PHOTOSHOOT
PREP
The info on this page is REALLY important to ensure your shoot goes smoothly and perfectly!
It's all pretty straight-forward stuff but there's quite a lot of it! . . . So we condenced it to a little checklist for you at the very end.
Please read through this thoroughly a few weeks before your shoot and again a day or so before, as some parts of it are so essential that if you don't do them, we will not carry out your photoshoot on the day when you arrive. We take immense pride in what we do and clients need to be well prepared in order to generate impecable results from the photoshoot.
Here's your perfect shoot prep ladies!
WHAT TO BRING:
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Lunch/snacks and water/drinks - alcohol is fine too but it must be in moderation (we also offer drinks).
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Change for the parking if you are driving - parking info is on our FAQ page.
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A very small loose-fitting nude colour thong to wear under our garments and outfits.
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If you wish to wear your own hair extensions bring them with you for the hair stylist to fit. We also provide hair pieces but your own will probably match your colour better.
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For bridal boudoir shoots please bring your wedding lingerie and veil.
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If your dress size is not within the UK 8-24 range or you wear a bra larger than a 38G, we recommend you bring some garment options to your shoot. This is optional as we do have size 6 and 24+ garments in our wardrobe, however the selection is a lot smaller than the size 8-24 items we have! And if you wear a UK size 4 or lower, or a UK size 26 or higher, we do require you to bring your own garments as the selection we have in those sizes is very limited.
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Stockings or hold ups in the correct size for you. Please bring 1 pair of sheer black with a deep black lace top, and one pair nude with a deep nude lace top. You are welcome to bring other styles as well - there are so many beautiful options online, these 2 styles are the bare minimum you should bring.
Info on buying stockings:
If you are a UK size 16/18 or above, unless you have unusually slim legs, we strongly recommend you go up a few sizes (we have even bought size 24 stockings that have comfortably fitted a size 16 client!). Department stores often sell XXL sizes or larger, but your best bet is online where you can buy them in several sizes bigger than you wear to allow them to fit without digging in!
If you are a UK size 12-14 we recommend you buy XL stockings unless you have particularly slim legs - Ann Summers (UK only) sell great XL stockings! If your legs are slim, go for a size large instead of XL.
If you are a UK size 8-10 we recommend you buy a size Medium (Ann Summers or department stores).
If you are a UK size 6 or smaller we recommend you buy a size small or extra small (Ann Summers or department stores).
PREPPING FOR YOUR SHOOT
& ON THE DAY!
If you have any allergies that relate to any cosmetics or if you have hyper-sensitive skin, please let us know prior to your photoshoot with as much notice as possible (not on the day).
You must eat and drink water before your photoshoot so you have some energy to follow our posing guidance - ladies who do not eat before their shoot struggle with the poses.
Plan your journey very carefully and aim to get to us a few minutes before your shoot start time. If you arrive very early there are little cafes next to us and across the street where you can get a drink and relax until your appointment time . Please check a map for our location as Sat Navs often take you to the wrong part of the area! We are on the corner of Warstone Lane and Spenser Street, above a shop called Roots Market Look out for the white DOLLHOUSE Photography lettering on the ground floor windows and also the little topiary bushes hanging either side of our front door.
If you are late for your shoot, unfortunately that means we will not have time to shoot all your poses which means you will receive less images from your photoshoot. 10-15 mins late will mean losing 1 image, 15-30 mins late will mean losing 2 images and if you are more than 30 minutes late we cannot carry out the photoshoot at all, as there simply would not be enough time. In the case of lateness and reducing your poses/images, no refund in part or full is given so it is essential that you are on time, or a few minutes early in fact. If you are running late please call us to let us know. Thank you.
Travel to the shoot in loose comfy clothing - tight clothes can leave marks (jeans, bra straps, socks etc).
We do not recommend fake tan prior to a photoshoot. If you do wish to apply tan this is not a problem, however please ensure it is perfectly even and smooth.
Please ensure your eyebrows are shaped/waxed/threaded before your shoot. We recommend this is done professionally.
Nails and toes to be matching and freshly painted and shaped before the shoot (red, nude or pink) - this is really important as bare or chipped/untidy nails can ruin a photo.
You MUST arrive with freshly washed and dried hair without any product in it at all. If you hair is greasy or dirty in any way, we cannot style it and therefore cannot proceed with the shoot. You will not receive a refund and we cannot compromise on this under any circumstances.
If your hair is naturally curly, wavy or frizzy in any way, unless it is a texture that cannot be straightened yourself, please straighten it using straighteners or blowdrying carefully with your hairdryer after washing (without using any product please) so we can spend more time creating some beautiful waves or curls for you through professional styling. If your hair is naturally very smooth, you can simply wash it and dry it without any styling before you arrive. It is essential that your hair does not contain any styling product when you arrive.
Please have a thorough shower the day of your shoot (no more than 4 hours before please) and wear plenty of deodorant. Bring extra spray on deodorant to spritz during your shoot as the posing is a little bit like a work-out and you may need it!
Arrive without makeup and hair down or loosly tied. If you arrive wearing make up please ensure you come 15 minutes early and bring make up wipes to remove it before your styling starts. If you are not make up free before we begin, we will unfortunately have to cut down the styling time as we will first have to remove it all before your makeover starts.
Please ensure your photoshoot has been paid in full 14 days or more before you arrive for your booking & please send us an email to confirm the balance payment - if it has not been paid your shoot will not go ahead on the day. We do not take cash payments (unless prior agreed).
If you have any questions before the shoot, drop us a message. You can also request a call from Chrissy our director if you'd like to have a chat about your booking.
The day before your shoot, please drop us a message on the form below to let us know you're all set for your shoot the following day.
Please read through our FAQ page thoroughly before your shoot - it's good for you to be fully versed on how we work before your photoshoot!
On our photoshoots, timing is allocated as follows: The first hour or two of your booking is hair and make up, you have up to (but no more than) 20 minutes to try on garments for each look you have on your shoot before we start taking photos (most clients only take around 10 minutes to change, so 20 mins is usually ample time!). If you think you might require more time trying on garments you will need to extend your booking to a longer time slot for a surcharge. Each pose is photographed for a good few minutes to get fabulous results for you!
The Night before your Shoot Checklist!
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Please message us the day before the shoot using the little form below - let us know you're ready!
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Read our FAQ page thoroughly
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Comfy, loose clothes to travel to the shoot in
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Pack - stockings, thong and snacks/drinks
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Hair extensions (optional)
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Lingerie/outfits (optional as we have plenty in sizes UK 8-24 and a few in a UK 6 and 24+)
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Wash hair - if your hair is not freshly washed the shoot will unfortunately not go ahead and you will not receive a refund if we cancel it due to greasy or dirty hair.
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Thorough shower a few hours before your shoot - if we are in any doubt of this, the shoot will unfortunately not go ahead, and in this case you will not receive a refund.
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Nails, toes, brows all perfect
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Journey Planned carefully
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Cash for parking
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Smooth even tan (only if fake tanning)
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Shave/wax legs, underarms and bikini area
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Moisturise well the night before
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Please ensure your Photoshoot has been paid in full 14 days before you arrive. Thank you.
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Please arrive at the studio a few minutes before your shoot time (lateness means losing time on your shoot which unfortunately means we have to omit poses/images. NB: Sat Navs sometimes take you to the wrong place! Our studio is on the corner of Warstone Lane and Spencer Street - look out for a brick front building with little topiary features either side of the door (see photo). Our studio is on the 1st floor above an Italian restaurant called 'Pizza Paradiso'. Ring the little black door bell when you arrive and one of our staff will pop down to greet you.