October at Phoebe Berridge Photography

September always seems to disappear in the blink of an eye!

After a lovely summer, the kids headed back to school in September and, after a few weeks of finding our feet again, I think we’re finally back into some sort of routine — hopefully you are too.

There’s something about September that always feels like a bit of a reset. Back to normal working weeks, school runs, after-school clubs and actually knowing what day of the week it is again. 😂

And now October is here which, if you’ve followed Phoebe Berridge Photography for a while, you’ll probably already know is one of my favourite months of the year.

I absolutely love autumn. The cooler days, cosy evenings, chunky knits and, of course, all those gorgeous colours starting to appear outside.

It also marks the beginning of one of the busiest times of the year for me as a family and newborn photographer here in Bedfordshire.

Autumn Minis are almost here, Christmas Mini preparations are well underway and the studio diary is filling with lots of lovely babies and families in between.

So grab a cuppa and have a little catch-up on everything happening at PBP this October.

Autumn Mini season is almost here 🍂

October means one thing at PBP Autumn Minis!

This year’s Autumn Mini Sessions are taking place on 17th & 18th October, and I honestly cannot wait.

There is something so lovely about photographing families outdoors at this time of year. Cosy layers, little boots, cuddles, crunchy leaves and all of those warm autumn colours make such a gorgeous backdrop without us needing to create anything artificial.

It’s one of the reasons autumn family photography will always be a favourite of mine.

If you're already booked in for an Autumn Mini, keep an eye on your inbox as I'll be sending everything you need to know ahead of your session, including those all-important final details.

Now we just need October to deliver those gorgeous autumn colours for us!

Behind the scenes at PBP

While October might look very autumnal from the outside, behind the studio doors things are already looking a little more… Christmassy. 🎄

I know. Christmas already!

There’s so much that happens before the first family walks through the door for their Christmas Mini Session.

Set preparation, styling, checking props, preparing client information, answering outfit questions and making sure all the little details are ready for what is always an incredibly busy few weeks in the studio.

It's one of those parts of running a photography business that you don't necessarily see when you look at the finished photographs.

By the time Christmas Mini season actually arrives, I've already been thinking about Christmas for MONTHS.

The Christmas chaos has officially begun although I'm still not quite ready for the Christmas songs yet. 😂

The Christmas countdown is on 🎄

This year's Christmas Mini Sessions have had such an incredible response.

The original dates sold out and, after lots of messages from families who had missed out, I added an additional date to the diary.

Christmas Minis are always such a special part of my year because I get to see so many familiar faces coming back through the studio doors.

Some of the children I photograph at Christmas are little ones I've photographed since they were newborns, and watching them change each year is one of the loveliest parts of doing this job.

If you're already booked for your 2026 Christmas Mini, don't worry about remembering everything just yet. I'll be sending information out before your session with everything you need to know.

What should we wear for Christmas Minis?

This is probably one of the questions I get asked most before any family photography session!

The biggest thing to remember is that you don't all need to match.

Instead, think coordinating rather than matching.

Soft knits, creams, warm neutrals and earthy tones photograph beautifully. Mixing slightly different shades and textures between everyone creates a much softer, more natural finished look than putting everyone in exactly the same thing.

I'd avoid large logos, characters and particularly busy patterns where possible, as these can quickly become the focus of the photograph.

And when it comes to little ones, comfort wins every time.

The most beautiful outfit in the world isn't worth much if your toddler has decided they absolutely hate wearing it. 😂

Choose something they can move around and be themselves in — happy, comfortable children will always photograph beautifully.

Expecting a winter baby? 🤍

Amongst all the autumn and Christmas madness, my usual maternity, newborn and baby sessions are still taking place too.

If you're expecting a baby in November, December or early 2027, now is a really good time to start thinking about booking your newborn photography session.

You don't need to wait until your baby arrives.

