Who Is Sanne Hamers? Artist Behind Atelier Preserve
Sanne Hamers is a Dutch-American artist, former fashion stylist, interior design professional and founder of Atelier Preserve. Based in San Diego, she combines 3D body scanning, additive manufacturing and hand finishing to create personalized sculptures and jewelry that preserve pregnancy, motherhood and other meaningful stages of life.
| Quick fact | Details |
| Full name | Sanne Hamers |
| Nationality | Dutch-American |
| Known for | Personalized 3D body sculptures |
| Business | Atelier Preserve |
| Location | San Diego, California |
| Previous industries | Fashion styling and interior design |
| Former spouse | Actor and former hockey player Wyatt Russell |
| Children | Two sons, Skipper and Wick |
| Starting sculpture price | $599 |
| Typical scan duration | Approximately 2–5 minutes |
| Typical delivery time | Approximately four weeks |
What Is Sanne Hamers Known For?
Sanne Hamers is primarily known as the founder and artist behind Atelier Preserve, an appointment-only studio creating custom 3D body sculptures and sculpture-inspired jewelry.
Her work is often connected with personalized pregnancy sculptures, but the studio does not limit the service to expectant mothers. It also scans non-pregnant clients, mothers with babies and women who want to document an illness, surgery, recovery or personal milestone.
The process combines two different fields. Digital fabrication captures and reproduces the client’s body, while artistic finishing turns the printed form into display-ready artwork.
That combination matters because a raw 3D print and a finished sculpture are not the same product. The digital model preserves shape and proportion, but pose selection, surface preparation, scale, coating and finish influence how the final piece looks in a home.
Atelier Preserve describes itself as the only U.S. studio permanently dedicated to personalized 3D sculptures and jewelry for different life stages. This is the studio’s own positioning rather than an independent industry classification. Atelier Preserve
Direct answer: Sanne Hamers is an artist and creative entrepreneur known for transforming body scans into handcrafted, emotionally significant sculptures.
Sanne Hamers’ Early Life in the Netherlands
Sanne Hamers was born and raised in the Netherlands. She remained there until age 21 before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the creative industries.
Her Dutch background became relevant later when she discovered personalized 3D body sculptures in the Netherlands. At the time, she found few comparable permanent services in the United States beyond traditional pregnancy belly casting.
Public professional profiles also associate her education with TMO Fashion Business School. This educational background supported her early interest in fashion, business development and visual presentation.
Sanne has connected her current work to three major influences:
- Growing up around European and Dutch design
- Working in creative roles in Los Angeles and San Diego
- Becoming a mother and wanting to preserve her own pregnancy
These influences help explain why Atelier Preserve is positioned as an art and design studio rather than simply a scanning company.
Her experience also reflects an important entity relationship: the Netherlands introduced her to the concept, Los Angeles developed her styling skills, and San Diego became the home of Atelier Preserve.
How Sanne Hamers Built Her Career in Los Angeles
After moving to Los Angeles, Sanne started as an intern for celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe. She later established herself as an independent fashion stylist, working on red-carpet appearances, press events and editorial projects.
Fashion styling requires an understanding of proportion, texture, colour, movement and body shape. These abilities transferred naturally into her later work with personalized sculpture.
A stylist must consider how clothing and posture affect a person’s appearance from multiple camera angles. A 3D body artist faces a related challenge: selecting a pose that looks natural when viewed from every side.
Her fashion career also exposed her to carefully designed homes, distinctive objects and private art collections. That experience strengthened her interest in the relationship between personal identity and interior spaces.
Sanne’s work with Rachel Zoe is therefore more than a celebrity connection. It represents the beginning of a professional workflow built around understanding clients, refining visual details and presenting the human form intentionally.
CanvasRebel’s interview with Sanne Hamers documents her transition from styling to independent creative work.
From Fashion Styling to Interior Design
Sanne eventually moved from fashion styling into interior design. Public professional profiles list experience with California Closets and Bird Rock Oasis, alongside her work on residential interiors and organizational design.
