Mummy & son
Eli aged 7 months came along for his session in May and when he arrived he was very much sleeping.
Inevitably when he woke he was in strange surroundings with a new person in his presence.
That someone wasn't his mummy and not the person that has been so close to him for the last 16 months.
Eli ready for some sunshine !!
Eli aged 7 months came along for his session in May and when he arrived he was very much sleeping.
Inevitably when he woke he was in strange surroundings with a new person in his presence.
That someone wasn't his mummy and not the person that has been so close to him for the last 16 months. ( 9 months in Mummy's tummy 7 months in her arms )
Mummy & Eli
The person who ultimately provides warmth, comfort, food and is there for him for every second of the day.
Once he woke properly we set to taking some photographs of him but realised he didn't want to play at being sat up.
And of course that's fine.
He is still very young and not quite mastered the sitting technique just yet ( to be honest this little boy is so strong I think he will be walking very early!)
Baby's tell us if they don't feel comfortable and we as mummy's have to meet their needs.
Eli loves Winnie the Pooh and his late grandmother's Bear of which we got to have in the set up for the session.
He also loves baths, chocolate biscuits, wotsits and of course his Mummy and Daddy.
It was such a pleasure to meet you Eli keep that teddy bear safe 🐻 until I meet you again!!
Eli & his late grandmothers blue teddybear
The Travelling Dress Collective - Featuring Tara
I have heard a lot about a travelling dress collective a few times but in January 2019 I decided it was about time I push my creativity a little bit harder than I normally would.
Therefore I decided to join a travelling dress collective with eleven other members from a photography background. They were all living in England but spread mainly in the Southern region of the country.
I contributed towards the cost of a designer dress along with the other members and was allocated a set date.
My weekend happened to coincide with Easter weekend so knowing that I wouldn’t get me body into the sized 6/8 sequinned adorned piece by then, I searched for a more suitable model.
My model was Tara, she has an extensive dancing background and I used to dance with her Mother back when I was younger.
Tara is 16 years old and has recently been fortunate enough to receive a place at The Laine theatre dance school in London.
Having her last week of festivals she was only too happy to assist me on my own personal project.
We discussed ideas, locations, hair and make up and then set about our day,
Thankfully the weather was Summer-like and the sun shone amazingly as did Tara.
With pointe shoes and dancing tights she put on the dress and came alive as if ‘dancing’ to a score whilst on stage.
The passers by were in awe, many asking questions and telling us their dancing connections. One lady’s sister was a dance teacher in Zimbabwe another man worked at the local Kings Theatre in Southsea for many years.
It was so great to see the public’s response, Tara was making many dance like movements, posès and I captured her in the essence of the atmosphere.
Our setting used was the Southsea Castle and surrounding walls and beautiful sand coloured wall backdrops. These really echoed the colour of the travelling dress and also Tara’s hair colouring too.
I asked Tara why she loved dancing so much and this is what she said to me;
I started dancing when I was just years old and I have loved it ever since
I have heard a lot about a travelling dress collective a few times but in January 2019 I decided it was about time I push my creativity a little bit more than I normally would.
Therefore I decided to join a travelling dress collective with eleven other members from a photography background.
They were all living in England but spread mainly in the Southern region of the country.
I contributed towards the cost of a designer dress along with the other members and was allocated a set date.
My weekend happened to coincide with Easter weekend so knowing that I wouldn’t get my body into the sized 6/8 sequinned adorned piece by then, I searched for a more suitable model.
My model was Tara, she has an extensive dancing background and I used to dance with her Mother back when I was younger.
Tara is 16 years old and has recently been fortunate enough to receive a place at The Laine theatre dance school in London.
Having her last week of festivals she was only too happy to assist me on my own personal project.
We discussed ideas, locations, hair and make up and then set about our day,
Thankfully the weather was Summer-like and the sun shone amazingly as did Tara.
With pointe shoes and dancing tights she put on the dress and came alive as if ‘dancing’ to a score whilst on stage.
The passers by were in awe, many asking questions and telling us their dancing connections. One lady’s sister was a dance teacher in Zimbabwe, another man worked at the local Kings Theatre in Southsea for many years.
It was so great to see the public’s response, Tara was making many dance like movements, posès and I captured her in the essence of the atmosphere.
Our setting used was Southsea Castle and surrounding walls and beautiful sand coloured wall backdrops. These really echoed the colour of the travelling dress and also Tara’s hair colouring too.
I asked Tara why she loved dancing so much and this is what she said to me;
I dance quite simply because its my passion.
I love the release I feel when I dance and I am able to forget about the outside world for a while. Some dance is very emotive and I can relate so much to the music and express my feelings.
I love performing and sharing my passion with an audience, it is so rewarding.
I started dancing when I was three. My mum said I always danced round the room when music came on.
It’s always been in my family that we dance and I’m so happy I do!
After having been given offers from four dance colleges,I am so excited to further my training at Laine Theatre Arts, for a level 6 diploma in musical theatre.
So why Beside The Seaside Photography ?
Me as a young happy little girl at Southsea in the seventies with my Mum and Dad
As a child I loved to spend time with my parents by the sea in Southsea, making lots of sandcastles and getting wet feet most hot sunny days.
My Dad says that I wanted to swim from a really young age nowadays I take my small boys instead !
My Brother and I used to swim for ages in the sea during summer ( even when it was raining we would have to be teased out of the water along with our treasured dinghy !!)
My Mum and Dad loved to capture them moments with a good old Polaroid camera and now I look back at them with very fond memories.
Now I want to do the same for other families at the beautiful beaches we live near.
Capturing special moments, you know, the sandy toes and salty kisses kinda moments.
Gone are the days when we wait down Commercial Road for an hour whilst eagerly waiting for our camera film to be developed.
However printing and hanging photographs on the wall is what I want to encourage others to do - Please let me help you with that.
Where will you hang that photograph ? Who will be in the frame ? What colours do you want ? We can find a location that suits your family , let the children play ( even your pet dog ! ) and I will take photographs of you enjoying them moments.
Whatever you fancy Beside The Seaside Photography is able to help you achieve special memories documented into print and have something to look back on for many years to come.
If this is something you would like to talk more about please drop me a message, Sophia
My beautiful five boys who are now tired of being photgraphed its your turn !!
Where it all started.....
So this is what kick started my love of photography…
Hello and a very warm welcome to my website,
My name is Sophia, A Baby & Family photographer in and around Portsmouth UK
A Mother to five gorgeous sons ( yes 5 !! ) I adore tea and cake, I’m a lover of West End musicals and dancing of all kinds, I’m also a big Madonna fan too!
My photography journey properly started in 2010 when I began to take pictures of my fourth son and decided to enter it into a Photography competition where I won it. Although I have always loved taking photographs from a teenager this really helped start my photographic journey in a more passionate way.
My children & family photography services come from the bottom of my heart, with a vision to tell your story and to help capture those beautiful moments always.
‘Capturing the nostalgia of the seaside with memories that will last a lifetime’
I capture your childrens personalities and will bring out the light in their eyes and ultimately the laughter from their hearts too.
