To understand quite how good a children’s portrait photographer David Bier is, you need to appreciate quite how bad a mother I am.

Here is the parallel universe I wish I lived in:  Having organised a photoshoot with my two daughters at my house early one Saturday morning, I ensure the place is spotless with a few beautiful items artfully arranged. I wash my daughter’s hair, pop in the best hairclips and dress them in fabulous, co-ordinating outfits.

And here’s what actually happens. I accidentally have rather too good a time when out with friends on Thursday night, so Friday evening is a wipeout as I’m in recovery.  On the day of the shoot, my lovely daughters vociferously resist all attempts at me dressing them like dolls & manage to totally cover three rooms in the house with Barbie and soft-toy detritus in an all-time record space of ten minutes (9.50-10 am when I foolishly leave them to throw some clothes and makeup on myself)…

They say God laughs when one makes plans. He certainly does when two spirited small girls sense their mother’s desire for them to behave impeccably. Sigh.

So David arrives to find me, taking deep breaths and gritting my teeth at the same time. Oh -and did I mention in those same ten minutes, daughter 2 had lost the beautiful hairclips and Daughter 1 had somehow eaten the biscuits I’d put out for David. There are actually biscuit crumbs in the photos…. Double sigh.

And then everything changes. David performs minor miracles in the two hours he’s with us. I’m not just talking about the beautiful photos, I’m talking her about how quickly he charms my two children (who are grumpy with the stress of their mother grumbling at them) and how he effortlessly persuades them to relax, have fun, interact and reveal their true – cheeky -characters for his portraits.

Baby portrait photographers have to be charming, patient and ingenious. David has a huge number of tricks up his sleeve to get the girls laughing. I have heard so many horror stories of friends doing ‘family portrait sessions’ tense and tired in a studio. This was actually kind of fun. I like the fact that some of the images show the girls rather fabulous bunk beds (which we will want to remember in years to come) and the local park. They feel personal and special as a result.

Although I pride myself on the pictures I’ve taken of the girls since they were born (lord knows I’ve taken enough), it was wonderful to have a professional shoot them. Bythe time David left he had made Georgie a little in love with him and even Rosie (who is harder to win over – and frankly, less of a flirt) really chatting to him and giving him her massively beautiful smiles. Yes I’m biased but her smiles are so very precious and it’s wonderful that this moment in time has been captured so perfectly.

Contact  David Bier Photography – babysitting services not yet available, sadly.