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I went through a period of my life where I wouldn’t be photographed because I didn't like myself, I didn't like the way I looked. I understand the power of thinking I wasn't good enough to be on photos. Most women are self-conscious of being photographed, it doesn’t matter how beautiful they are. You deserve to be seen. you need to have beautiful photographs! You are good enough to be in a family portrait. You are good enough to be photographed with your kids. You are good enough to exist in photographs. You must celebrate your life. I don’t care how fat you think you are, I don’t care how old you think you are. My job, as a portrait photographer, is to take the most beautiful photograph you have ever seen of yourself, so that you can cherish this for the rest of your life. IF YOU WON’T DO IT FOR YOU, DO IT FOR YOUR KIDS! Imagine your child in 10 years time looking through a family album and not finding any photos of you in it. Do you have any photos of your parents? How do you feel when you look back on photos with your parents? Our children will love to look at those photos with you in years to come and will be amazed at how young we looked, what clothes we wore and what activities we used to do with them. Looking at pictures of your children on their own will make you smile and make you proud. Looking at photos of you with your children will bring back the emotions you felt at that particular time of their life. So, please… Whether it’s with me, or another photographer get in front of the camera and enjoy it! Your children will never look at them saying “I wish you waited until you lost a bit more weight” and you might be surprised and actually love and cherish those images years from now. Last tip? Get them printed!! Technology is not always reliable, and those memories are not replaceable. So always backup your photos and print your favourites so you actually get to look at them. If you would like to be in your pictures for yourself and your children, get in touch today! contact #portraitphotographerinManchester #Manchesterfamilyportraits #portraitphotography #familyportraits #portraitphotographer #familypicturesManchester #familyphotos

You’ve done your research and booked your newborn photography session or not yet ( don't be late, it can only be done before babies reach 14 days of age) but I suspect you are probably wondering what happens at these type of sessions, so here is a little more info to hopefully answer any questions you may have about a newborn photography session with me. How do I prepare my baby for the shoot? On the morning of the shoot, it’s preferable to try and keep baby awake as long as possible. A bath and lots of play is always good stimulation. Feed your baby 2-3 hours before the shoot. This will (hopefully) mean that baby will be ready for a feed shortly after arriving at the studio, which will equal a satiated, comfortable baby. What do I need for the session? You don't need to bring anything for a photo shoot, I have all props and accessories we will need during a photo session. If however there is a special toy or item that you would like included in the session please do let me know. The final images are yours to enjoy and I want to make them as personal to you and your family as possible. Bring a dummy if you use one, as they really do help to settle babies during the shoot. How long does a newborn photography session take? A session can take anywhere between 2 and 3 hours. I am completely guided by baby and they are in charge! If baby needs a feed, settle, wind etc, we stop and ensure that he/she is completely comfortable before we start again. Most of my sessions take about 2 hours, but as I only book one newborn session per day there is no rush. It takes as long as it takes to ensure I have a selection of images you will love. What if my baby cries or is unsettled? There is a chance your baby may cry. I don’t smell familiar like Mummy and Daddy, and their sleep is slightly disturbed when I move and pose them. Rest assured I will never continue if your baby is distressed but I can generally placate a baby quite quickly and can read the signs if they are just grumbling at me or if they need some settling. Sometimes they just need a cuddle! Not all babies are the same. Some drop off to sleep in 5 minutes, so take a little longer. It will also depend on their age and if they are approaching a growth spurt. What should I wear? I generally advise Mum and Dad to wear white or black tops and preferably without any logos on them. Depending on Dad’s comfort level, it is lovely to photograph a newborn against bare skin, especially if Daddy has a nice tattoo. I also have lovely soft fabrics and wraps that we can use for the Mum and baby poses. If there is anything else you would like to know or have any questions or concerns, please do contact me. I am more than happy to answer any questions you have. Check newborn gallery I look forward to seeing you soon! #Newborns #newbornphotographerManchester #newbornphotos #babyphotos #babyphotosession #bumptobaby #Manchesterbabyphotograper #babyphotographer #babypictures

