I want you to know how excited I am to work with you and your family in this season of your life! During your portrait session, you're going to laugh, snuggle & love on each other a little! We're all gonna have some fun & create a little magic together!
I've put together this helpful Client Prep Guide, to lend my expertise and prepare you for an awesome session with me! The guide covers preparing for your Maternity, Newborn, Milestone or Cake Smash Session, selecting outfits that slap, choosing locations, timing, prepping young children and much, much more!
Hopefully, it helps you to feel confident and fully prepared for our time together, but should you have any other questions or if you need any advice, please feel free to reach out!
- Brittany
After booking, the first thing you will need to do is to select wardrobe for your session. If you would like to wear a gown, body suit or fabric, etc. from the Client Closet, you will need to send me screenshots of your selections ASAP after booking so that I can ensure the items you would like to wear are available to you.
(please select at least 3 gowns that you would like to wear, incase one isn't available, we'll have a back up!)
PREPARING FOR YOUR
MATERNITY PORTAITS
First, you will need to decide whether you would like to shoot a beautiful, sunset Maternity Portrait Session outdoors, on-location somewhere in and around Charleston or if you would rather shoot gorgeous, editorial, fine art style Maternity Photos in the studio (these sessions are photographed weekdays between 9am - 2pm.)
Next, you will want to schedule any hair, nail and/or waxing appointments that you may need ahead of your session!
Logistically, if mani / pedis are your thing, you'll wan to get one ahead of your session because you will be holding your baby bump, touching your partner, etc. and your nails will be visible in your photos. if you are planning to wear a body suit or to shoot fine art maternity nudes in the studio, you'll want to prioritize personal grooming, however you may need to see to that!
self care:
shoot day:
On the day of your Maternity Portrait Session, you will begin Hair & Makeup 2 hours before your scheduled shoot time. You will need to arrive ready for hair and makeup with clean, dry hair and no makeup on your face. You will also want to moisturize your entire body before you arrive as well!
open the maternity client closet
Locations
my favorite places to shoot
I frequently photograph families vacationing Charleston, SC and in our surrounding beach towns! I am often asked to come out to beautiful vacation rentals to photograph Maternity Portrait Sessions and Milestone or Family Portrait Sessions on the Beaches!
I love doing that kind of work and I am also happy to make recommendations for lovely locations to shoot Maternity and/or Family or Milestone Portraits in and around Charleston.
Downtown Charleston, SC
Rainbow Row
Zero George
Longitude Lane
College of Charleston Cistern
Runnymede
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens
McLoed Plantation
Fort Sumter
Angel Oak
Sheldon Church Ruins
history & architecture
Charlestowne Landing
James Island County Park
Hampton Park
Joe Riley Waterfront Park
Colonial Lake Park
White Point Garden
Chapel Street Fountain Park
Cannon Park
Palmetto Island County Park
parks
Isle of Palms
Isle of Palms Pier
Sullivan's Island
Sullivan's Island Lighthouse
Shem Creek Park Boardwalk
Dock Street Park Boardwalk
Folly Beach
Folly Beach Pier
Morris Island Lighthouse View
Kiawah Island
Driftwood Beach
Botany Bay
Edisto
Magnolia Gardens
White Point Garden
Middleton Gardens
Meeting Green Greenhouse
Hyam's Garden Store Greenhouse
beaches, piers, Boardwalks & LIGHTHOUSES
gardens
The above locations are all beautiful but I also really love exploring new, meaningful locations with my clients as well!
I am so incredibly grateful for the ability to offer my Maternity, Newborn, Milestone, Cake Smash and Family Portrait Clients a large, beautiful, bright, modern studio where we can shoot indoor portraits year round, no matter the weather! (which also eliminates the need to shoot a certain time!)
My outdoor sessions usually last (up to) an hour and a half and when we can— I love to begin shooting about an hour and a half before sunset! You might've heard this time frame referred to as "golden hour" and that's because the sunlight during this time of day is warmer, softer and produces those creamy, dreamy photos you love! I prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright light. The tricky thing about shooting late in the day with little ones is that depending on their schedule, it can be during dinner time, during what's typically nighttime wind down and a little too close to bed time! If you have little ones, we can also shoot in the early morning (in the 90 minutes after sunrise) for nice, soft, even light for your portraits!
