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Maternity Session Tips
1. If your session will take place in your home, and you want the studio look, make sure the photographer will have plenty of work space. Usually moving big furniture out of the way is good enough.
For a more natural setting, choose areas of your home with less clutter and less "busy" backgrounds. If the session will be outdoors, a scenic/natural area may be a good choice, for example; a park, your backyard... grassy areas are always best for outdoor sessions.
2. Several hours before your maternity photo shoot, you'll want to take off anything that has tight elastic, like slacks with tight waistbands and undergarments or bras in order to make sure you don't have marks on your skin.
3. Don't use an oily lotion on your belly, especially the kind to help reduce stretch marks, on the day of your session. If you do, you're belly will be really shiny, and thats not a good thing.
What to wear.
1. Tops should be very form fitting.....at least around the bust line, showing your form is the whole point. If your jeans don't button up, that's fine.
You can wear any, and as many colors and layers as you like if you want a more vibrant, fun portrait. If your going for a more artisitc look, than neutral colors work best.
2. For studio portraits, having a robe is a good idea, especially for artistic nude shots...you can throw it on in between poses (please note; I will not photograph exposed body parts).
You should also wear a white or tan strapless bra and either a white or tan thong if you choose to wear the white fabric for studio shots.
3. For studio portraits, limit jewelry to essential pieces. While it's nice to include special or important jewelry in your portraits, too much jewelry will be distracting.
Everything else.
1. Your hands are most likely going to show......so don't forget to have a manicure and a pedicure too. Face powder is always a good idea to eliminate shiny spots. Moisturize elbows and knees but please don't use glittery lotion, it doesn't photograph well.
2. Hair is recommended to be worn loose. Do your make-up as if you were going anywhere else, you'll want to prevent having your face looking lighter than your body.
3. It's a good idea to eat a light snack before the shoot.
4. Be on time for your appointment and don't schedule any appointments or activities directly after your photo shoot. Quality portraiture requires a good amount of time, you won't want to rush your session.
5. Please don't bring anyone along who won't be in the photos. Quality portraiture is produced best if there are no distractions.
Newborns and all other sessions
1. If your child (or anyone) is ill, please reschedule. Children don't photograph well when they are not feeling good. I like to capture children in each their own way, with natural expressions and at play. I won't force anyone to look at the camera and say "cheese".
2. If you want the studio look, choose an area in your home where I will have plenty of work space. Usually just moving big furniture out of the wasy is good enough.
If your session will take place in your home setting, choose areas with less clutter and less "busy" backrounds.
Grassy backyards and parks, etc. are always great.
3. For newborns, I recommend photographing them within DAYS after being born (within 1 week), to get the "newborn look" and to easily get the necessary poses. They change so quickly. These sessions can last up to 2 hrs. depending on the baby. Keep in mind the baby might want to eat or can get fussy, causing a delay, that is why the session might take that long. The majority of the photos are taken while the baby is sleeping. So try to schedule your appointment when the baby will most likely stay asleep.
4. For family, group or engagement portraits; outdoors is usually best. This way we can capture more of a genuine "feel" in your portraits. I try to avoid the typical portraits where everyone stands stiff and says "cheese". Plus, we will have plenty of more photo-opportunities compared to a studio setting.
5. Don't wear shimmery lotions, or glitter, on the body or on make-up. It does not photograph well.
6. If you wear glasses all of the time, you'll probably want them in your portraits but please keep in mind that light will glare and reflect on the lenses. Also, tinted lenses may darken under studio lighting and outdoors. It is very difficult to remove the glare once a photo is produced so it may be best to avoid it entirely by removing your glasses or removing the lenses temporarily from your frames.
7. Give your children a satisfying snack or feed your children before the photo shoot, they will be a lot happier. Have the babies and children's favorite toys, or have the toys available for them to play with or to distract them if they start to fuss. But remember, I will never push a child to take photographs.
If you have something you would like to use in the photograph, bring it along! Anything you can think of; interesting blankets to lay on the grass, chairs, teddy bears, hats, etc.
8. Pets must be vaccinated. For dogs; take them for a good walk before the photo session, they will be much more relaxed and more obedient.
9. Please don't bring people or children along who won't be in the photos, distractions will interfere with getting good results.
10. Be on time for your appointment and don't schedule any appointments or activities directly after your photo shoot. Quality portraiture requires a good amount of time, you won't want to rush your session.
