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Through years of developed expertise, practical knowledge and prowess, our photographers certainly know what it takes to create beautiful imagery. Photographs that not only look aesthetically stunning, but that also reflect the true character of the subjects, and the emotion within.
Speaking of emotions, it’s very common to feel nerves arise a few days before the shoot, especially if it’s your first Verve experience. To assist in calming those nerves and to best guide you through this process, we’ve collated some wisdom and advice from our specialist photographers to help in preparing for your shoot.
Some practical pearls of wisdom to ensure you feel super confident leading into your portrait photography session. These tips will assist in alleviating those nerves, helping you to get the most out of the incredible process.
Did you know, before your portrait photography session, our in-house stylist will give you a call to talk you through the process? Our talented and accomplished stylists have guided hundreds, possibly thousands of families through preparing for their session. They have the expertise and knowledge to best answer all of your questions, as well as walk you through exactly what you can expect on the day. Utilise this phone call and time to voice any queries you may have, as our stylists will call upon their years of experience to make you feel completely comfortable, confident and ready for your photo shoot! The styling call will generally take place 5-10 days prior to your session with us.
This is very common, and we hear this a lot. We promise you that the moment you enter the cosy studio rooms, your nerves will disappear. The time in the studio session is spent interacting together, and at times, you will honestly forget you are being photographed. This is how we capture so much emotion and genuine expressions. You get to enjoy and relax in the space whilst your photographer shoots around you and captures the beautiful moments as they unfold.
We sure understand that modern life is busy, and 8-9 hours of sleep per night seems like an unachievable dream. So other things you may find more achievable to get your glow on are: drink 2L of water each day in the few days leading up to your shoot to help your skin appear even more plump and fresh. Take a bath with oils to get your skin glowing. Lastly, we recommend avoiding alcohol the night before to help prevent dry skin and dehydration.
When we are preparing to have our photo taken, it can be tempting to trial a new beauty treatment or hairstyle right beforehand to feel fresh and new. Especially when it comes to shorter haircuts, there can often be visible tan lines or sharp edges with very fresh trims. (I’m sure we have all done this at some point in our lives!)
Our advice is to trial anything new such as haircuts, tans or other beauty treatments like facials or peels at least a week (or more) before your picture. This will give it time to ‘settle in’, and you can have your photograph taken feeling like your natural, beautiful self.
Your photographer is highly trained and experienced to help you feel your most comfortable and at ease throughout your shoot. Many of our guests tell us they are worried about how their family will perform on the day! This is natural, but honestly, you don’t need to worry as our photographers have so much experience in working with all personalities, moods and tantrums. They can bring out laughter and connection in even the most challenging of situations.
Choose your outfit a few days before to help you feel ultra prepared for the day (shoes included!) Pick an outfit you feel incredible in, and we suggest you bring along a few alternate options (even if just tops). Your portraits are likely to outlast your furniture and most items in your home, so keeping in mind they will be around for decades to come, we suggest avoiding logos or any outfits that you feel will date stylistically. Keeping it simple, relaxed and comfortable clothing-wise means you will feel yourself and relaxed during your shoot. Don’t be afraid to include textures, as they can add a real depth and warmth to the imagery which we love, especially when it comes to black and white photographs.
Once you have an outfit that you feel great in, it’s time to work out the rest of the family. We suggest placing all the outfits on a bed and seeing how they work together. In terms of aesthetics, look for harmony and coordination, not clashing patterns or colours.
If you have older kids or teens, get them to pack a small bag of their favourite items. Hats, boots, jewellery, scarves… anything that they feel is them. If you have young children in the photos, perhaps save their best outfit and put them in a travel top for the ride, in case of spills along the journey.
Ultimately, when it comes to photographing you and your loved ones, we want to capture the true you. The above may seem like we’ve jam-packed the suggestion box, but don’t feel that you need to do everything. Our photographers are here to make you look your best and work with you to see an end result that exceeds your expectations. The most important thing is to bring yourself and a readiness to enjoy the process, because we will have so much fun together.
We can’t wait to meet you and your family,
Simply be.
The most powerful images come from living in the moment. Laugh, talk, play, cuddle, move toward the people you love without even realising it. There might be big movement or quiet stillness. It is all part of the story. When the pressure to perform is lifted, real memories are made.
It is natural to feel that pressure — the bright lights, the backdrops, and the big camera can make it seem like perfection is the goal. But smiling on cue often makes us focus on aesthetics instead of memory:
Does my hair look okay?
Am I standing correctly?
Does my body look awkward?
Our approach takes the focus off how you look and brings it back to connection. You deserve to be in your own photograph exactly as you are.
Smiles are not two-dimensional. There are soft ones, shy ones, mischievous ones. You might smile just with your eyes. You might throw your head back laughing. You might be halfway through a story, surprised, shy, or even in tears.
However your smile is captured, these are the moments that feel real — and those are the moments worth remembering.
Our portraiture is headed toward connection, not performance. Presence, not posing.
Studio photography is not just about faces; it is about the way you make eye contact, the way you touch, the warmth, the closeness, and the shared history. A portrait is a candid portrayal of a moment captured in time to preserve forever — more than just an image, it is your history, and it is worth holding onto.
