Why Book a Glow Up Session?

There are so many reasons why someone would book a glow up session. One common reason is milestone birthdays. However, these sessions are great for a boost in self-confidence. Maybe you want to recreate your favourite celebrity photoshoot. Maybe you’re a mom who is reclaiming their body! Maybe you need photos for your dating profile, or your personal brand. Or perhaps you just had an epic haircut or a big makeover. It could be a life milestone like graduation, a dance competition, or a career change! Perhaps you want to re-wear some of those epic outfits you’ve been holding on to. Or you want to celebrate your evolving body and spirit. Maybe it’s something fun to do with close friends, or maybe you just want to, for you! And that’s reason enough!

Honestly, glow up sessions are something everyone should experience at least once! They are a super fun form of self care! And they are quite unique since your session is curated to you personally. So this is the perfect time to pull out those dresses that you love so much but feel like they are too epic to wear anywhere! Ya know, those outfits that make you feel like a star! Or perhaps this post is giving you a reason to buy that outfit you have been pondering. Just do it then get in front of my camera!

And if you don’t know what to wear, don’t worry! You and I will create your vision together and we can find the perfect outfits as that vision unfolds. Also!! I’m on a mission to have a closet just as grand as Marvellous Mrs Maisel, so feel free to borrow something from The Marvellous Wardrobe, my ever-growing client closet! (Stay tuned for an e-magazine showing off all the wardrobe options! Coming this fall!) Whatever you wear, we are gonna plan it together before your big photoshoot!

A pretty incredible time to book a glow up session is when you’re pregnant. Generally this is a time where you are on a roller coaster of emotions towards how you feel about your body. You either feel super amazing, even sexy, or you feel heavy and tired. I’ve had 2 babies myself, and I personally felt this mixture throughout both pregnancies. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s such a life altering milestone and you actually look radiant! So since you’re in a gorgeous glowing temporary body, it couldn’t be a more perfect opportunity to book a session! Bundle it with your birth photography package or your newborn session.

And because these sessions are not just for adults, another ideal time for a glow up session is during your kids milestones. Such as finishing middle or high school! Levelling up in music or dance or swimming. And it’s no secret that teens struggle a lot with self confidence and some have to go through the brutal agony of being bullied. A glow up session will definitely help boost their self esteem! And heck, bring your kid and their friends together for a Glam Jam so they can celebrate their birthdays and any other accomplishments, together!

What’s a Glam Jam? Well…Full disclosure. My friends and I have been getting together almost annually for the past 20 years for a Glam Jam! We go to someones cottage for a slumber party to catch up with each other and do these sessions. And I am so grateful that we have so many pictures through the years celebrating many milestones together. Booking a Glam Jam with all your bffs is such a treat! You make a joined playlist, you hype each other up and just let yourself have the best time taking turns on set. Of course we always get a group shot too!

You might be wondering how glow up sessions differ from lifestyle portrait sessions? Well, lifestyle portrait sessions are more go-with-the-flow. We generally use natural light and it’s a more organic real-life session. Kind of like styled documentary. Whereas a glow up session is more intentional and curated in every way. Often (but not always) using an artificial lighting system and a solid plan with the help of a mood board. It’s more fashion/editorial. With the option of on-location or in-studio. And the option of having your hair and make up done, along with other sweet pampering perks! Truly an experience that you didn’t know you needed!

 

Portfolios

 
 

Addison's Cake Smash!

Everyone will warn you that it will go by so fast. They will comfort you on the hard days by reminding you of how soon it will be over and how you'll be begging for those baby days again. It's hard to believe, but then you blink and your baby is one.
I can't even believe that one year ago we were celebrating her arrival with a birth story and a newborn session and now here she is 365 days later embracing baby life while dipping her feet feet in to toddlerhood! That little squishy baby that could easily lay in one of your arms becomes hard to hold with two hands let alone one because one year olds are here there and everywhere.
The next year will likely go faster and the milestones just as epic as you say goodbye to the baby days and hello to the days of strong willed independence. But my goooodness aren't they just the cutest little cheeky monkeys at this stage!?

We ended the session by sending a balloon up to Addi's twin sister. It was really really lovely.

A couple days after this, I documented Addi's first birthday party!

UPDATE: You can see all the fun from Addi’s birthday party here: http://www.heatherbays.com/blog/2017/6/22/happy-1st-birthday-addison

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