I schedule portrait sessions during what I believe will be the best light of the day which means that it’s super important to be on time! If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises higher in the sky!
When is the best time to take photos?
TIME & LIGHT
If you're hoping to incorporate your older children into your Maternity or Newborn Portrait Session, fifteen years of industry experience has taught that portrait sessions involving children see best outcomes when parents let go of their expectations and all that pressure to perform and just go with the flow!
Just BE COOL! And know that it's ALL okay, no matter what happens, I've got you!
All that I want you to do is to focus on hugs, kisses, snuggles, tickles, laughing and playing with your people! That's it! I just want you to enjoy this moment, in this beautiful place and I promise you, I'll take care of the rest and it will be MAGIC!
The best thing you can do for your kids is to go with the flow and stay positive. The more you relax and have fun with it, the more likely they are to get on board (no matter their age)!
With young children, it's helpful to pack a few treats, favorite toys, special snacks and if all else fails, the promise of ice cream afterwards usually works wonders!
I'm incredibly patient with little people and I have a few tricks up my sleeves to help get even the wildest ones to cooperate!
Managing
little ones
Sunset & Bedtimes
In the warmer months, golden hour sunset sessions often fall during dinner time. They may even fall during or after bedtime for our littlest ones!
As much as we love a consistent bedtime routine, if you want that warm, soft, evening, golden hour light -- in order to capture that, we're likely going to need to throw off your schedule a little bit.
If your session takes place close to dinnertime, I recommend bathing & feeding the kids (and yourselves!) before we begin shooting so that no one get's hangry during your portrait session! Snacks and water are always good to have on hand during your session and for some kids, the promise of ice cream afterward is an effective motivator!
If your children will be going to bed later, consider pushing their nap a bit that day, letting them sleep longer or packing pj's so that you can quickly tuck them into bed as soon as you get home!
Newborn
Generally, jaundice & baby acne aren't that big of a deal but if your baby is really yellow or has baby acne pretty badly, please let me know and we'll just reschedule for the following week!
(hot pro tip: apply breast milk directly on the affected skin, it will clear it up in a couple days, it's magic!)
If you notice that your baby is cluster feeding or having tummy trouble (or generally just unsettled) the day before your session, please let me know! I would rather reschedule for a few days later than try to work with a baby who is cluster feeding, having tummy trouble and generally unsettled! Shooting under these conditions makes it really difficult to get any of those sweet, sleepy shots of your babe!
04
Even if you don't feel like it right now, I need you to know that you are beautiful, you are powerful, you are strong and capable! You are a goddess and what you've just done is nothing short of exceptional! You are exactly what that precious baby needs, they chose you and you are doing great!
If you're not feeling all that great right now, that's okay because this entire experience is designed to pamper you and lift you up! I can schedule hair & makeup at the studio for you on the day of your Newborn Session, if you'd like! I also have a client closet with beautiful, feminine, flowy, flattering Baltic Born dresses in a variety of sizes and colors. You are welcome to wear any of them!
Dear Mama,
03
- 1.5 hours before your session, please bathe your baby (a sponge bath is fine)! Doing this makes their little lungs work and tires them out a bit!
- Dress your baby in a diaper and zip onesie (so that I can remove it easily when you arrive!)
- Feed your baby about 30 minutes before you leave your home! This ensures that your baby is in a sleep cycle and allows me to wrap them quickly (without disturbing them too much) when you arrive so that we can get through baby's portraits before they're ready to eat again!
Preparing your baby
Jaundice, baby acne, cluster feeding & tummy troubles
After baby comes home, you'll just send me a message to let me know they've arrived and I'll get you into the studio the following week!
Newborn Sessions turn out best when we have a full, sleepy, settled baby! For this reason, I try not to shoot between days 7-10 (if your baby was full term) because they're typically in a growth spurt during that window and cluster feeding (which makes trying to shoot a portrait session really difficult!) There's usually a sweet spot between 12-21 days!
02
01
when do we shoot?