When you book a newborn session with me, I reserve space in my diary around your due date. Once your little one decides to make their appearance, we'll arrange the actual date for you to come into my home studio in Ickwell, Bedfordshire.

I generally recommend newborn photographs are taken during those first few weeks, but sessions are completely baby-led.

There's plenty of time for feeding, changing, cuddling and settling. Your baby hasn't read my diary and definitely doesn't care that we've scheduled photographs for that morning so we work around them!

There's never any rush.

A Christmas present they'll actually keep

October also tends to be the month when Christmas shopping starts creeping onto everyone's to-do lists.

If you're struggling with what to buy someone who genuinely doesn't need more "stuff", a photography gift voucher can be a lovely alternative.

They're particularly lovely for new parents, grandparents or families who are always saying:

"We really need some nice photos of us all together."

Because they'll probably forget another candle.

They won't forget these.

Have you heard about PBP Memory Credits?

If you've recently spotted me talking about Memory Credits, they're my new way of saying thank you when you recommend Phoebe Berridge Photography to your friends and family.

When somebody books through your recommendation, they receive £25 off their session and you receive a £25 Memory Credit.

Your Memory Credit can then be put towards a future photography session, additional digital photographs or prints.

So if you've ever recommended me in a local Facebook group, sent my details to a pregnant friend or told another mum at school about your session, firstly — thank you.

Word of mouth continues to be such an important part of my little business, and Memory Credits are my way of giving a little something back.

Looking ahead…

There is plenty happening over the next few months at PBP:

🍂 OCTOBER
Autumn Mini Sessions
17th & 18th October

🎄 NOVEMBER
Christmas Mini season begins
21st, 22nd & 28th November

✨ DECEMBER
The final Christmas Minis
5th December
Plus the last studio sessions before Christmas

🤍 JANUARY – MARCH 2027
The diary is open for maternity, newborn, baby and family photography sessions.

🌿 SPRING 2027
Spring Minis will be returning, with dates and booking details coming in the New Year.

See you soon 🤍

The next few months are going to be busy, slightly chaotic and filled with lots and lots of photographs — exactly how this time of year usually looks at PBP.

Whether you're coming to see me for Autumn Minis, returning for another year of Christmas photographs, preparing to welcome a new baby or simply following along from home, thank you for continuing to support Phoebe Berridge Photography.

Every booking, recommendation, comment, share and familiar face coming back through the studio doors means so much.

Here's to a lovely October.

Phoebe x

Phoebe Berridge Photography
Newborn, baby, maternity & family photographer in Ickwell, Bedfordshire
Photographing families across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire & Cambridgeshire

August at Phoebe Berridge Photography

New Beginnings, Back To School & Autumn Adventures

Welcome to the August edition of Moments with Phoebe.

I don't know about you, but I always find August a bit of a strange month.

The summer holidays are in full swing, the days are still long, and yet there's that little feeling that a new season is just around the corner.

As parents, we spend so much of the year looking forward to the summer holidays, and then suddenly we're buying new school shoes, labelling uniform and wondering how another school year has come around so quickly.

It's one of the reasons I love photography so much.

Photographs have a way of freezing moments that otherwise seem to disappear in the blink of an eye. The missing tooth, the favourite teddy, the excitement of starting school, the cuddles that become a little less frequent as children grow older.

These moments may feel ordinary now, but one day they'll become some of your most treasured memories.

New For 2026: Back to School Mini Sessions

This August I'm excited to be launching something brand new.

My Back-to-School Mini Sessions have been designed to celebrate the start of a brand-new school year with simple, timeless portraits of your children.

Whether they're heading off to Nursery for the first time, starting Reception, moving up to Secondary School or preparing for college, every new school year marks another milestone worth remembering.

The idea for these sessions came from my own experience as a step-mum to Coen and Flynn.

Every year it seems to get harder to get a nice photograph of the boys before they head back to school. One doesn't want their photo taken, the other is pulling a face, and before you know it the morning rush has taken over!

