Starting a client closet (for less than $500)!

Congratulations!

This step of creating a client closet is so fun and exciting for you and your clients. Welcome to the club. I have had a client closet for about 5 years now and am excited to share my knowledge and ideas with you. Let’s get started!

In this post I am going to share some ideas on starting your client closet with wardrobe from Belly Baby Wear. Ana Brandt is the owner and designer for this line of maternity clothing and is the OG when it comes to outfitting her clients in stunning gowns, fabrics, and designs. I am going to share 4 basic pieces that will kickstart your client closet and allow you to get the most bang for your buck. And we will end with a bonus to consider depending on your budget.

Having a bodysuit in your closet is a must. Whether you are shooting in studio or outdoors, a bodysuit is a staple for a reason. Especially a black bodysuit such as this Marnie style. This can be worn on its own, as seen here, for a simple yet stunning result. This bodysuit can also be paired with a skirt, tutu, draping/ tossing fabric, or even jeans. The possibilities are endless. This option is $85.

Bodysuits also come in a wide variety of styles and colors so be sure to take a look at options that best fit your needs and style.

Gown #2 - this style of gown is a classic for a reason. The body-hugging design is flattering on a wide range of clients and shows off the bump to perfection. The off the shoulder sleeves and sweetheart neckline are beautiful and versatile. Having sleeves is a win for me in the cold fall and winter seasons in Colorado but I also find that a large number of my clients prefer to cover their arms. Sleeves also provide protection from the sun and bugs!

This Endearing Mama gown comes in a variety of colors. You could select a beautiful neutral like black or white or go with a pop of color like this gold (which has been popular with clients consistently). This gown is $110.

While some mamas love the body hugging styles, others prefer the empire flowing style seen here. These styles of gowns flare out from under the bust line and generally have a circle skirt. This particular gown has slits in the sleeves and one in the skirt. These add visual interest and variety in posing but can easily be hidden during posing if needed. Some gowns in this style open over the belly but can be kept closed with your client’s hands if they prefer. The flowy gown is perfect for more modest mamas but regardless, the results with this style of gown are just as beautiful. Your client can pull the fabric over the bump or can toss it for fun images to have in their final gallery. This Lolita gown is $175.

Gown #4 - this is the last building block for your starter client closet. I recommend adding a statement piece to your wardrobe options. This can be interpreted a couple of different ways. This stunning gown from Belly Baby Wear features a gorgeous red color and one shoulder style top. Another interpretation of a statement piece could be with the style of your gown. You might select a gown with extended sleeves or a tossing train. Something that when seen a perspective client says “WOW!” and wants to book a session. Be sure to pick something that blends with your style yet is something unique to you. This Lady gown is $150.

So there you have my recommendations for your client closet starter pack. If you have been keeping track of prices, your total would be $520. But Sarah, you said this was for under $500, what’s the deal? Yes, retail cost is over $500 - but if you join my exclusive Facebook group I have a coupon for you to bring your total to $442!!! Bam - a stunning client closet perfect for studio or outdoor images for less than $500.

And I did promise a BONUS gown… this one is a stunner!

Here is my bonus - get a must-have, fairy-tale, over-the-top gown. Something that is unique in your area - that only you can offer. This Jazmine II gown fits the bill perfectly. This gorgeous two-piece gown features beading on the gown as well as the detachable train. The soft mauve color compliments every mama. It is the gown that leaves clients dreaming of what they would look like in this gown. Other ideas might include a sequined gown or one with layers of lace. You might select a gown with tulle and ruffles. Comment below with what your MUST-HAVE gown would be! This gown from BellyBabyWear is $490.

Some links on this page are affiliate links and I may make a small commission, this does not affect your cost.

A little editing magic.

Shhh… don’t tell my dress designer friends this, but I don’t have a gown in every color! Wait, what? Yep, while I love having options and do have a wide variety of gowns in a rainbow of colors, it is not financial practical to have every gown in multiple colors. So what is a photographer to do?

Change the Color!!!

Do you remember the scene in the Wizard of Oz at the Emerald City with the Horse of a Different Color? When the horse changes from red to green to purple? Well, I do the same thing! Through a bit of editing magic, changing the color of a gown is totally an option!

