Baby safety during a newborn sessions is my first priority! In this blog I explain what I do to keep safety in my studio.
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You are pregnant, congratulations! Bringing a new baby into the world is an incredible experience, and capturing those early moments is something every parent wants to cherish. Yes, time will indeed fly and your little baby won’t be so little for long. With so many talented newborn photographers in London and Richmond, it can be...
As your London maternity photographer, my mission is to ensure this magical experience extends beyond the lens. It’s about capturing not just moments but emotions, creating a tapestry of memories for you and your little one. To achieve this, it’s crucial to establish an environment where you can feel comfortable, relaxed, and confident. I understand...
When I saw my work featured in Grazia, I felt something shift. Not just the pride of seeing Milk Tales recognised, though that was real and precious. It was the knowledge that this conversation about breastfeeding difficulties, the one I’d been so desperate to have fourteen years ago, was finally happening in spaces where mothers...
I spent three years studying art history in secondary school. I can still tell you about Botticelli’s Venus rising from the sea, Titian’s reclining Venus of Urbino, and Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People with her bare breast exposed as she charges forward with the French flag. We studied Michelangelo’s David in all his naked glory,...
You’ve booked your newborn photography session, and now the anticipation is building. But as the date approaches, you might be wondering: how do I actually prepare for this? What should I do? What should I bring? And most importantly, how can I make sure my baby cooperates? Take a deep breath. I’ve photographed hundreds of...
When Pantone announced Cloud Dancer as the Pantone Colour of the Year 2026, the internet erupted. Critics called it boring, safe, even tone deaf. Some questioned whether white could even be considered a colour at all. Others felt it was a missed opportunity, a retreat into blandness when the world needs bold statements and vibrant...
Something shifts when a woman crosses into her forties. Not just the number, but something deeper. A quiet question whispered in moments of stillness: When did I become invisible? If you’ve felt this, you’re not imagining it. Studies show that many women begin to feel unseen as they age, as if the world’s gaze has...
The Mirror on the Wall Have you ever noticed how a child pauses in front of a framed photo of themselves?They look, they smile, sometimes they point. It’s just instinct for them maybe but the reality is that they’re seeing themselves as part of something larger. A powerful sign of how family photos and self-esteem...
If you’re wondering what to wear for your newborn shoot, you’re not alone, this is one of the questions I’m asked most. And it makes sense. When you’re preparing for one of the most important moments of your life, you want to feel confident. You want to look back at these photos in 10, 20...
You’re planning your maternity photoshoot and and now you’re wondering what to wear for maternity photos. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions I get asked as a London maternity photographer and for good reason. From choosing the best jeans for a maternity photoshoot to finding elegant maternity photoshoot outfit...
Hello!
My name is Valentina. I'm a London baby and maternity photographer.
I share tips, curiosities, information, and more in this blog. Grab a cup of tea (or a glass of wine) and read away!
I'd love to read your comments.
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This photo is from last year.
We look different now. Older, wiser, with shorter hair. We’re in different countries. Life has thrown its complications at us, the kind that don’t get shared on social media. And a photo like this is not possible right now.
So I’m holding on to this one until better days come.
I remember how hard it was to take it. So many bad ones, so much frustration. Me going back and forth from the camera. And then this. The last one. The real one. Laughter out of frustration. Boom.
This Mother’s Day, I’m not thinking about breakfast in bed or bouquets. That’s for the Instagram show.
I’m thinking about the women who wish they still had their mum. The ones who wish they were one. The ones holding everything together while the world posts its perfect mum life, and we all know it’s not real. The ones who are tired, exhausted, overwhelmed, desperate for a break, but with a heart full of love, hanging onto every little moment of joy.
You don’t have to have the perfect day to be a good mother.
Today is about acknowledging us, exactly as we are.
Happy Mother’s Day 🤍
Six years ago, I photographed Louise feeding her baby during her newborn session.
Last Friday, I went to something special.
The live recording of @no_parental_guidance , the podcast by @mamastillgotit_ and @hannaheastcomedy. What an absolutely amazing morning, thanks again for having me there!
And on that occasion we swapped books.
In her copy of Milk Tales, I wrote: “This book was born from the real voices of mothers. In many ways, you give space to those voices every day.” ( or something on line as I don’t rememebr the exact words now - hello I don’t remember what I ate for lunch, let the exact words I used a week ago!😅)
Because that’s what she does.
