We are so pleased to announce that one of our franchisees Matthew Preston captured the winning image in the 2021/22 Baby of the Year competition.

Barrett & Coe franchisees have exclusive access to Emma’s Diary for mums who want a professional photography session for their baby. The Baby of the Month is a national competition that was created in 2015, with the winning baby receiving £5000. The competition includes four judging panels comprising 5 professional photographers, 5 mums, our sponsors, and the public who view every image on the Baby of the Year website.

Each entrant in the competition donate £1.50 to Tusk, who provides a wide range of wildlife conservation initiatives and has been doing so for over 30 years. Tusk’s mission is to amplify the impact of progressive conservation initiatives across Africa. The Prince of Wales became Royal Patron of Tusk in 2005 and has been a powerful advocate for Tusk’s work to support conservation, education, and community development across Africa ever since.

Baby of the Month has become an established brand well klnown by mums across the UK and provides a massive boost to Barrett & Coe Franchisees. Franchisee Jaswant Clare (Barrett & Coe Birmingham) opened his studio in November 2022 with 38 appointments from this promotion, forming a key part of his midweek studio activity.

Commenting on his success, Matthew told us: “I am absolutely delighted to have captured a Baby of the Year winning image – my studio is just about to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its opening, and what better way to celebrate!”

Matthew has been a franchisee with us for 5 years, in which he’s had plenty of winning Baby of the Month and SuperDog of the Month winners, which is deserved recognition for the fantastic photography that he offers at his studio.

“My previous career had several downsides – long commutes and being on call twenty-four hours a day seven days a week, for example. By contrast, I now live less than five miles from my studio, and although I am in the studio six (and occasionally seven) days a week because I am doing something I really enjoy, it genuinely does not feel like work!”

“The variety of customers coming in the door is great, and I want them to feel comfortable and relaxed and to have fun. No two days are the same, and that’s what makes it exciting. I love the reactions of customers when they see the images for the first time, and I look forward to welcoming them back when they