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Simplicity in Maternity Photos

I have moved toward creating simplicity in maternity photos in the studio. I have found so much joy in creating super simple setups for my maternity sessions. While I still love getting fancy, elaborate backdrops, crowns, etc, I am definitely more drawn to clean lines, simple backdrops, and gorgeous simple profiles when photographing maternity sessions.

When I was pregnant, I HATED the way I looked in the mirror and didn’t have maternity photos. Years later (my youngest is nearly 12 years old), I regret not making maternity photos a priority. While I didn’t like the way I looked in the mirror at the time, I KNOW that I would treasure those images now. Maternity sessions are all about celebrating mom, documenting this sliver of life, and acknowledging the power and beauty in pregnancy. I know it’s not easy to plan ahead, and make a priority to get maternity photos done…but I promise… you won’t regret doing maternity photos. I have a studio full of beautiful gowns intended to be used for maternity photography, which means they will fit and photograph perfectly! No need to spend hours shopping for an outfit for your session, simply show up and I’ll take care of the rest!

Using simple backdrops, clean lines, and timeless and classic dresses, mom and baby/bump are front and center. The focus is on the beauty of creating new life, and that beautiful baby bump. I have started encouraging clients to use simple seamless backdrops in a neutral color (I have about 4 different grey backdrops, white, creams, etc.) and I have had so much fun getting creative with my lighting to focus on the mom and baby! I particularly love backlighting mom (setting up my lights so the lights come from BEHIND mom & baby). I love creating gorgeous silhouettes, posing mom to bring the focus on baby, and those beautiful curves during pregnancy.

 

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Winter Mini Sessions are back!! THE ELF IS IN THE HOUSE!

 

Elf on the Shelf Christmas Mini Sessions

I am so so beyond thrilled to be offering in studio mini sessions again this winter! I’ve taken a few years off, as I just didn’t feel comfortable having so many families into the studio in one day before we had the opportunity to be vaccinated/boosted. This year, WE’RE BACK!

 

I have been planning this setup for two years, and I am so giddy about it! I will have a backdrop with lit white Christmas trees, a white backdrop, and a white “shelf” for your little Elves to sit on! How adorable are these little Elf on The Shelf -ers?! I will have outfits (hat, collar, jammies, white gloves, and socks) for kiddos sizes 6 months to 12 years. I will steam and sanitize outfits between each session, and will have them ready to go when you arrive!

I will have fun props to create some fun Elf on the Shelf photos, but feel free to bring any props along! Parents are welcome to join in the fun, and we can even have your little Elves tie you up in Christmas Lights. If you love the white set-up, but don’t feel the need to go full elf, we can TOTALLY just capture family photos with the White Christmas backdrop!

I’ll be emailing booking links via my VIP newsletter on September 20th at 9:30 am. I recommend signing up for my VIP newsletter here and setting your alarm to check your email at 9:30 on 9/20! Mini sessions tend to book VERY QUICKLY, sometimes in just a few minutes.

The details:

Elf on the Shelf Mini Sessions

  • Saturday, November 5th, 2022
  • In Studio, at June Bug Photography (in Mill Creek, WA)
  • $99, includes ONE image to be selected from an online proofing gallery (additional images can be purchased directly from your proofing gallery)
  • 20 minute sessions, which includes time to change into your outfits!
  • Elf on the shelf outfits (collar, hat, red pjs, red socks, and white mittens) available for client use. Outfits will be steamed and sanitized between clients, and will be ready to wear when you arrive.

Please let me know if you have ANY questions, and I hope to see you soon!Elf on the Shelf Christmas Mini Sessions

 

 

Balloon Garland Backdrop tutorial

I’ve had a lot of people asking for more details about my printed styrofoam balloon garland, so I figured I should put all the info in one easy to follow place! I’ll show you the steps I used to create a reusable balloon garland that will NEVER deflate. I’ll include the original file I used to print my own, as well as few other colors (I just changed the balloon colors in photoshop) if you want to use them to print your own! Below is a link if you’d like to download and print the balloon garland I created (scroll to the end)

A few tips/tricks that will help you make your ballon garland more realistic:

-Make sure the light direction on the backdrop is the same as what you use in your own studio. My images all have the light source coming from the right, if you have your light set up on the left, just flip the image horizontally BEFORE printing. You can do this in photoshop, or in the walgreen’s photo app.

