There is a moment, about twenty minutes into every Dollhouse shoot, when the nerves melt away and something wonderful takes over. Getting to that moment is easier than you think, and most of the preparation is far simpler than clients expect. Here is everything you need to know before your session at our Jewellery Quarter studio.
Hair: Come As You Are, Just Clean
Wash your hair the night before or the morning of your shoot, and skip the styling products, oils and dry shampoo. Our hair and makeup artists work with a completely clean canvas, which means your style will hold better and photograph more beautifully under studio lighting. If your hair is freshly washed and product free, we can do the rest.
Nails: A Small Detail That Makes a Big Difference
Freshly painted nails and toes really do show up on camera, so treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure in the days before your visit. Neutral shades and classic reds photograph beautifully across every one of our shoot styles, from vintage pin-up to contemporary glamour, so you can rarely go wrong sticking to one of those two families of colour.
Pack Light: Just Two Pairs of Stockings
One of the most common questions we get asked is what to bring. The honest answer is almost nothing. We supply everything from our wardrobe of around two hundred thousand pounds worth of outfits, in sizes XS to 5XL, so there is no need to buy or borrow a thing. The one item we do ask you to bring is two pairs of stockings, ideally one nude and one black, to give our stylists options across your looks.
Get Inspired Before You Arrive
Before your shoot, spend some time browsing our portfolio and social pages. Save any looks, poses or styles that catch your eye, whether that is a particular costume, a hair style or a mood you would like to capture. Sharing these with your hair and makeup artist and photographer on the day gives them a wonderful starting point and helps your shoot feel personal to you from the very first frame.
The Night Before: Sleep and Water, Not Skipping Meals
A good night's sleep and plenty of water in the days before your shoot will do more for your skin and your energy than any last minute treatment. Eat properly on the morning of your session too. A full day of hair, makeup, styling and posing takes energy, and you will enjoy it far more on a full stomach.
What Happens When You Arrive
You will be welcomed into the studio with a glass of something sparkling and introduced to your all female team for the day. Two hours of professional hair and makeup follows, styled specifically around the look you are going for, before you step into your first costume and meet your photographer for guided posing that takes care of every angle.
Nerves Are Completely Normal, and Completely Expected
Almost every client who walks through our door on Warstone Lane admits to a flutter of nerves, and by the time hair and makeup is finished, those nerves have usually turned into excitement. Our team has guided over three thousand clients through this exact process, coaching every expression and every pose along the way. You do not need experience, confidence or a plan. You just need to arrive, and we will take care of the rest.