Preparing for Your Maternity Session With
TIFFANY ALLEN PHOTOGRAPHY
e
Welcome
We are so excited to be working with you during such a momentous time in your family’s life. We truly can’t think of a more beautiful moment than becoming a mother, and we’re so happy that you’ve entrusted this special session to us. Over the years we’ve learned what works for our clients, and what makes for the best possible session. There’s a number of important elements that need to come together to ensure we not only capture your most beautiful photos, but also so that you and your family have the most smooth and enjoyable experience. To help you prepare, we’ve put together this guide. It’s an overview detailing what each of those elements are. m
Visual Communication of Desires
m
Location, Location, Location!
m
Hair, Makeup and Nails
m
Styling and Clothing
m
Your Family
m
Proper Preparation
Element #1 - Visual Communication of Desires Let us SEE your hopes - on Pinterest!
The most critical element of a perfect shoot is communication of your desires. Visually communicating them to us helps us not only hear you, but see what you’re hoping for as well. Since this is a visual service, it couldn’t be more important that we understand you on a visual level. Before we can get down to the specific details of your shoot’s styling, hair and makeup, we need to get an idea of what you want from your session. This helps guide the direction of your shoot so we can best meet (and ideally, exceed!) your expectations. The easiest way to do this is by creating a Pinterest board with images that emulate the look and feel that you’re going for. Creating a Pinterest board is quick and easy (it’s also addicting – don’t say we didn’t warn you!). Just copy and paste this link to set up an account: www.pinterest.com. Once your account is created, do the following:
1.) Create a “Maternity Shoot” board.
Click
Create
2.) Search for maternity photos. Some suggested search terms are as follows:
• Maternity Photography San Diego • Beach Maternity Photography • Pregnancy Photography • Rustic Maternity Photography • Balboa Park Maternity Photography • Studio Maternity Photography • Sunset Maternity Photography • Family Maternity Photography • Tiffany Allen Photography
3.) Pin your favorite photos to your board.
4.) Share your board with us.
Click to pin
type in: Tiffanyallenphotography @gmail.com & click ”invite” to share
Now we can begin to visualize our hopes for your session.
Element #2 - Location, Location, Location!
Tiffany has lived in San Diego for over 15 years, and in that time has had a chance to know many areas of the city. When selecting a location for your shoot, her suggestions are based not only on aesthetic, but on overall proximity and ease of arrival, parking and safety, and available light or shade for ideal photography conditions. Since this is one of the most critical elements in getting your shoot right, it’s the first thing we want to nail down for your session before we proceed with anything else. Our sessions will be shot in locations that have been scouted and pre-approved by Tiffany. She can (and will) shoot in alternate locations of your preference for an additional fee of $100. This covers her time to visit your preferred location prior to your shoot, as well as take sample photos of the location and check for any potential issues. Below are some locations she has pre-scouted and approved. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Park
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Field
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Beach
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Studio
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Element #3 - Hair, Makeup and Nails
We’ll be brutally honest with you. One of the biggest mistakes we see on a shoot is when our clients don’t consider how important hair and makeup are for photography. We completely understand that many of our clients don’t wear makeup on a regular/daily basis, and that as a pregnant woman you have many more important things to think about - we get it. However, for photography and the best possible outcome on a shoot, we highly recommend having your hair and makeup done professionally. Not only will it make you feel pampered and beautiful, it will yield the best possible results for your photos. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hair
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hair is by far the most challenging thing for us to retouch or fix. If you need to have your roots touched up, please do so before your session as we unfortunately cannot fix this with retouching. If you have frizzy or unruly hair, please have a professional blow-out and styling so that the frizz doesn’t become an issue for your photos. This is of particular need for beach sessions as the natural dampness at the beach causes more frizz to occur. If you’d like to have pretty waves or curls in your hair, please let a professional style these for you so that they will last for the duration of your session. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Nails
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
During the session we will take multiple shots of your hands on your tummy. Because of this we highly suggest that you have a mani/pedi prior to your session as nail touch up will also be considered “advanced retouching” and will cost an additional fee if fixed after your session.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Makeup
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Did you know that even men wear makeup when on camera for TV? The same goes for photography. This isn’t because we think your face needs makeup or even because we have some unrealistic expectation of perfection. Rather, it’s because photography washes out the skin, causing the final outcome to appear far less natural looking. Although it might sound backwards, applying makeup specifically for photography is how you can avoid this. We can adjust color tones in skin with retouching after your session, but if required, this constitutes “advanced retouching” and will cost an additional fee to be “fixed”. For this reason, we suggest getting it right prior to your session so it’s one less thing to worry about for you. y y y We have scoured San Diego (and LA) to find the best hair and makeup team that have specific experience with photographers and have worked with us enough in the past to know what works for us and our sessions. For these reasons, we highly recommend using our experienced makeup and hair artists for your session.