-There is a TON of empty space on the files I’ve included. I suggest adding to the image with other things you want to print/create a styrofoam stand-up with!

-For the color changed balloon garlands, it looks a bit messy because I didn’t keep the back wall WHITE…but I did this on purpose. Leave the images ‘as-is’ and print them with the wall color changed as well. This part will be cut off anyway, and will avoid having a stark white edge to your balloons that might ruin the illusion.

-Take your time when cutting your balloons out. When trimming the section that overlaps, I prefer to include entire balloons to overlap vs having a straight seam across a balloon.

-When spraying your spray adhesive, spray the back of the banner not directly on the styrofoam. The 3M Super 77 spray adhesive is the best I’ve found so far and shouldn’t eat the styrofoam, but it will if you spray directly onto the foam.

-Walgreens ALWAYS has a sale going on, do a google search for promo codes before checking out!!

 

Step by step ordering instructions:

 

After you pick up your print, follow these steps to attach your garland to styrofoam! Here’s a quick video, but I also have step by step written directions below! 

-Cut out your design (in this case, the balloon garland)

-Remove the silver and white plastic from both sides of your styrofoam. I use R-TECH insulation foam from Lowes. I used the 1″ thickness, but the 1.5″ would work too! I have a minivan and the entire sheet fits perfectly in the back of my car. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-There is overlap between the two printed sections of garland. I like to include the entire balloon when overlapping vs cutting straight across. This hides the seams better.

 

-Spray the back of the cut out balloon garland print (start with the larger piece) with 3M super 77 adhesive spray. This spray won’t eat away at your styrofoam, some adhesive sprays will!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Flip the print right side up and press it on the styrofoam, smoothing out any wrinkles with your hands.

-Spray the adhesive on the back side of the smaller section.

-Flip the smaller section over and line it up on top of the larger section. Press firmly to adhere.

-Use a hot knife (I use this one) to cut around the edges of the design. I try to keep the heat tool at a 45 degree angle toward the center of the design. This will bevel the edges and help hide the white edges of the styrofoam when photographing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-DONE! You are a badass and now have a balloon garland that will never deflate!

 

If you would like to use the balloon garland image that I used for my banner, feel free! I have color changed the garland to a few different colors as well, feel free to play around and make them your own! The color changed versions look wacky because I didn’t deselect the back wall when color changing, which of course changed the color of the white wall as well. Don’t panic, I did this on purpose…this will help eliminate having a stark white line along the edges of your balloons, which can ruin the illusion! The wall portion gets cut off, but just in case there is a sliver of wall, it won’t show! Download balloon garland images HERE

 

Mill Creek Newborn Photography A few of my favorite newborn props!

I’m a Mill Creek newborn photographer, and I have photographed hundreds of newborns. I have a few props that are near and dear to my heart, so I figured I’d share them with you all!

This sweet wicker chair is the PERFECT prop for showing off baby’s sweet face! When posing newborns with this prop, I wrap baby up nice and snug, and pop a coordinating pillow for them to rest their tiny head on. I just love how sweet, sleeping, and perfectly framed their face is in this pose/prop. I love tone on tone styling, and have layers, wraps, headbands, bonnets, and pillows in just about every color!

Newborn photos with june bug photography

Next up on my list of favorite props, is my hand crafted MOON prop. I just love the warm wood tones of this prop, and I think it pairs so adorably with a stars and moons theme. “I Love you to the moon, and back!” is such a sweet theme for a newborn setup! This moon prop is so versatile, and looks gorgeous with blues, blacks, creams, yellows, etc. I have fun pairing tiny star props with baby for some extra cuteness.

