Although for the children in your life, Christmas can be a magical time. For parents, it can become quite stressful. Add a new baby into the mix (or in my case, a new puppy – everyone, meet Ruby!) and there is the potential for Christmas to descend into chaos!

So, today I wanted to share some tips on how to cope at Christmas with a new baby (or puppy).

Hopefully, these tips will help you to ensure that you still have a wonderful time despite the extra pressures you may be under as a new parent or pup-parent.

Christmas with a new baby or puppy

A new pup or baby certainly changes the dynamics in even the most harmonious of households! So, naturally, you can expect that this Christmas won’t necessarily pad out as it has in previous years.

Having a new pup in our house these past few days has already proven to have ruffled a few feathers (sorry, Scamp – we still love you too!). And if you’ve a new baby, chances are you’ll find the same.

1. Take it slow

The key to a great Christmas is to not try to be super-mum or dad, and to take everything at the pace that feels comfortable for you.

Becoming a parent is a big deal! And just because it’s Christmas time, you shouldn’t feel that you should rush around trying to coordinate an unforgettable Christmas for the rest of the family.

2. Be realistic

Accept that things will take longer to do. And you won’t be able to manage everything that you’re used to single-handedly while also caring for your newborn throughout the day and night.

Keep your focus on you and your baby. You should come first in these important first few weeks.

If it takes you hours to get up and out of bed in the morning, so be it! Enjoy your skin to skin time, get some rest when you can and just enjoy this special time as a new family.

3. Set expectations

I’d also recommend that you make it known to immediate family, any other children you have and any visiting relatives or friends that things will be a little different to usual this Christmas. Remind others that you have additional commitments now as a new parent and that certain things are going to have to give for a while.

For example, you may not want or be able to leave the house or to travel long distances, with a new baby or pup in tow. And you’ll probably be more distracted than you have been in the past. You won’t be able to be as sociable or hands-on as you normally are.

Older children in the family may feel that they’ve become less important to you since the new arrival, so tackle this in advance and you’ll prevent upsetting them.

Ensure they realise that this initial phase is short-lived and that everything will soon be back to normal. And work with your partner to find ways to ensure their Christmas experience is not affected negatively as a result of the disruption that comes with becoming a new parent again.

4. Ask for help

Remember people aren’t mind readers. So, don’t be afraid to tell your children, husband, friends or family how they can help you.

Encourage others to get involved with baby-related (or pup-related) tasks if that’s what you want (or not, if it isn’t!). Or, direct them to the kitchen where they could make themselves useful in other ways.

I’ve found that Ruby has taken a lot more of my time than I had anticipated, and it’s often the same with a baby. Just someone offering to take Scamp – our other dog – for a walk, or to help cook, clean or make me a cup of tea has been a great help.

2. 5. Recognise when you, and they, need downtime

   It’s usually the case that when a new baby or puppy joins the family everyone wants to come and meet him or her and have a cuddle.

   But too much man-handling can make them overwhelmed and irritable. So, it’s really important that you limit the amount of time that people are holding and passing the baby or pup around.

   You’ll also need regular downtime. As a new mum, you’ll likely be tired from the birth and the sleepless nights ever since. So, carve out time for you and don’t be afraid to tell people when enough is enough!

6. Try to avoid putting yourself under so much pressure

Christmas usually involves a lot of planning, shopping, gift wrapping, cooking, and socialising. But this year, since you’ve got a new baby, cut yourself some slack. Christmas with a new baby is tough!

We mums are the worst for piling the pressure on ourselves. Allow yourself to take this Christmas off from your usual festive duties. You’ll be glad you did.

This is how well my Christmas shoot went with Ruby…..Nailed it 😉

6. If you are interested in booking a maternity, newborn, child or family portrait session in 2018 please contact please get in touch by completing this contact form.

   Karen x

In today’s blog, I’m sharing a roundup of my ten favourite indoor and wet-weather family attractions in Bournemouth and Poole.

Why? Well, because, as a mum of two, I know how hard it is to conjure up activities when it’s wet, windy and cold outside.

Luckily, down here in Dorset we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to options for indoor family entertainment. So, there should be no need for the kids to crash on the sofa with the PlayStation for hours on end, or to moan “I’m bored!”

Whether you have little or big kids or both, these activities should provide you with plenty of inspiration for what you can do when the weather isn’t at its best.

Ten things to do with the kids in wet weather in Bournemouth and Poole

1. Go Swimming

Grab your trunks, swimming costumes and towels and plan a trip to the local swimming baths.

In Poole, there is Splashdown, at Tower Park – one of the largest waterparks on the south coast. There you’ll find thrilling indoor and outdoor flume rides and several under 5’s splash zones.

Or if you’re in Bournemouth, the Littledown Centre has a huge 25-metre pool and loads of free parking. The pool itself is ideal whether you are wanting to have a relaxing swim or a splash around with the family. At selected times over the weekends, they also open the waterslides and have inflatable pool toys.

2. Go rock-climbing

Rock Reef, located on Bournemouth Pier, is just the ticket if you’re after a thrill, too.

This all-weather attraction offers a range of adventure sports and includes climbing walls suitable for all abilities and all ages from upwards of four years old. There are also high ropes, aerial obstacle courses and an indoor fun cave experience.

3. Go trampolining

Another high-energy attraction worth a visit is Activate Trampoline Park in Ferndown. The trampolines and a new assault course will be sure to wear your big kids out! There is also special area designed for children under 5 and a soft-play facility and on-site café.

4. Go ice-skating

A seasonal activity you might want to try is ice-skating, and there are various places across Dorset where you can get your skates on.

There is a small rink at The Ark in Poole Park, and the Bournemouth International Centre offers the south coast’s biggest indoor ice rink from mid-December through to mid-February. There is also an outdoor ice-skating rink in Bournemouth Central Gardens from mid-November to January.