Erika Lee .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
619.341.0264
.
.
.
.
erikaleemakeuplab.com
Jessica
Tyransky .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
717.324.9406
jessicatyranskyhairandmakeup.com .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Element #4 - Styling
Ooooooh, the fun stuff – the clothes! We know this can be overwhelming for many women - especially during the pregnancy stage -but it doesn’t have to be! We want to make it fun, fun, fun! And more importantly – easy. In all honesty, we have seen past clients go to great lengths and expense to create the “perfect” wardrobe for their session, when what we’ve found to be most successful is that “less” really and truly IS “more.” Our focus for this session is you and your tummy, and we want to see it and photograph it! That doesn’t mean that is has to be bare or exposed, but we certainly do want it to be the focus. For this reason, we tend to find that tighter, more tailored and form-fitting clothing works best for photographing and enhancing the most important element of your life right now: your baby bump!
Some simple clothing suggestions for your shoot are the following: Maxi Dresses
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Maxi Skirts w/ Tube Tops
.
.
Form Fitting Full Length Dresses
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bathing Suit/Beach Cover Up
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Lingerie Sets for Studio Sessions .
.
Tube Dresses in Solid Colors
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Element #5 - Your Family We hope you’ll feel comfortable involving your immediate family in your session. It’s such a special time for you and your family. and the connection and love that shines through is truly beautiful thing to document. When photographing a family, our first priority is to create a visual connection between all family members. This is done not only through posing, but also through what you’re wearing. Your clothes don’t need to match 100% (not to worry!), but they do need to be complimentary in tones and hues. This way we can capture your individuality - as well as your family’s connection - all at the same time. The following samples show how this has been done successfully, and we hope this will be helpful for you while trying to select articles for your family members to wear during your session.
Other suggestions for prepping your family’s clothing: • No graphics or prints on shirts or shorts • No individual colors that are neon or overly bright (where your eyes will be drawn to that article of clothing in the photos) • Dark jeans or slacks on men (no shorts on men please) • Clean faces and fingernails on children • Wrinkle free (or minimized wrinkles) on clothing .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Element #6 - Proper Preparation
Below are a few lists of items to bring to the shoot for yourself and your family.
For yourself: Your clothing choices with all appropriate and necessary undergarments Shoes to match your outfits (unless a beach session) Tall boots if you’re having a field session Lingerie sets if you’re having a studio session
Accessories for your clothing (all sessions) Any specific props that you want for your session (if we don’t already have it – please ask us at least one week in advance)
For your partner or husband: Dark jeans or slacks 2 shirts or 1 sweater, 1 shirt. Plain t-shirts are great in colors that compliment your clothing selections If you are in a same sex relationship and need suggestions for this, please don’t hesitate to ask. We are more than happy to make suggestions based on your specific needs.
For your children: Change of clothes Snacks to keep them happy (and maybe even to bribe them with a little bit) Favorite toy A full tummy and nap prior to the session! (VERY important for younger children.)
bc
Common Questions
“I’m very self-conscious about my (insert body part here) – can you retouch my x, y or z to make it look better/slimmer/less this or that?” Yes, yes and yes. Our entire desire is to create images so beautifully YOU that when you look at them, you see NOTHING but love for them. We don’t condone retouching to a point where you don’t look like yourself or where we’re changing things about you. But we do believe in removing those little things that keep us from really seeing our own beauty in a photo. We work with one of the best retouchers we’ve ever seen and she does amazingly natural retouching – so good you won’t even remember that you asked us to do it!
“Can my pets be in the photos?” Of course. However, we don’t recommend it. We know that pets become part of the family – we really do. We love ours too. The challenge is that pets, unlike people, cannot be controlled during a session and we have found in the past that the most successful sessions were not ones where pets are involved. If you really insist on having your pets in some of the photos, we suggest that you have an extra family member, friend, or paid pet sitter to watch them during your session – so that when its time for your photos without the pets, you (and we) can focus on what we’re there for taking photos and not chasing pets around. For more tips on this, please email us directly. We will do our best to accommodate this request.
“I normally don’t wear any makeup or foundation – will it make me look unlike myself if I wear makeup for the session”? Not if its done by a professional makeup artist. Professional makeup artists are skilled in the art of “natural-looking” makeup. They know how to put on foundation, blush, tanner and eye makeup – even lip color – that doesn’t look unlike you. Even if you’re not a person that normally wears makeup.
