A FAMILY photographer who specialises in taking pictures of newborn babies has been given the seal of approval with a regional award.

Vikki Brotherton, 33, of VB Photography is now the best family photographer in the county having recently achieved an Essex Mums Award.

She beat competition from three runners-up, one of whom had 12 years photography experience.

VB Photography was founded in February 2015 after Mrs Brotherton gained qualifications in Image Capture and Digital Image Manipulation at the Wilson Marriage Centre, in Colchester.

Studying by night, she continued working as a deputy ward sister at Colchester General Hospital with elderly patients.

The mum developed a passion for photography after having her two children, Lily, eight, and William, five, and works from her home studio.

Gazette:

Peaceful - Vikki's nephew Henry

She said: “Newborns can be very tricky customers at times but settling and posing them comfortably, and most importantly safely, means I’m able to capture the most precious pictures for families to treasure.

"Ideally this type of photography should take place within the first 14 days of a baby arriving, which is why it's so important to provisionally book the shoot following the 20-week scan.

"Once I started the business, I opened a Facebook page and built up my portfolio and customer base, and thanks to my lovely customers' recommendations it quickly built up to enable me to leave work as a nurse and take up photography full-time."  

The same happy customers nominated Mrs Brotherton for an Essex Mums Award, which she said was “incredible”.

She added: “This alone was incredible after such a short while of having the business.

“It was then open to the public to cast their votes across the summer and I’m so pleased to say I’m the winner.”