But if I know you, I know what you’ll do
You’ll love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream
The moment I received the questionnaire back from Mhairi, I knew that my Unscripted, full day in the life session with the Walker family was going to be special. If not magical.
And from the moment I arrived, the magic jumped right out of a box in the form of the best collection of Disney princess dresses I have ever seen – a birthday gift from Godmother Joanna and Godfather Sam.
Little Polly was truly a princess. The prettiest little thing, so dainty on her feet, with eyes that really sparkled. Mum and Dad, Mhairi and Ben have no option but to dote on her because she’s just gorgeous!
As you know, I have a little boy Harry, whom I love to bits, but of course every Mum to boys would love to have just 5 minutes with a little girl whom they can dress up in pretty dresses. Well, I was completely over the moon that I got to spend the day with little Polly and her folks as she was the prettiest, girly girl of them all. I couldn’t help but beam as Polly was so excited by the dresses, immediately ripping off her pyjamas to try them all on, twirling and prancing around the room.
Later I was to witness even more magic as Mhairi and Polly sung and swayed along to ‘Once upon a dream’ – that officially brought a tear to my eye during the shoot and whilst editing – Oh, gets you in the gut every time . . . and then later – oh my days! . . . The best birthday present (as if it couldn’t get any better) . . . officially THE prettiest teepee tent I have EVER seen. Watch the film – you have to! To witness how Polly’s face just lights up the moment she sees this thing in her bedroom. It’s just magic. I actually want one for myself! It even has lace curtains. Amazing!
Amongst all the magic, there was mum Mhairi and Dad Ben, who are so completely admirable. Dad Ben runs his own business, working so hard to provide for his family. I completely appreciate how demanding this is – I see it in my own husband who is also self-employed. It’s bloody hard work. And Ben, I could see how tired your were that day, but bless you, you still made a stonking cooked breakfast and a cracking ham dinner (send us the recipe for that by the way, it looked delicious). And I know that princesses are not your thing, but you still got down on hands and knees and played with Polly – I know that’s not easy either (I feel the same about soldiers!). And you made her a boat out of a box – and a fine boat too! I was impressed. And then Mhairi . . . one of Britain’s unsung heroes. A Marie Curie nurse. Also known as an Angel. You get my deepest respect and admiration for doing that job.
Since meeting the Walker family, I have also so enjoyed following Mhari on Instagram. Your photographs are lovely! I just loved working with Mhairi as she really ‘gets it.’ She completely appreciates that photographs are memories. That they tell your story. That they are ultimately what you pass down to the generations that follow. Mhairi sadly lost her parents when she was young, a story I was heartbroken to hear, but it made me even more determined to ensure that I could help her capture the moments that she so longed to have documented with her own Mum and Dad. I just wish I could do more, if you know what I mean. I also know that with work, time is poor and time together as a family is short, so I knew that to get photographs of them all together was paramount. I just really hope that I managed to capture the essence of your family and those special moments that you will forever cherish, and most importantly that Polly can cherish as she gets older.
It’s so important to capture your own story. We, as a family, have sadly lost some of our family photographs, and now as I get older, I can’t help but feel there is a hole where they should be. They are part of us. Our heritage. Who we are. I genuinely feel there is no good in having photographs stored on an iPhone, on a computer, on some hard drive – one day, these will all go bust. We need the boxes, the books full of photographs. This is what gets handed down. These are our heirlooms. Our future generations want to know who we are. And I love that Mhairi got this. Her home was full of photographs in every room. Of every generation. It was beautiful to see.
So here’s your challenge.
First, indulge yourself in the Walker Family’s day – because it was surely beautiful. Second – get on that phone, that iPad, that computer, and choose 10 photographs you have taken this year, just 10, and get them printed and hung up on the wall, stuck on the fridge door, popped into a special box. Whatever it is. But then you know that at least 10 moments from this year are safe. Safe from the techno bomb that will one day hit that device. I’m going to do it too. Because, don’t worry – I’m just as bad as you.
In the meantime, I leave you with Mhairi, Ben and the perfectly beautiful Polly . . . grab a cuppa and enjoy. xx
Ready to capture your EveryDay moments?
From breakfast, to the housework, to the weekly shop. The washing basket, the piles of nappies, the lego mountains, the mess at the bottom of the stairs. Your little one’s babygrows, your eldest’s trumpet, the computer games, your collection of shoes that all need reheeling but you still haven’t found the time! And most importantly, your babies, your teens, your husband, Granny, Grandad, and YOU. All living your EveryDay. All in the frame together. It’s time! Email me now to find out my availability![/no_call_to_action]
