style guide ~maternity
Step 1
CHOOSING TIME & DATE
We LOVE natural light because it creates photos that feel fresh, timeless and true to you. We begin all of our outdoor sessions during the “golden hour” when light is the dreamiest. Start time is 90 minutes before the sun sets. Keep in mind that the sunset is much earlier during the cooler months and much later during summer. To get the most out of your session arrive a few minutes early. If you are wanting to shoot in 2 outfits - come in the more casual one first and save the dressy one for sunset.
We live in Florida and during hotter months photos can be tricky - so if you book a session during this time make sure to come prepared with water, towels or even additional outfits.
Quick Tip: Our weekends fill up super fast and far in advance due to weddings. You can get a fast pass to the front of the schedule by booking a session on a weekday or in some occasions Friday/Sunday.
Step 2
SELECTING A LOCATION
THE LOCATION OF YOUR SESSION IS UP TO YOU! If you have a specific location in mind already, let us know. If not, we can always suggest a location. We are constantly scouting and searching for new locations to use. The location of your session should be some reflection of you. The major styles in our area are urban, nature and beachy.
Something to consider: At Rad Red we travel often, its a huge passion of ours! You can also consider meeting us at one of our favorite national parks or cities and getting a session thats truly unique.
URBAN
BEACHY
NATURE
STYLE TIPS FOR HER
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO FEEL YOUR ABSOLUTE BEST!
Have you thought about rocking a boho gown or flower crown but just never had an occasion for it? This is your chance to do it up! There is no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! If you don’t want to add a new permanent piece to your collection, there are rental options available. Below I will list some links to dresses to buy and rent. Don’t be afraid to show off that beautiful baby belly if you want. We love baby bellies! Plus you can bring an option with the belly out and one in for a mix.
In our experience, every woman, regardless of her shape or size has an area of her body that she’s self-conscious about, so recognizing what area that is in advance is key.
Quick Tip: If you decide to wear heels, bring a pair of flats to wear when moving from place to place. Your feet will thank you later!
GO PRO! Professional hair & makeup is on the top of most of our mom to be’s checklists because it looks amazing and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. From lash extensions to blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream.
Hair and Makeup Teams:
Style Hair and Makeup
Bridal Beauty by Tara
Lasting Luxe
Femme Akoi
A few more tips…
Get your nails done
Skip the spray tan
Avoid clothes that show tags or bra straps
Avoid clothes with branding or logos
Avoid loud prints or neon colors
There are a lot of elements that go into creating a beautiful photograph. One of those is confidence. Be sure you've tried on your outfits multiple times and seem them both together so you know you're going to look great. What you choose to wear has to be comfortable! You don't want to be fidgeting the entire session so be sure to wear something you can move around in and lastly, something that makes you feel awesome!
AMAZON LINK TO AFFORDABLE DRESSES
RENTAL OPTIONS: GOLDEN HOUR GOWNS OR FLUTTER DRESS
STYLE TIPS FOR HIM
BECAUSE DAPPER AND DEBONAIR NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE
From James Bond to Don Draper, Men look most striking in a well-tailored suit. The best part? If you don't own one, there are now amazing rentals companies where you can affordable rent a dapper look. Check out TheBlackTux.com, its our favorite! Solid shades of gray or navy are a strong compliment to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye.
If you feel like a suit doesn't suit you, pun intended :) Aim for long dress pants or jeans and a nice button down. Long pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place it where you want it: on the face. So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts and sandals at home.
CONSIDER A FRESH HAIR CUT!
Things to Avoid: Hats, Logo or Branded Clothes, Baggy Clothes and White Socks
Quick Tip: Be sure to eat before your session. Beyond that, consider grabbing a drink beforehand. A beer or your favorite cocktail might be exactly what you need to calm any nerves. If you're up for it, we'd love to join you for that drink too!
Incorporating Kiddos
Maybe this baby isn’t your first and you want to incorporate your other children in the session. Here are some tips and info:
-Be sure to coordinate colors but not be too matchy. No logos, characters or heavy patterns.
-Bring along a family member or friend to help watch your other kids when they aren’t in the photos.
-Be prepared for them not to get too many photos, especially if they are small. Most littles don’t last the entire session so we take a few them give them a break and take more later in the session.
-Bring their family toy and/or a reward to encourage smiles and happiness.
-Depending on the age of your son or daughter, we might not get too many smiles. But we will do our best!
Outfits
Colors + Matching: As much as we loved the 90s, long gone are the days of overly matching for photos. There is a nice balance you want to find between matchy/matchy and clashing.
Patterns: We love a good pattern in an outfit but be sure that only one in the group, in some occasions two, are wearing it. Patterns can clash very easily!
End goal: Think cohesive or coordinating! Here are some color combinations to consider! But we are also here to help with any questions or if you need input on choices because these combinations will not cover everyones liking or every color.
Light Neutral Tones Whites, off whites, light grey/tan/greige, almost no color. Pairs well with jeans! This is what we HIGHLY recommend for in home and newborn sessions. Also works great for a variety of sessions.
Darker/Warm Neutral and earth Tones examples would be black, dark browns, forest green, and burnt orange. This combination works the best in almost every setting!
Bright Color + Neutrals one person is in a bright color while the other is neutral to keep it from being too much. Burgundy is probably one of our favorite options for maternity because it is flattering on every skin tone.
Yellow + Shades of Blue or Grey A nice golden or mustard yellow pairs amazing with navy and grey.
Bright solid Color + A Pattern Great way to mix and match!
Color Family If you do want to try and match more, think color family. Everyone in a different shade of the same color. or one in the color and the other has that color in a pattern.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Remember what our goal is here: to create natural, fun images that represent you. We will take some time at the beginning to walk and chat so we can get to know each other a bit more. Once we start shooting, it will take a bit for you to start to feel comfortable in front of the camera and by the end you'll be professional models! (Kidding, of course, but we're sure you'll surprise yourself!)
Speaking of models, we definitely don’t expect you to go all “America’s Next Top Model” on us. We just want you to be yourselves. We will put you in positions and poses that feel natural and help create authentic moments. With that being said, if we ever pose you in a way that feels completely uncomfortable or you think feels unflattering, please speak up! We’re all about the experience and don’t want you looking back on your images and remembering how uncomfortable a pose felt.
Throughout the session, we may take a few minutes to pause, drink some water, relax and chat. We are not going to just shoot constantly for 90 minutes straight. We want to get to know you and we want you to get to know us. We want to know what makes you laugh, what you like to do for fun and what you love about each other. Feel free to ask us questions too. The more comfortable we are with each other, the better your pictures will be.
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER…
TURN AROUND TIME: The turn around time for us to deliver your session is 2-3 weeks.
WEATHER: In Florida weather so very unpredictable. But we typically don’t worry too much about rain or storms except for June-Sept. If there is a 50% chance of rain, we will reschedule. We will not make that call until the morning of because it could change quickly. If there is a storm or hurricane forecasted will we make the call sooner but no matter what we will be in contact with you if this is the case.
AFTER THE SESSION. Don't forget to plan a dinner date! You’re already going to be all dressed up! Why not take advantage of it? Get as many date nights as you can before the baby comes.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP, PLEASE REACH OUT WITH ANY QUESTIONS!