Which is the original color of the gown? The yellow gold on the left or the mauve pink on the right?

The original wine color of the gown is on the far left, but royal blue, dark green, and burgundy are also an option!

I love this gown but peach isn’t always a client favorite… but blue was her favorite!

This gown by @MissMadisonCouture is a favorite. I love the skirt!!! But when the client tells you while shooting that she is into all things pink and is expecting a baby girl… pink it is!

So… why is this a big deal? I love being able to give clients what they want! The first image with the gold and pink options? The gown is pink, and many love the style. But the mama had done family photos before her pregnancy with the family in navy and gold, she wanted to include a maternity photo on her family gallery wall. So we were able to make it blend into her existing décor. Gowns are also an investment, average around $200 each. While I love investing in options for clients, as much as I would love to have both the green and pink versions of the last gown, when I can make the adjustment digitally, I don’t have to have both in my closet.

During a client consultation, while we do discuss colors, I also ask clients to look at the silhouette and style of gowns. While I can’t guarantee a specific hue, and some colors change to others easier, we can plan for a color change before the session. It also adds variety in a gallery without having to put on yet another gown during the session itself.

The gist?

• Knowing the editing skills of your photographer is important! Not every photographer can do this.

• You can select gowns based on style and not color.

• Don’t be afraid of trying something new or asking for something different!

Yours behind the lens,

Sarah

I felt like a princess!

“My older daughter and I definitely felt like a princess and queen in the gorgeous gowns that we got to wear and the crowns that went with them.” -Megan

I love this quote from a client! It makes me so excited when I read things like this because of what I offer to those who work with me. When thinking about how I wanted to structure my photography sessions and what I wanted to include, a client closet was at the top of the list. Especially for my maternity clients and mamas. I know how hard it is to fit the bump towards the end of pregnancy, as well as finding the perfect coordinating outfits for the family. It can be stressful and a mama can end up feeling defeated, unattractive, or just plain frazzled. That won’t make for a fun session with beautiful images they will treasure.

Offering a client closet has had its own unique rewards and challenges since I added it to my sessions a little over a year ago. I have a weakness for pretty clothes and I love having an excuse to buy gorgeous gowns, accessories, hats, and jewelry on a regular basis. I have even been known to snag something to wear to work (no, not a gown!). But a challenge I often run into is the perceived value and price objections I encounter. Maintaining a client closet is an investment in my clients - and one that I do not take lightly. I only order gowns from women-owned companies that have impeccable records for quality. I do not order gowns that are knock-offs from China. I want the highest quality design, fabric, and construction for my clients. I value intellectual property and a product that will last. Does this investment make my sessions more expensive than other photographers? Yes, in some cases. But I hope that clients see the value in the experience and outcome that I offer.

With that said, I would like to share what a client gets from this experience I offer. In a typical session that utilizes my closet, a client will wear between 2 and 4 gowns and 2 to 4 accessories such as floral crowns, wraps, or a jewelry piece. The goal is to truly feel like a princess - beautiful, unique, empowered, and special. All a client needs to do is be present, extend a little bit of trust, and have a fabulous time. Because who doesn’t love to play dress up? I guide all of my clients through the process from the time we sign a contract to the time we depart the parking lot after the final shots are taken.

I love offering this full experience to the gorgeous women, girls, and families that choose to work with me. I have clothing options that start at 6 months old and go through a full range of sizes for young women and adults from size 2 to 22. I love trying new trends and highlighting the beauty of each and every woman who gets in front of my lens. This is my way of making sure that each person feels truly and deeply seen during a session with Seen & Hurd Photography.

Yours behind the lens, Sarah

Sew Trendy Coupon Code - 20% off your purchase

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!

Getting Published

In the last year I have really started moving my photography journey forward. I have joined more groups, networked, participated in shootouts, and become more active in the photography community. After attending my first shoot out (with the amazing Sarah Lindsay Photography), she posted that she had been published and made the cover of a photography magazine. I was like, that was a thing? I went to check it out.

