A HELENSBURGH-based photographer who specialises in newborn portraits has launched an online support group for pregnant women and new mums to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

Louise Cairns, who lives in Cardross and runs her Life in Focus Portraits studio from The Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club in Rhu, has started a Facebook group to provide advice to parents during lockdown.

A mother of three herself, Louise has been forced to close her photography business as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak but she is now using her background as a nursery nurse to pass on top tips to local women.

She told the Advertiser: “This is an especially frightening time for pregnant and new mums.

“They are having to face all kinds of issues they wouldn’t normally, including not having their birthing partners with them for the full duration of their labour, not to mention all of the birthing, parenting and baby classes they now can’t access.

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“The group is full of amazing support, helping each other through this frightening time with so much positivity and focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel.”

With concerns growing over the future sustainability of large and small businesses throughout the country Louise is hopeful that hers will survive the current crisis.

As the lockdown continues, however, her focus has shifted to finding new ways to assist her clients.

She said: “As part of the support group I’ll also be giving some live video guidance to the ladies in the group on how to take their own newborn photos at home during the lockdown.

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“I feel quite sad that so many parents are going to miss out on having their usual newborn photography sessions so as well as offering this I have prepared a guide to help parents get the best out of taking their own photos at home.

“I’d like to think that my business can survive this, it really depends on how wary people are as the rules relax.

“Newborn photography is of course very hands on, and the ideal for a posed newborn session is that I see babies within the first two-three weeks, but that’s by no means a necessity.

“My many years as a newborn specialist mean I have lots of experience shooting older babies in a similar style to newborns, and whatever age a baby is when the guidance is relaxed I will still give those parents beautiful images that they can treasure.

“I think if anything I may have difficulty fitting in several months of babies into my diary!

“In the meantime I’m focusing on areas of my business where I can still work, like product and food photography for local small businesses.

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“When many are closed themselves, it’s the ideal time for them to be refreshing their websites and with that the need for high quality images to show off their wares.”

While, for the time being, she is ensuring that local pregnant women and new mums are coping with isolation and social distancing, Louise is confident that the outlook on the other side of the pandemic will be much brighter than before.

“Even if the group helps one new mum feel less isolated then it’s done it’s job,” she said.

“We have all struggled with not seeing family members; for me personally my parents are in Yorkshire, my son lives in Arrochar and my daughter has temporarily moved out to help care for a friend with health issues.

“Every day I walk past our family portraits in the hall and see all of us together and, soppy as it sounds, that helps to keep me going.

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“I see the end of this as a time to celebrate our families, more so than ever.

“I think this time of enforced separation has really helped us all see how important we all are to each other, and in particular that fabulous bond between our children and their grandparents.

“When we come through the other side I think that family portraits will be more sought after than ever.

“A beautiful family portrait of everyone together will be the perfect way to say ‘we made it, look at our beautiful family, we made it through one of the toughest times in modern history’.”

To join the support group click here, or visit lifeinfocusportraits.co.uk for more information.

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