In 1991, a very pregnant Demi Moore appeared nude on the cover of Vanity Fair. Since that women are obviously getting much more comfortable with their bodies, and I think that trend started with the Vanity Fair article way back when. In looking back, it definitely broke the mold. Pregnancy is no longer something to be hidden, but something to be celebrated in all its glory. If you're wondering whether you should do it, here are some reasons I think maternity sessions are great. 1. CELEBRATE YOUR PREGNANCY You might feel tired, nauseous, sore, aching … but we see a beautiful woman bringing a new life (or two or more!) into the world, with a gorgeous little bubba growing inside of her. Whether or not you love how you look, a professional photography session will make you feel beautiful. 2.YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE A SECOND CHANCE You will only be pregnant a few times (if that) in your entire life. No matter if you think you look far from glowing or glamourous, a skilled pregnancy photographer can easily draw out the beauty, love and femininity of pregnancy – you may just surprise yourself… There are only a few months in your life, per baby, that you’ll have a glorious noticeable, round belly – sadly it takes months to show and you have that in-between ‘could be a squishy tummy but could also be pregnant’ stage too! Before you know it, the birth is over, they’ll be at school, or having their own kids, just like your parents will tell you. And those dear moments of pregnancy will be but a distant memory. Even if it’s something you do just in case you might want it later, I don’t know anyone who has regretted getting a pregnancy photo shoot – but I know plenty who regret not doing it. 3.MAKE MEMORIES You might be unsure about it now, but if you don’t have a photography session while you’re pregnant, you’ve lost the chance to create once in a lifetime memories – you can’t get them back. Photos also trigger memories, feelings, emotions… they help you remember more vividly. Even if you don’t care for the memory for yourself, I can assure you that when your children are older, they will be delighted to see the photos of their pregnant mamma, while they were growing inside of you. 4. MAKE A BIG REVEAL A maternity session can be a fun way to reveal your baby's gender, if that is information you have chosen to learn and share. You can even announce your child's name. Perhaps you are having multiples and no one knows yet. People will love finding out this information through photos. 5.CHANCE TO BOND WITH YOUR PARTNER It can be harder for a dad-to-be to bond with an unborn baby, since the baby is growing inside of you, moving inside you, having hiccups inside of you – and not him. You might feel all warm and fuzzy when those things happen, but he can’t feel it so he doesn’t know how wonderful it is. But putting dad in the picture can help him bond with baby a bit more too, and it gives him some special memories of his own. Pregnancy is something to be celebrated it's a special time in our lives, one that may only be given to us once so you wanted to remember how you looked pregnant. You also wanted to have a record of how your husband/partner tenderly touched your stomach, it’s a lovely way to involve dads a bit more in the pregnancy process. #maternitysession #Manchestermaternityphotographer #Maternityphotos #MaternityphotographyinManchester #pregnancyphotoshoot #pregnancyphotography #pregnancyphotos

Baby Ezin Zahra came to my studio on a frosty winter morning at the end of January. This beautiful little princess was 8 days old and it's the best time to photograph a newborn baby. She was sleeping most of the time and we could do everything that was planned.

Donna & Darren promised to stay true and hold hands as they age, memorizing the grooves and crevices on each finger. As husband and wife, they promised eternity and a day in their vows and sealed their commitment with a kiss at Statham Lodge Hotel in Lymm,Warrington. The rest of the evening was spent popping, clinking, and cheering to what may have been the happiest couple in the world at that exact moment. Donna and Darren,I hope you’ve enjoyed your big day. You deserve the best and I’m beyond thrilled to call you my clients. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Much Love and Appreciation…M. In Donna and Darren's own words, here's their story. How did you meet? We originally met at primary school we was in the same year however when to different secondary school and dated briefly in 2004 then we went our separate ways and getting back together in 2016. How long did you plan your wedding? We got engaged on 11 February 2017 and started to plan our wedding for 12 months’ time What made you choose Statham Lodge your wedding venue? We didn’t want a corporate venue we wanted something that was in a nice setting not formal and would allow people who wanted to stay over to do so – we liked the Georgian feel and the hotel was newly decorated and we could take over the whole venue also we liked the location that was Lymm. What was your favourite part of your wedding day? Donna - The ceremony and becoming Darren’s wife Darren – Staying is vows / exchanging the rings and becoming Donna’s husband What was your first dance song? You got the love by Florence and the Machine Would you like to say special thank you to somebody who helps you make your wedding day perfect? Thank you to our parents and close friends for making our day so special to us.