1. If your session will take place in your home, and you want the studio look, make sure the photographer will have plenty of work space. Usually moving big furniture out of the way is good enough.
For a more natural setting, choose areas of your home with less clutter and less "busy" backgrounds. If the session will be outdoors, a scenic/natural area may be a good choice, for example; a park, your backyard... grassy areas are always best for outdoor sessions.
2. Several hours before your maternity photo shoot, you'll want to take off anything that has tight elastic, like slacks with tight waistbands and undergarments or bras in order to make sure you don't have marks on your skin.
3. Don't use an oily lotion on your belly, especially the kind to help reduce stretch marks, on the day of your session. If you do, you're belly will be really shiny, and thats not a good thing.
What to wear.
1. Tops should be very form fitting.....at least around the bust line, showing your form is the whole point. If your jeans don't button up, that's fine.
You can wear any, and as many colors and layers as you like if you want a more vibrant, fun portrait. If your going for a more artisitc look, than neutral colors work best.
2. For studio portraits, having a robe is a good idea, especially for artistic nude shots...you can throw it on in between poses (please note; I will not photograph exposed body parts).
You should also wear a white or tan strapless bra and either a white or tan thong if you choose to wear the white fabric for studio shots.
3. For studio portraits, limit jewelry to essential pieces. While it's nice to include special or important jewelry in your portraits, too much jewelry will be distracting.
Everything else.
1. Your hands are most likely going to show......so don't forget to have a manicure and a pedicure too. Face powder is always a good idea to eliminate shiny spots. Moisturize elbows and knees but please don't use glittery lotion, it doesn't photograph well.
2. Hair is recommended to be worn loose. Do your make-up as if you were going anywhere else, you'll want to prevent having your face looking lighter than your body.
3. It's a good idea to eat a light snack before the shoot.
4. Be on time for your appointment and don't schedule any appointments or activities directly after your photo shoot. Quality portraiture requires a good amount of time, you won't want to rush your session.
5. Please don't bring anyone along who won't be in the photos. Quality portraiture is produced best if there are no distractions.
Newborns and all other sessions
1. If your child (or anyone) is ill, please reschedule. Children don't photograph well when they are not feeling good. I like to capture children in each their own way, with natural expressions and at play. I won't force anyone to look at the camera and say "cheese".
2. If you want the studio look, choose an area in your home where I will have plenty of work space. Usually just moving big furniture out of the wasy is good enough.
If your session will take place in your home setting, choose areas with less clutter and less "busy" backrounds.
Grassy backyards and parks, etc. are always great.
3. For newborns, I recommend photographing them within DAYS after being born (within 1 week), to get the "newborn look" and to easily get the necessary poses. They change so quickly. These sessions can last up to 2 hrs. depending on the baby. Keep in mind the baby might want to eat or can get fussy, causing a delay, that is why the session might take that long. The majority of the photos are taken while the baby is sleeping. So try to schedule your appointment when the baby will most likely stay asleep.
4. For family, group or engagement portraits; outdoors is usually best. This way we can capture more of a genuine "feel" in your portraits. I try to avoid the typical portraits where everyone stands stiff and says "cheese". Plus, we will have plenty of more photo-opportunities compared to a studio setting.
5. Don't wear shimmery lotions, or glitter, on the body or on make-up. It does not photograph well.
6. If you wear glasses all of the time, you'll probably want them in your portraits but please keep in mind that light will glare and reflect on the lenses. Also, tinted lenses may darken under studio lighting and outdoors. It is very difficult to remove the glare once a photo is produced so it may be best to avoid it entirely by removing your glasses or removing the lenses temporarily from your frames.
7. Give your children a satisfying snack or feed your children before the photo shoot, they will be a lot happier. Have the babies and children's favorite toys, or have the toys available for them to play with or to distract them if they start to fuss. But remember, I will never push a child to take photographs.
If you have something you would like to use in the photograph, bring it along! Anything you can think of; interesting blankets to lay on the grass, chairs, teddy bears, hats, etc.
8. Pets must be vaccinated. For dogs; take them for a good walk before the photo session, they will be much more relaxed and more obedient.
9. Please don't bring people or children along who won't be in the photos, distractions will interfere with getting good results.
10. Be on time for your appointment and don't schedule any appointments or activities directly after your photo shoot. Quality portraiture requires a good amount of time, you won't want to rush your session.
P.S. We will discuss more details over the phone before your session.