5. Go skateboarding

Or if skateboarding is more what your kids are into, take them to Prevail Skatehouse in Poole. This is an indoor skatepark, ideal for burning off some energy and perfecting their BMX, scooter or skateboarding technique. There’s also a dedicated ‘mini ramp room’ for younger skaters. Why not have a go too? There’s no need to just let the kids have all the fun after all!

6. Soft play

Not feeling too energetic? There’s always soft-play! These centres are always a good option in wet weather for kids aged up to about 12yrs, and there are loads to choose from across Dorset.

In Poole, Lemur Landings in Tower Park is one of the county’s largest and has recently had a refurb. And there are lots of others dotted around, the best of which include Giggles and The Ark in Poole Park. Soft play is just one of the attractions at places like the Oasis Indoor Fun Centre in central Bournemouth and at many of the larger family destinations such as Adventure Wonderland and Farmer Palmers.

7. A trip to the theatre or cinema

A great wet-weather attraction that even mum and dad can enjoy is the theatre or cinema. We have Bournemouth Pavilion, the Bournemouth International Centre and the Pavilion Dance all in the town centre, playing host to a regular programme of events, shows and concerts. There is also the new Odean Cinema in the new BH2 complex in central Bournemouth.In Poole there is the popular arts centre The Lighthouse as well as Cineworld at Tower Park, showing a wide variety of movies and performances.

8. Visit a museum

Over in west Dorset, you’ll find The Tank Museum which offers an educational and fun day out. It hosts the world’s best collection of tanks and tells the story of armoured warfare from World War One to the present day. Also worth a visit if you’re in Poole is Poole Museum, just off Poole Quay.

9. Visit an aquarium

A fascinating few hours could also be spent at either the Oceanarium Bournemouth or at Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park. You’ll come face to face with marine life from around the world which is something that all the family can enjoy.

10. Walk in your wellies!

Finally, if you’re feeling up to it, brave the weather, grab your welly boots, coats and hats and enjoy the great outdoors. After all, kids of all ages love jumping in muddy puddles! And you never know, the weather may improve once you’re out!

There are lots of parks and woodlands to enjoy across Dorset such as Upton Country Park, Moors Valley, Durlston Country Park and of course, there is the beautiful New Forest in neighbouring Hampshire. Or a beach walk gets my vote all year round.

Do let me know in the comments of any other wet-weather family attractions in Bournemouth and Poole that are worth a mention, and which are your favourites from my list!

And if you’ve found this useful, please share so that others can benefit from it too. 

Karen

Children’s photographer

Photographing older children and teenagers can be very tricky and that makes being a children’s photography even trickier.

As a mum of 2 teenagers one who is driving now, I know that it’s sometimes ridiculously hard to get big kids to cooperate and pose for portraits. Perhaps if you’re a parent to older children you’ll share my pain?!

Photographing camera-shy teens

As they grow up, teenagers can become more reluctant to pose for a camera, and I know this from my own experience of trying to photograph my own son.

Being a professional photographer, I obviously don’t find the photography side challenging. But I do struggle to get my son, who’s 18, to even be in front of my camera. He literally hides when I reach for it and only lets me photograph him if I bribe him with money!

Professional child and family photographer | Dorset

Of course, as a children’s photographer, I have years of experience photographing children of all ages.

So I thought I’d share some tips today on photographing older children and teenagers, as well as share some examples of portraits I have taken recently.

My top tips for photographing older children and teenagers

1. Work quickly

When photographing children of any age, it’s crucial to act quickly since they soon get distracted or bored. But this is particularly important with teenagers. As Tom did, they will likely only give you a few minutes to take the shot, so make those minutes count!

2. Treat them as adults

Older kids want to feel they are not being patronised or spoken to like a child. So, when photographing teenagers, communication is key. Get the conversation flowing and do everything you can to make them feel comfortable. You’ll get the best photos of them when they are feeling relaxed and at ease.

Pro tip: One thing you can do, whether you’re using a smartphone camera or a DSLR, is say that you are taking some ‘test’ shots initially. They’ll feel less inhibited if they think you aren’t really trying to photograph them properly. And these early pictures, before they potentially clam up in front of the camera, could be some of the best you end up taking!

3. Direct them, but don’t ‘pose’ them

Probably what most people dislike about being photographed is that they don’t know how to sit or stand, how to pose or what to do with their hands. Teenagers may feel particularly conspicuous in front of the camera.

Since the best portraits are usually natural shots which show the subject’s personality, don’t overly ‘pose’ your teenager. Allow him or her to act normally and then photograph them simply being themselves, with a little bit of direction if needed.

4. Make it fun

No-one wants to be photographed if they are bored or feel awkward. So, make the few precious minutes you have to photograph your older child as fun as possible. Talk to them, ask them questions about things they like to do, what their plans are for the weekend, what hobbies they have, their favourite movie, food or X-box game. Anything that will get them more engaged will result in better quality, more natural photos.

5. Embrace their individuality

Forget trying to dress them in formal clothes or something that they don’t want to wear. Photographing older children and teenagers will usually only be successful if you allow them to call the shots.

Let them wear what they want and style their hair in the way they want (even if you would prefer they wore something else or combed their hair away from their face).

6. Don’t force them to smile

Similarly, don’t force them to smile. Their natural expression and individual style are what you will want to capture in your photos since then you’ll be capturing a portrait that reflects who they really are.

What are your experiences of photographing older children and teenagers?

Do your children love being photographed or are they camera-shy? Let me know what challenges you’ve experienced when taking photos of your big kids or teenagers in the comments below. Do you want to be a children’s photographer or think you might leave it to the professionals?

Karen x