Dominique and Mandla Hendi said their vows and celebrated the moment when their hearts grew to encompass the merging of two families, lives, and hopes at Mesnes Park Lodge in Wigan. They hosted a stunning wedding filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Mr and Mrs Mahlangu thank you for inviting me to document your first day as husband and wife. Much Appreciation and Love… M. In Dominique and Mandla own words, here's their story. How did you meet? We Met January 19th 2008 at a Hall that two of my close friends (Grantie and Meg) had hired out for their 21st Birthday party. Hanz (the new hubby) hadn't been invited to this birthday celebration but turned up with his friend (Mel) anyway....Grantie noticed them sat in the far corner and she told me that she didn't really know them...but they had met a very long time ago back in their home town in Africa...(but it's very common with Africans to turn up to parties that they hear of but hadn't really been invited to ). So whilst debating whether we were to let them stay or kick them out, the music had really got going and everyone had made their way to the dance floor...some very popular house favourites had started to play and this is where Hanz (the party crasher) took his opportunity to impress...And he most certainly did that!...he had some serious dance moves back then! As the evening came to a close and people were leaving he came and found me, asked me for my number and if he could take me out sometime....at first I had said no....but as I saw him putting his smart dark grey long coat on to leave, and as he walked past me...in what almost seemed like slow motion...I just got a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was supposed to give this guy a chance and say "Yes"...so I did ....and 10 years later....here we are today. How long did you plan your wedding? We gave our notice of Marriage in on October 2017...but unfortunately just a month on from then, on November 25th we lost my Father...so what would have been around four months of planning turned out to be just under 2months. We had hoped that Dad would get better and be able to share in this day that we had been talking so fondly about before his passing, but unfortunately this was not God's plan, and he needed him to return home. But we are sure both Dad and Grandma who we lost just 3 years before (one day before my birthday on December 10th) were with us, and brought that beautiful sunshine in the midst of this cold and blustery snowy weather we've been having. What made you choose Mercure Wigan Oak Hotel your wedding venue? We chose Mercure Wigan Oak Hotel because their wedding package was affordable and they had great Food and Beverage options. As well as this they had, reduced accommodation for wedding guests, a DJ and Room Decorator already on hand to contact within their wedding package. The hotel is also located within the city centre, which was very convenient, with parking that was provided for free on the wedding day. Additionally the staff members we spoke with there were very welcoming. What was your favourite part of your wedding day? There were so many lovely parts to our wedding day, that I don't know really which part to choose...I just really cherish being able to share this day with the one I love (my best friend) and being able to see all the happy faces of our friends and family that were able to share this special day with us. What was your first dance song? I chose Lasauce - "I do" for our wedding "First Dance" song. The song was really quite new to us both...neither of us had really heard it before but my friend "Grantie" who had been helping me out with song choices for the DJ had popped that one in and I really liked it straight away. I chose it as a First Dance song because I felt it was really relatable to us both, talking of life's ups and downs and stresses but we still get by and pull through. I also like this song because it was written in both Zulu and English which is relatable in our relationship as his Mother tongue is Zulu and mine is English. Would you like to say special thank you to somebody who helps you make your wedding day perfect? A special thank you would definitely have to go to my Mother and younger Sister who have been by my side throughout many decisions...and also to my close friend Grantie for the creation of digital wedding invites and song selections. Then there's also the companies that have helped bring the celebration together; Starting with yourself; Monika Szmidt photography. Thank You . Plutinnum Film and Photography Century Wedding Cars Jandol Baklava Pastries (Levenshulme) for a beautiful wedding cake. Mercure Wigan Oak Hotel Venue Hobby Craft; for the availability of wedding decor decorations and supplies. Last but not least all friends and family who travelled to come share and be a part of our special day :) #weddingatMercureWiganOakHotel #WiganWedding #rusticweddingphotographerManchester