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Another classic prop is my bucket! This isn’t any ordinary bucket, either! This bucket has been specially designed as a newborn prop, and includes soft risers, and a foam platform for baby to rest on. I’m a total sucker for anything that makes my job 1) more safe and 2) easier. This “everlasting bucket” from Hello Little Props is the coolest thing ever. My very favorite part? The bucket is magnetic, and Hello Little Props makes bucket covers in allllll different colors. I have a collection of 30+ magnetic bucket covers, which means I can customize this prop to my clients’ color preferences! So cool! This pose and prop is a great option when baby is nice and sleepy, as baby needs to be nice and relaxed and settled to be able to safely rock this pose (obviously, a spotter is just outside of frame or often photoshopped out of the frame. Safety first!)

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Just a few recent cake smash themes

 

I have upped my cake smash game this year, and I’m so loving it. I want to show off just a few of my most recent cake smash themes! Feel free to use this as inspiration for your upcoming cake smash! I’m miserably behind with posting lately! I try so hard to keep up, but with all the different social media platforms, my website tends to take a back burner…but I’m working on it…

Cake smash sessions are SO MUCH FUN, and honestly one on my very favorites to shoot. I love getting creative to put together the perfect set for your family, and I just love the joy of celebrating Baby’s First Year. Here are a few of my recent favorite setups. I design each setup based on requests from families, and have started creating some super adorable printed standups that help pull together the theme.

Mom wanted pink, gold, blush, and silver. She loves peonies and all things sparkly, and wanted to keep the setup pretty clean/simple. How sweet is this?!

Blues, whites, and greys! How sweet is this setup!

Safari themed cake smash for the win!

 

Honey bee requests come through often, and I love creating unique setups! How sweet are these bumble bees?!

 

Another sweet blue/grey/white setup!

 

This little man had a “around the world” cake smash themed. How adorable is he?!

 

I have a lot of requests for floral, boho setups. This backdrop is a perfect fit, and all those pretty wood tones and flowers made this set up so sweet!Parents requested a super simple floral setup. Love this one.
A few more boho/floral setups!
This little man had the sweetest “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” theme for his cake smash!Can’t go wrong with a rainbow theme!Another safari theme, love these colors!
All white setup for these twins’ celebration!Sweet little honey bee!A DONUT smash with this sweet “DONUT grow UP” themed smash.All the pink/gold and white for this princess!This little beauty rocked her muted boho rainbow cake smash!I’ve been having fun creating these standups to up my cake smash set game. This little man looks so sweet with this Peter Rabbit cake smash theme.All the Easter colors for this little guys Easter themed cake smash!

 

Book your cake smash NOW! Come celebrate baby’s first year at June Bug Photography!

Maternity Client Closet Update

If you’ve worked with me before, you know I have a HUGE collection of maternity gowns for my clients to use. I have over 100 different options, in all colors of the rainbow, with a huge range of sizes and styles. When you book a session with June Bug Photography, I work with you to plan the maternity photoshoot of your dreams! I have dresses, robes, bodysuits, sheer fabrics, backdrops, hats, crowns and more for you to choose from. To help plan for your session, I have put together images of the different gowns/outfits I have in studio. I try my hardest to keep this page updated with everything I have in studio. All of the gown options I have in studio fit a range of sizes, and I give an estimated fit range for each dress. Here they are in rainbow order! If this collection is too overwhelming for you, don’t worry! Just let me know if you have a specific style/color in mind and I can take care of the rest!

Reds:

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Pinks:

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Oranges:

Yellows:

 

Greens:

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Blues:

Purples:

Tan/Browns:

Creams & Whites:Mill Creek Maternity PhotographerMill Creek Maternity PhotographerMill Creek Maternity PhotographerMill Creek Maternity PhotographerMill Creek Maternity PhotographerMill Creek Maternity PhotographerMill Creek Maternity Photographer

Black & Grey:

Bodysuits/Robes/Draping Fabrics:

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Backdrop Choices In Studio

I have so many beautiful backdrop choices in studio, and I realized I don’t have a central location to showcase them all. So! Problem solved, here is a post with all/many/most of the options in studio for backdrops. I have photographed them without props/additional decor so you can see the full backdrop, but we can definitely add additional details (especially for cake smash sessions!).

These first few backdrops are perfect for little ones, or for 1-3 people. They are smaller in size, so not ideal for family poses/maternity/etc. (KEEP SCROLLING for larger backdrops perfect for maternity, family, etc!)

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And THESE backdrops are perfect for everything! They are large enough to fit the entire family, but also work great for babies/little ones!