Fashion and interior design operate at different scales, but they share important principles. Both involve composition, proportion, colour, texture and the relationship between an individual and their surroundings.
This background shaped how Sanne viewed maternity photography. Although maternity photos can capture emotion, people and locations, she felt that an elaborate shoot would not represent her naturally. She also questioned where highly styled photographs would fit within her home.
A sculpture provided a different solution. It could preserve the exact form of her pregnant body while functioning as bespoke home décor.
This idea can be summarized through a practical framework:
Personal memory + accurate body form + artistic finish = displayable family heirloom
The sculpture does not need to replace maternity photography. Instead, it answers a different need: female body preservation through a physical object that can be viewed from multiple angles and passed to future generations.
Sanne Hamers, Wyatt Russell and Her Family
Sanne Hamers is also known publicly as the former wife of American actor and former professional hockey player Wyatt Russell.
The couple reportedly met in the Netherlands while Russell was playing hockey. They later married, separated in 2015 and completed their divorce in 2017. Sources differ on the exact marriage year, so it is more accurate to focus on the confirmed end of the relationship rather than repeat conflicting dates. Wyatt Russell’s public biography and Us Weekly document their previous marriage.
Although searches for “Sanne Hamers and Wyatt Russell” remain common, her professional identity now extends well beyond that relationship. She developed an independent career in styling, interior design, custom manufacturing and three-dimensional art.
Sanne currently lives in the San Diego area and publicly identifies herself as the mother of two sons, Skipper and Wick. Public profiles have also named Joe Young as her partner, although she keeps much of her present family life private.
Her experience of motherhood is directly connected with Atelier Preserve. However, her children and relationships should be understood as personal context rather than the main basis of her professional work.
What Is Atelier Preserve?
Atelier Preserve is a San Diego art studio that uses 3D body scanning and printing to create made-to-measure sculptures and custom jewelry.
Sanne launched the business after developing her own pregnancy sculpture through extensive research, prototyping and testing. The concept grew from one personal artwork into a service for women at different life stages.
The studio supports several use cases:
- Pregnancy body sculptures
- Mother-and-baby sculptures
- Non-pregnancy body portraits
- Pre-surgery body preservation
- Recovery and illness-related keepsakes
- Body-positive personal artwork
- Sculpture-inspired gold jewelry
- Meaningful gifts for expectant mothers
One documented studio example involves a client who wanted to preserve her body before undergoing a mastectomy. This shows how the service can support personal transitions beyond pregnancy.
The studio’s mission is to empower women through personalized art. Its main point of difference is Sanne’s direct involvement in manufacturing and finishing.
What makes Atelier Preserve unique? The business combines fast digital capture with limited, artist-led production rather than treating the scan as a standardized mass-market product.
How Do 3D Body Sculptures Work?
A 3D body sculpture begins with a non-contact scan that captures the visible surface, proportions and pose of the human body. Software converts the captured information into a digital three-dimensional model.
The complete workflow usually follows these stages:
- The client discusses the purpose of the sculpture.
- The artist helps select a suitable pose.
- A 3D scanner captures the body from multiple angles.
- The digital body model is reviewed.
- The approved model is prepared for printing.
- A 3D printer creates the physical base.
- The printed piece is refined by hand.
- Fine coatings or metal layers are applied.
- The finished sculpture is inspected and delivered.
This production method is a form of additive manufacturing because the printer builds the sculpture in successive layers.
Research defines 3D body scanning as a multidimensional measurement process that produces a digital model of the human body. However, accuracy can still be affected by movement, pose, hair, clothing and scanning procedures.
At Atelier Preserve, the scan takes approximately two to five minutes, while the full consultation and appointment usually lasts about one hour.
How Pregnancy Inspired Atelier Preserve
The idea for Atelier Preserve began during Sanne’s final pregnancy after she had experienced multiple pregnancy losses.
