Nine months in the making - part 11

Over a year ago, I embarked in a photography project in which I wanted to document a baby's first year through photography. So I wrote a post in our local community on google plus.
Shahy and Haythem responded and the rest is history. :)

Their beautiful baby girl Haya turned one today and I was fortunate to be on holidays, so we spent a relaxing afternoon at a beautiful park.
It was the last shoot for the project and the year, so I would like to thank Shahy and Haythem for being part of the project. May you continue to enjoy this beautiful journey that is parenthood :)

Amazing what can be achieved when you dare greatly. - ("Daring greatly" by Brené Brown)

Nine months in the making - part 10

Conducted my final photo shoot for Stefania at her birthday party!
A long, yet short journey comes to an end in what has been an amazing project.
It has been incredible to see her grow, from stage to stage.

You experience a feeling of accomplishment, when your children get over the hurdles life throws at them. And slowly you do less and less for them, which brings about a kind of baby nostalgia; missing the time when they were little needy bundles. But, it is life, which grows, adapts and changes. Changes all the time.

I've learned lots from this experience and would like to thank Maria Jose and Carlos for allowing me to photograph their story.

Family is bliss

Exactly a year ago I photographed our niece and her young family. Samuel is now one year old and on the verge of walking!
No matter how much we try to slow down, we seem to comment how 'fast' time passes by quite often these days :).

Our young children encompass so much of the past, present and future. Often times it feels like we are being returned gifts that were once lost; they travel with us filling our lives with a mixture of experiences, but mostly joy. The feeling of gratitude is never far away: for these blissful moments that are our lives together in family.

Nine months in the making - part 9

Over seven months have past and Haya will soon be a little toddler. Her eyes are captivating and her parents are still the only world she knows. She makes noises and grabs things; I'm sure her parents melt every time she smiles at them :).

Nine months in the making - part 7

Time is flying past. It's been 6 months and Estefania is growing up fast. The weather has been crazily gorgeous for Autumn and I caught up with the family last weekend for a shoot in one of my favourite parks.

I'm half way through this project that has taken me to places I never thought. As I watch my own child grow up, it is an amazing experience to see these young babies change from newborn to babies and soon toddlers. Along side their siblings and parents they grow, with much love and nurture they grow.

Nine months in the making - part 6

Nearly four months have past and life has become a 'before' and 'after' her arrival. This is how I felt and it's probably how Haythem and Shahy now feel.

We met up for picnic on Anzac Day and it was lovely to see little Haya. My family came along as well and my daughter introduced Haya to the playground :D.
Children definitely change our lives in more ways than one; rest is minimal, worries are many, but the happiness they bring overshadows all of the above.

Nine months in the making - part 5

It's been a weather roller coaster in our part of the world. Days of 40 degrees celsius plus, then strong wind causing wide-spread damage, then back to 40 degrees plus heatwave, then rain!

Luckily our little ones have handled it really well. Stefania is no exception. She is now home and is enjoying lots of cuddles from her proud parents, sisters and extended family.

Nine months in the making - part 4

A month goes by really quickly. Little Haya is transitioning from a newborn, to an infant; growing and becoming more aware of her environment.
She looks at her parents and cradles herself in them, nowhere else is safer :).

Nine months in the making - Part 3

Welcome Haya!

Shahy and Haythem are now the proud parents of baby Haya.
She is a beautiful and strong little girl.
Below are some of the photographs I've captured so far.
Their story also inspired me to write a small poem, which is embedded below.

© Maria Mastrogiuseppe - 2014

Nine months in the making - Part 2

Maria Jose and Carlos

The miracle of life; it is fragile yet vibrant and robust.
Stefania decided to come early, at 7 months. I had planned to do a 'christmas theme' pregnancy shoot with the family, as part of my 'Nine months in the making' project but it was not to be :). Planning is only good if you prepare for the unplanned!

The lighting inside the hospital challenged my ISO, but I think the grain adds a nice texture to the photograph and the story. The name 'Stefania' originates from the old Greek, meaning 'crowned' or 'winning'; a beautiful and fitting name indeed :). She is growing strong everyday, and hopefully will be home with her family soon. Congratulations and thanks to the proud parents!

Introducing: Julian Cesar

I had the pleasure of photographing our dear cousin Julian Cesar.
He was named after our great grandfather.
I remember my Dad speaking of his grandfather 'Papa Julian' when I was a child. Back then, black and white images of yesteryear would pop into my head. Those were different times, which feel almost from another world.

The names have been passed on, to new lives, that bring with them a kind of renaissance in our families.

Welcome to the family baby Julian :)

My progress so far

I've been going through my Photo library from the past 2 years to check on my photography development. I can definitely see progress in all areas: composition, technical, story telling and post processing.

21/10/2012

10/01/2013

26/05/2013

My family have been very cooperative through my learning process and have made the time to do these photo shoots. It's great, as you get to document different stages in their lives and these photographs make great gifts! :)

It's a good idea to go back through your work and sometimes re-work your images, as with time you're able to see where things need to improve and you have a digital journal of your progress.

I will hopefully be doing more baby shoots in the near future and have been watching the latest Sue Bryce/ Kelly Brown CreativeLive workshop 'Bumps to Babies', which will help me a lot through these shoots.