Guided by registered midwife Suzie Ayre
How your sculpture is made
Every Sculpt3D sculpture follows the same careful process from scan to delivery. The only thing that changes is how we capture you at the start. Choose the option that suits you best and read through the steps below.
How a studio visit works
Our studio is a private, relaxed space in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. You will be with Suzie throughout, and the session moves entirely at your pace. There is no pressure, no rush, and no awkwardness. Suzie is a registered midwife. This is not new territory for her.
Step 1: Book your appointment
Get in touch via the contact form or by emailing enquiry@sculpt3d.co.uk. Suzie will confirm your appointment and answer any questions before your session.
Step 2: Arrive at the studio
Our studio is at The Dawn Lister Therapy Centre, 1-5 Church Hill, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 2DE. There is a car park two minutes away on foot, and plenty of cafés and independent shops nearby if you want to make a day of it.
Step 3: Your consultation
When you arrive, Suzie will sit down with you, walk through pose options, talk through the collections and finishes, and answer any questions you have. Nothing is rushed. If you are unsure about posing clothed or naturally, Suzie will show you examples of both and help you decide what feels right.
Step 4: Your scan
The scan itself takes around five to ten minutes per pose, and Suzie will guide you through each one. You can see a real-time 3D image of your body on screen as the scan takes place, which most people find genuinely surprising and moving. We usually take two or three scans so you have a choice of poses afterwards.
Step 5: Choose your favourite
Once scanning is done, Suzie will show you the poses side by side and you can choose the one you want to go forward with. If you are unsure, she will help you decide.
Total time: allow around one hour for your studio visit. Studio address: The Dawn Lister Therapy Centre, 1-5 Church Hill, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 2DE. Parking: two minutes on foot from the studio.
How a home visit works
If you would rather stay at home, Suzie can come to you. The experience is exactly the same as a studio visit, just in your own space. Home visits are available throughout Essex, with a travel charge that varies depending on your location. Get in touch for a quote.
Step 1: Book and get a travel quote
Contact us with your location and we will confirm your appointment alongside a travel charge for your area.
Step 2: Suzie comes to you
On the day, Suzie will arrive with everything she needs. She will need a clear space of at least two metres, good natural light if possible, and access to a plug socket. That is it.
Step 3: Your consultation
Suzie will walk you through exactly the same consultation as a studio visit. Pose options, collections, finishes, and any questions you have, all in the comfort of your own home.
Step 4: Your scan
The scan process is identical to the studio. Two to three scans, five to ten minutes each, with a real-time view on screen so you can see your 3D shape as it is captured.
Step 5: Choose your favourite
You will see your poses side by side before Suzie leaves, so you can pick your favourite on the spot.
Total time: allow around one hour for your home visit. Home visits are currently available throughout Essex. If you are outside Essex, please get in touch for a personalised travel quote. We have visited clients across the UK.
How the self-photo option works
Not in Essex, or simply prefer to do things from home? The self-photo option was built for exactly that. With a helper, you take a short video or a set of photos guided by Suzie's step-by-step instructions, send them to us securely, and we handle everything from there. This option is available to anyone, anywhere in the world.
Step 1: Book and receive your guide
Get in touch to confirm your booking. Suzie will send you a clear, illustrated guide covering everything you need to know, from how to prepare your space and position yourself to how to film or photograph and send them to us securely. You can also read the guide here.
Step 2: Take your video or photos
You will need a modern smartphone or camera and someone to help. Your helper films, or takes 100 to 200 photos, in five levels from your knees to your chin while you stay as still as possible, then captures a few close-ups. Use natural daylight where you can. You can pose clothed, in underwear, or naturally. Clothing cannot be removed digitally afterwards.
Step 3: Send them securely
Once you are happy, create a share link in iCloud or Google Photos and email it to enquiry@sculpt3d.co.uk. Please do not use WhatsApp, which lowers the quality. Your images are treated with complete confidentiality and will never be shared.
Step 4: We review and begin
Suzie will check your video or photos to make sure we have everything we need to create a great sculpture. If anything needs retaking, she will let you know and talk you through it. Once they are approved, we begin crafting your digital sculpture.
Step 5: You approve your digital sculpture
Before anything is printed, we send you a digital preview of your sculpture so you can see it from all angles and request any minor adjustments. Only once you are completely happy do we move to print.
What to send: a short video in two parts, or 100 to 200 photos. Equipment: a smartphone or camera, and a helper. Turnaround from approved video or photos to delivery: approximately 8 to 12 weeks. Read the full self-capture guide.
Once your scan or photos are approved, every sculpture follows the same process
Digital sculpting and refinement
Your scan or photos are processed using specialist software and carefully refined by hand. We clean up the digital model, smooth any imperfections from the scanning process, and prepare a version that is ready to preview.
You approve your sculpture
Before anything is printed, we send you a digital preview of your sculpture to view from all angles. If you would like any minor adjustments, this is the moment to ask. We only move forward once you are happy.
3D printing
Your approved sculpture is 3D-printed using high-quality, non-toxic material appropriate to your chosen collection. Ethereal Collection sculptures are printed in natural PLA. Elysian Collection sculptures incorporate real bronze or copper powder.
Hand-finishing
Once printed, your sculpture is hand-sanded and finished individually. This is where the real craftsmanship happens. No two pieces leave our studio looking identical.
Delivery
Your finished sculpture is carefully packaged and sent via tracked courier. We include a full reprint guarantee. If it is lost or damaged in transit, we will reprint and resend it at no cost to you. Typical total timeline from approved scan to delivery is 8 to 12 weeks.
A few things worth knowing before your session
This applies to all three options.
What to wear. If you are posing clothed, wear something fitted without patterns, textures or thick seams. Loose clothing will not show the shape of your bump clearly. Plain, tight-fitting fabric gives the best result. If you are posing in underwear, seamless underwear in a plain, light colour gives the cleanest finish.
Jewellery and hair. Jewellery and accessories should be removed before your session, as they can interfere with the scan. Your hair should be tied up, ideally in a bun. This keeps your neckline and shoulders clear in the sculpture.
A note on posing naturally. If you are considering posing without clothing, we would gently encourage you to think about this before your session rather than deciding on the day. Once your scan or photos are taken, we are not able to remove clothing digitally. Suzie will never pressurise you either way and is happy to show you examples of clothed and natural sculptures before you decide.
Weeks to book. We recommend booking between 28 and 36 weeks. This is when your bump is at its most defined and the sculpture captures the full shape of your pregnancy. If you are expecting twins, we suggest 28 to 32 weeks. If you have heard about us late in your pregnancy, contact us straight away and we will do our best to fit you in.
Common questions
Is the 3D scanning safe?
Do I have to pose without clothing?
Can I bring someone with me to my studio or home visit session?
What do I need to send for the self-photo option?
What if my video or photos are not quite right?
Can I see my sculpture before it is printed?
What if I am not happy with the finished sculpture?
How long does delivery take after printing?
Do you deliver outside the UK?
Not sure which option is right for you?
Get in touch and Suzie will talk it through with you. There is no pressure and no obligation. Just a straightforward conversation with someone who wants to help you capture this moment in the right way.
Book your session