I met up with Neve, her mum Nikki, and Harlow the dog on a crisp, sunny morning last November. We went to the Dhoon beach, as I knew it was a great place for kids but it also had lots of shady areas I could take advantage of, as it was such a glaringly sunny morning I would need this balance. Once we had arrived, Nikki and I set down the props we had brought along with us and then spent about half an hour running around after Neve as she decided she was just going to do her own thing. Looking back on it, we must have looked so funny chasing around after this little dynamo, who had us trying every persuasive tactic we could come up with. Just as I felt we were starting to break ground, and Neve was starting to slow down, I managed to get a couple of lovely shots of her on the beach, but unfortunately the poor little lamb then fell into the mud as she waded out a little too far. With this, a cold and damp and very upset Neve meant that the session was over!
I had never been in this position before, whereby I had come away from a session with hardly anything to show for it. I offered Nikki another session, this time suggesting that we go to the park instead of the beach, as it is a less open space with lots of things for Neve to do. Nikki agreed, and so we gave it another shot on another lovely day to follow. Although I was feeling a little apprehensive initially, the second session went like a dream. As we had hoped, Neve enjoyed the swing and slide, but all the while she still remained firmly in control of the situation, guiding me from one place to the next as if to say ‘I’m still the boss’ :). She then walked up a hill to a little bit at the top of the park, at the foot of the woods, which was full of gorgeous Autumnal coloured leaves. Up here she had a blast, playing with the leaves, her tea set and some bubbles, we even managed to get some fairy wings on her for a little time. Finishing off at the park again, and feeling so much relief at how well it had all gone, Nikki produced a little wind up plane from her bag, telling me it was one of Neve’s favourite toys. I couldn’t resist capturing her playing with it before we called it a day….I think that little momentos like this are the things which will be cherished when looking back in years to come.
Here are a few of my favourite shots from both sessions.
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