Congratulations new parents!
I am positively delighted to Welcome you to the Holy City Babies Family and into my James Island Portrait Studio!
Newborns
a note about
When choosing outfits for your family, keep the word “complement” rather than “match” in mind. For example, if mom is wearing a gown or dress, then dad may want to choose nice slacks and a button down that has a little bit of pink in the pattern.
For Maternity Sessions, mom is the star of the show! As such, wardrobe coordination will begin with the gown mom chooses for her Maternity Portraits and everyone else involved in the shoot (dad, siblings, etc.) will coordinate wardrobe around the color of the gown!
For Newborn Sessions, baby is the star of the show! During your pre-session consultation, we will discuss theme and color pallet. I would recommend coordinating wardrobe for parents/siblings around the color pallet for the session so that the photos all compliment each other if framed side by side, etc! If coordinating wardrobe feels overwhelming, white is always a good option for the family photos with your new baby! (bright, new whites -- not dingy, old whites, obviously!)
Choosing Outfits
for everyone
Dress in a way that makes you feel confident and comfortable. like the very best version of yourself!
Personally, I love flowy maxi dresses on moms! They are flattering and forgiving and I love the way that the fabric moves! Baltic Born has tons of beautiful dresses at a reasonable price point! I actually have several styles, in a variety of sizes to choose from in the client closet. But, if this is not your style, you are welcome to wear something of your own that makes you feel beautiful, confident and comfortable!
I recommend dressing in colors that are complimentary to the color pallet that you have chosen for your baby's Newborn Portrait Session OR in solid, neutral colors. White is always a good option for Newborn Photoshoots!
Wardrobe Tips
for the ladies
mATERNITY SESSION:
For your Maternity Portraits, you will have exclusive access to our Maternity Client Closet where you can choose from among dozens of beautiful couture Maternity Gowns and Body Suits as well as Silk & Chiffon tossing fabrics.
newborn session:
open the client closet
Typically, the way that you accessorize your outfits really sets off your photos! But, for Maternity and Newborn Sessions, you'll want to keep your accessories to a minimum so as not to draw the focus away from your baby bump in that beautiful gown or from the tiny, perfect infant in your arms!
Note: depending on the gown, body suit or tossing fabrics you choose, it's possible that a statement earring or necklace or bangles could look really nice! If you have something like this, bring it!
Your accessories should not draw focus from the subject of these images!
Hot Pro Tip:
Sleeves are a great way to help slim arms, if that's an area of insecurity.
Empire waist dresses are a great way to help minimize your tummy after baby, if that's an area of insecurity.
Accessories
for the ladies
Rent the Runway
ASOS
Morning Lavender
J. Crew
Anthropologie
Free People
Jessakae
Petal & Pup
Pink Blush (Maternity)
H&M
Vici Dolls
Virginia Dare Dress Co.
Baltic Born Clothing
Madewell
Kate + Grace Boutique
Favorite Shops
Able
Zara
Mango
Nothing Fits But
Sezane
Hill House Home
Reformation
Rachel Pally
Nuuly
Christy Dawn
Rylee & Cru
Clad & Cloth
Ivy City
Shopbop
Everlane
for the ladies
shop my PRIME favorites
It’s so important that you look and feel your best for your Portrait Sessions! Professional Hair and Makeup can go a long way towards creating photos you love for years!
Professionally done Hair & Makeup lasts longer and tends to hold up better in wind and humidity.
This is why we offer optional Professional Hair & Makeup Service for both your Maternity Portrait Session and your Newborn Portrait Session!
If you choose to go this route, we recommend staying a bit “classic”. Now probably isn’t the best time to try out that new dramatic smokey eye if it's not a look that you're used to seeing on yourself!
If you’re planning to do any spray tans, waxing or laminate, schedule those for a few days before the session to give your skin time to recover.
Hair & Makeup
for the ladies
You can’t go wrong with crisp button down or consider layering a blazer or sweater with jeans.
Be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.
Softer, muted colors tend to photograph better than bright colors.
For Outdoor Maternity Sessions:
Don't be afraid to incorporate interesting accessories (a cool hat or tweed cap, suspenders, fresh kicks , cool boots or a bow tie etc.) and textures (linen, cordoroy, suede, leather or tweed) into your wardrobe choices!
