling Motherhood & Self-Employment By Serena Fordham
Guest Blog: Top Tips for Juggling Motherhood & Self-Employment By Serena Fordham 2016
Being a self-employed mum of a toddler and a newborn can be very challenging at times, especially if you're juggling motherhood & self-employment
If you are a mum who works for yourself, then I am sure you can relate to the conflict your brain has between spending time with your children and working on your business. I know I constantly feel guilty that one of these is suffering, as I haven't got enough time in the day to do everything...
...and as for household chores, sometimes I just give up!
Serena and family photo by me / Jess Wilkins Photography
Here are my top 10 tips for juggling motherhood and self-employment
1. Make lists and prioritise. I like to have one list for both business and mum stuff as to not confuse myself by using separate ones. I also put everything in my diary so nothing is missed!
2. Find amazing childcare. I am lucky to have my parents and in-laws to look after the children whenever I need to. Although I still feel guilty when leaving them for a business related appointment!
3. Prepare bags, clothes, lunches, etc the evening before. The mornings are most crazy!
4. Schedule in work time when the kids are in bed. A few hours every evening can clear my work to-do list as well as a full working day will!
5. Outsource work and ask for help when needed. I have 3 amazing ladies who help in my business, and they make me feel like all is not just on my shoulders. Plus, self-employment can be pretty lonely at times, so having a team to support me is lovely!
6. Network with other self-employed mum's who are in the same boat as you! Her business brew is a great group to do this – details can be found here.
7. Have a box of crafts or games that the kids can do themselves. This will keep them entertained if you have to make a business call or complete work when they are around! Even short bursts on a tablet, or half an hour in front of CBeebies, isn't going to do any harm either!
8. Schedule quality time with the family. Time with your family is very important as your kids grow up so fast. Even a quick trip to the park, or reading them a story makes all the difference!
9. Don't beat yourself up if everything isn't done. No woman is superwoman (even though we like to think we are!) just move stuff to next weeks to do list!! (It’s not the end of the world!)
10. Make time for yourself. All this juggling can leave you shattered, so make time for yourself. I like to get my nails/hair done, visit the spa, or have the occasional afternoon tea! Although a long soak in the bath (with no kids) is even a nice treat!
I hope these tips will help you when trying to juggle motherhood and self-employment!
Serena For
dham is known as “Norfolk's Admin Super Woman” and assists her clients across Norfolk and the surrounding areas with administration, bookkeeping, event management, project management, and writing tasks. To read more of her blogs check out: www.serenafordhamspaservices.com/blog/
Serena is also a published children’s author of ‘Imaginary Deedee goes to the park’, and organises and hosts a monthly women’s networking event called ‘Her Business Brew’. She is also a Director of Buy Local Norfolk and an ambassador for 3 charities. Find her at:www.serenafordhamspaservices.com
Legoland is it worth the money?
Legoland is it worth the money? 2016
Legoland is it worth the money? Oh yes!
We booked a great deal back in January for a June visit to Legoland Windsor. We wanted to go for 2 days as we heard you need 2 days to get around and do it all. We treated our family to a 1-night stay at the hotel there. It cost us just over £300 for 2 days visit, 1-night hotel stay and tea/ breakfast. I know lots of people who have brought day passes and stayed in hotels nearby.
We arrived on Wednesday morning and checked into the hotel. It was amazing outside and in - for our little ones it must have just been WOW! I really was like a big kid, this was the entrance - the dragon puffed smoke out! The staff were super helpful and took our luggage which they hold onto for the day and then take to your room when it's ready.
We parked in the hotel carpark which is a very short walk to the hotel, once you have checked in you can go out and enter the park through the hotel entrance , the next day we were allowed in the park 30 minutes early which was handy as we could get on the boat ride we had missed the day before with no queuing.
The foyer is brilliant, lots for the children to look a while you check in, and an area full of Lego for them to build whatever they choose. There is also a small shop too.
Here are some snaps of the hotel family room - the kids were amazed by it when we walked in and so excited they had 2 bunk beds and tv all pirate themed. The hotel also left a birthday card, balloon and big badge for Lucas too.
In our room, we found a treasure chest and we had to find the answers to the clues in order to open it - I won't tell you what was inside in case you stay - to look prices look here.
