06/30/21 UPDATE: Starting July 2021, we are able to welcome guests/friends back to the studio (yay!).

Using all of our brainpower and creativity, we have crafted a studio safety plan that includes all of the requirements/precautions to keep you safe but does not sacrifice any part of providing our full-service experience and delivering the beautiful finished work that we are known for.

This plan includes procedures that are legally required by Washington State for personal services and photography in Phase 2. We have also gone above and beyond to add even more safety precautions. In reality, the majority of the sanitation and cleaning procedures in this plan have always been done in our studio — so not much will change there!

As far as we know, these procedures are NOT temporary and will be in place for a long time. We will continue to look to the CDC and WHO to follow recommended best practices and update our procedures as required by Washington State.

Have a fever? Please reschedule

Our first safety requirement starts before you enter our studio doors. We ask that you notify us if have a fever, signs of a fever, a cough, or other covid-19 symptoms -OR- if you’ve had any known exposure to covid-19 and we will reschedule your session without penalty. We will also monitor ourselves for fever, symptoms, or exposure prior to your session and let you know as soon as possible if we need to postpone.

We are very low volume

At most, 15-30 people total enter our studio doors PER MONTH, and that includes the makeup artist, me (the photographer), and cleaning personnel. So rest assured that you are only occupying the same space as just a few people in any given week.

We will send you instructions on how to enter our studio before your session, which will involve texting us when you arrive so we can open the door for you.

No Guests Please

We normally welcome clients bringing a friend to the session — but Washington state is prohibiting visitors at this time and will only allow one client at a time.

Our studio is comprised of two separate locations, one right next to the other. Each location has its own bathroom, address and entrance door from the street. The largest of the two is the photo studio. It has two levels and is dedicated entirely to photography and it also includes the room for viewing the photos after the session. The smaller location is primarily for makeup/hair and wardrobe. We often do two sessions on the same day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and if the first session runs long that client will still be in the photo studio location wrapping up choosing photos when the second client arrives and enters the makeup location. A single door connects the two locations and will stay closed and locked so two clients will never occupy the same location at the same time.

Masks and Protective Gear

There will be signage as you enter encouraging you to wear a face mask, as posting this is required by Washington State. But obviously you do not need to wear a mask during your photo shoot. However, we will ask you to wear a mask for most of hair and makeup (except during the application of makeup below the nose) and then also when we are viewing photos together after the photo shoot is over.

The makeup artist and I will wear a face mask throughout the entire time we are with you.

Clean, Sanitize, Wash, and Disinfect

We will clean and sanitize the studio before, after, and throughout each session. We will wipe down high-touch areas after each use. After each session, linens, towels, and clothing/shoes/accessories that are used will be laundered or cleaned or sanitized in our LG Styler Machine. Deep cleaning of the studio with a local cleaning company will be done routinely as well. We have air filters throughout the studio for ventilation.

The makeup artist and I will thoroughly wash our hands before and after as well as frequently during our time with you. We ask that you do the same. We have two bathrooms with ample hand soap and disposable towels.

Hand sanitizer stations are located in every room. Additionally, while supplies last, we have a complimentary bottle of hand sanitizer as a little gift for you as well!

All makeup brushes are cleaned & sanitized between each client. Brush handles will be sanitized with alcohol. Disposable wands for mascara are used. Any creams or liquid will be used from an artist’s pallet and not from the container. Hard powders (eyeshadows, etc) will get a dry wipe after each client. Lip & eye liners will be sharpened and sanitized between clients. Lashes are never reused – you can wear them home after your session. All product bottles/spray bottles get an alcohol wipe down between clients.

No celebratory hugs

Aside from when it is impossible to do so, the makeup artist and I will keep a 6+ ft distance from you at all times. We will also forgo hugs and handshakes.

During hair and makeup, a time when the artist must get closer than 6 ft, the makeup artist will wear a KN95 mask. Additionally, the makeup artist will provide you with a disposable cape to wear.

During the photo shoot, I sometimes make a hands-on adjustments to move hair or help you attach garter straps. I will do a lot less of that and do more talking you through it. And certainly, if you don’t want any adjustments at all, just say the word… Meaning, let me know “I’m following the no hands rule right now” and I will totally respect the distance between us.

Reminders will be in the studio

We will have reminders and a copy of the above plan posted in the studio.

Let us know if you have any questions! We are SO excited to open our studio doors again! Never in the past fifteen years of business have we been away from our work and our clients for such a long period of time. We just simply can’t wait to be back again!