A note about shoes: stylish, trendy boots, suede clarks or a cool lifestyle sneaker are all good choices. Please do not wear athletic sneakers or flip flops. If we're shooting on the beach, you'll be bare foot.
Wardrobe tips
for the gents
Kate Quinn
Zara Kids
Quincy Mae
Rylee & Cru
Noralee
Target - Cat & Jack, Art Class, Q by Quincy Mae
H&M Kids
Crew Cuts by J Crew
Roolee
Alice & Ames
Favorite Shops
Smallable
Fin and Vance
Little & Co.
Briar Baby
Jaime Kay
Childhoods Clothing
Spearmint Love
Gap
Old Navy
Boden
Hanna Andersson
for the kids
My best advice for dressing older siblings for your Maternity and/or Newborn Portrait Sessions is to also dress them in complimentary colors that will coordinate with the gown and color pallet you've chosen for your sessions. Solid, muted colors work best . Think simple, classic, timeless clothing that will age well with these portraits!
maternity Portrait sessions
Mama, you are the star of this show! So, everyone involved in your session (partner + older children, etc.) should dress in a way that compliments the gown that you have decided to wear for your Maternity Session!
example 1: girl mama
example 2: boy mama
example 3: neutral mama
example 4: boho mama
example 5: fancy mama
NEWBORN PORTRAIT SESSIONS
Your precious new baby will obviously be the star of this show! Parents and Older Siblings should dress in a way that compliments the pre-selected color pallet for your baby's Newborn Photoshoot! I am including a few commonly chosen color pallets for example purposes but white is always a solid choice for Newborn Session Family Portraits as the color is represents things that are Fresh, New and Pure -- like your baby!
the boys are back in town:
girls just wanna have fun:
You are welcome to borrow something from the client closet if you'd like!
open the client closet
neutral milk hotel:
having a rainbow baby?
fresh, new, pure:
I typically begin shooting spring portrait sessions in early March, or as soon as the spring blooms begin to arrive in the low country! I will continue shooting those beautiful spring sessions through late April or when the azaleas and cherry blossoms loose their blooms! This is such a short window of time, only about a month and a half with the spring flowers in bloom! I recommend booking your spring session in early February to ensure date availability!
Spring Blooms, pastels and light airy fabrics!
Spring
In spite of the heat, I'm a big fan of those lovely, sun soaked evening summer sessions! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 7:30pm. If you’re scheduling portraits during the summer, I recommend dressing in light, breezy fabrics, bringing plenty of water, makeup for touchups and a couple towels for sweat! I definitely recommend changing when we get there to avoid any sweat on your clothing and backup outfits just incase!
"If it could only be like this always"
Summer
A few things to keep in mind:
Honestly, you don't need to worry about this at all! I've been doing this for a very long time and my methods are fool proof! I'll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. Often, instead of "poses" I will use prompts instead to get natural movement/posing. If I ask you to do something that feels ridiculous, it’s probably because I know that it’s going to make everyone laugh - and that’s the photo I'm actually after!
Expect to hug and kiss, snuggle, play and laugh together and the session will be over before you know it!
"What do I do with
my hands"?
"What do I do
with my hands"?
POSING
I don't know, Ricky Bobby, what do you want to do with your hands!? (kidding)
Things to keep in mind:
- Bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location.
- Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
- Bring a lint roller if your pet sheds.
- Exercise your pet prior to the session so that they're nice and mellow for the session.
- Bring your pet's favorite toy and treats!
- Bring a friend! We'll plan to photograph your pet at the first part of your session. We won’t use your pet in every single photo so it’s nice to have someone available to hold onto them between shots.
Managing
fur babies
my fur baby, chip!
We will plan to touch base via text the week of your portrait session to confirm our plans for meeting time and location. We'll keep an eye on the forecast and in the event of inclement weather, we will simply re-schedule your session for a different time on the same day, before or after the rain comes in. In the event that it's a total washout, we'll simply re-schedule your session for the very next available date / time. If you are unable to re-schedule for any reason, you will be issued a gift certificate in the entire amount received at the time of booking to be used at a later date.
