You've asked....I've Delivered!! Cool School Photography Mini Sessions!

Beautiful & Emotive Private School Photography Sessions in the Scottish Borders, Edinburgh and the Lothians

I am incredibly lucky to be asked each year to photograph children in some of the local schools in my area. I honestly feel it is such a privilege to be able to do so. These sessions are one of the highlights of my year. I love to bring something that is a little different from the norm, changing each shoot year on year to rid walls of the same awkward and posed school photos that have sadly become the norm. School photography doesn’t need to be like that!

I’ve been contacted many times over the years by parents asking if I also do private sessions. Up until now I have only done school photography at schools where I have been booked - HOWEVER, as I’ve made it my mission to bring parents beautiful photography that captures their child’s school years I have decided to branch out and provide what I believe is a valued service. If your school isn’t on my books I am now offering a free service to photograph your wee school-goers for a limited time. There are important milestones that they reach during these years - particularly their P1 and P7 years. Don’t let these key years go by without a cherished photo to remember them by.

All I ask for these sessions to be free is that I have a minimum of 5 pupils (or families) to photograph at any one time. The shoot is free and you are under no obligation to buy prints afterwards. Once this offer is up, the sessions will be £50 with a maximum of 5 individuals/families - that’s still an amazing deal!

Why are these sessions different? Well, they’re away from the hustle and bustle of a busy school day and they can be booked at a convenient weekday time to suit YOU! They are also outdoors, where children can feel free and that allows me to capture their personalities. They’re also longer than the average time I get to spend with children in schools. This is important as it gives children time to relax but also gives you a selection of images to choose from. These sessions are open to all primary school children - but I can also cater for seniors, too! So they are all inclusive if siblings are of different school ages.

To book, click here!

Alternatively, if you would like your school to host a session with me, please email info@vanillamoonphotography.com. I’d love to hear from you! My school photography visits are open to all schools in the Borders, Lothians and Edinburgh areas.

Individual sessions take place in Eddleston, Peebles. They are open to all primary school pupils and their siblings - school pupils must be in school uniform.

School Dayz 🚸

I'm sure it was only just yesterday that I held her in my arms for the first time?! Looking down into those questioning baby blue eyes, I knew that from that day on I would always be there for my beautiful little angel. It sounds like a cliché - but under these circumstances, it's allowed.  Where have the last four and 3/4 years gone?  Full of learning, exploring, craziness, happiness, tears, joy, not to mention mess...and now, she's about to hit one of the biggest milestone of all. She's starting Primary School.  

For me it is the realisation that she is actually growing up that I am finding hard to grasp. Little Miss Independent - perhaps a little too independent sometimes - but she is still my baby.  She is stepping out into the world for the first time and I wont be there with her.  She will be, for a few hours a day, someone else's responsibility - someone else will be there to answer her never-ending questions, show her right from wrong and help set her on a path that will pave the way to a bright future.  All these things that fill my day and make this whole crazy parenting experience so worth while.  

I can remember my first day at school.  I remember being so excited and meeting my first best friend, Kristy Parkes (we're still mates over thirty years later!) We went off to play in the sand together, leaving our mums all teary eyed at the door. I expect much the same will happen in two weeks time.

When I was at school, my Dad once said to me - 'these are the best days of your life, enjoy them'. Actually, I only slightly agree with him.  School days were great, but the best days of my life started the moment I became a parent.  A whole new responsibility that hit me so hard and I was expected to know how to deal with it.  But deal with it I did, because of that primal instinct to love, nurture and care for the little life that we created.  I want to fill each day with wonder and I yearn for my children to question everything, try new things and for that shining star of a personality to burst out and show its true colours.

Each day I help fill with new challenges to embrace - and that will never change, but it's time to let go a little...just a little and let her start exploring by herself.  This is just a new challenge; the next step, the next chapter. 

So, go out in to the world, little Emilia! Enjoy it, learn, play, make new friends and above all have fun - and, if you're anything like I was, be a bit rebellious too!

If your little ones are starting school this August and you want to capture those first precious moments as they head off into the big world of education, get in touch to take advantage of my special discounted portrait session at just £35. Sessions start during first week of school.    Email info@vanillamoonphotography.com or purchase directly through the online shop!