Now those of you that know me know that I have a huge competitive streak - maybe from growing up with a twin, who knows? But I love to win! So my goal after seeing those posts was to get my own image published. Shutter Scene Magazine (@shuscene) runs themes every week for their upcoming issues and has been publishing since September of last year. My first image was published in October of 2018. What a rush! Seeing your work selected, valued, and published by others is just amazing. Photography is an art and art is subjective. I know that there are some that don’t love my images or think they are “ok”. But I really put a bit of myself in each image.

The first image to be published was this maternity image taken last January. It was a last minute session as Denver didn’t get much snow last winter. I had just purchased my first gown from Sew Trendy Accessories and was itching to shoot it. I had this vision of sparkling snow, a serene mother, and a little winter magic. A friend of mine was able to pass along the ask for a model and we were able to capture this lovely image the following morning.

The second image to be published was this beautiful violinist in the snow. (I really do like winter!) The vision for this image was created by my fabulous sister and part-time creative director, Liz Haan. She had seen my fabulous yellow gown, again by Sew Trendy Accessories, and wanted to get her niece in it. So we packed up all the kids and made the trek to Evergreen Lake to play for a bit in the snow. I love how it turned out - a little bit of Shakespeare’s MidSummer Night’s Dream meets Belle’s provincial french town.

If you are interested in purchasing any issues from Shutter Scene Magazine, here is the link to purchase Issue 18. My new goal is to make the cover! Wish me luck!

If you are interested in gowns from Sew Trendy Accessories, here is a link for 15% off your purchase. They are a boss babe company that is by women, for women, and supports a community of women as well. Their gowns are stunning and they have gowns for maternity, non-maternity, girls, and newborns.

Why Maternity?

I have been thinking about this question a lot over the last several weeks and continue to find more questions then answers honestly.

I truly didn’t understand pregnancy until I was in that phase of my life. When my twin sister was pregnant, I was completely creeped out by it. I don’t know if it was because it was kinda like watching myself be pregnant, because you know - identical twins. It was weird. But my poor sister had to endure me calling my nephew a parasite for most of her pregnancy. I watched several friends and colleagues experience that part of their lives as well and just didn’t get it. I loved babies but the belly was just plain ol’ strange to me.

Then fast forward to my husband and I making the decision to start a family. We thought this was going to be easy as pie… how wrong we were. After a couple months of trying we got a positive result on a pregnancy test and were over the moon. However within a couple of days, our hopes were dashed. I had a miscarriage and it was devastating. And scary. And worrisome. I decided to become much more proactive because I had just felt so helpless the month before. We sought out a fertility acupuncturist and started treatments. Things still didn't progress quickly and it was 8 months before we got another positive result. We found out in Vegas no less! But it was such a process to conceive. And thankfully I had an easy pregnancy but the whole time I was just on this roller coaster of emotions. Was she ok, was I going to be a good mom, what would she look like, was I still pretty, I was a mess!!! Towards the end of my pregnancy I was fortunate to connect with an amazing photographer and had my own maternity session. That experience was amazing, I got to wear pretty dresses, talk about my daughter arriving, feel pampered. It was great. And started something that I wanted to duplicate for other moms.

Image by Aubrey Lynn Photography

Other events have also impacted my why. In this country of ours, with all of our progress and technology, infant mortality is still not zero. Pregnancy is still a vey dangerous time of life. This year alone I have experienced the unexpected death of a colleague who experienced complications in her pregnancy. I am also familiar with others who have not been able to come home with a beautiful miracle but instead have had to plan a funeral.

A baby is a miracle and moms are miracle creators. I want to honor and celebrate motherhood and all of the joys and trials that come with it. That has translated to creating my own vision and experience for my clients. I have invested in gowns, accessories, and props to make mama’s feel beautiful, adored, stunning, and important. I partner with several hair and make-up artists to allow for some pampering and quiet time in the crazy and busy world we live in. And I strive to create images that when you look back on them, you will remember what it was like to be just you and baby - those swirls, hiccups, and private conversations that no one else will get to experience. I want your pregnancy to be truly and deeply seen and honored.

Gown by Miss Madison Couture (click here for their partner spotlight); Piper in Moss. This gown, and several others are available in my client closet, which can be seen here.