She wanted to capture her exact pregnant form in a way that felt original, empowering and suitable for display in her home. Traditional maternity photography did not feel right for her because she had spent years working behind the camera and did not want a highly staged representation.
During her research, she discovered personalized pregnancy sculptures in the Netherlands. She then bought a 3D printer, rented specialist scanning equipment and began testing the process during the COVID-19 period.
Her first sculpture became both a prototype and a deeply personal artwork. It represented the strength and resilience of her body while preserving a stage of life that could never be recreated later.
The positive response to the sculpture helped transform the project into a business.
This origin gives Atelier Preserve an experience signal that many technology-led services lack. The process was developed around a real emotional need before it became a commercial offering.
Summary: Sanne did not begin with a printer and search for a product. She began with a personal problem and developed the technology-based solution around it.
How Professionals Create the Finished Sculptures
The scanner records the body, but professional finishing determines whether the final object feels like a technical model or a piece of personalized fine art.
| Production stage | Purpose |
| Scan capture | Records the client’s body shape and pose |
| Digital processing | Prepares the model for printing |
| Prototype review | Identifies incomplete or distorted areas |
| 3D printing | Produces the physical sculpture |
| Surface refinement | Reduces visible printing marks |
| Fine coating | Creates the chosen colour and texture |
| Metal layering | Produces a metallic visual effect |
| Quality inspection | Checks detail, balance and presentation |
| Gold casting | Creates specialist jewelry pieces |
Sanne conducted repeated material tests before opening her studio. She also completed a specialist metal-coating course in Boston and joined professional forums related to 3D printing, fine finishing and coatings.
In practical use, a technically complete scan does not guarantee an attractive sculpture. The pose must appear balanced, the digital model must print successfully, and the chosen finish must preserve important contours.
Sanne personally handles the printing and finishing stages. Custom gold casting is outsourced to a specialist local goldsmith because it requires separate equipment and expertise.
This workflow combines centralized artistic control with carefully selected external support.
What Happens During an Atelier Preserve Appointment?
Atelier Preserve operates by appointment at its Pacific Beach studio in San Diego. A complete session lasts approximately one hour, although the scanning portion takes only a few minutes.
Before the scan
The client reviews sample sculptures, explores available finishes and discusses possible poses. Pregnant clients commonly schedule between 25 and 38 weeks. For twin pregnancies, the studio recommends approximately 25 to 30 weeks based on comfort.
During the scan
Clients can pose nude, wear a seamless thong or bring a particular robe or kimono. Jewelry should be removed, and long hair should generally be tied up so it does not cover the body’s outline.
The selected pose must be held steadily during the short capture process.
After the scan
The client reviews the digital model before choosing the sculpture’s size and material. Once approved, the studio sends an invoice and begins production.
Based on real-world application, clients should consider four questions before scanning:
- What stage of life do I want to preserve?
- Which pose feels authentic to me?
- Where will the sculpture be displayed?
- How much body detail am I comfortable capturing?
The completed artwork is normally shipped approximately four weeks after the appointment.
3D Body Sculptures vs Belly Casts and Maternity Photos
A 3D body sculpture, belly cast and maternity photoshoot can all preserve pregnancy, but each produces a different result.
| Factor | 3D body sculpture | Belly cast | Maternity photography |
| Final result | Scaled three-dimensional figure | Life-size shell of the belly or torso | Digital or printed photographs |
| Main strength | Captures the complete silhouette | Creates a direct physical impression | Captures expression and setting |
| Method | Body scanning and 3D printing | Casting material applied to the body | Camera-based session |
| Customisation | Pose, size, material and finish | Paint and surface decoration | Wardrobe, lighting and location |
| Display needs | Shelf, cabinet or pedestal | Larger wall or display area | Frame, album or digital gallery |
| Main limitation | Higher technical production cost | Bulky and pregnancy-focused | Remains two-dimensional |
| Best for | Personalized sculptural art | Traditional pregnancy casting | Visual storytelling and family images |
A 3D body sculpture is better suited to someone who values form, proportion and a physical display object. Maternity photography is stronger when facial expressions, family members, clothing or locations matter.
