You’ve probably heard the term “it takes a village to raise a baby” and I couldn’t agree with that statement more. When we were organising this session I asked Brooke if she’d like to bring her Mum and Nan into the studio too, to be a part of the experience and have me photograph something special for them too.

It’s not always just the two of you and your new baby in your story.

Sometimes there’s a tribe of people, or women, behind you helping support, love and care for you along this journey. I know we didn’t have that tribe when our Olivia was born, and I so wish we had more help than we did (thank you, Mum, you’re the absolute best) but we did what we could with who we had at the time.

I’ll never forget the friends who helped us when Olivia was a newborn. The strangers who held her while I drank (or skulled) coffee at the cafe, or the one time a friend watching on at the pub saw us struggling and came to hold her (for what felt like hours), allowing us to eat our meal before it went cold and gave us a moment of relief from a screaming newborn. The friends who dropped around food to our doorstep, who delivered coffees, who did a grocery run or were just there for a cuddle and a cry. I’m forever thankful for you.

The studio was designed with all family members in mind. It’s safe, comfortable and calm. It’s welcoming, inclusive and every growing to adapt to each family members needs. This space I’ve dreamt of for years, I hope to be a haven for new parents, and a space to feel comfortable away from the chaos. I hope to help by holding your own crying baby, at that moment when you need a break, or a chance to stop and breathe… just as those who were around me did.

I want to help honour your “tribe” too.

Baby Mazie was in the studio with some of her tribe last weekend. Brooke and Nate, thank you for visiting and I hope you cherish these images for a lifetime and more. Enjoy some of my favourites, I’ll be printing and displaying these in an album soon I’m sure.

Roslyn xx

Roslyn xx