Guidelines

“When a woman is pregnant she becomes a lioness with the will of a dragon. She becomes a goddess of beauty with the colors of the rainbow. She becomes the mother of new life.” ― Anthony T.Hincks

Congratulations on the bundle of joy that is currently growing. These next few months, weeks or days as you wait for the arrival of your little bundle will be filled with stress but also with a lot of joy and love and we want to thank you for choosing StudiosGEM to capture the moment. As we enter into this journey of capturing this moment in time, below are a few tips and guidelines we put together for your convenience to make your photos extraordinary. 

Let us begin. 

Preparing for your session

• Look for inspiration – from the moment you are scheduled for your session, look for maternity images that fit the style and look you desire for your maternity shoot. 
  • We do not promise the exact outcome of the images you present but we will try to incorporate the pose or style as best as we can. Please also take a look at our website, Instagram and Facebook pages for more inspiration.  
• Pick your outfit/s and share
  • StudiosGEM has a variety of outfits for mom that might be in the vicinity of the style you are looking for. If you would like more information on the outfits we have available, please let us know
  • Good tips for outfits
    • Avoid big floral prints, swirls, plaids and stripes. Large patterns may distract. Solid colors preferred. 
    • Black clothing gives you a slim silhouette.
    • Form-fitting clothes with a little stretch will compliment your figure rather than loose clothing.
      • If you choose tighter clothing, consider your undergarments with the style of clothing you choose to wear. You might not want lines showing through your clothing.
    • If you want to show your bare belly, consider wearing a top and skirt or pants that won’t leave binding marks across your tummy.
    • Using fabrics that drape around a pregnant body can make for a beautiful style. Some of these fabrics can be tulle, silk, cotton, etc. 
    • Empire-waist blouses and dresses, button-up shirts, tank tops, long drawstring skirts and tie dresses can really enhance your blossoming shape.
    • When choosing ways to show your style, consider a cheerful scarf, or sweater – even chunky jewelry can add fun splashes of color.
  • Stay in contact with StudiosGEM as to your final outfit choices, this will help in determining location for outdoor shoots or background choice for indoor shoots
• Accessories/Props for the shoot
  • Accessories and props are always welcome as they will add a personal touch to your photos
  • Bring your ultrasound, a special toy, etc
• Who to include in the shoot
  • Your maternity session could include the father and older children to reflect your beautiful growing family.
• Miscellaneous
  • To get the most out of your photo sessions, it is preferable that mom and dad get styled by their hairdresser or barber a day before the shoot. 
  • Using a Makeup artist is preferred even for the natural look to photograph well. Suggestion for Makeup artists will be listed below. 

Tips for Shooting Day

• Showing a bare tummy can be tricky. If you wish to show your bare tummy, wear loose-fitting clothing to avoid elastic/clothing marks.
• Avoid any glare. Apply lotion at least an hour before your session to avoid the shiny belly-look and staining your clothes.
• If you are showing bare skin, try to moisturize your knees and elbows.
• Hands are important, too! Get a manicure or a light polish for a more finished look in a close up of your hands around your belly.
  • Don’t forget the feet. Pick your footwear depending on your clothing. If your toes are exposed in a sandal-style, you might want to get a pedicure.
• Remove tight-fitting clothing and accessories, like watches and bracelets, at least two hours before your session.

Last but not least our number one tip: Make sure your water doesn’t break before the shoot!!!! Just kidding, haha. Pregnancies can be unpredictable and things may change from one minute to another. If at any time, before the shoot or during the shoot you don’t feel well, please let us know. Speak up, safety and health always come first

“In a portrait, you have room to have a point of view. The image may not be literally what’s going on, but it’s representative.” Annie Leibovitz

The following guide is to help you feel ready for your upcoming portrait session. Whether it is just one person or a group of people, these steps will help you feel more comfortable and confident prior and during your session. 

Let us begin. 

Preparing for your session

• Look for inspiration – from the moment you are scheduled for your session, look for images that fit the style and look you desire. 
  • We do not promise the exact outcome of the images you present but we will try to incorporate the pose or style as best as we can. Please also take a look at our website, Instagram and Facebook pages for more inspiration.  
• Pick your outfit/s and share
  • Good tips for outfits
    • Large patterns may distract, at times simplicity in colors is best. 
    • Pick clothing that goes with the theme of the shoot. Example: Holiday theme: plaid shirts or christmas pjs
      • If doing a family portrait, try to coordinate the colors that people will wear. 
    • Black clothing often gives a slim silhouette.
    • For women: Form-fitting clothes with a little stretch will compliment your figure rather than loose clothing.
      • If you choose tighter clothing, consider your undergarments with the style of clothing you choose to wear. You might not want lines showing through your clothing.
    • When choosing ways to show your style, consider a cheerful scarf, or sweater – even chunky jewelry can add fun splashes of color.
  • Stay in contact with StudiosGEM as to your final outfit choices, this will help in determining location for outdoor shoots or background choice for indoor shoots
• Accessories/Props for the shoot
  • Accessories and props are always welcome as they will add a personal touch to your photos
• Miscellaneous
  • To get the most out of your photo sessions, it is preferable that the person/s in the shoot get styled by their hairdresser or barber a day before the shoot. 
  • Using a Makeup artist is preferred even for the natural look to photograph well. 