Then a few months later the school photographs arrive, and we find ourselves thinking, "Oh..." 🤣

One child looks like they've forgotten how to smile, the other's tie is wonky, someone's jumper is sitting strangely, and it just doesn't quite capture them as we know them.

I wanted to create an opportunity for parents to have beautiful, natural portraits of their children before the school year begins—while the uniforms are still pristine, the shoes are polished and the excitement (or nerves!) of a brand-new school year is still there.

One of the biggest reasons I've decided to offer these sessions is because I know how difficult it can be to get professional photographs of siblings together once they're attending different schools.

These sessions provide the perfect opportunity to capture them together before another school year begins.

And let's be honest... uniforms never stay this clean for long! 🤣

Could Your Outfit Choices Be Ruining Your Photos?

One of the most common questions I receive before family sessions is:

"What should we wear?"

The good news is that you don't need matching white shirts and jeans.

The not-so-good news is that a few outfit choices can unintentionally distract from your photographs.

Large logos, cartoon characters, neon colours and lots of competing patterns can all draw attention away from the people in the image.

Instead, think coordination rather than matching.

Soft neutrals, earthy tones, creams, sage greens, soft blues and blush pinks work beautifully together and help keep the focus exactly where it belongs—on your family.

The best family photographs are the ones where you notice the people first, not the clothes.

 Client Love

One of my favourite parts of every month is hearing from families after they've received their photographs.

This month's review comes from Becky following her newborn session with her two daughters:

"This was our fourth visit to Phoebe for some newborn photos including our two-year-old. The photos, as usual, were absolutely beautiful and Phoebe captured exactly what we wanted.

Phoebe is so patient and always puts us at ease, especially this time with a difficult toddler who did not want to sit for any photos. But Phoebe excelled and got us some gorgeous photos with both our girls that we will cherish forever.

Can't wait to book in again and we would not go anywhere else for our family photos."

Thank you so much, Becky, for your kind words and for trusting me to capture so many special milestones for your family over the years.

Thinking Ahead To First Birthdays

It might sound a little crazy to be talking about first birthdays already, but if your little one is due to turn one this autumn or winter, now is actually the perfect time to start thinking about their Cake Smash or First Birthday Portrait Session.

One of the biggest surprises for many parents is just how quickly the diary fills towards the end of the year.

With Autumn Mini Sessions, Christmas Mini Sessions and family sessions all taking place, weekend availability becomes much more limited than during the quieter months.

If your baby is celebrating their first birthday from October onwards, I'd recommend getting in touch sooner rather than later to secure your preferred date.

Because whether you choose a cake smash, a simple portrait session or family photographs to mark the occasion, turning one is a milestone worth remembering.

Autumn Mini Sessions Are Now Open

Autumn Mini Sessions officially launched at the end of July and I'm so excited to see bookings already coming in.

These sessions are always one of my favourites, combining beautiful autumn colours, family cuddles, dogs welcome and, of course, plenty of leaf throwing fun.

If you've been meaning to take a look, now is the perfect time to check the remaining availability.

Phoebe's Favourite

This month's favourite is simple:

Getting in the photo.

As parents, we're often the ones taking the photographs rather than being in them.

So this month, I challenge you to hand the camera to someone else, set up the self-timer or ask for a quick family photograph.

Not because it needs to be perfect.

Not because everyone is looking at the camera.

But because one day your children will treasure seeing you in their memories.

Looking Ahead

As we head into the second half of the year, there's plenty happening at Phoebe Berridge Photography.

🎒 Back To School Mini Sessions are now open for booking and are perfect for capturing the excitement of a brand-new school year.

🍂 Autumn Mini Sessions have officially launched and are already filling up.

🎄 Christmas Mini Sessions may still feel a little way off, but November will be here before we know it!

The final few months of the year are always some of my favourites, filled with milestones, family memories and plenty of familiar faces returning to the studio.

I can't wait to capture more special moments with you all.

