Our Winter Maternity Shoot Up On the Slopes of Silvermine, 2017

Wait, wait, Tracey, say what now? Maternity photos?! Didn’t I only just announce my recent pregnancy? Yes, but Im talking about my pregnancy with Yuriko-Mae, silly! 🙂 And yes, I know the madam is about to have her first birthday in a few days time, and I’m still here yapping about “her” maternity shoot. But in my defense, things escalated pretty quickly since this shoot. I mean, I still thought I had time to share it with all of you while I was on maternity leave. You know, while I chill out and do some proper relaxing and prepping for the home birth..that is until madam decided it was go – time right as I started my maternity leave.

So, fast forward to a year later, and with my mind completely alight with all the memories of our little Coco, including that belly of mine, I found myself scratching deep in my photo folders of her. Of course, my first stop was right before she was born. This beautiful time for us was documented by none other than Marysol Blomerus only 10 days before Coco was born. (We always seem to cut it so damn close!) 😉 And because Marysol has seriously amazing service, we received these snaps only six days later – beautifully and thoughtfully packaged, as always. (Only 4 days before the birth) So, I think I could be excused for the delayed posting. ‘Cause Lord knows its been just one long tumble of life from birth, to new born days to return to work, and then back into a new surprise pregnancy.

I even had a draft that I managed to type up on my phone with one hand and with a newborn in the other, but it never got light of day…that is,until now:

It was a beautiful crisp evening up on the slopes of Silvermine, Cape Town. In fact, it was extra crisp due to the snow that only just fallen in the nearby Ceres, that day. I, of course, chose to wear a short sleeve dress for our Winter shoot. Makes sense. (But in my defense, this winter was right in the middle of our drought, where warm sunny Winter days had become our new norm.)

Anyhoo, Marysol (and her lovely assistant Jasmine), always make for a fun shoot, where eventually nobody even notices the cold, and we kind of really just relax and enjoy the time.

I also love that Marysol has a more documentary style type of shooting, and even though she helps guide you with posing and positioning, she captures you very naturally.

She’ll maybe suggest we hold each other, and then Mike would naturally lean in with a kiss, and she’s right there snapping it up…whilst our girlies egg us on for more kisses!

Ps. I LOVE that our girls like to see us dote and love on each other. Especially Morgy, she’s a little love-heart that one, and has always been vocal in her enjoyment of Mike and my public displays of affection. And it seems Parker is coming around too.

But I especially loved the shared giggles…

And just how she always manages to capture the essence and energy of our family so beautifully.

Parker, with her hard to be moved expressions, while Morgy just loves to laugh…

Now, initially, I didn’t know that’s where we’d end up for the shoot, but I shared my vision for the shoot, with those kind of silhouettes in the backdrop and that kind of light, and fortunately Marysol had the same vision. But then she took it to the moon. Which is just how she rolls!

Guys, if you ever get the chance to work with Marysol, or are even just toying with the idea, let me tell you now, stop thinking, and just DO it! There are zero regrets when hiring her as your photographer- whether that’s for birth or maternity. She’s the one you WANT! Also, best you get cracking with booking, she’s pretty popular! But give her a call, she may just have space for you. I know the first time I called her up, it was just by chance that a space had opened up. So just call and chat, she’s a darling of a person too!

Also, moms who are not quite sure how you’ll manage with your kids at a shoot…and wives of hubbies who truly hate being photographed, it must be noted that Marysol is an absolute pro at working with kids and husbands, and knows just how to get the most out of everyone in the shortest time possible. Seriously, go check her out here.

Now, excuse me while I look through these pix again- it’s been a while since I last did. I cant seem to get over how big that belly of mine was this last time!! Wowzers! 🙂