A DARWIN newborn photographer has snapped up a trove of awards from the Australian Institute of Professional Photography competition.
Susan Fong, from Little Cherub Photography, is the first newborn photographer to win an overall category in the competition, scoring the 2016 AIPP NT Epson Professional Photographer of the Year. 
"It was definitely a surprise to actually win the overall, it was a very good night," Ms Fong said.
The photographer began her career path after her son was born. "As soon as my son was welcomed into the world, a friend of mine who was a photographer at the time introduced me to the world of newborn photography," she said. "It's so rewarding. It's something you can be absolutely passionate about and you meet the most amazing families." Ms Fong said while she loved the work she did, it often took a lot of patience. "It comes with a lot of wee and a lot of poo and a lot of vomit and requires a lot of patience and love," she said.
"But it's a very beautiful genre to work in and it was really nice for the genre to be recognised in this way."Other award winners in the competition were Mel Silva, Peter Carroll, William Carroll, George Fragopoulos, and Jaydene Chapman.