WHAT TO EXPECT
I am a 100% natural light photographer offering custom and lifestyle portraiture in a relaxed setting in order to capture life’s precious moments. My photography style is relaxed, artistic, and candid, and I will never ask for forced smiles or awkward poses, especially with children. The smiles and giggles, funny faces, pouts, and tears are all details that make your child or family unique. I take pride in letting my clients relax allowing their natural personality come out. It makes the very best photographs.
Newborn sessions customarily take place at my home studio in Mohammed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Outdoor locations are available and encouraged when weather permits.
Maternity sessions are taken primarily indoors for privacy reasons. Outdoor locations are great and encouraged if in a discreet location in order to maintain proper respect for local laws and customs.
Outdoor locations work great for family and children portraits and there are plenty of great locations in the city of Abu Dhabi and the surrounding area that provide a wonderful backdrop for photo sessions – beach, urban city streets, a grove of palm trees, under an overpass, in the desert, local parks. Many of the hotels in the city afford a variety of backdrops both indoor and outdoor which provide options during the hot summer months. Early morning and late afternoon/early evening light works best for photographs taken outdoors.
Photos will be generally edited for blemishes, bruises, and scratches. Skin will be smoothed a bit so it looks naturally soft. This will assist with wrinkles on mature adults. However, I do not believe in extreme photo enhancing. Too much processing takes away from the realism of the person and gives a fake appearance. After all, the idea is to capture someone at the moment, not make them look ten years younger.
Booking sessions early is encouraged as this gives the photographer time to prepare for the various sessions with props and location decisions. The best time to book a newborn session is while you are still pregnant. Your due date will be penciled in on the calendar. Then, as soon as the baby arrives, call and let me know so an exact date and time can be scheduled. Maternity sessions are also good to book well in advance of 32 weeks.
Model releases will be required prior to the photo shoot. This can be done in person at the time of the shoot or online via the website. Although I have exclusive copyright to all images, written permission is preferred, and must be obtained in order to post images on social media and the internet in the UAE. Every precaution is taken to respect your privacy.
Newborn Sessions
The best time to photograph a newborn is within the first three weeks, preferably between 3-14 days old. The earlier the better because newbies tend to sleep more, are more easily posed, and tend to curl up easily. Newborn acne and colic tend to flare up at around two weeks of age as well. Newborn sessions to tend to last three to four hours allowing plenty of time for feedings and comforting. Camille and Company Photography supplies all the props for your newborn session such as clothing, baskets, blankets, beanies, etc. You are welcome to bring special items of your own and we will incorporate them into your session. Talk to me about any special requests prior to the shoot and I will do my best to make it happen.
Do not be discouraged if you cannot schedule a session in the preferred time period. That does not mean you cannot capture your newborn. Birth recovery and adjusting to parenthood can be daunting. Schedule a session when you are most comfortable getting out with your baby.
To ensure your newborn session goes well, please review the following suggestions:
Maternity Sessions
Maternity sessions are a great way to capture the excitement and anticipation of a new arrival. It is also a time when your body is at its most feminine. Maternity photos are best shot after 32 weeks and will be customized just for you. Exposing your growing belly is a big part of a maternity session. These sessions are done in the privacy of my home studio and afford you to be in various states of undress without worry. Maternity sessions outdoors are also quite beautiful. In the UAE, it can be difficult to photograph outdoors with your body exposed due to local customs and laws. We can work around this by shooting in discreet locations or outdoor walled locations that afford privacy. If exposing your body is not comfortable for you, there are many ways to document your pregnancy and take beautiful shots of your growing belly without showing skin. So don’t hesitate to think outside the box. Talk to me about it. I have lots of ideas.
Children Sessions
First and foremost, our goal is not to capture perfection, but a good representation of who your children are at this point in time in their lives. This is why it is called lifestyle photography. Children will not always cooperate. This is just a fact of life so do not let this stress you. It is not uncommon for children to become shy when a stranger is behind the camera. We will find ways to bring out the best in your child. If we don’t, then we’ll capture that too! Should your child become very unhappy and overly uncooperative, then it is best to reschedule the shoot.
To ensure your child’s session goes well, please review the following suggestions:
Family Sessions
Most of the same rules apply when it comes to photographing families. Make sure everyone is fed and well rested. This prevents crankiness and sour facial expressions.
A family session should be a fun experience with lots of natural smiles and laughter. Cut up with each other, make funny faces, or whatever it takes to relax the group. Most of all, be yourself and let your individual personalities shine through.
Check out my recommendations about clothing and color coordination in What to Wear. Do some research on the internet looking at professional photos of families and see what style you like and color combinations appeal to you. Let me know if you need help. You can check out my Pinterest page for clothing ideas and articles about coordinating group clothing.
Bring snacks and toys for young children and water for everyone.
Headshots
Today photos are commonly used on CVs, resumes, websites, and social media such as Facebook and Pinterest. Everyone needs a photo for something these days. Why not make it professional and uniquely yours? A headshot does not have to be taken in a studio with a white or black background. Non-traditional headshots can be personal and express who you are and/or what you do professionally. Thinking outside the box will make your headshot stand out in the crowd. Take some time to think about the image or images you want to project - you can change outfits or styles in order to use your headshots both personally and professionally. Check out my suggestions in What to Wear.
Gender Reveal Sessions
Finding out the sex of your child is exciting and something you want to share with family and friends. Gender reveal sessions can be fun and add to the excitement of expecting a baby. This is an opportunity to be creative and use fun props to get your message across. Check out my Pinterest for creative ideas or come up with some of your own. Either way it is sure to be a session packed with fun and excitement.