All of these people have helped to shape me

I lay in bed last night thinking about my life. I know that sounds really deep, but do you know what I mean? Those nights when everyones gone to bed, it's dark, there's silence and your brain starts to whirr about all sorts of things. Last night, mine was whirring about how I have become 'me.' I was laying there, lights off, eyes closed and just thinking about the day I had had and the lovely recommendation that was written on my Facebook page by one of my clients. I had sent a screenshot of it to my mom and dad as they aren't on social media because I felt so proud of myself after reading it. My mom replied telling me that she had started to read it out aloud to my dad and had to stop halfway through because she was crying. She said how unbelievably proud they were of me and that they love to see me so happy doing what I love and that it shows in my work.

And so I got to thinking, how did I become me? Who shaped my personality and influenced and inspired me to do what I do today and be how I am? I guess one of my earliest inspiration memories is Sir David Attenborough. I have always had a huge love for animals, even since being small. My mom remembers taking me to a sealife aquarium when I was about 5 or 6 and looking in all of the tanks. She walked on ahead a little and looked behind to check I was keeping up, only to find me with my arm in a tank scooping up a starfish onto my hand! We would visit farms and zoos and I would just be fascinated by all of the animals there. Then as I got a little older we would sit on a Sunday evening watching Planet Earth and Blue Planets with David Attenborough presenting. I was in awe of what a knowledgeable man he was and still is and the world's animals mesmerised me. They still do! Everyone in my family would ask me 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' And my answer was always the same...

A marine zoologist!

Well clearly that didn't happen but even now, that would be a job I would love. Everything to do with animals interests me but particularly animals in the sea. Dolphins and whales are my favourite animals and I remember taping documentaries about them onto VHS videos so that I could watch them over and over. I love the fact that my husband and I are still enjoying watching these kind of programmes with our girls and they love them too.

Another person to inspire me in my life is my dearly missed Nan. She was honestly one of my best friends and if you read one of my previous blogs about Grandparents, you will see how close we were. I was blessed to have her in my life until I was 28 years old but it didn't make losing her any easier. I wanted her to be with me forever. She was always a kind hearted, gentle person and I learned so much from her. She taught me to follow my heart and never give up. She taught me how to care about living things - she loved growing plants in her greenhouse and always made the most beautiful hanging baskets. I say she taught me, however even after all these years of her trying to teach me, I cant even keep a cactus alive haha! I definitely do not have her wonderful green fingers!

In 2013 I was introduced to another lady who would inspire me in my life. She just so happens to now be my Sister in Law. If you don't know Victoria, you must go and read her blog post called 'Heart of the matter' here on my blogs. She is incredible. This lady has been through so much and when I have a bad day, or what I think is a bad day, I have to give my head a wobble because it is absolutely nothing compared to what Vics has been through. Even after her open heart surgeries she is still dedicated to raising money for various charities to help others. Our girls adore their Auntie Vics and rightly so! She deserves all of the love for just being one in a million and truly inspirational.

Talking of our girls, they also inspire me. Massively.

The day I became a mommy was the day I put others needs before mine. I had wanted to be a mom for so long and knew that I would always want to be the best version of myself, for them. They shape me. Their needs are always first and have been so since they were born. Just having those little faces say "I love you, Mommy" and those little arms flung around me hugging me for no reason, gives me strength every day. I do everything for them. And for my wonderful husband. He is my rock and my best friend and I honestly couldn't imagine my life having not met him. It was just meant to be. He is my biggest supporter and encourages me daily with his compliments and praise.

He is the one who pushed me to follow my love of photography. When I told him I'd like to start a course and learn properly he was all for it. He said go for it and if you don't like it, just leave the course. I did start the course but it wasn't related to any kind of photography genre. It was mainly practical skills, which was definitely what I needed to learn but I knew I needed to look into newborn photography online to top it up. This is where I found another inspirational lady...

Ana Brandt.

This lady has no idea who I am but she has given me the confidence to begin my own career in newborn photography. I have studied video after video after video and completed her training courses over lockdown, another achievement I am so proud of. She is one of the most talented photographers I have ever seen and her work speaks for itself. Every photographer has a 'style' and a colour palette that matches that. I am very much a pastels and neutrals girl and definitely create images that are similar in colours to Ana. I hope to be as good as Ana is one day and I'm sure with practice year on year, I will get there. It all comes down to experience and tweaking changes here and there to create the perfect photos.

I think my final inspirational person has to be Walt Disney. There are many things written about Walt, some of which may be true and some of which may not be but what I do know is that what he achieved in his 65 years on Earth is beyond admirable. All of what we see and love to do with Disney now is down to one man, with a love for drawing, and taking that pencil to draw a mouse...

Mickey Mouse!

I grew up with all of Walt Disney's classic movies, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, Mary Poppins, the list goes on and on and on. They were, and still are, the most magical movies and even to this day I still enjoy grabbing a bowl of popcorn and cuddling up on the sofa to watch a Disney movie with my husband and our girls. My recent favourites are Moana, The Princess and the Frog and Tangled. They're timeless and still more and more are made every year. What a legacy to leave behind that is so fun, exciting and wonderful for children and families. I remember visiting Disney World in Florida when I was 14. It is a memory that has stayed with me. I remember everything about it because it was a significant moment in my life. I couldn't get over all of that magic all in one place! I cannot wait for the day we get to take our girls there. I know there will be many tears as I live all of that magic again, with them. One of Walt Disney's quotes inspired me to start up my own business making frames before I started photography and even now, it is so true and I always remember it...