Being a maternity and newborn photographer in Arizona, I want every mama to celebrate and capture their pregnancy to the fullest. So, naturally, when I found Maternity Keepsake Phoenix, AZ, I wanted to find some details to share with all the amazing Phoenix moms in the area. Whether you are expecting, have a newborn, or your babies are more grown up, a special casted mold of your family is an incredible way to create a gorgeous keepsake.
Maternity Keepsake in Phoenix, AZ is Now Family Life Casting
After finding Gloria’s stunning work, I had the chance to interview her about how her beautiful belly casting pieces bring a piece of art and a memory together for generations. Imagine keeping this up there with your preserved wedding bouquet or your wedding dress. Your first baby…all your babies can have their precious hands, bums, and toes frozen in time. Here are a few details about working with Gloria for your casted keepsakes. She has let me know that Maternity Keepsake is now rebranded as Family Life Casting.
Q: Share some of your story us! What is your background with casting keepsakes?
A: I started my belly casting business in 1995 and I am self taught, truly, a gift from God! I knew nothing about sculpting! A few months later, I started casting baby bums, and a few years after moving to San Diego in 2001, I started casting baby hands and feet then body/torso castings and dog paws. I’ve been on all the local TV news channels in Northern CA, San Diego, CA and in Phoenix, AZ. I’ve also been featured in many newspapers, magazines and appeared on Sonoran Living Live, Total Bellas reality show performing Brie Bella’s belly cast and her sister Nikki’s breast mold. I’m still going strong after 30 years!
Your Casting Appointment with Maternity Keepsake, Phoenix, AZ
Family Life Casting (best known as Maternity Keepsake, in Phoenix, AZ) is body and keepsake casting. Create timeless sculptures including belly casts, newborn hands and feet, and placenta molds. Below, she shares the details of what you can expect for your appointment and casting.
Q: What types of casts or sculptures can we create?
A: Family Life Casting creates an array of family sculptures: belly casts, newborn hands and feet, baby bums, placenta molds, family hands, memorial hand casts, female breast/bum molds and pet ornaments.
Q: Can you create a mold of my placenta? What is the process?
A: [Yes.] Hospitals usually recommend the placenta be removed from their facility within 4 hours by a family member. It is double sealed and refrigerated until the casting process. Once I receive it from a family member or friend, I rinse it off, arrange the cord into a heart shape and start the casting process. Once the mold is ready to release, I re-pack it in the original container for the person to take back to my client’s home. I recommend the person delivering the mold stay or run errands during the casting process and take it back to the family’s home to be refrigerated…the price does include a shadowbox.
This image was provided by Gloria of Family Life Casting/Maternity Keepsake
Q: What can I expect for my casting appointment?
A: Once a potential client reaches out, I take the time to discuss what type of sculpture they are interested in and go over the process. When a client arrives, they are welcomed into my home studio room which is very comfortable, clean and filled with sculpture samples to view. We sit and discuss their sculpture design/colors then start the casting process.
Q: What should be worn to a casting appointment?
A: a client wears her undergarments (or boy shorts) which are covered and protected during the casting process. I have my client sit in a comfortable chair during her session and within 20 minutes the mold is ready to be released from her body. I always suggest for a client to bring another adult to take pictures and be part of this special time.
Q: Can I bring my children to my appointment?
I ask to please provide child care during their appointment time and even for adult hand castings.
Q: How long does the casting appointment take?
- Newborns: best cast between 2-4 weeks during their sleepy time, the process is quick and easy. I recommend to bring a bottle of milk or you can nurse during the process, a changing pad in case of an accident.
- Adult hand casts: casting couples only takes 10 minutes, family members is about 20 minutes.
- Memorial casts: these are best performed at a hospice facility or a funeral home and usually cast flat handed.
- Toddlers: I usually don’t 3D cast them at this age due to too much movement, which distorts the mold. I do offer impressions
which are just as nice and quick and easy.
Q: Is the casting safe for pregnancy and children?
A: I like to perform belly casts sitting down, standing can cause a little dizziness especially if it’s a hot day. I use only medical grade products made from seaweed. I use medical grade products and products made from seaweed. Toddler impressions only take a few seconds, plus, they like putting their hands on squishy stuff! If you are doing a family hand cast, the youngest child must be 5 years and up.
How a Maternity Keepsake Cast Becomes Art
Once the main part of creating a mold or cast of your choice is finished, you get to decide how to preserve it! You can choose to take it home and decorate it, or opt for Gloria’s premium and trademarked finish. This takes everything from a plain, plaster statue, to a stunning piece of family history that will last generations. She shares the details of finishes and time frames in the next couple of answers.
Q: How does the final product come to life?
A: For a belly cast, I encourage clients to bring their own ideas to the table with color swatches, pictures of where the mold will be displayed or I can give multiple ideas (most choose this option). Once the belly cast is semi-dry, I remove it from my client and she is done. After a couple of days I start applying my own preservatives to strengthen the mold and the final coat is my textured finish which I’m known world-wide for. If you want just a basic plaster mold, you can take that home and decorate it with family and friends.
[For] hand casts, all I need is your color choice(s) and display option(s) and I’ll do the rest!
Q: How long before the cast is complete and I can pick up?
Most sculptures take 2 weeks depending on my backlog. Memorial casts can take up to 3-4 weeks to complete. All sculptures need to dry/cure for at least 7-10 so they don’t create mold spots.
- Belly casting: Allow 2 to 3 weeks for completion
- Newborns: 2 weeks to complete
- Placenta: Allow 2 weeks for completion
- Adult hand casts: 2 weeks to complete
- Memorial casts: Allow 3-4 weeks for completion
- Toddler impressions: Allow 2 weeks for completion
Q: What payment options do you accept?
Currently, I only accept cash. Clients are required to pay a cash deposit at appointment time which is half of their total. The balance is due upon completion.
Schedule Your Appointment with Maternity Keepsake, Phoenix AZ!
You can schedule your Family Life Casting consultation and appointment with Gloria and see all of her incredible work on her website.
Display your beautiful canvases or framed prints from your session with me, alongside your personal casting from Gloria for a stunning art gallery. *swoon!*
By the way, I have a few more ways you can celebrate your newest, sweetest addition to your family. These links will take you right to them!
Related posts:
Meet Gloria: Maternity Keepsake in Phoenix AZ (Family Life Casting)
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