“When will my photos be ready?” You may have already asked us this question prior to booking, but in the event that we haven’t already addressed this: You will schedule your “reveal” appointment within 2 weeks of your session date. During this 1 hour session, we will review your proofs and help you narrow down to your final selections, advise on retouching and discuss the final outcome of your images. Retouching and final tweaks take another 10 – 14 days, so from the time of your shoot until final delivery is between 20 – 30 days. If you need one or two images quickly touched up and ready for a shower or anniversary or other special occasion, please let us know PRIOR to your session so we can build time into our schedule to get those to you in a rush. We don’t guarantee this, but do our best to accommodate your schedule. For guaranteed rush orders, there is an additional charge, which can be discussed based on your individual needs.
“If I decide to add on a Newborn Session later, do I still get the 10% discount, even if I didn’t book the sessions together?” We will give you 10% off of the Newborn Session for being a repeat client, but you will not receive the 10% off of the Maternity Session since the 2 sessions were not booked prior to the Maternity Session. For the best discounts available, pre-booking your shoots together is advised. Email us for more details. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tips + Advice 2 weeks before your session: • Send your clothing selections and ideas to us for approval. Its best if you try your garments on and take photos in front of the mirror or have your partner take them so that we can see how the garments fit you. We will be very honest and let you know if we don’t feel something will photograph in a flattering way. • Book your hair and makeup appointments as our hair and makeup team do book up quickly. Let us know of any specific props or dresses that you would like to order for your session so we can make sure to have enough lead time to obtain those items for your session.
1 week to 10 days before your session: • Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – you cannot drink enough water. Your skin will thank you! • Get as much sleep as possible (again, your skin will be thanking you). • If you plan to have a facial prior to your session, make sure not to schedule it within the week prior to your session as facials commonly leave the skin with redness or break-outs. We suggest at least 10 days prior to your session. • Begin hydrating your skin with lotion every night before bed if possible.
Day / night before your session: • Eat well and avoid foods that bother your digestive system so you are as comfortable as possible for and during your session. • Sleep as well as possible – whatever that means. Whatever it takes. • Confirm the locations of your appointments with the hair and makeup artist (if going to them) so that you’re sure to arrive to our studio on time. • Get your nails done the day before, so your mani/pedi will be as fresh as possible for your session. • Pack everything you need for your session the day before, so that the day of you are as relaxed and organized as possible.
• Print out the map to our location or map us so you know exactly how long it will take for you to get to us and please also plan for traffic and parking, getting your things out of the car, etc. We want to start as close to on time as possible. • Call us with ANY questions, needs or concerns the day/night before. We want to make sure you feel as comfortable as possible.
Day of your session: • Start the day by pampering yourself so you feel as beautiful and relaxed as possible. • Do not apply sunscreen the day of your session. Your makeup and face will photograph best WITHOUT sunscreen underneath. • Plan to remove any tight clothes and elastic bands from your body at least 2 hours before the start of your session to allow any marks to disappear (this is especially important if you plan to have nude or semi-nude images taken). This includes socks, bras, snug underwear and maternity pants. We recommend dressing in a robe or loose dress as it will keep your skin smooth. Additionlly, wearing slippers or slip on shoes to your session is advisable, as it will be easier to take them on and off. • Hydrate your skin – lather up in lotion from head to toe to remove any dry patches on your skin. For best results, begin doing this nightly the week prior to your session. • Plan to arrive on time so you stay relaxed throughout your session. • Get ready to have FUN! We can’t wait to see you!
Cancelling or Re-scheduling
If for any reason you need to cancel or reschedule your session, please give us as much notice as possible. We completely understand that during pregnancy unforeseen things happen that you have no control over, and want to be as accommodating as possible. Changes in your session time and date with more than 48 hours notice will be rescheduled at no charge. Sessions not rescheduled or cancelled within 48 hours, however, will result in a loss of 25% of the deposit. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Location & Parking 4051 Brant Street San Diego, CA 92103 We’re located in Mission Hills in a residential part of the neighborhood. Parking is available either on the street outside of the house (big yellow house with a red gate – you can’t miss us!). Additionally, you can park in the Haggen lot across the street (they won’t tow). If you need assistance getting into the house or up the stairs leading to the house, please let us know – we can come out to help you and in special cases arrange for you to park in the back of the house if you aren’t able to take stairs for any reason.
We look forward to meeting you!