Why a studio maternity session?

Congratulations on your pregnancy and how exciting that you are looking to document your pregnancy with a maternity session! Maternity sessions easily fall into two main categories - outdoor and studio. Let’s dive into a studio session!

First of all, a studio session just means that your photoshoot will be happening indoors. A studio can be defined in many ways and not all studios are the same. Some photo studios are “natural light” studios which means that the majority of the light available for a session is provided by sunlight coming in from large windows. Natural light studios may also use reflectors and v-flats to direct light towards a subject. A photography studio may also use strobes, flashes, and other constant lighting to create light for a photoshoot. All options create beautiful results. If you are curious what kind of light a studio/ photographer offers, just ask!

This image was taken with studio lighting on a black paper backdrop.

This image was taken in a natural light studio on a fully styled set.

A studio session for maternity is a great option. Some benefits to consider are:

• Privacy! A studio session offers much more privacy than a typical outdoor session. A photographer and client can control who else is in the space. This is beneficial for reasons like modesty and comfort. Shooting a boudoir style maternity session is a wonderful option, so choosing nude, or implied nude, styling is usually a better fit in a studio setting. Also wardrobe options such as sheer mesh or lace gowns may be more comfortably worn indoors.

• Weather! Shooting indoors means you won’t need to reschedule because it decided to rain, or the clouds blocked the golden hour light you were hoping for. The temperature is easily adjustable, which in Colorado can be a huge bonus for women who are due in the winter months.

• Set Design! While Mother Nature has some spectacular options, it sometimes isn’t feasible to design the perfect set outdoors. Studio maternity can include chairs, couches, or beds. Photographers can also design more elaborate sets that include florals, chandeliers, or glitter.

• Simplicity! Shooting your photos in a studio is perfect for simple, classic, and clean photos. Backdrops can be a solid color, or at the very least, less busy than even the most basic outdoor option. A clean paper or muslin backdrop in white or black is a timeless and classic choice for photos. And simple doesn’t mean boring. Posing and wardrobe can bring a lot to a simple backdrop, your gallery of images will still have a lot of variety.

So as you can see, studio sessions still provide a wide variety of options and all of them are beautiful! If a studio session is something you are interested in for your own maternity or motherhood portrait session, my Signature or Epic Sessions would be a perfect fit. Please reach out via my contact page with any questions or to start booking your date.

Sarah

3 reasons why cheaper isn't always better... when hiring a photographer

Hear me out! Cheaper doesn't always mean it's a deal! I have been seeing so many inexpensive sessions and sites like Snappr in my feed lately. Don't get me wrong, I price compare and look for deals all the time. But you may think that you are getting a deal for $150 session with all the digitals... but be sure to look, double check, and consider some things before snagging that "great buy". This post isn’t about photographers making a living wage or making more money. Photographers are available in every budget, as they should be. People shouldn’t be priced out of photo sessions but please be a smart consumer!

Having a budget is key when looking for any service, however a low price doesn't always equate to value. Consider what you get for your price point. Look beyond "digitals" when comparing photographers and their rates and packages. Be sure you really look at a photographer's portfolio. Is it consistent? Ask to see a full session... all the digitals can include 15 of the same pose with not much changing between shots. Is their editing consistent? Are they giving each image in both color and black & white? This might be an unpopular opinion, but getting 100 images from a portrait session is just overkill.

Do you want prints of any kind? Yes, mpix and Walmart offer prints for pennies. But how long is your to-do list? Have someone else do the ordering! Your time is valuable too! You are a busy woman, let your photographer handle some of those little details. Those include ordering the prints, designing the photo album and announcements, and selecting wardrobe. A full-service photographer takes items off of your plate so that you have more time to tackle your own to-do list. What are you going to wear? Dropping money on new clothes is fun but just added to the price tag of that inexpensive session. Finding a photographer that offers things like a wardrobe may save you money in the long run.

Modern photography isn't just about the digitals. Taking photos has become easy and an everyday occurrence. Cell phones and entry level digital cameras have made photography easy, fun, and accessible. But professional photography is about an experience, creating those treasured family heirlooms and memories. Those experiences run a wide range. Creating keepsakes and capturing memories should be available to everyone. I encourage you to be an educated consumer… know what your photographer offers, and by extension what they don’t.

But at the end of the day, make those memories. Life is short and seems to go by quickly. I blinked and my daughter is 7, I am no longer the new employee, my parents are in their 70s - when did all of these things happen? So whether you choose to take out your phone and snap a couple of quick pics or choose to find a professional photographer and create an heirloom album - make those memories last a little bit longer in a photograph.