Milk Tales is a collection of breastfeeding stories and photographs, born from my own experience and built from the honest voices of other mothers. Through her podcast with Hannah East, Louise has been doing the same work: creating space for the messy, funny, hard, beautiful truth of parenting.
It’s one of those full-circle moments. The newborn I photographed six years ago. The mother who keeps showing up, keeps speaking honestly, keeps making other parents feel less alone.
If you haven’t listened to @no_parental_guidance go and find it. Real conversations about the parts of parenting no one warns you about, with lots of humour.
If you’ve been curious about Milk Tales, it’s available on Amazon. And if you haven’t read Louise’s book yet, find it there too you will laugh out loud!
March: the month we celebrate women. Twice.
But instead of just posting about it, I’m doing something.
I’m opening up five complimentary portrait sessions in my studio this March. Small, intimate experiences for women over 40.
For women who’ve been thinking about doing this but haven’t taken the step.
For women who want to see themselves differently.
There’s no catch. Just the experience of pausing, of being witnessed, of seeing yourself through a lens that isn’t your phone screen.
If you fall in love with an image and want to print it, you can. Prints start at £100. Because you deserve to see yourself properly, not on a small screen.
If nothing calls to you, the experience is yours to keep.
To apply: Comment and tell me in one sentence what it would mean to you to see yourself differently.
5 spaces. Late March. If this stirs something in you, don’t wait.
It’s been 17 days since I last posted.
I had to check the date because honestly, I didn’t notice. And that’s new for me.
For years, I’ve felt the pressure to show up constantly.
To post multiple times a week.
To be visible. To prove I’m here, I’m working, I’m relevant.
But somewhere along the way, I started asking myself: is there value in posting just for the sake of posting?
If I posted every day saying “book a shoot with me,” I’d bore myself.
So how could I expect you not to be bored too?
There’s already so much noise online. And I don’t think you need mine too.
So this year, I made a choice.
To show up when I have something worth saying. To prioritise depth over frequency. To invest in myself rather than performing for an algorithm.
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve read 9 books.
I’ve studied. I’ve learned. I’ve grown.
And I feel more valuable now than I did when I was posting three times a week just to tick a box.
I’m not saying social media doesn’t matter. It does. Visibility matters.
But so does substance.
So does intention.
So does showing up because you have something real to offer, not because you’re afraid of being forgotten. And Now I’m here to drop this reflection.
I’m still here. I’m still photographing families. I’m still creating work I’m proud of.
Actually I’m more busy than usual.
I’m just not shouting about it every day anymore.
And I’m okay with that.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear it.
Because I think a lot of us are tired of the noise.
What’s the main message of Milk Tales?
This was my answer on my very first podcast back in July, before the book even launched. And now, after being featured in Grazia, this message feels more important than ever.
Every story shared helps another mother feel less alone.
Every conversation breaks the silence a little more.
If you’re struggling with breastfeeding, please know: you deserve to be seen, heard, and supported. Your story matters.
Milk Tales available on Amazon
#MilkTales #BreastfeedingStories #MaternalMentalHealth #breastfeedingsupport #postpartumsupport
I never thought I`d see my story in Grazia.
But here it is. My journey with breastfeeding. The struggle. The guilt. The feeling of failing. And why I turned all of that into Milk Tales.
When I was breastfeeding, I felt completely alone. I thought I was the only one crying through feeds. The only one who couldn`t make it work. The only one drowning in guilt when I stopped.
But I wasn`t alone. None of us are.
That`s why I wrote this book. To collect the stories nobody tells. The truths we`re all too afraid to say out loud. The guilt, the grief, the pressure, the relief.
Because however you feed your baby is enough. And you deserve to feel supported, not judged.
If you`ve ever felt alone in your feeding journey, Milk Tales is for you.
Available on Amazon (link in bio).
Thanks to @melhunterwrites for listening to me and writing this beautiful piece and @graziauk for publish it.
Read the full Grazia article here: https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/parenting/breastfeeding-guilt/
Tag a mother who needs this.
#milktales #breastfeedingjourney #motherhoodunplugged #graziamagazine
Based in Richmond, I work with families across London to capture life’s most meaningful milestones through portrait photography.
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