Derbyshire & Leicestershire newborn lifestyle photography, documenting the fourth trimester with care, softness, and connection.
For the raw, real, and beautiful beginnings of motherhood
The newborn stage — or what many call the fourth trimester — is unlike anything else. It’s tender, chaotic, emotional, and all-consuming in the most extraordinary way.
When I had my first daughter, Aurora, I loved her so deeply it hurt. But those first few weeks also nearly swallowed me whole — the sleepless nights, the hormones, the soreness, the tears that seemed to arrive without warning.
I remember sitting on the edge of my bed on day three, my husband reading the instructions for the breast pump while I cried from pure overwhelm. Something so simple felt impossibly hard.
And when Margo arrived later, I felt it all again — the exhaustion, the beauty, the ache. Except this time, it wasn’t just the baby and me crying; it was all three of us.
Motherhood, I’ve learned, is both love and longing, fullness and loss, joy and surrender — all at once. I missed my old freedom, but I also lived in a blissful bubble, holding two little souls I’d do anything for.
And that’s what storytelling motherhood photography is really about: preserving every shade of that truth.
If You’re Loving a New Mum Right Now…
If you’re a partner, friend, or family member supporting a mum in her fourth trimester, here’s what I’d say:
Give her space to be — to learn, to find her rhythm, to stumble through it all in her own clumsy, beautiful way.
If she wants advice, she’ll ask. If she needs help, she’ll find it.
What she probably wants more than anything is to hear “I know this is hard, but you’ve got this. You’re doing this one day at a time — and it looks so, so good on you.”
Make her dinner. Send a message — not just to ask about the baby, but about her.
Because while everyone’s busy falling in love with the baby, it’s often the mother who’s quietly unravelling and rebuilding all at once.
She doesn’t need perfection. She needs presence.
What I Hold Space for in My Sessions
This is the heart behind my Derbyshire lifestyle newborn and motherhood sessions. When I step into your home, I’m not looking for perfection. I’m not bothered by the unmade bed, the cold cup of tea, or the dishes in the sink. I’m there to hold space for you — exactly as you are.
Your love. Your exhaustion. Your tenderness.
Maybe you’re curled up in milk-stained pyjamas, or wrapped in the same dress you wore when you saw those two pink lines. There’s no right way — there’s your way. And that’s what makes it perfect.
Between the cuddles, the tears, and the small quiet moments, I’ll be there — gently capturing what this season truly feels like.
So that one day, you’ll look back and whisper: “I did this. I survived this. And oh, how I loved through it all.”
Because that’s the beauty of storytelling lifestyle photography — it doesn’t just freeze time; it honours the realness of it. The chaos, the stillness, the softness, and the love that holds it all together.
A Few Things Worth Investing In
From my heart to yours — a couple of things that helped me survive those hazy, holy days:
✨ A hypnobirthing course — After a traumatic first birth, this gave me the tools for a calm, empowered second one.
✨ A sling — Truly, I would not have survived either newborn stage without one. It kept my babies close and gave me my hands back. An absolute lifesaver.
The Story of Motherhood, Remembered
Motherhood is not just a season — it’s a transformation.
Every heartbeat, every sleepless night, every tiny hand resting on your chest becomes part of your story.
Whether your baby is one week or one year old, this chapter matters.
Because you deserve to be seen in it — not just as mum, but as you.
Moments by Simona offers heartfelt storytelling motherhood and newborn photography across Derbyshire, Leicestershire & beyond — capturing the raw, romantic, and real beginnings of family life.
