Joanna May Photography
The bits in between the posed ones.
Motherhood, newborn and family photography in Cardiff and South Wales
There'll be thousands of photographs of them, and about four of you. I photograph mums with their bumps, their newborns and their children of every age, and mostly what I'm doing is putting you back in the picture. This is me gently taking the phone out of your hand.
Over a hundred sessions since 2023 · around three quarters of my bookings come from someone who’s been before, or from someone they told
What I photograph.
From the last few weeks of waiting to the first birthday cake, and every ordinary Tuesday after it.
Motherhood
You and them, close, the way they climb on you without asking because you're basically furniture to them. Any age, from the baby on your hip to the one who's nearly taller than you.
From £295
Newborn
The first weeks at home, photographed as they actually are. Feeds, cuddles, the nursery and the dog working out who this new person is. Nobody has to get dressed and drive anywhere a week after giving birth.
From £295
Maternity
The last few weeks of it being just you, or just the two of you. Golden hour in long grass, the coast, or your own front room, somewhere between thirty and thirty-six weeks.
From £275
Cake Smash
A proper first birthday. Family photographs first while everyone's still clean, then the cake, and then the mess. I bring the set and you bring the cake.
From £275
Booked together
One booking, one payment plan, and the whole story. Your bump and their first weeks at home, or newborn all the way through to the first birthday cake.
From £495
Mini sessions
Twenty minutes, a handful of dates a year, somewhere worth driving to. Bluebells in spring, the beach in September, a real tree at Christmas. The easiest way in if you've never done this before.
From £125I've never liked having my photograph taken either.
Not once, not in my whole life. That stiffness the second a camera comes out, the not knowing what to do with your hands, the way your face stops working properly. I know all of it, and it's exactly why I work the way I do.
I photograph quietly, from the side, while you're looking at them. There's no say cheese and no chin down. Most of the session you'll be busy with somebody small who's climbing on you, and you'll forget I'm there. That's when the photographs happen. 🤍
Twenty minutes, a few times a year.
A few times a year I take a corner of somewhere lovely and photograph families twenty minutes at a time. Small on purpose, so nobody's stood about waiting and the little ones can just be little ones.
They're the easiest way in if you've never done this before, and they're the ones that fill fastest. Three of this year's sold out, and one of those went to my email list before it was announced anywhere else.
If the next one isn't open yet, leave your name on it and I'll tell you the day it is.
What happens after you say yes.
From the first message to the day your photographs arrive, everything's in one calm place with your name on it.
Book it your way
Pick your session and book it online in a few minutes, or send me a message first if you'd rather talk it through. I'll come back to you within 24 hours.
Pay the way that suits you
Pay in full, or pay a retainer now and the rest before your session. Monthly payment plans are there on sessions from £300, and Klarna on everything, because I don't believe photographs of your family should depend on what's in your account this month.
Your own planning space
A mood board we'll build together, a guide written for your session, the weather forecast if we're outside, and a reminder two weeks before and another three days before. You'll know exactly what's happening and when.
Your gallery, and something to hold
A sneak peek within a few days and your full gallery within a few weeks. And a year on, a quiet anniversary email arrives with a handful of your favourites.
Hello, I'm Joanna.
I'm a motherhood and newborn photographer in Cardiff, and I've been photographing for nearly eighteen years, since my son was born. He's seventeen now, and there's almost nothing of the two of us from his first few weeks, because I was always the one holding the camera and I thought there'd be more time. That's the whole reason I do this.
It was never meant to be a business. I set up an Instagram in September 2023 just to share pictures, my first client booked that October for sixty pounds, and it's turned out to be one of the best accidents of my life.
Everything in one place, with your name on it.
Gallery, mood board, contract, invoices, and the planning details for your shoot, all in one calm place with your name on it.
A peek at the planning portal every client gets. Their real version is personalised end-to-end.
What people say afterwards.
“We honestly couldn’t recommend Jo enough! 🤍 We had the most amazing maternity photoshoot with our dogs, and from start to finish it was such a lovely experience. We felt completely comfortable and relaxed, and the whole session was so…”Read the whole thing
…natural and enjoyable — especially with two dogs involved! 🐶😂 The photos are absolutely beautiful and have captured such a special moment for us as we get ready to welcome our baby boy. 🤍 The little details, the emotions and the bond between us (and our furry babies!) have all been captured perfectly. We are so grateful to have these memories to look back on and know we’ll treasure these photos forever. Thank you so much for making our maternity session so special and for giving us memories we’ll have for a lifetime. 🥹🤍 Would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a photographer to capture those really special moments! See you in a couple of weeks when baby boy arrives 📸✨”
Stacey C.
Maternity
“When you think of a photographer, you think of someone who is there to capture some lovely moments, however, Jo has captured some of the best, biggest, most precious moments of our life. From the very beginning, she has been…”Read the whole thing
…there for some of the most meaningful milestones in our journey. She photographed our gender reveal, our baby shower, and the first precious photos of our son in his nursery. She even knew the gender of our baby before we did and somehow managed to keep that secret while sharing in all of our excitement and anticipation, that, combined with using blue smoke bombs! What started as hiring a photographer quickly turned into something so much more to us. Her warmth, kindness, and genuine investment in our little family have made her feel like one of us. She’s celebrated alongside us, puts everyone at ease, and somehow captures not just beautiful images, but the emotions behind them. We are so, so grateful to have these memories captured so beautifully, but even more grateful for the relationship we’ve built with her along the way. She is incredibly talented, and if you’re looking for someone to document your family’s most important moments, look no further. We couldn’t imagine trusting anyone else. She started as our photographer, but somewhere along the way, she became family. Thank you, Jo!”
Lucy S.
Bump to Baby
“Just want to say a huge thank you for such an incredible experience. You've photographed my journey from pregnancy to a few weeks after the birth of my beautiful baby boy River and captured some stunning moments that I will…”Read the whole thing
…cherish forever. Being photographed is not something I usually feel comfortable with but you helped me feel so relaxed and confident during my beautiful maternity shoot which is such a vulnerable time for Mums to be. You also helped my partner and mum feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera for our newborn shoot with River. You've captured his innocent gorgeous facial features so well. I can't wait to book you again for future shoots!”
Laura
Bump to Baby
Things worth reading.
July 2026 · Motherhood
Strong as a Mother
A morning photographing Kelly’s Mum & Baby class at Santé Fitness. A room full of women being extraordinary, and pretending it was nothing.
July 2026 · Motherhood
What Actually Happens at a Newborn Session
I bring nothing. Just a camera. Whatever is already in your house is what ends up in the photographs.
July 2026 · seasonal sessions
Among the Bluebells: Our Spring Sessions in Wenallt Forest
There's a fortnight every spring when the Wenallt turns blue, and if you blink you miss it. This year I didn't blink. I spent it under the trees with families who'd booked in months ago, all of us hoping the flowers would hold and the rain would hold off - and for once, both did.
Lately
One family photographed this week. Two sessions booked.
Say hello.
Whether you're expecting, newly home with somebody tiny, or you've just realised you're not in a single photograph from the last three years, I'd love to hear from you.
And if you're not sure which session is the right one, just tell me who's in your family and roughly how old they are, and I'll tell you what I'd do.
Returning clients earn loyalty perks · tell a friend and you both pick up a little something.