Phoebe x

Why Autumn Mini Sessions Are Perfect For Busy Families

Life with children is busy.

Between school runs, clubs, work, mealtimes, laundry piles and trying to remember what day of the week it is, finding time for family photographs can often feel like just another thing on an already full to-do list.

It's one of the reasons I hear so many parents say:

"We'd love family photos, but I don't know if the children would manage a full session."

Or:

*"I'd love to book something, but we're just so busy at the moment."

If that sounds familiar, Autumn Mini Sessions might be exactly what you're looking for.

They're Short and Sweet

One of the biggest benefits of an Autumn Mini Session is that they're only 20 minutes long.

That might not sound like a lot of time, but you'd be surprised what we can capture in just 20 minutes.

For many families, especially those with younger children, a shorter session often works better than a longer one.

Children can stay engaged.

Parents feel relaxed.

And there's no pressure for anyone to perform for the camera.

The result? Beautiful, natural photographs without spending hours of your day at a photoshoot.

Perfect For Children Who Prefer to Be on The Move

Let's be honest...

Most children don't want to stand still and smile at a camera for an hour.

And they don't need to.

Autumn Mini Sessions are designed to be relaxed and child led.

We walk.

We chat.

We explore.

We cuddle.

We laugh.

And sometimes we spend a few minutes throwing leaves into the air.

Some of the best photographs happen when children are simply being themselves.

A Great Option for Many Children With Additional Needs

Because Autumn Mini Sessions are shorter and less overwhelming than a full family session, they can be a wonderful option for many children with additional needs.

There's less pressure.

Less waiting around.

And more focus on creating a positive experience.

As with all my sessions, I encourage families to let me know anything that might help me support their child before the session.

Every family is different and I'm always happy to adapt where I can.

Dogs Are Welcome Too

For many families, pets are just as much a part of the family as anyone else.

One of the things I love about outdoor sessions is being able to include your dog in some of your photographs.

Autumn is one of the best times of year for this.

The cooler weather is more comfortable, the colours are beautiful, and the natural setting creates the perfect backdrop for the whole family—including the four-legged members.

Beautiful Seasonal Backdrops

There is a reason photographers get excited about autumn.

Golden leaves.

Rich colours.

Beautiful woodland tones.

Soft light.

It creates a stunning backdrop without needing anything artificial.

Nature does all the hard work for us.

The Leaf Throwing Is Always a Hit

If you've attended one of my Autumn Mini Sessions before, you'll already know what I'm talking about.

One of the highlights of every session is finishing with a big leaf throw.

The children love it.

The grown-ups usually end up joining in.

And it often creates some of the most genuine smiles and laughter-filled photographs from the entire session.

These are often the images families choose as their favourites.

Ready In Time for Christmas

Another reason Autumn Mini Sessions are so popular.

Timing.

Your photographs will be ready in plenty of time for Christmas gifts.

Whether you're planning to update the frames on the wall, create gifts for grandparents or simply have beautiful photographs to look back on, autumn is the perfect time to do it.

Family Memories Don't Need to Be Complicated

Sometimes parents put off booking family photographs because they think it needs to be a huge event.

The perfect outfits.

The perfect behaviour.

The perfect timing.

But family photography doesn't need to be complicated.

Sometimes all you need is 20 minutes, some beautiful autumn colours and the people you love most.

The rest tends to take care of itself.

Autumn Mini Sessions 2026

📍 Ickwell Green, Bedfordshire

📅 Saturday 17th October & Sunday 18th October

⏰ 20 Minute Session

✨ 5 Hand-Edited Digital Images

🐾 Dogs Welcome

💷 £85

If you'd like to capture some beautiful autumn memories with your family this year, I'd love to welcome you along.

Phoebe Berridge Photography

Family Photographer in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire & Cambridgeshire

July at Phoebe Berridge Photography

Family Photography, Summer Adventures & Looking Ahead to Autumn

Welcome to the July edition of Moments with Phoebe.

