Preparing for Your First Shoot

The week before

Decide your two outfits early rather than the night before, ideally using the Outfit Guide for direction. If anything needs washing, steaming, or a quick repair, that's a job for days ahead, not the morning of the shoot. If you're unsure whether a piece works, a second, simpler backup costs nothing and solves most last-minute doubts.

What to actually pack

Both outfits, plus the shoes and any accessories that go with each one. A layer for between shots if you're outdoors, since standing around in London gets cold fast even when the photos look warm. A charged phone, water, and if the session is at a studio, anything specific mentioned in your confirmation email.

It's worth packing the night before. Nothing derails a morning like realising a shoe is missing twenty minutes before you need to leave.

The night before

Get a proper night's sleep over a late skincare routine or a new product you haven't tried. Skin reacts unpredictably to new things, and tired eyes show on camera in a way that's hard to hide. If your hair needs anything done to it, do it the night before so it's settled by morning rather than freshly styled and stiff.

On the day

Arrive with enough time to find the location without rushing, a few minutes early is more useful than being exactly on time. Outdoor sessions happen in genuine public spaces, so bring a bag you're comfortable keeping an eye on. If anything about the location or the day feels off once you arrive, you're always welcome to bring a friend or chaperone, just mention it when you apply.

Nerves are completely normal

Almost everyone is nervous before their first shoot, including people who've been modelling for years before their first shoot with someone new. It settles within the first few minutes once you're moving and being directed rather than standing still thinking about it. The Posing Examples page is worth a look beforehand if you want something concrete to hold onto.

After the shoot

Your edited images arrive by email, along with a link to leave a review if you'd like to. There's nothing further required from you, the images are yours to use for your portfolio, socials, and agency, credited, as covered in How It Works.