My Muse, Melting My Heart in Our First Studio Shoot

Six years ago I met the most incredible soul. My baby.

After 23 hours in labour with 6 hours of intense pushing, I lay on the hospital bed and this perfect little being laid on me, furiously feeding in the most natural, instinctual way. She knew exactly what to do, and I knew for sure that the tiny person was full of wisdom, and that I had a lot to learn from her.

For nearly ten months I had carried her inside me (and many years prior, inside my heart). I’d imagined all the parts of her body being formed. I’d felt her heartbeat, her hiccups, her kicks and wriggles. All along, I’d wondered what my baby would look like – when she was born, when she was a toddler, when she was a teenager.

The only clue I had of her appearance was from the single ultrasound I had. It showed in clarity her perfect, plump, angel lips. A cupid’s bow. That was the first glimpse I had of our baby, and I treasure the image to this day.

Naturally, Lilyana was the first person I invited in my new studio. Over the past six years I have reduced the number of client shoots as parenting has been my focus. Now that Lilyana is at school, it is time to move ahead with my creative pursuits and bring my long-brewing photographic dreams into fruition.

Lily has been my muse from birth. She is accustomed to being in front of the camera, very comfortable and willing. She’s still a little girl with her own strong free will, so photo shoots with her are bound to go off track, but with the patience of a mother I modified, adapted and pivoted, and we had a beautiful time together capturing her precious expressions at this gorgeous moment in her life.

She truly is changing every week, growth that you don’t notice as a parent until someone else mentions it, or when her favourite dress has suddenly gone from an ankle length to above the knee.

As a mother, now more than ever I recognise the importance of printing photographs of your loved ones.  They become the most precious artworks in the home.  

Family photographs deserve more than a place on a hard drive or a social media feed. When they are printed and displayed on your walls, they become a daily reminder of the people, moments, and connections that matter most.

Seeing these images every day helps strengthen a child’s sense of belonging, celebrates your family’s story, and transforms a house into a home filled with meaning. 

If you’re interested in finding out more about a photo session at Crescent Head Photo Studio, please get in touch via our contact page.