Oh ok, that title is a little dramatic.

The inspiration for this blog post hit a few weeks ago, when I photographed a gorgeous new family. I had instantly recognised the new mummy from somewhere, and boy did I feel old when she informed me that I had indeed photographed her before....when she was a child who had come to a newborn session for her baby sister!

It was wonderful to see her again of course, although I am still in shock at how fast the years had flown since I last saw her. That got me thinking about ageing, and all the negatives and positives that come with it. So, interspersed with some photos from this gorgeous family's session, I'll start off this blog with the positives of ageing. There must be some.

There are some, I'm sure.......

There has to be....

Hasn't there?

Yes! There are some positives to getting older. Ageing isn't just about creaky joints, menopause and grey hair.

Perhaps I will blog again on the disadvantages of ageing (which I feel will be a longer read) but for now, let's stay positive. Here's my take on the plus side of heading into the twilight years:

Wisdom and Experience: I’m looking forward to sipping tea (or Baileys) from the comfort of my sofa while I regale my grandchildren with stories from my youth. That's one advantage of ageing – accumulating wisdom like a fine wine. With each passing year, we all gather experiences, learn from mistakes, and gain insights that can't be Googled. Suddenly, our advice becomes golden, and our anecdotes turn into valuable life lessons. Who wouldn't want to be the voice of wisdom? That’s how it is supposed to be - getting your kids to actually take you seriously though? That’s another matter!

Of course the experiences I've gained in my work as a newborn and family photographer are invaluable. I'm at that glorious stage where I don't even have to think about how to position a light, set my camera or settle a baby, I've been doing it so long that the basics just come naturally. I'll always keep learning and adapting because that's the nature of photography; it never stands still, but to have that solid base knowledge is definitely a plus for getting older!

Zero FOMO, All JOMO: I remember frantic weekends, rushing off to hit every pub or club in town, desperate to celebrate the end of another work week. Well, guess what? As you age, the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) magically transforms into the Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO). While I certainly still have the occasional night out, I’ve found that suddenly, staying in with a good book or movie can be the highlight of my week. A lot can be said for embracing the serenity of missing out!

I’m doing ME!: One of the greatest perks of ageing has been the ability to finally wave goodbye to the pressures of fitting in.

In my younger years I was a chameleon, constantly changing to try and fit in. I was a mod, a goth, a new romantic – it was exhausting! Don’t get me started on the diets I subjected myself to!

With age has come the glorious realisation that I no longer have to do this. I can be who I am and march to the beat of my own drum.

I got five new piercings and a shaved under cut in my fifties and it felt bloody marvellous!

Selective Filter: Engaged: Ah, the joys of filtering out the unnecessary noise! As I’ve aged I have developed a finely-tuned BS detector and can usually sniff out insincerity from a mile away.

Gone are the days of wasting my time on toxic relationships or meaningless drama. I’ve learned to only surround myself with people who honestly care about me, inspire, and uplift me. Quality over quantity.

Enjoying the Simple Things: When I was young there was so much 'stuff' going on around me, so many places to be and things to do. Now I'm getting older I've found I am definitely taking the time to appreciate the simpler things in life.

For example, as a young mum in my twenties I never really appreciated a lazy Sunday, it was all rushing around, making sure the kids' school uniforms were washed and ironed, bags packed, and lunches made. Now, although my heart will always ache as I walk past the empty bedrooms that were once full of the noise of our three children, a Sunday means a lie in, leisurely dog walk and the time to really appreciate a good Sunday lunch!

That's about all the positives I have for now! (I'm quite surprised I found enough to talk about!)

I am hopeful that, one day, our house will be filled with the sound of childrens' laughter again as we welcome grandchildren into the family. In the meantime, I get to meet plenty of little ones every week in my studio.

Thanks for reading! Oh and I'll say it again - treasure every single second with your children, time really does pass far too quickly!