The Lasts – Family Photographer Camden
My two, beautiful children are older now, my daughter is 13 and my son is 10. As a Family Photographer Camden I meet and photograph so many beautiful families and hear about exciting milestones bubs are reaching all the time. I love this, it really is so exciting and I have incredibly fond memories of my two reaching all of their milestones and all of the excitement that followed as I would share the wonderful news with family and friends.
When families share their joys I am fortunate to be able to share and reflect aswell.
Parenthood brings many things to be excited about, we adore watching our children grow and burst with pride as we see them achieve constantly. This is a parents right and honour to be able to enjoy these events. There is a lot documented about milestones and an estimated time on when each should be reached. When baby smiles for the first time, the first time baby rolls over, holds his or head for a substantial time, starts to sit, starts solids, starts to walk, is using a toilet, starts to talk, how many words they have by a certain age and if they are pronouncing them correctly… A little bit of pressure ensues and possibly one of the reasons why we thrive in each successful milestone being reached, is because we feel the relief of knowing our baby is on track.
Many milestones are not documented but still something we look forward to and crave, first laugh, first time they fall and come running to you eyes brimming with tears, the first time you leave them in some one else’s care, the first day of preschool or kindergarten, the first time they sleep in a big bed, the first time they spell their name… the list is endless with their fresh new life.
All so miraculous and all so exciting!
As a Family Photographer Camden, whom has been a parent for 13 years and has been in business just as long, I am able to offer my clients of newborns and small children something special. Hind sight.
I have been through all of the firsts, twice.
One thing that grabs me is that I never considered until recently are all of my childrens ‘lasts’.
Their ‘firsts’ are well documented and immortalised for all to see for the rest of all time but one thing that really pulls at my heart strings are their lasts. I can’t remember them, at all. Mainly due to the fact that I didn’t know the last time I rocked my baby to sleep, was actually going to be the last time.
As much as these events are my childrens last time they had done something, as their parent, they are just as much mine.
I loved when my kids started walking, the first thing that came to mind was “perfect! I won’t need to lug the damn pram around as often!” after living blissfully (sometimes exhaustingly) in Baby Land for quite some time, things were finally starting to get easier! Freedom!
Come to think of it now, I don’t actually remember the last time I pushed a pram, I have no recollection of when that was, where that event occurred, or the mere fact that that day, was actually the last time I would push that pram. To be honest, I would actually love to push a pram today. I would love to push my pram with my sweet little baby resting peacefully, gently rocked to sleep by the motion. Watching her sweet little face smile as she was dreaming the next hour or so away. If you need a break and would love someone to take your Bub for a walk, feel free to call 🙂
I photograph families and I might see Mum crouch down to be face to face with her Son and I get a flashback of guilt asking me when the last time I crouched down to be face to face with my child was. I see their toddlers hang on tight to one of their Dads fingers. I see their crazy version of a kiss which is more like an open mouthed placement of slobber or an affectionate lick. I see parents holding their small child in front of them and their baby fall asleep with their head on your heart. These things call out to me. They call out to me loudly.
As I sit here typing I am trying my best to recall certain events, I know these events happened but I don’t recall them and I fondly miss them… The last time my son sat on my Husbands shoulders while walking through the shops, the last time I sat on the bathroom floor while my children had their baths, the last time I picked up one of my children, the last time they came to me crying after they fell, the last time they came down the stairs backwards on their belly, the last time I rocked them to sleep, the last time my children had a bedtime bottle, the last time they fell asleep on my lap, the last time I fed them with a spoon, put their seatbelt on, brushed their teeth, carried them to bed, put their shoes on, scooped them up, threw them up in the air, listened to their baby giggle… I don’t remember the last time I wrangled a pram, a child seat, a breast pump, steriliser…
As my youngest is in year 4 now, I don’t remember the last time we spent the day together – just the two of us.
I do remember more of my sons lasts as I knew he was my last child and I hung on tight. I seemed to recognise then that the tables were turning and instead of looking forward to their firsts, I was desperately holding on to their lasts, not knowing when they would be.
As the Family Photographer Camden for many families in the area and in Sydney, I will cover all of the bases for you, I will photograph your child on his or her own, get family portraits and the love/bond between you all. I get lots of photos I believe Bub will need / want to take with them through his or her life. But in addition I will get lot of photos with you in mind… I will photograph those tiny hands holding your single finder, I will photograph you carrying a baby on your hip, I will photograph you crouching down to get to your childs level, I will photograph you carrying your Bub on your front with his sleepy head on your shoulder. I will document this for you and for your children. These photos will mean different things to you and your children and will trigger different thoughts and emotions.
If your child falls asleep on your chest, and it hasnt happened in about a month, get your camera out or ask someone to take a photo for you. If your son is getting a bit old to sit on Dads shoulders, just take that photo anyway. If your little girl has started walking and doesnt like being in the pram anymore but is happy to jump in one last time because she is tired – take that photo.
As a professional, as much as I love photographing children and having their needs in the forefront of my mind while holding a session, I will flip the story on its head and have you, the parents in the forefront of my mind also. These events may not be the last time they occur, but the odds are, you won’t know when the last time will be, and this way, you will at least have a visual of this time to keep.
Karen Ashcroft
Portrait Photographer
Contact me https://www.dragonflyportraits.com.au/professional-photographer/
Baby Milestones https://pathways.org/growth-development/baby/milestones/