June was a month of beautiful family sessions, sunshine, a little rain (because it wouldn't be a British summer otherwise!) and plenty of wonderful memories being captured.

One of my favourite things about photographing families at this time of year is the way the sunlight filters through the trees. Whether we're exploring woodland paths or enjoying a relaxed outdoor session, there's something magical about those pockets of golden light and the beautiful backdrops they create.

As we head into the summer holidays, I'm sure many of you are counting down to family adventures, days out and hopefully a little sunshine. We're also preparing for a special family holiday of our own as we're heading to Cornwall for the first time in August. If you've got any must-visit places, hidden gems or family-friendly recommendations, I'd love to hear them!

Why Candid Moments Matter More Than Perfect Smiles

One of the biggest worries I hear before a family session is:

"What if my child won't sit still?"

Or:

"What if they're not in the mood?"

The truth is, they don't need to be.

Some of my favourite family photographs come from children doing exactly what children do best running, exploring, laughing, cuddling and simply being themselves.

Of course, we'll always try for a few photographs where everyone is looking in the same direction, but the moments family’s treasure most are often the ones in between.

A little hand reaching for Mum's.

A burst of laughter.

A cuddle that wasn't planned.

Those are the moments that tell your family's story.

Outdoor family photography allows children the freedom to be themselves while I quietly capture those genuine moments as they unfold.

A Little Note For The Dads

Let's talk about the dads for a moment.

I hear it all the time before a family session:

"I've had to drag him along."

"He's not really a photo person."

"He hates having his picture taken."

And honestly? That's fine.

The best family photographs aren't about perfectly posed smiles and everyone looking at the camera. They're about connection.

They're about piggybacks, silly jokes, chasing little feet through the woods and cuddles when those little legs get tired.

My job is to guide you through the session, so nothing feels awkward or forced. Before long, the focus shifts away from the camera and onto spending time together—and that's usually when the magic happens.

And often, the dads who arrive saying they don't enjoy photographs leave saying:

"That wasn't actually that bad!"

High praise indeed.

Client Love

One of the highlights of every month is reading your lovely feedback.

This month I'd like to share some kind words from Emma following her Spring Mini Session:

"We did a mini session with Phoebe and couldn't recommend it highly enough. We attended with our 1-year-old daughter and our Labrador, and Phoebe handled the slight chaos very well. The location was beautiful, and the pictures have come out wonderfully."

"Phoebe kept us really updated beforehand with super clear guidance on what we needed to do, which was really appreciated."

"So pleased to have such lovely pictures of us as a family, memories that we will cherish forever."

Thank you so much, Emma, for your kind words.

Reviews like this always remind me why I love what I do.

Something Autumnal Is Coming...

🍂 Autumn Mini Sessions will officially be launching on Friday 31st July.

Think golden light, cosy colours, beautiful family memories and one of my favourite seasons of the year.

These sessions are always incredibly popular and newsletter subscribers will be the first to hear all the details before they're shared elsewhere.

Keep an eye on your inbox!

Phoebe's July Favourite

One of my favourite things about this time of year is the long summer evenings.

Whether it's an evening walk, time spent in the garden, or simply not having to rush the children indoors quite so early, there's something so special about making the most of those extra daylight hours.

Sometimes the simplest moments become the ones we remember most.

A Little Christmas Reminder

I know... it's only July!

But Christmas Mini Sessions have already been available for booking for several months, and a number of spaces have already been snapped up by returning clients.

If Christmas photographs are on your list this year, now is a great time to take a look at the remaining availability before the festive season sneaks up on us all.

Thank you for reading this month's Moments with Phoebe.

I hope you're enjoying the start of summer and making lots of wonderful memories with your families.

See you next month.

Phoebe x

Phoebe Berridge Photography
Family, Newborn & Baby Photographer in Bedfordshire

Read more Moments with Phoebe