The park itself is awesome !! Hubby and I loved miniature land it is very clever how they have built replica cities. Lila is 3 and could go on pretty much every ride we wanted. She was just over 90cm, I think had she been shorter, Lila would have been upset to miss out.
There are still lots of rides for little ones but for our kids aged 3 and 5 it was perfect.
We got so much done on Wednesday it being term time, we hardly queued at all! I have heard during the holidays its madness and the queues take hours! We did all the water rides last as we knew we could go straight to the hotel to have a shower and change for the yummy buffet dinner.
We brought a digi pass for the 2 days for £40 this meant we got all photos from the rides instead of individual prices. I knew i'd want them all. I try and restrain myself from taking lots of photos when on family days and just enjoy the moments. Having some images of the 4 of us is really important to me and worth it.
The kids loved the water splash park, there is nowhere for parents to sit which is a bit annoying as we couldn't get them off it for ages.
The second day at Legoland we walked past, and it was very busy this was later on in the day. We choose this area first thing on the second day it was so warm we knew they would dry out! There are lockers at this section too but it takes £1 every time you use it so just remember this if you plan on popping back to it lots to have lots of pound coins.
My kids favourite rides were :
Fairy Tale Brook - a little boat ride for all the family
Atlantis Submarine Voyage
The Dragon - it starts off inside the castle and then goes outside
Laser Raiders - we got quite competitive shooting lasers
L- Drivers - the kiddies drove electric cars, at the end they get their own LEGOLAND Driving Licence - this costs £10 if you want a lanyard or £5 each with a digi-pass
see the rides listed here
The staff were very friendly and helpful throughout our 2-day visit to Legoland, they let us bring a cake and looked after it for us until the evening meal. They sang to Lucas too! If you are staying in their hotel and give them 2 weeks notice they will make a cake for you.
There are plenty of shops to buy sun hats & waterproofs if the weather suddenly changes and of course lots of Lego & toys. We especially loved the Stars war exhibition and star wars shop!
There are cafes and restaurants about which were manic at key times. We saw plenty of organised people eating picnics! It is amazing we loved it, and had a blast.
We will be going back for sure! Lucas and Lila's teddy bears enjoying the hotel view over the park.
Jess
What to wear at a photoshoot - Norwich Photographer
What to wear at a photoshoot - Norwich Photographer 2016
I have had my studio in Norwich for nearly 8 years, and a common worry from parents is about what to wear at a photoshoot. My style is simple, natural and neutral - I believe this works best to get timeless images, therefore I advise parents on what to wear to compliment my style and their baby/ family. Whites and neutrals are so so timeless.
When people book a photoshoot with me whether it be a newborn shoot, a baby shoot, cake smash or maternity photoshoot. There is a common theme to the advice given in the 'what to wear' information sheets provided.
- Avoid logos and cartoon characters that will one day date
- Colours - cream and soft pastel colour work well against my light backdrops
- Try to loosely co-ordinate, for example, everyone in jeans and a neutral different style of top or in various shades of complimentary colours – navy, greys, creams, pastels etc.
- Stripes and spots only work well for babies alone and add a bit of fun to the portrait session but not when mixed with siblings and family images
I had a client recently say that all her favourite images of her son, were the plainer dressed images taken in the studio. She did like the ones where he was dressed in bright colours but the more simple outfits looked better and complimented her other images on her wall.
Young babies are best to wear simple snug clothes, like a simple baby grow. Such as plain vest, tight rompers, dungarees anything that will not bunch near the baby's face.
For my newborn sessions, I have a few vests and bodysuits parents can borrow if they would like some images of their baby dressed - often vests / sleep-suits distract and are too big.
Maternity shoots are amazing to capture when mummy-to-be dress in tight-fitting clothes, vest tops, long sleeves tops that cling to the bump. Also, ‘normal’ jeans with the buttons open look great too - I also lend ladies my maternity gowns for something a bit different.
Sibling and family images are a bit harder to organise for parents, but well worth it when you can loosely co-ordinate and see how amazing you all look together!
I do not like people dressing too smart if that's not 'them' it's important you all dress in what you feel comfortable in too.
Head over to my Pinterest board to see more outfit ideas - if you have a shoot booked with another photographer they should guide you to what to wear, if their style is bright and colourful they will likely have different advice to offer. The above information is what works best for me and my style!
To book a shoot please get in touch.
Jess x