Sarah

Moments of Motherhood: Generations

Moments make memories, isn’t that the understanding? I am going to reframe and say that intentional moments make memories. And sometimes we have to make some time to do that. I remember my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. It was a big celebration. My family flew to Minnesota that October and celebrated with the whole family. Someone had the idea of a large family photo session. We chose one of their favorite places, set a dress code, and made the plans. I still remember it was a cold, overcast day and we we struggling a bit as such a large group. But once we got started we walked around, reminisced and shared stories, and enjoyed the time together. Childhood pictures were recreated with my mom and her siblings and laughter was present. It has been 21 years since those photos were taken and I treasure the intentional time we made to make those memories. And the best part, we captured the essence of that day in photographs. Those prints have been shared over the years and I am so glad we have them. As time has passed and the generations have shifted, I continue to be reminded over the years how important it is to capture these moments. The generational torch has been passed, so to speak, and now my mom is the grandmother and I am a mother.

It is memories and experiences like that example that remind me that in these busy lives we lead, we do need to be intentional sometimes about making memories. And if that intentionality means hiring a photographer and setting up a photo session, I am here for it! And if it just happens that a photo session provides that, please take advantage of the time.

I had an opportunity recently with one of my lovely clients. I had a blast with her during her maternity session and her newborn session was so touching. I reached out to her when I had a custom gown made to see if she would be interested in a mommy & me session. As our date approached she asked if her mom could be included in some of the sets. Yes please! All 3 generations arrived and it was such a pleasure seeing them all together. My client as mom and daughter, her mom as mother and grandmother, and baby as daughter and granddaughter. Each bond so special.

Both women were styled using elements from the SHP Client Closet. Mom is wearing an Eternity gown in Mocha from Chicaboo with a coordinating sweater from ThredUp to add some texture. Grandmother is wearing a custom gown from Picture Perfect Bowtique with a belt.

Did they all take pictures during her visit? I am sure they did. Did they capture memories and moments? I am sure they did. But there is something about the intentionality of a professional photo session that adds that special element. And everyone got to be in the moment, no one was running around trying to capture and be included. I hope they look back on these images and remember the moments, the connection, and the time they spent together. And that over the years they recreate some of these and make new memories. I know each generation will value these images in their own special way.

And that is why I include “generations” as a moment of motherhood. Women fill so many roles within their lifetime and each role holds unique and powerful elements. To create memories in those roles is so special. I know I look back at the photos of my grandparents wedding anniversary and am able to connect with my role as granddaughter, daughter, sister, niece, and cousin.

If you are interested in a generational session, let’s chat! Feel free to contact me via website or social media. I would love to help you set aside some intentional time to make some memories with your family.

Yours behind the lens,

Sarah w/ Seen & Hurd Photography

Sweet & Simple Session - Explained!

What is a Sweet & Simple Session? I am so glad you asked! In these sessions, I set out to capture a set of meaningful images of family. The beautiful connections between mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, siblings, spouses. At the end of the day, that connection is just sweet & simple - no fluff, fanfare, or crazy props. It is the love that we carry with us throughout each day, that keeps us going during the tough times and what we rejoice in during the happy times.

Whether you are choosing a Sweet & Simple Session to highlight your family, your children, or your journey into motherhood, the outcome is the same. You will have a series of beautiful, cohesive images to select from. These images can then be shared in a beautiful heirloom album, a keepsake box to highlight your favorite memories, or a stunning piece of statement wall art to highlight the awesome memories made during your session. Remember that with Seen & Hurd Photography, you only purchase the images that you want, you aren’t stuck picking 10 because that it what you pre-paid for. Our full service studio doesn’t end with an email link to a gallery. Each session experience ends will hand-delivered, custom art that will be cherished for years to come.

“I had no idea what I was doing when I met with Sarah to order prints. She had amazing suggestions on what prints to do, and how to format them. After ordering them I was beyond thrilled with the results. The images were stunning and on a good quality paper but the metal prints and ornaments are complimented on every time we have a guest in our home. Worth every penny!”

— Brittany (client)

Some details to consider. These sessions are usually a bit shorter than an average session, about 35-45 minutes, but if we need to shoot longer that is fine as well. Since we are trying to capture the connections and love in your family, the session is spent laughing, playing, and snuggling with those you hold dear. My client closet is also available during these sessions. This option can help to reduce stress about finding that perfect outfit or provide an opportunity to wear something unique and out of the ordinary. Usually clients will choose 1 gown or outfit but change the look with a variety of accessories.

