Ayrshire Baby Photographer | Top 3 Newborn Photographer of the Year 2017

I thought it was about time that I write a little about the Guild of Photographer's Awards ceremony in Crewe.  I went to the awards ceremony knowing that I had two images in the running for the Image of the Year, but came away not only with being awarded my Photographer's Bar in newborn photography (I'll tell you what that means further down), but also being awarded 3rd place in the International Top 10 Newborn and Baby Photographers.  I still can't quite get my head around what that means.  It's just incredible.  The winner was Sarah Wilkes, I have followed and admired her work for years, and second place was Sian Shipley, a Master Craftsman......To have my name in amongst these absolutely outstanding photographers is just staggering.

The Guild's Image of the Month competition has completely transformed my work and I get so much out of participating each month.  When I take my images, I am striving for technical excellence along with providing families with beautiful, styled imagery of their newborn babies.  I am continually seeking inspiration around me to produce unique images as the Guild score on impact in addition to technical excellence and therefore it's important to try to show something new that judges may not have seen before.

To give you a bit of background into how I got here (and hopefully not bore you)......I did my first ever newborn training course 3 years ago (with Jillian Greenhill Photography, from Abu Dhabi) and took the leap to become a full-time newborn photographer almost 2 years ago now.  The past 2 years have been the fastest, craziest but​ happiest I've ever been with work.  I am so grateful that I am very busy (fingers crossed that continues) with parents bringing their newborn babies to my home studio in Kilmarnock for me to photograph them in their first two weeks.  I work very, very hard.  I don't get much sleep.  I work long hours, shooting in the studio through the day, spending time with my own two little ladies after school (and being the usual 'mum taxi' to their activities), and then often editing, packing orders, or doing business admin until late in the evening (there's every chance I'll reply to your messages at ridiculous hours).......but you know what, I wouldn't change a single thing!  I love what I do so much, and hopefully the hard work is starting to pay off.  I am absolutely overjoyed to have these awards and it is already driving me to succeed in 2018. I have so many plans for this year.......and maybe, just maybe, I'll win a Gold award for an image!  There was only one Gold newborn image awarded in the Guild for the whole of 2017........so it's EXTREMELY difficult to achieve!  

My goals are now set for the year ahead and if you lovely people continue to trust me to photograph your precious little new babies in the safest and most beautiful way, then I will do my very best to smash these goals in 2018!

Anyway, that's about it for now.  Please have a scroll down and read about what my Photographer's Bar represents, and have a look at the images that got me these awards.

I've updated my webpage, so feel free to have a look at them a bit more closely here.  

Thank you all again for your amazing support.

Lynne xx

My Photographer's Bar certificate and badge
- A member of The Photographer's Bar is a unique distinction awarded to photographers who have successfully had images assessed over the course of a year and attained a score evidencing an exceptional level of professional skill and consistency. 

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My two nominated Images of the Year, published in the Guild of Photographer's year book.

My 2017 Silver Award Winning Images

Please visit my website to view my 21 Bronze Award Winning Images

P.S. I also like to support other photographers and show you other work that's out there.  Please take a look at Hannah's blog at Cherish Forever Photography . Hannah is a Neston newborn and baby photographer who has written a lovely blog on using macro photography in newborn sessions to capture the little details (something that I must do more of!).