Stepping in front of a professional camera can be both exciting and intimidating. Whether you’re preparing for your first portrait session, updating your branding imagery, or exploring the intimate experience of a bodyscape shoot, knowing what to expect can help calm your nerves and elevate the results.
At CYV Photography, an established New England-based photographer, we believe the best photos happen when our clients feel relaxed, prepared, and empowered. That’s why we take the time to walk you through the process, from first inquiry to final delivery.
To offer some reassurance up front, we thought it might be helpful to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to work with a New England photographer. What we hope you come away with is a recognition that CYV Photography sessions are designed to be collaborative, creative, and most importantly, centered on you.
Step 1: The Consultation
It sounds kind of ominous but this isn’t any more complicated than a conversation. Once you reach out to us, we’ll schedule a phone or video consultation to get to know each other and talk through your goals. This is your chance to share your vision, ask questions, and let us know what kind of vibe you’re going for. We’ll also walk you through location options, outfit guidance, and any logistics you need to know before booking.
If you’re not exactly sure what you want yet, don’t worry! We love helping clients find clarity and confidence in the planning process. Sometimes, the clients who come in with an open mind discover a new direction they hadn’t considered before… and that’s the alchemy of collaboration!
Step 2: The Prep
After the consultation, we’ll send over a detailed prep guide tailored to your session type. This includes:
- What to wear (and, equally important, what to avoid): We recommend neutral tones or solid colors that complement your skin tone and avoid busy patterns or logos, which can distract from the subject, aka YOU! For branding sessions, think about outfits that reflect your professional aesthetic. For family shoots, coordinated (but not matching) outfits in a complementary palette work beautifully.
- How to prepare your space (if we’re shooting at your home or office): Clear away clutter, open blinds for natural light, and consider adding fresh elements like flowers or cozy textures. For branding sessions, we may suggest adding props like laptops, notebooks, or items that reflect your profession. For in-home family sessions, tidying up the background goes a long way in helping the images feel warm but polished.
- Tips for hair, makeup, and grooming: Keep your look true to you, but polished. For makeup, a bit more than your everyday routine helps enhance your features on camera. Hair should be styled in a way that makes you feel confident, whether it’s freshly cut or naturally tousled. Don’t forget: “The devil’s in the details,” so check for clean nails or fresh shaving where applicable.
- How to relax and get into the right mindset: The best photos happen when you’re comfortable and having fun. Get a good night’s sleep, play your favorite music while getting ready, and arrive with a spirit of openness and playfulness. We’ll take care of guiding you. All you have to do is bring your genuine self.
For branding sessions, we also provide a brand questionnaire to help us better understand your visual identity, audience, and content needs. For bodyscapes, we emphasize privacy, comfort, and creative vision-setting so you feel completely supported.
Step 3: The Shoot
As professional photographers in New England, we know how to bring out the best in every client, whether you’re visiting from out of town or are a longtime local. The day of your shoot is all about you. We nurture a calm, professional energy in every session so you can feel confident and supported. We’ll gently guide you through poses, prompts, and movements that feel natural. Rest assured, you don’t need to know how to pose. That’s our job!
We allow plenty of time so you never feel rushed, and we keep things light and fun to encourage genuine smiles and real emotion. Whether it’s your family laughing together, you stepping into your brand with power, or an artistic moment of self-expression, we create space for you to show up authentically.
Step 4: The Editing
After your session, we carefully select the best images and edit them with a clean, timeless aesthetic. Our editing process enhances color, light, and clarity while maintaining the authenticity of the moment. For branding and portrait clients, we offer light retouching (think blemish removal, skin softening, and color correction). For bodyscapes, editing is more stylized and fine-art focused.
We never over-edit or change how you look. In fact, our goal is always to reflect the most confident, radiant version of you.
Step 5: The Delivery
Within two to three weeks, you’ll receive a private online gallery where you can view, download, and share your photos. You’ll have access to both web-resolution and high-resolution files, and we’re happy to help you select prints, albums, or custom display options if you’d like to bring your images to life off-screen.
We aim to make the delivery process just as smooth and personalized as the session itself.
Step 6: The Follow-Up
We check in after delivery to ensure you’re thrilled with your gallery and to answer any remaining questions. Many of our clients come back to us again and again for seasonal sessions, updated branding, or creative collaborations. We value these ongoing relationships and strive to make every experience better than the last.
A Few Extra Things to Know
- We celebrate diversity. CYV Photography welcomes clients of all backgrounds, body types, gender identities, and abilities.
- We work by appointment only. This ensures that each session receives our full attention and care. After all, you can’t rush the creative process and we wouldn’t want to, anyway!
- We offer flexible packages. Custom quotes are available for multi-session needs, travel shoots, or corporate work.
Ready to Step in Front of the Camera?
If you’ve been searching for an experienced New England photographer who values creativity, professionalism, and connection, you’re in the right place.
Whether you’re booking a session for the first time or returning for a fresh look, our promise remains the same: to make you feel seen, celebrated, and confident. Your story is worth telling, and we’re honored to help tell it… one beautiful frame at a time.
Schedule your session today!
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