“It was so wonderful to have her bring us dresses and outfits so that we didn’t have to try and find/coordinate outfits. I felt like a queen wearing my gown, while my daughter felt like a princess. ”

— Megan (client)

A Sweet & Simple Session fee is $250 and includes a $50 keepsake credit to apply to your art/ print order. And remember if you book your session before the end of May 2019, you will receive a complimentary gift with your print order.

I am so excited to see what we create together! Click the button below to get started with your session!

Partner Spotlight: Miss Madison Photo Props

Hello friends!  As I mentioned in a previous post, I am excited to highlight some of the fabulous people I have met along this photography journey.  This week I am thrilled to introduce you to Sunny Wells of Miss Madison Photo Props.

I honestly can’t remember where I originally came across Miss Madison Photo Props other than it was on Facebook.  I was able to join her preferred photographers group and just stalked at the beginning. I loved her beautiful gowns and was in awe of the talented photographers who were sharing just stunning images of their maternity sessions using her gowns.  I knew I wanted to offer that experience to my clients. I do remember the first gown I ordered however! Sunny sometimes does fun games in her groups where the winner gets an additional percentage off their purchase. As many of you know, I am a competitor so I was determined to win!  My persistence paid off and I was able to snag a discount code which was awesome for a photographer who was just starting out and didn’t have a huge client base yet! I decided to use my code to purchase a gown for a fundraising opportunity I was planning. My husband’s cousin had recently invited us to be a part of the Denver Walk to End Alzheimer’s event.  We had agreed to be photographers the day of the walk but I also wanted to raise awareness for the event, disease, and caregivers in honor of my grandmother who battled dementia at the end of her life. I was offering photo sessions where a portion of the session proceeds would be donated as long as anyone in the photos wore the color purple to honor those fighting the disease.  So I ordered my first Miss Madison gown - her Anna design in lilac so I could offer a beautiful purple option to my clients and honor my grandmother (Violet Weller) at the same time.

Anna gown in Lilac

I was thrilled with the gown and the outcome.  My client asked at the session where it was from as she had a black tie event coming up and the gown was so comfortable and it made her feel so pretty.  Combined with the high quality and wonderful customer service, that was enough for me to continue ordering from Sunny.

Sunny Wells grew up with 9 siblings and learned to sew from her mother, much like her mother had done before her (I love a good generational connection!).  Her father purchased her mother a Bernina sewing machine after opening up his own dental practice and her mother began teaching her sew at just 5 years old.  She found it boring and often left the sewing room to bake or climb trees with her brothers. Her mother eventually suggested that Sunny design her own dress for her 8th grade graduation and after that experience she was hooked on designing and sewing her own creations - even the bridesmaids gowns for her own wedding.  Life happened and she didn’t get back into sewing for 20 years until her own husband presented her with her own Bernina sewing machine. Then one day her oldest daughter called and asked her to make a gown for an upcoming maternity client she would be photographing soon. The idea of Miss Madison was born when her daughter asked her for 5 more gowns a week later.  Now 5 years after that phone call she has sourced her own textile companies to find the perfect laces, threads, and fabric. Her main fabric doesn’t wrinkle, it retains its shape even when it’s stretched to capacity. It has amazing recovery! You can wash AND dry it! Stickers and burrs don’t cling to it... it resists stains, but most of all, it hugs a woman's curves like magic!  She says it hasn’t been all butterflies and rainbows but that she loves what she does and is looking forward to the next 30 years!

I have been able to add several other gowns from Miss Madison to my studio closet since that first Anna gown purchase.  I consistently go back to her shop for several reasons. One is the amazing customer service she and her employees provide.  When you order a Miss Madison gown they provide an estimated timeline for your purchase to arrive. I love getting updates from them when my order is assigned to a seamstress, and then when it is finished and ready to be shipped.  I also get tracking information with every order. I love that I am able to know these details. It makes it much more personal and easier to connect with the women who are helping me to make beautiful images and memories for my clients.

Piper Gown in Moss Green

Another reason I continue to order from Sunny is the quality of her gowns and the attention to detail she provides.  I fell in love with her Piper gown (yes, partly because it is the name of my daughter!) and ordered one in moss green.  Once I had it on a client, I was even more enamored with it. I feel asleep one evening thinking about a couple of ideas I had for my next gown.  I messaged Sunny and was able to express my ideas about using a mesh fabric on my next gown. She responded just as excited as I was and created a gown that far exceeded my expectations.  Not only did she replace the lace in her original design with mesh, she custom dyed the chiffon to be a match to the new color that was created when the two fabrics were layered over one another.  I was blown away by her attention to detail that she demonstrated when creating this gown. (Be sure to follow me on Instagram @seenandhurdphotography to see images of the gown!)