Tips for Shooting Day

• If you are showing bare skin, try to moisturize those areas before the shoot.
• Hands are important, too! Get a manicure or a light polish for a more finished look in poses that will show off your hands.
• Don’t forget the feet. Pick your footwear depending on your clothing. If your toes are exposed in a sandal-style, you might want to get a pedicure.

“This is the start of your sweet little story. The part where your page meets mine. No matter where your tale takes you tomorrow our story will always read love.”

Aww, the bundle of joy is here (or if you booked early almost here). Get ready for the sleepless nights that as time passes they won’t be missed but simply become a memory of love and strength. Your newborn’s photography session should be an exciting time for your family. But parents often find themselves worried and anxious about preparing themselves and their babies for the big occasion. With a little planning, you can relax and enjoy the session, knowing all your bases are covered. As we get ready for the baby’s sessions, here are some tips and guidelines to keep in mind before and during the shoot.

1. Location – StudiosGEM can shoot in either the studios or your home. 
   1. Studios Shoot – In our home studios, we have what we need. Important items for you to bring to your shoot is extra baby clothes, extra diapers and wipes in case of messes. And of course bring milk, whether breastfed or bottle feeding baby will need to eat. 
      1. Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your session
   2. Home Shoot – done only for Newborn 
      1. Picking the spots to shoot – We understand that you just had a baby and that things might not be as nice and neat as you would like it to be. Don’t stress, we can work with you when we arrive to help pick out the best spots in your home and tidy up those areas.
      2. The main thing that we will be looking for, is a room with a lot of natural light from big windows. The more natural light, the better! We do use flash if needed but if there is beautiful natural light available we will use that.
      3. For semi-nudes or nudes of the baby, warmth is key. Whether it is summer or winter, we will need to make sure the temperature is warm because naked babies get cold. If there is a portable heater in the home, please let us know, if not, we will work on bringing our own. 
2. Inspiration – Look for inspiration, from the moment the session is scheduled, look for images that fit the style and look you desire for the shoot. Please be mindful of the stage that your baby/babies are in when looking for inspiration 
   1. We do not promise the exact outcome of the images you present but we will try to incorporate the pose or style as best as we can. 
   2. Take a look at our website, Instagram and Facebook pages for more inspiration.  
3. Preparation for Shoot Day
   1. Baby Sessions can range from 1 hour to 3 hours, because during the session, we will schedule feeding and changing times to make the baby as comfortable as possible always
   2. Getting the Look
      1. Baby – we carry a variety of baby outfits, blankets, headbands, bonnets, etc. If there is a specific look or outfit that you already have in mind, please let us know
      2. Parents and siblings: Always look your best from head to toe. During the sessions, we will ask you to partake in the shoot if you desire. 
         1. We recommend creams, neutral tones, and soft colors for soft intimate portraits.
         2. Please let us know of any specific outfits, colors or objects that you might want to use during the session to give it a more personal touch
   3. Be sure to bring/have extra blankets and cleaning supplies in case of an accident
   4. For nudes or semi nudes of baby 
      1. Prior to the session, it is best for them to wear loose fitting clothing to avoid imprints, in case of pictures in the nude
      2. If it is a session in your home, 30 minutes prior to arrival, wrap baby in a blanket with a diaper on only, this will ease the transition into the photo session and will help take away the imprints left by the clothes
   5. It’s no secret that infants sleep a lot. But sometimes, their sleep patterns don’t cooperate with our plans. If you want your little one sleepy during the session, to get those adorable sleepy newborn poses, keep them up for a while before arrival, suggested time will be about 1 hour before. 
      1. Making sure you keep your baby’s awake prior to a session is a great way to guarantee they will sleep through most of it. That will lead to peaceful pictures, instead of ones where they look enraged or red-faced from crying
   6. Full belly, happy heart but just wait a bit. 
      1. Avoid giving the baby a full meal in the one to two hours before your session depending on their eating pattern at the moment. 
      2. If the baby seems hungry, try to give them a small snack to get them through. Then, slightly before your session or at the moment of arrival you can feed them a full meal and expect a happy baby in return.
   7. Don’t Stress – easier said than done. If at any moment, you do not feel comfortable with a pose, or situation please inform us.

All in all, we never know for certain how a newborn/milestone session will go. Babies/Toddlers can be pretty unpredictable but adorable! Hopefully these suggestions help you feel prepared and comfortable for your upcoming photo date. If you are still unsure about something, just ask, We are always here to help. 

Always remember that you know your baby/toddler better than we do so please don’t hesitate to bring up any concerns or suggestions. But do stay patient. Babies can sense when their parents are becoming upset or frustrated. Crying, inability to soundly sleep, bathroom breaks, and the need for more feeding are all normal things during a session.