Inclement Weather
what to do if it rains
FOR MATERNITY & MILESTONE / FAMILY PORTRAITS:
You can, but I wouldn't recommend it.
I would strongly encourage you to order prints for framing and display in your home from your online gallery as I cannot guarantee the quality of prints ordered from consumer labs. These labs are not equipt to properly preserve the color profile of professionally edited images and often the finished product from these labs has an obvious pink or green tint because the papers are incredibly thin and not uv resistant and as a result, the print just looks terribly cheap.
A:
Can I print the images on my own?
q:
You'll receive a proof gallery of 40 images.
A:
How many images will I receive?
q:
You'll have 7 days with your online gallery to choose either an Heirloom Print Collection or to order from the A La Carte product list.
You can access information on that here:
A:
How long will I have access to the gallery?
q:
You'll receive your proof gallery within 7 days of your portrait session. During peak months (October - December), delivery may take up to 14 days.
A:
When will I receive my images?
q:
Frequently
asked
Questions
Absolutely! To ensure that my work is properly represented, I ask that you refrain from adding any edits or filters to my work. I also really appreciate image credits and tags as they help me to continue to grow as a business.
A:
Can I share the images on social media?
q:
By default, the artists / creators of images always own the rights to the images they create in perpetuity. However I’ll give you a release to use, print and share your images. The only thing you won’t be able to do is sell or publish the images commercially without my written permission.
A:
Do I own the rights to the images?
q:
Portrait Sessions are typically scheduled for 90 minutes although the session may not take that long! While we likely don’t need to shoot this entire time, having 90 minutes does give us the flexibility for location changes, rowdy kids and time to warm up.
A:
How long should we plan for the session to LAST?
q:
Your proof gallery will be delivered with partially edited images (they will have been processed through lightroom only). Once I receive your order details, I will complete hand edits on your chosen images in photoshop prior to sending them to print. (This step is where I'll be smoothing skin, brightening eyes and teeth, enhancing colors, removing bugs, flyaways or other distractions and generally just giving your images a little pizaz!) Once I'm finished with hand edits, I will replace the images in your gallery and will send another link for you to download the selected digital files!
A:
Will you retouch our images?
q:
Your portrait session proofs will be delivered within 7 days of your session.
You will then have 7 days with your online gallery to either order an Heirloom Print Collection or to order from the A La Carte Product List.
Your Images
When to Expect
Your purchased products will land on your door step in a couple weeks, ready for display!
Images were never meant to solely exist in the digital space.
You'll download the included digital files, you may even share a few online and then...
Technology isn't reliable and it changes rapidly (RIP CD Rom Drives) hard drives crash, get lost or damaged all the time and I will only archive your images for one year following your session date.
Fine Art Portrait Photography is an investment no matter how you square it. Wouldn't you rather walk away with Gorgeous, Heirloom Prints, Albums and Wall Art to show for it!?
I want you to have these beautiful pieces to display in your home, products that will bring you joy each time you walk by them, heirlooms to pass down to your children... it's your family's history and it's incredibly valuable.
Bring Your Images to Life with
prints
these beautiful images just sit on a hard drive somewhere...
i certainly would!
XO - Brittany
For those who value legacy. These heirloom albums are a wonderful way to house a large number of images in a beautiful way. Leave them on display as coffee table books or protect them with a legacy box.
Albums
Framed and matted prints are the perfect way to fill your walls with memories. With a variety of frames to choose from, I’ll help you select the perfect image pairings for your space.
Prints & Wall Art
Details and ordering instructions will be delivered with your gallery.
Easy to hang and easy to change out. Canvases are one of my favorite ways to decorate a space.
Canvases
I know that this guide is long and hopefully it answered all of your questions and gave you everything you need to know to prepare for your portrait session.
If there's something I missed, or you need feedback on outfits or a recommendation, please feel free to email me using the link below! Also, don't forget to schedule a pre-session consultation call with me to chat about location options for maternity or milestone / family portraits, timing, wardrobe and logistics ahead of your session!
Thank you!
xo - Brittany & Noah