Her designs and colors are also varied and meet the needs of so many of my clients.  One way this is evident is in her line of girls gowns. The versatility that this option adds to my sessions is so appreciated.  I have had several young girls wear my Charlie gown and they love how it makes them feel like a princess. The colors she offers are also beautiful - deep, rich, and luxurious.  But her women’s gowns are just amazing. I have her Everly design in Denim Blue. I love this gown and the mix of fabrics it offers. I think the sleeves are my favorite. I also recently acquired one of her newer designs - the Scarlett gown.  I selected her Mauve color for this purchase. I was also able to customize my purchase by adjusting the length of the sleeves. One of my favorite aspects of this gown is the full skirt - it adds so much drama to images and yet the gown is still comfortable to wear.  As I have already mentioned, Sunny makes customizing her gowns so easy. I ordered her Mia gown and it was so quick and easy to add sleeves to my order. The options are endless! Each gown that arrives from Miss Madison is just as well made and gorgeous as the last. And a little bonus is how good the box smells when you open it!  She adds a little extra touch when she finishes your order and I love how good her gowns smell and look fresh out of the box!

From left to right: Charlie in Berry, Everly in Denim Blue, Scarlett in Mauve, Mia in Charcoal

I am so excited to see what new designs she has in the works and am so looking forward to continuing building my client closet with Miss Madison.  If you are in the market for a gown for a special occasion, look her up! I cannot recommend her enough. And I love that I am also supporting a strong #bossbabe to boot!

If these gowns shared here strike your fancy and you would like to add them to your session with Seen & Hurd Photography, add them to your preferences when you book your session with me.

Partner Spotlight: Picture Perfect Bowtique

As I grow and expand my photography network, I have had the pleasure of meeting some pretty fabulous people. I thought I would take some time and introduce you to a few of them over the next couple of weeks.

First up is Picture Perfect Bowtique. I came across her shop in a few Facebook groups I belong to. I began collecting gowns as a part of my client experience a little over year ago. For the most part, the designers and shops I work with are women-owned and operated. Picture Perfect Bowtique is no different! Katie Conway is the owner and designer behind the magic of this little wonder. She is also a photographer and operates out of Ohio. Katie is an entrepreneur who is also a stay at home mom of two boys and two girls. She started this journey by just making things here and there for her children and props for her photography clients. She continues to design and hand make all of her gowns herself, a true #bossbabe! I love supporting small businesses like hers where I know my dollars are helping a hard working woman! She specializes in maternity gowns, although her gowns are so comfortable that several non-maternity clients have chosen to wear her gowns as well.

I placed my first order with Katie when I was looking for a gown that was for a very special rainbow maternity session. Rainbow sessions are for mamas who have experienced a miscarriage or infant loss so I wanted to be sure that my client felt beautiful and special. After much deliberation and who knows how many messages back and forth, I ordered her Kelly gown in red. This is where Katie really shines, she is patient and provides excellent recommendations and really helped me make sure the gown I selected was what I wanted. She also recently added a beautiful rainbow skirt to her shop for rainbow sessions. It is definitely something I have on my client closet wish list.

Kelly in red

I love the final result of this gown. The red was perfect! And according to my client, it was comfortable and easy to put on. Always a bonus!

During my first order I also was also able to create a custom gown in velvet. Katie had some gorgeous raspberry velvet that she sent a picture of as we were talking about the red gown I was ordering. I loved it! And she was so easy to work with when I asked about customizing a gown. She was able to mix and match a top from one to the bottom of another. The Lucia gown was created - I even got to pick the name! I chose “Lucia” because my sister did a report on Saint Lucia once and I remembered that she is often remembered as the bearer of light in the darkness of winter; which I thought was appropriate for a winter-inspired gown. I was so excited for both of my made-to-order gowns to arrive! She communicated with me during the whole process, sent me pictures of my completed gowns before she shipped them and also let me know that her area had just experienced a major ice storm! She made sure her hubby dropped them off at the post office once the roads were safe. Once I had it on my client, I knew I had to have another one. I ordered a second velvet Lucia in a beautiful blue color. Every client has commented how warm and comfortable these are. Which is great to have in Colorado during those beautiful winter sessions!

Lucia in raspberry velvet

Lucia in blue velvet

I am so excited to see what this partnership produces in the future. We are already talking about some custom reversible skirts that I can use for my maternity and senior sessions. If you are in the market for a gown for a special occasion, look her up! I cannot recommend her enough. And I love that I am also supporting a strong #bossbabe to boot!

