A photographer has captured the emotional moment when British families were first reunited with their loved ones and the babies they had during lockdown.
Helen Schryver, based between London and Kent, released a collection of images, showcasing the moving scenes between families and the little ones born during the UK’s coronavirus restrictions, when Britons were told to Stay At Home and couldn’t visit their relatives.
Sharing the images with FEMAIL, Helen recalled: ‘My nephew was born during the first lockdown of the pandemic, in April 2020.
‘Having met him for the first time through a window and not being able to have my first cuddle with him until months later, it struck me there must have been thousands of families in the same heartbreaking position.
‘As a family photographer who specialises in capturing real-life moments, I couldn’t think of a better celebration of coming out of lockdown than to be able to witness and capture on camera the first meetings between Lockdown Babies and their families.
‘I photographed thirteen babies as they met their extended families for the very first time. I feel privileged to have witnessed those magical first cuddles, plenty of tears, reunions, laughter and of course a fair few of those babies totally freaking out at meeting all those new faces.’
Here, we reveal a selection of the stunning pictures…
Special moment: Baby Saul meeting his grandmother Jill and her husband Gerry for the first time. The image was captured by photographer Helen Schryver, based between London and Kent
Baby Jude meets his only great-grandmother June, as the pair share a cuddle and his great-grandmother becomes teary-eyed
Helen has released a collection of images, showcasing the emotional scenes (pictured) between families and the little ones born during the UK’s coronavirus restrictions, when Britons were told to Stay At Home and couldn’t visit their relatives
Sharing the images with FEMAIL, Helen recalled what inspired her to create the collection: ‘My nephew was born during the first lockdown of the pandemic, in April 2020.’ Pictured, June and Jude
Before the pandemic, this family would have weekly meet-ups, but due to the pandemic, these grandparents weren’t able to meet their grandson George in person until he was seven months old
Sweet scenes: A grandfather kisses his grandson on the head while holding him in his arms during their very first meeting in person following lockdown
Baby Benjamin is held and greeted by his excited grandparents, who weren’t all able to meet in person during the nation’s lockdowns
Oops! Newborn Zachary appears to be unimpressed with his great-grandmother Patricia, as the loved ones are introduced
The 95-year-old is Zachary’s only living great-grandparent, and unfortunately had to spend most of the pandemic on her own
The beaming great-grandparent introduces an intrigued Zachary to her adorable pet dog while sitting out in the garden
Leo, pictured at three months old, meets his great aunt and great cousins for the first time in person. The parents of Leo explained to the photographer that it was even more special as the loved ones are their only relatives based in the UK
Helen said: ‘Having met him for the first time through a window and not being able to have my first cuddle with him until months later, it struck me there must have been thousands of families in the same heartbreaking position.’ Pictured, baby George meeting his extended family
Baby George with his grandfather. The photographer explained: ‘I couldn’t think of a better celebration of coming out of lockdown than to be able to witness and capture on camera the first meetings between Lockdown Babies and their families’
‘I photographed thirteen babies as they met their extended families for the very first time,’ Helen, who captured George with his grandmother, above, recalled
Eleanor was born over Christmas lockdown, and is pictured here meeting her uncle and aunt for the first time in person
Helen said: ‘I feel privileged to have witnessed those magical first cuddles, plenty of tears, reunions, laughter and of course a fair few of those babies totally freaking out at meeting all those new faces.’ Pictured, Benjamin with one of his grandparents