Belly casting can appeal to clients who want a hands-on pregnancy tradition and a life-size impression.
There is no single best option. Some families combine maternity photography with a personalized sculpture to preserve both the story and physical form of the pregnancy.
Materials, Finishes, Sizes and Jewelry Options
Atelier Preserve offers multiple sculpture sizes and bespoke finishes. Clients review the available samples and make their final selection during the appointment.
| Option | Available information |
| Sculpture sizes | Multiple sizes are offered |
| Finishes | Bespoke surface finishes are available |
| Materials | Selected during the consultation |
| Clothing options | Nude, seamless underwear or a selected robe |
| Jewelry | Custom designs in 14-karat solid gold |
| Digital adjustments | Limited touch-ups may be available |
| Production method | 3D printing with hand finishing |
| Delivery | Packaged and mailed to the client |
The studio’s public text does not provide a complete written list of every dimension, material and finish. Clients should request current examples and confirm specifications before approving their orders.
A useful selection framework is:
- Placement: Choose the sculpture size according to its display location.
- Lighting: Consider how reflective and dark finishes will behave in the room.
- Meaning: Select a pose that represents the moment being preserved.
- Longevity: Choose a finish that suits long-term display.
- Portability: Consider sculpture-inspired jewelry if the keepsake will be worn.
A personalized sculpture works best when the client chooses options for long-term meaning rather than following a short-lived interior trend.
How Much Do 3D Body Sculptures Cost?
Atelier Preserve currently states that its sculpture prices start at $599. The final price can vary according to size, finish, customization and whether the client also orders jewelry.
Custom jewelry is available in 14-karat solid gold, but the studio does not publish one fixed price for every design.
The FAQ also mentions a $25 appointment deposit, which is deducted from the final invoice. Because another page uses “free appointment” wording, clients should confirm the latest booking requirement before scheduling.
Are the sculptures worth it?
A personalized pregnancy sculpture may be worth it when the client values:
- Direct artist involvement
- A made-to-measure artwork
- A physical motherhood keepsake
- Long-term home display
- Emotional or generational meaning
- Limited rather than mass-produced manufacturing
It may not be suitable for someone seeking the lowest-cost way to document pregnancy. Photography, casting or a digital model may offer a better fit for a smaller budget.
A practical decision framework is to evaluate meaning, craftsmanship, placement and price. If the sculpture has personal value but no suitable display location, the smaller jewelry option may be more practical.
Common Mistakes, Privacy Concerns and Limitations
A common mistake professionals see in 3D body scanning is assuming that the technology automatically produces a perfect model.
Movement, loose clothing, difficult poses and hair covering the body can affect the scan. Research from the University of Manchester found that a lack of shared scanning protocols can lead to inconsistencies in captured data.
Common mistakes include:
- Choosing a pose that is difficult to hold
- Wearing textured or loose clothing
- Leaving hair over the shoulders or back
- Expecting tattoos or fine body hair to appear
- Selecting a finish without considering the room
- Expecting unlimited body reshaping
- Failing to ask about digital file storage
Privacy is particularly important because a digital body model can contain detailed information about a person’s shape and measurements. A 285-participant study found that body-information privacy concerns reduced people’s willingness to adopt 3D scanning. Clear control, personalization and provider responsiveness improved acceptance.
Atelier Preserve’s public privacy policy discusses website, order and customer-support information. It does not clearly explain how long body-scan files are retained or when they are deleted.
Many experts recommend asking:
- Who can access the original scan?
- How long will the file be stored?
- Can the client request deletion?
- Is the file shared with third-party software?
- Can images of the sculpture be used for marketing?
- Who owns the printable digital model?
These questions support informed consent and do not imply that the studio handles data improperly.
