A Look Back on 2020

A look back on 2020

As we enter 2021 and things are unfortunately still very challenging, it’s so important to try and stay positive and keep hopes up for the future.
In this post I’m being positive about 2020 and looking back on some of my favourite sessions. Whenever I do these, it reminds me of how diverse my sessions can be. I absolutely love the variety!
2020 was difficult for me professionally. I lost my first studio and juggled shoots between being open and closed. On the plus side, I opened a gorgeous new studio that I love even more than the first one and I can’t wait to get back there!

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January
I welcomed my very worthy competition winners for their session at the beginning of the year. Emily (2nd from left) had recently been diagnosed with cancer at only 18 years old. Emily’s Mum Karen entered as she wanted to capture Emily’s stunning red hair in a photoshoot before she lost it through chemotherapy. Emily is so gorgeous and has the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen. This session was emotional but I absolutely loved it. The whole family are incredibly lovely, the girls giggled and laughed all the way through so we were all smiling! It was honestly a pleasure and a joy to work with this amazing family. 
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February
Chloe came for a Beauty and Boudoir Session as a confidence boost following a break-up from a long term relationship. Chloe was struggling to move on but fast forward almost a year and she’s in a lovely new relationship and in the summer I’ll be welcoming her back for a newborn session! 

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March
Louise was my very last maternity session before the first lockdown, and the very last session in my first studio before I left it in May. Louise brought along her little boy Matthew, who is simply adorable! And Louise is pretty special. As a breastfeeding peer, she’s helped many, many mums with their breastfeeding journeys. Something we celebrate and promote at every shoot that she’s booked so far!

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April
Oh dear...things go a bit downhill here! The first month of lockdown and I decide to do a silly boudoir shoot at home with a Bratz doll (no us photographers were not OK haha) It amused the ladies in my boudoir group so that’s the main thing!

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May
Right at the end of May, once restrictions allowed, I met Jo at Shaugh Prior Bridge to do this distanced outdoor maternity session with her and her amazing daughter, Willow. It was quite an honour to do this with Jo, I really look up to her as another lady who empowers women and encourages self-love at her pole and aerial fitness studio in Plympton.

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June
I couldn’t possibly just pick one! The first month of being properly back at it for outdoor shoots. I feel like I came back with a bang! 

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Katie & Kitty - Feeding Portrait in the woods. Katie had previously been for a maternity session so it was so nice to see her and meet little Kitty. 

Jourden - Maternity Session on Wembury Beach. I’ve never seen someone enjoy and embrace their shoot as much as this incredible lady did! ​

Rose & Merlin. We’d been talking about a shoot with her horse for a long time and finally got around to it.

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July
Sienna was born during lockdown almost 3 months premature. She was around 5 months old for her session and a rainbow baby. Her Mum Kim was super keen to get the newborn poses that I would normally do with babies that are between 5-14 days old. Mum particularly liked the froggy pose. I told her I couldn’t make any promises but said I would try my best. Little Sienna was a superstar from the word go! Thankfully we managed to get froggy! I’ve since welcomed Sienna back when she started sitting up and Kim is booking an outdoor shoot in the Spring as well. Sienna has the most incredible blue eyes so we are planning a shoot among the bluebells in a blue dress. I can’t wait!

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August
Ava was another very special lockdown baby, as well as another older baby who did amazingly well at her session. I love the smiles! 

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September
Eden and Indie were my first ever newborn twins! I had to ask my friend Leanne to help me...she isn’t a photographer but is most definitely a baby whisperer! I couldn’t have done it without her, so thank you Leanne! Another person I need to thank is Tamsyn from TC Photography, who was kind enough to let me use her studio and store all my equipment, props and dresses in her studio for a few months. It was because of this that I found my new studio and it’s so lovely being in a building with other fellow photographers!
Anyway, back to the twins...aren’t they adorable?! Mum, Natasha was over the moon and I have to thank her for trusting me to do this even though it was my first time.

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October
Mollie didn’t consider herself girly enough for my maternity gowns so wanted to keep her session more simple and classic. Mollie also braved a nude shot even though she didn’t feel entirely confident. I loved this session because the results were still gorgeous even though we kept it simple. 
This was the first week in my new studio and I can’t tell you how incredible it felt to have my own space again.

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November 
I managed to squeeze in a few sessions before the 2nd lockdown working at the studio until 10pm. A lot of these were maternity sessions as I didn’t want them to miss out! My final one being a shoot at Foggintor Quarry on Dartmoor with Marie. She was amazing! Carefully clambering over boulders to get to the perfect place and getting changed in front of a group of climbers! It was certainly worth the 3 day arm ache after carrying all the dresses around!

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December
December was catch-up time after being closed for a month so there were lots of Boudoir Sessions! My dad is a retired electrician and I had previously asked him to fit some LED panels above the windows in the studio to give the natural light a bit of a boost. I can’t just keep things simple so I asked for them to be dimmable so that I could control the brightness. Unfortunately this wasn’t very straight forward and took poor Dad several attempts before it finally worked! I absolutely love them though and it’s a godsend on gloomy days when I used to worry so much about the quality of light. Beautiful Laura below had a mix of natural and LED light washing over her...perfect!

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As crazy as this year has been, it’s absolutely flown by. I can’t believe it’s almost been a year since Covid hit us and changed everything. I’d like to thank you for sticking with me when we had to reschedule, for booking me despite this year being difficult for so many of us, for trusting me, and for all the love and support on Social Media. Every time I’m forced to close it makes me look forward to opening even more. I really can’t wait! 
Sending you all so much love, stay safe and I hope to see you soon.
Rache x