If these gowns struck your fancy and you would like to add them to your selection for a session with Seen & Hurd Photography, add them to your preferences when you book a session with me.

Comment with any questions!

5 Colorado Places on my Session Bucket List

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I drive past a location, or spend time someplace with my family and inspiration strikes - and I want to have a photography session there. It might be the way the light plays in the trees or an interesting architectural feature, but a little bit of magic plants a seed. And then my imagination kicks in… I start to think about the number of people, the feeling the setting emotes, the colors or clothing I would include in the space. I love planning and creating these little pieces of beauty.

With all of that said, there are several places that I would love to shoot. I am dying to get on a beach with a pier and a desert with scrub and cactus, but there are also several places in my own backyard that are just calling my name. So here are five of my bucket list locations along the Denver Front Range.

Location #1: Woodland Mosaic Solarium at the Denver Botanic Gardens

I discovered that this solarium was originally one of eight ordered by Disney and built by a company in England. A woman living in Illinois purchased it from an auction house but passed away before it was erected on her property. Her son lived in Boulder and was asked by his father if he knew of anyone interested in it. Denver Botanic Gardens was looking for something and paid for the cost of shipping and installation.

I have several ideas for this space, including a maternity session as well as engagement sessions. Choosing to have your session at the Denver Botanic Gardens is a beautiful option and provides several unique vignettes for your images. A reservation and fee is required to use their gardens but well worth it!

Location #2: Colorado Railroad Museum

This location outside of Golden, CO has so much variety! And it also has spectacular golden hour lighting, which is always a bonus! I have done a couple of family and children’s sessions at the museum but I would love to see a maternity session here. And how cute would it be to have a large canvas print of your maternity session with trains in the background in your baby’s train themed nursery? I get giddy just thinking about it! With a large variety of trains, engines, cars, and a depot there is a ton of options to explore during a session. And because it has several tracks that are not in use, it is the only legal way to capture an image on the train tracks and ensures everyone is safe. There is a small cost to get into the museum but it provides a fun day for all!

Location #3: Standley Lake Beach

This is an interesting one because the beach at Standley Lake is always changing in size and sometimes isn't even available. Maybe it is because I spent 30+ years of summers in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, that I would love to capture this spot again. I was lucky enough to capture a handful of images during a shootout workshop there in late fall of 2018, and it got me hooked! I think a maternity session here would be just lovely with the water during golden hour and then a sunset in the background. But a fun summer family session would be cute too, with sparkles coming off the water. It is a little bit of a steep slope walking down to the water and can be a bit steep coming back up. So I would recommend that if you choose this location you are in good health, have steady footing, and are wearing excellent shoes!

Location #4: Santa Fe Art District/ RiNo

I love to change things up and explore the fun urban environment that Denver has to offer. The Santa Fe Arts District and the RiNo area have some beautiful art to offer. I haven’t been able to explore the RiNo area as much as I would like but I do follow them on Instagram and am blown away by the talented artists that the city showcases. I did take some fun pictures along Santa Fe this past spring and loved the colors and vibe of the neighborhood. I think an engagement session would be so fun there - could have a blast exploring the various art and side streets of either location. The fun colors, bold lines, and little details are fun to find and make such a unique image. Also a maternity session would be such a departure from the usual nature-inspired sessions that are popular. It would be so easy to find complimentary colors to a nursery design. I also think a senior session would be a blast to photograph in either area. A flowy gown or skirt would be such a contrast to the brick and bold lines. But a cute jean jacket or leather boots would add to the urban vibe. So many options and ideas!

Location #5: The Dairy Block/ Denver, CO

This location just screams fun to me! I would love to do a maternity session or new motherhood session in front of the milk splash sculpture, even a breastfeeding session would be just amazeballs! Yes, cliché, but so much fun. This area is also beautiful at sunset and in the evening with lights that are strung across the open space above. So an engagement session would be lovely and the darkness would provide a feel of intimacy. It might be a little overused at the moment but I think even a popular area can make a photo session experience memorable if it is the right location for the images. And the number of restaurants, ice cream parlors, and drink spots available in this area would make for a pretty fun date after the session is over! The making of memories during a photo session are one of the best reasons to book a session, and this location is sure to provide memories in spades!

So there you have it - 5 locations that are currently on my session bucket list! If any of these locations strikes your fancy, let’s chat about how to make your session memorable in one of these fun Denver spots. I wonder what other locations will be added to my bucket list this year. Comment below with a location that is on a bucket list of yours!