How Atelier Preserve Works With Maternity Professionals
Atelier Preserve uses affiliate and referral partnerships to connect with expectant mothers and expand its service outside San Diego.
Sanne has collaborated with birth centres and prenatal chiropractors. Sample sculptures displayed in their offices allow clients to see the craftsmanship, size and finish before deciding whether to book.
The partnership model follows a clear customer journey:
- A trusted maternity professional introduces the service.
- A physical sample makes the concept easier to understand.
- The client learns about scanning and customization.
- The scan is completed locally or at the San Diego studio.
- Sanne manages manufacturing and finishing.
- The completed sculpture is delivered to the client.
Newborn photographers are also beginning to add 3D body scanning to their services. Selected partners capture the scan and send the digital body file to Sanne for production.
Sanne provides manufacturing support and mentors partners as they implement the service. This creates a distributed scanning, centralized manufacturing model.
The main implementation challenge is consistency. Partner locations need shared standards for pose selection, preparation, scanning, file transfer and quality review. A poor scan may limit what can be corrected during printing and finishing.
The Future of 3D Body Art
The future of personalized 3D body art will likely combine more accessible scanning with stronger expectations around craftsmanship, consent and digital privacy.
Partner-led scanning may allow clients outside San Diego to access Atelier Preserve without travelling to the original studio. Mobile scanning technology may also make body capture faster and easier.
Five developments are likely to influence the industry:
- Wider use of remote scanning
- Expansion beyond pregnancy keepsakes
- More sculpture-inspired jewelry
- Greater material and finish customization
- Clearer body-data ownership and deletion policies
Future use cases could include recovery, ageing, fitness journeys, gender expression, pre-surgery preservation and family sculpture.
However, greater access creates a risk of inconsistent quality. Digital capture can become faster while professional finishing remains time-consuming. This means handmade production may continue to limit availability even when scanning becomes widely accessible.
The strongest future model may combine technology with direct artistic oversight. A body scan records shape, but the pose, finish, story and professional judgment turn that information into meaningful art.
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FAQ
Who is Sanne Hamers?
Sanne Hamers is a Dutch-American artist, former fashion stylist, interior design professional and founder of Atelier Preserve in San Diego.
What does Sanne Hamers do now?
She creates personalized 3D body sculptures and jewelry while managing the printing, finishing and partner manufacturing processes at Atelier Preserve.
Was Sanne Hamers married to Wyatt Russell?
Yes. Sanne Hamers was previously married to actor and former hockey player Wyatt Russell. Their divorce was finalized in 2017.
Does Sanne Hamers have children?
Yes. Sanne publicly identifies herself as the mother of two sons, Skipper and Wick.
Where does Sanne Hamers live?
She is based in the San Diego area of California, where Atelier Preserve operates by appointment.
What is Atelier Preserve?
Atelier Preserve is a 3D body-scanning and art studio that creates personalized sculptures and custom jewelry for pregnancy and other important life stages.
How long does a body scan take?
The scanning portion usually takes between two and five minutes. The complete consultation and appointment lasts approximately one hour.
Is 3D body scanning safe during pregnancy?
Atelier Preserve states that its camera-based scanner works like a photography system rather than an X-ray device. Pregnant clients with medical concerns should still ask for the scanner details and consult their healthcare professional.
Can clients outside San Diego order a sculpture?
The studio has started developing partner relationships in which trained maternity professionals and photographers conduct scans and send the files to Sanne for manufacturing.
Where can people follow Sanne Hamers?
Sanne shares professional updates through her public design profile and Atelier Preserve’s social media accounts, including Instagram.
Conclusion
Sanne Hamers has built a professional identity that extends from Dutch design and Los Angeles fashion styling to interior design, digital fabrication and personalized fine art.
Her business, Atelier Preserve, grew from a personal desire to honour her body after pregnancy loss and preserve her final pregnancy in a meaningful form. That experience became the foundation for custom 3D body sculptures, pregnancy keepsakes and jewelry designed to function as both artwork and family heirlooms.
