“The photographer behind Daisy Lily Photography…”

Hey!

With the New Year just around the corner, what better time to start a New Year’s resolution! This year, I am making it my personal challenge to start blogging! Those of you who know me well, will know this is a big challenge for me. But I’m ready!  

In these blogs I hope to share with you all some of what happens behind the scenes in the studio. I would also like to be on hand to offer up inspiration in the form of tips, tricks and useful information for all you wonderful mummies, as well as just talk about things I feel genuinely passionate about. 

So, let me start by introducing myself. Many of you will already know me, but for those of you who don’t, I’m Daisy, the photographer behind the lens and the creator of Daisy Lily Photography. 

I’m a 29 year old East London girl, with two flowers in my name. 

I started Daisy Lily Photography on a whim back in 2015, and oh am I glad I did!! 

I often get asked how I got into newborn photography, and the truth is I kind of fell into it. I have always known since the age of 14 that I wanted to be a photographer, and I remember the day I fell in love with photographs! I was 8 years old and it was my first time using a disposable camera on a family holiday in Turkey. I remember the excitement of getting the developed images back from Tesco (yes, Tesco! I know better now!) It was then that I discovered my love for photographs and the important role they play in creating memories.

Whilst in school I decided I wanted to be a fashion photographer. So when I left school I went to college to study photography, and I made every project I could into a fashion project. Now I won’t sit here and say I worked hard because I didn’t, the course just seemed to come naturally to me. I was always all over the place and all my assignments were done last minute - luckily things changed as I got older! But somehow- and to this day I still don’t understand how - I finished college top of my class, and got into my dream university, London College of Fashion.

Well one year in and I hated University, I questioned my choices and realised I didn’t feel right within the fashion industry. Regardless, I’m not a quitter! So I stuck it out and finished the course. After unknowingly photographing a model who was anorexic, my eyes were opened to how much pressure there is within the fashion industry to look a certain way. This made me feel extremely uncomfortable, and in a way like I was a part of the issue. I felt that as a fashion photographer, taking pictures of these young models, I was in some way encouraging people to look a certain way. So I chose to focus the rest of my time at University documenting models in their “real life”. I followed a close friend and his model friends outside of the modelling and fashion world, I documented their passions and interests and tried to show that there is much more to models than a pretty face. For the first time during my Uni experience, I had found something I loved doing! However, earning a living doing this style of photography wasn’t going to be easy. So  I finished with good grades, but no idea what to do next.  

Fast forward……

After leaving University I spent 3 years hopping between jobs that my heart wasn’t into. My camera sat under my bed unused and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. It wasn’t until a few years later that things changed, with the arrival of my perfect niece Edie. At around the same time two of my best friends also had babies, so I decided to dust off my camera and try my hand at taking some baby photos. Well, let’s just say they weren't great! Not even close. But being the perfectionist I am, I decided I would research how I could improve! I spent endless hours researching and trawling through the internet to teach myself everything there was to know about newborn photography. At around this time, I really wasn’t enjoying my admin job in the city! The 9 to 5 lifestyle, the long commutes and business clothing just weren’t for me. So, with no equipment, no experience, and no real plan, I decided to just quit my job and start my business!!

I had no idea what I was doing, I didn’t have a style, or even an idea of the style I wanted to create, so for the first year I just winged it! 

I am a strong believer in the cliche saying -

“Everything happens for a reason”

Over the past 5 years, I have built my business, trained with numerous newborn photographers from around the world, and developed a style I am happy with. I work from my home studio that is situated at the end of my family garden, which was built by my father. Over the years I have built up a large collection of props to suit my style, and I have everything you require for your session in my studio. 

I truly now could not imagine myself doing anything else!

Aside from photography, I also love to travel (who doesn’t these days?!). I have so far travelled to 25 countries and plan on making journeys to many more! Nothing makes me happier than exploring new places, putting myself outside of my comfort zone and meeting new people. I like to spend 4 weeks every January travelling to a new country, so if you have your heart set on me being your newborn photographer- try to avoid giving birth in January!!!!

So that's me…. My name is Daisy, and I absolutely love what I do!

If you made it all the way to this point, thank you for taking the time to read my blog.