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Whether you are looking for a family session, a maternity photography session, or cake smash photographer, we have so many different options for you to choose from!

June Bug Photography honored as “Best Family Photographer in Seattle” by Expertise!

I am so honored that June Bug Photography has been selected as one of the “Best Family Photographers in Seattle” by expertise.com. Expertise is such a slick way to find local, reputable small businesses to work with, and it was so cool to get the email that my little business has been ranked among so many amazing local photographers. If you haven’t used expertise.com yet, I highly recommend using the site when searching for local businesses that are highly rated, easy to work with, and do amazing work. Expertise was the first stop I made when looking for someone to re-do the floors in my home.

Check out the article here.

June Bug Photography specializes in maternity photography, newborn photography, baby photography, cake smash photography, and family photography!

mill creek photographerMom and baby in Mill Creek WA

Tips for a successful cake smash session

Hi friends! Cake smash sessions are one of my favorite type of sessions, so I figured I would share some things I’ve learned over the last 10 years in the business that will help you with a successful cake smash! Whether you are a photographer, a mom with a little one turning one soon, a client of mine, or anywhere in-between, I’d love to share some of my tips and tricks.

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First of all, and most importantly, I let baby lead the show. I take time to read baby’s mood (is baby shy? does the birthday boy seem to have stranger danger? are they walking yet? Are they curious?) and use that information to guide my approach. For babies with “stranger danger”, I will let mom/dad get baby in position, etc until they warm up to me. If they are on the move, I will grab chairs/buckets/etc to slow them down a bit and grab their attention to keep them in the shooting space.
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-Not all babies like cake. Be fully prepared for the birthday boy/girl to hate touching, looking at, or being near the cake. I typically start with portraits, then bring out the cake and capture baby’s approach. Some dive right in, some want nothing to do with it, some touch it and immediately regret it. All of these reactions are PERFECT, and all about the baby in that moment. For babies that are all about the cake I just let them go for it. I will reposition baby as needed to make sure I am capturing flattering images, but I will let baby go to town if they are interested in the cake. If baby hates the cake, I’ll have mom or dad take a pinch of cake and pop it in baby’s mouth. Sometimes this little taste will convince baby that cake is amazing, and they go from there. Sometimes not. Some babies hate the feeling of frosting on their fingers, for those little ones, we wipe their little fingers off (so they aren’t upset) and I’ll hand them a little wooden spoon so they can still eat the cake without getting messy. Again, notice, this is all about following baby’s lead. I don’t recommend forcing baby to touch the cake, as this often leads to making the little one upset and unable to reset.

-Before your cake smash session, have baby try cake! The day before your session, give baby a cupcake/piece of cake to try. This will let them practice and try the sweetness of cake in their comfort zone. It’s also a great opportunity to make sure baby doesn’t have any reactions to the ingredients in the cake (and give us time to come up with a plan B if they do have a reaction).

-Choosing a cake: I have my clients bring the cake, for several reasons, including potential allergy issues and to make sure parents get the cake they truly want. It’s also great because my clients can choose what works for their budget, and I give a range of recommendations for local bakers. I have a few recommendations as far as the cake goes: 1. Avoid chocolate and red frosting. Chocolate frosting and chocolate cake can look a bit like baby got into a dirty diaper during smash (especially with those close up images, where the context of the cake smash are removed). Red frosting/filling looks like a massacre. 2. Pastels or no dyes in the frosting is ideal. Deep colors in frosting tends to dye baby’s skin, which will be difficult to wash off for the bath portion of the session. 3. OVERSWEET frostings tend to shock baby. Cakes from the grocery store are often made with super sweet frostings, if possible, ask for a whipped frosting or something less sweet. 4. Avoid fondant, decorations on cake/etc. These things can be choking hazards, so best to leave them off. Buttercream frosting seems to be best! 5. If you refrigerate your cake the night before your session, be sure to take it out of the fridge a few hours before your session. Babies tend to prefer room temp cakes, and the frosting is much easier for them to get into.
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-Choosing an outfit: Bring along a few different outfits, make sure they fit (try ’em on the night before!) Babies tend to get lost in clothing that is too big. Some babies HATE trying to crawl in dresses, so make sure you have some options if that’s your little one! I have TONS of outfits for my clients to use, and typically pull 5-6 outfits that coordinate with the cake smash set up in in advance. For the outfit baby will wear during the smash: make sure it’s washable! I love minimal coverage for the cake smash portion, love seeing those baby rolls, tiny toes, etc. I recommend a diaper cover, suspenders (for boys), sweet romper for little girls, etc.
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-Go with the flow. Keep the energy high, happy, and keep moving! I try to move at a pretty good clip, so baby doesn’t get frustrated or bored during the session. I have lots of fun distractions/toys to get the birthday boy/girl to smile and look at the camera, so my parents can just sit back and watch the show! Cake smash sessions are high energy, super fun, and so much fun!

