Aine and Iain were given a Family photography session voucher by Iain's sister as a Christmas present shortly after Ava was born, so it was lovely to finally meet them on a Spring morning up in Highbury for some relaxed pictures inside and out into Highbury Fields.

From about 8 or 9 months up to a year,  your baby will likely be sitting up and starting to crawl, but not yet fully on his or her feet so this is a great milestone to record. By now they are fully interacting with the immediate world around them and everything, just everything is interesting and magical. That bond between you all will also be firmly established so it is a great opportunity to get pictures as those wonderful expressions come into their own from cheeky smiles to quieter more reflective and thoughtful moments.

At this age, I always suggest that we spend some of the session inside the home where baby is relaxed, warm and where everything is to hand for feeds, changes and naps. Because I visit families in their own home environment, rather than they packing up and making the journey to a studio or other location, everything is infinitely easier for the parents from a practical point of view. The session also has more meaning as a record of family life, being in your own environment rather than an anonymous studio setting.

Ava is such a very contented, chilled and happy baby - just wonderful to photograph - and completely adored by both parents of course as I think you will agree.