The Folio Box is more than just a place for prints, it is a modern and stylish way to present your photographs. Handmade with the finest materials it is the perfect presentation product. Designed with luxury in mind. You will fall in love with how it feels and looks. Very popular with my Newborn and Maternity portraits sessions. You can choose from different mat colours: black, blue, ecru, grey, white and white with black core. I offer to all my clients an extra special keepsake paired with either matted or mounted images. The Folio Box includes: an elegant handcrafted and personalisable box a set of 5|10|15|20 images images printed on Fujicolor Silk Paper choose from matted or foam mounted prints to include in your box

Katherine and Gavin said their vows and celebrated the moment when their hearts grew to encompass the merging of two families, lives, and hopes at The Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham. They hosted a stunning wedding filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Katherine and Gavin thank you for inviting me to document your first day as husband and wife. Much Appreciation and Love… M. In Katherine and Gavin own words, here's their story. How did you meet? We met at our local pub on New Year Eve in 2002 and shared our first kiss at midnight. How long did you plan your wedding? Gavin bought me a nice new ring and asked me to marry him on my birthday just over 2 years ago when we went to Leeds for the weekend, we then started talking about planning our wedding. Where did you buy your wedding dress? I got my dress from Cheshire Bridal Wear in Altrincham. Who did make your flowers? Gavins Auntie Jo made our flowers for us. What made you choose the Crest Court your wedding venue? We chose The Cresta Court Hotel because the rooms were lovely and it was local to us. What was your favourite part of your wedding day? Our favourite moment was saying our vows it was very emotional and meant so much to us to finally be husband & wife after all these years, it was a very special moment for our little family unit. What was your first dance song? Gavin picked our first dance song which was Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. Would you like to say special thank you to somebody who helps you make your wedding day perfect? We would like to say a special thank you to everyone that came and joined us to celebrate & special thank you to gavins auntie Jo who added all the special extra touches they were beautiful. #WeddinginAltrincham #WeddingphotographyinManchester #weddingphotographer #weddingphotosRochdale #weddingpicturesRochdale #winterweddinginspirations

Bump to baby photo session is getting very popular. When I was pregnant with my son 8 years ago, I didn't think about pregnancy photos. But now everything changes. I wish I would have booked myself a maternity session when I was pregnant with my son! How I wish I would have captured that beauty of being pregnant!!I know during pregnancy you might not feel your best and "grow out" of your all clothes. But even though I didn't feel like taking photos, I truly wish someone had convinced me, posed me and made me feel beautiful. I promise I will make you look beautiful, I would hide all the "flaws" you don't want to see and make your radiance shine through. You are worth it to have beautiful photos of you expecting your most precious thing ever! Being pregnant is a very special time for every mother, waiting to meet up your baby for very first time. This is why pregnancy photos are so popular now, we would like to remember this special time in our life. I wanted to share a handful of images from Malgosia and Piotr pregnancy photo session at Heaton Park. And a couple months later... They life changes forever. Meet little princess Marysia. 'Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body'. #bumptobaby #newbornphotographerManchester #naturalnewbornphotography #Newborns #Manchesternewbornphotographer #newbornphotoshoot #babyphotosession #Manchesterbabyphotograper #pregnancyphotoshoot #maternitysession #Maternityphotos

Many times clients ask me, what is an engagement session? Engagement/ couple photo session is a portrait photo shoot of you and your partner. Why should you book your engagement shoot? There are many reasons to take engagement photos. As a couple who likely has never been photographed professionally before, the engagement session is one of the greatest services you and your fiancé can take advantage of prior to your wedding. I offer FREE engagement photos for couples who booked wedding photography with me.Engagement shoot lets your photographer get to know YOU. Not only is it good practice for you, it’s also a great trial run for your photographer. It’s a great time to learn about your love story, chat about your wedding plans, and push to see how affectionate you can get in front of the camera. You’ll be able to communicate what you like and don’t like, as well as your preference for angles, expressions, lighting, and editing styles. All this will allow me to tailor the photos to make your images more personal and memorable. Additionally, the engagement photo session is a chance for the bride and groom to experience a professional photo shoot in their own element and show their love and affection for one another in a much less formal setting and manor. We can shoot where you first met, shared your first kiss, a place you like to go on dates, where he proposed, or be even more creative and do something along a theme that is meaningful to you as a couple. What if you don't plan your wedding yet but you would like to have stunning photos of you both? That's absolutely fine, you don't have to book your wedding photos with me to get your engagement shoot! Sarina and Shawn came to England for their holiday and they ask me to take engagement photos. I feel so lucky I had a chance to photograph this beautiful couple in their old traditional clothing from Shanghai. They came to England for engagement trip and stayed in Manchester only for one day. I wanted to share a handful of images from this photo shoot, so take a look below, and enjoy :) #engagementphotographerManchester #bestengagementphotos #Autumnengagementphotography #engagementphotography #couplephotoshootinManchester #couplephotos #couplephotosession #coupleportraits