-Finish with a bath! ALL my little babies LOVE bath time. I like to finish cake smash sessions with a sweet bath setup after the cake. I typically have mom and dad clean up baby before the bath (this way your bath time images aren’t as obviously birthday related, and can be displayed in the bathroom, etc).

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Planning for your Maternity Photo Session with June Bug Photography

Expecting mamas, this post is for you! I’m going to give you a run down of how your maternity photo session with June Bug Photography will flow, give you some tips and tricks to prepare for your session, and (my favorite part) show off a few of my new maternity gowns.

Scheduling:

I typically recommend scheduling your maternity photo session so you will be somewhere between 25-33 weeks pregnant for your session. Note: this is a pretty big window, mostly because it’s all about your comfort. I want my mamas to be comfortable during their session, and I want you to be able to change into your gowns with ease, etc. I know this gets more difficult as baby grows, and we definitely don’t want baby to be born early (and miss the maternity session all together!) Shooting maternity sessions is SUPER relaxed, but you will be standing (and walking if shooting outdoors), changing, which gets a little harder in those last few weeks.

Planning:

Planning ahead for your maternity photo session should be fun. There isn’t a ton you need to do, but here are a few things to think about.

  • Hair & Makeup: If you’re interested in having professional hair and makeup done for your session, let me know! I have a few great recommendations for hair and makeup artists. I don’t include this as part of my maternity packages, as many mamas prefer to do their own hair and makeup.
  • Check out the gowns I have available for clients to use HERE make note of ones you love. Sizes listed on the descriptions are estimates, but most gowns are pretty flexible with sizing.
  • Check out the different backdrop options I have HERE. Make note of backdrops you love!
  • Don’t forget to fill out your questionnaire (it’ll be emailed to you prior to your session). This is a great place to let me know any specific ideas you have, the dresses you’d like to wear, the backdrops you want to use, etc.
  • Make sure you have a bra that fits. Don’t worry if you don’t have a strapless bra, we can tuck and hide straps if needed.

The Session:

What to bring with you: I recommend brining along/wearing seamless underwear that is similar to your skin color. Bring along (or wear) a bra that fits, as well as any outfit(s) that you would like to be photographed in. When you arrive at the studio, we will have a quick chat, get to know each other, and make a plan for the session. I’ll have the gowns you want to try all steamed and ready to wear ahead of time.

During a typical maternity session, my clients have plenty of times for outfit changes if desired. We play dress up, have fun, and shoot a TON. You are welcome to include the rest of the family in your maternity photos, or it’s totally ok to have it just YOU.

 

After the Shoot:

Following your session with June Bug Photography, you will get to choose your images! YAY! Within 24 hours of your session, you will receive an email link to a “soft proofing gallery”, which is basically an online, watermarked gallery of the images captured during your session. These images will be UNEDITED (don’t worry, your final images will be edited to perfection). You will use the unedited images in the proofing gallery to select the photos you want included in your purchased package. Once you choose your favorite images, I will edit those, order your prints, and ship your USB of high resolution files & prints to your mailbox! Once you receive your digital files, you can post, share, print them to your heart’s content!

Just for fun, here are my newest gowns. Feel free to laugh at my ridiculous fake belly, and awkward posing (trying to pose yourself with a fake belly, using a camera timer is just as silly as it sounds). maternity mill creek Seattle Everett

And here is a shot of the different backdrop options we have in studio

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