Back to Dawlish to see my all friends after many years was an amazing experience. I lived in Dawlish for 3 years only but it was a very important time in my life. Dawlish is a place where I fall in love with England and decided that this going to be my home. I get pregnant and give a birth to my son. I met here some amazing people, friends for life. When everybody seems in a hurry in Manchester, in Dawlish, they’re much more relaxed, and in coffee shops, people definitely take their time to enjoy afternoon tea. Plus the scones are amazing. Thank you Joanna for having us.

Everyone knew this was no ordinary wedding. Leslie and Poom married at Manchester Town Hall, surrounded by family and friends, They promised each other to continue their love not by way of mere words, but actions, promise to remain at each others’ sides. Forever. Reception was held at Slug and Lettuce on Albert Square, they hosted a stunning wedding filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Poom and Leslie, I hope you’ve enjoyed your big day. You deserve the best and I’m beyond thrilled to call you my clients. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Much Love and Appreciation…M. I wanted to share a handful of images from their big day and tell a bit more about their special day. In Leslie & Poom own words, here's their story,so take a look below, and enjoy. How did you meet? We were actually both studying in Manchester in 2011. Our first date was at the bar 'Via' on Canal Street in Manchester. It's my favourite bar and it has brilliant Gothic furniture inside, I wanted to impress on our first date, and thought that would do the trick! How long did you plan your wedding? We actually started planning everything in January this year (2017). Although we intended to get married in 2018, when we contacted Manchester Town Hall they informed us they were closing for renovations from January 2018 so it would be impossible. We then had to decide to either get married this year or probably change plans for the venue. Since our hearts we set on the Town Hall we sped things up. It meant some initial stress but we had a lot of help in England from family. What made you choose Manchester Town Hall your wedding venue? We wanted to get married in a beautiful old building in the heart of Manchester. I'm from Manchester, Poom studied at Manchester University for 2 years. We met in Manchester. We got engaged in Manchester. So it only made sense we'd get married in the city. The Town Hall really represents the history of the city, and again, Gothic architecture is something I personally love and we knew the photographs would turn out well there :) What was your favourite part of your wedding day? LESLIE- I liked signing the contract, we could really notice everyone who was there then, and it made everything official. Doing that in front of the most important people in our world was so special. Also the incredible cheesecake and cupcakes, they were ace! POOM- exchanging the rings. At that moment it felt real for me, and now looking at them reminds me of that day, every day. Would you like to say special thank you to somebody who helps you make your wedding day perfect? A lot of people! My (Leslie's) Mum and Dad for the Wedding Cheesecake, the flowers, the hotel we stayed in, for arranging things we weren't able to; my Gran, who couldn't be there but also paid for the cake;my sister Carla, she got the cake topper of two guys; my Auntie Jen and Uncle Mark for the Mr and Mr Cupcakes; my cousins Francis and Richard and Poom's brother Pee for being awesome best men; my cousin Kayleigh for helping with decorations and the Slug and Lettuce; my Uncle Andy for doing the music and the Town Hall, and everyone else for just being there and for their gifts. A special thanks too to Poom's friend Alex, who flew in all the way from Shanghai, China for ONE DAY just to be there for his friend. Of course, I'd also like to thank Ellen from Manchester Town Hall, Scarlet from the Slug and Lettuce, and yourself for the photos. Honestly, everyone contributed! #weddingphotographyatManchesterTownhall #weddingphotosManchester #samesexwedding #samesexmarriage #Gothicwedding