THE PART
NOBODY PLANS
WHY GREAT PHOTOS START BEFORE THE CAMERA COMES OUT
E veryone shows up to their photo session thinking they'll sort out their hair "on the day." And then the day arrives, Sydney's humid, the outfit they planned doesn't feel right anymore, and they spend the first twenty minutes of the shoot in their head instead of in the moment.
Hair and makeup done before we start isn't vanity. It's just one less thing to worry about — so the photo looks like you when you're relaxed, not you when you're stressed.
THE CAMERA SEES EVERYTHING.
Shine on your forehead. The collar that sits slightly wrong. Hair that's fine in the mirror but catches the wind the second you step outside. These are small things that become very visible at full resolution. We deal with them before the shoot starts, not after.
SYDNEY LIGHT IS BEAUTIFUL AND UNFORGIVING.
That harbour glow everyone loves? It also shows up everything that foundation missed. We use products that are formulated to photograph well outdoors — matte where it counts, luminous where it doesn't. There's a real difference between makeup that looks good in your bathroom and makeup that looks good at Circular Quay at 5pm.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WING IT
(we've seen all of these)
The "I'll Do It In The Car" Makeup
You know this one. Rushed, unblended, slightly the wrong shade because you did it without natural light. It reads on camera. We do it properly, with time and the right lighting, before anything else happens.
The Outfit That Made Sense Yesterday
You planned it, laid it out, felt great about it. Then you put it on and something's off. Maybe it's the colour in natural light. Maybe it creases. Maybe it just doesn't feel like you anymore. This is why we talk wardrobe beforehand — so there are no surprises on shoot day.
The Hair That Had Other Plans
Sydney is breezy. Particularly near the water, which is, of course, where we're often shooting. We do hair that works with movement — not against it. The goal is 'effortless,' not 'I used half a can of hairspray and it still didn't hold.'
A note on products: certain foundations contain SPF ingredients that reflect flash and show up white on camera. Certain hair products make hair look flat and heavy in direct light. We use brands that photograph well outdoors in Sydney's conditions — and yes, we test them. It's a thing.
01 — BEFORE SHOOT DAY WE TALK WARDROBE FIRST.
A quick call or video chat before the session. You show me what you're thinking of wearing, I tell you honestly whether it'll work — and why. Colours that disappear against Sydney's light. Patterns that turn into visual noise on camera. Fabrics that crease the second you sit down.
You probably already own something that would look great. We just need to find it before the day, not panic about it after.
If something needs replacing, I'll tell you exactly what to look for — nothing specific, nothing expensive, just what works for where we're shooting and what you're going for.
02 — SHOOT MORNING YOU SHOW UP. I SORT THE REST.
Hair first, then makeup, then we head out. The whole thing takes about an hour — which is also a good chance to get comfortable before the camera appears.
- Hair styled to move, not to stay perfectly still and look terrified
- Makeup that enhances what's already there — not a new face
- Touch-up kit comes with us for the whole shoot
STYLING AND PHOTOGRAPHY. ONE SESSION.
The styling is built into your dating profile photography session — not a separate booking, not an extra day. You arrive, we sort your hair and makeup, then we go shoot. Everything's timed to finish at golden hour if we can manage it. The whole experience is designed so you're not managing five different appointments just to get one good photo.
See the full dating profile photography session
Before The Rocks, not at The Rocks
We don't show up and style you at the location. Hair and makeup happens first, somewhere calm, before we head out — so by the time we're at the harbour, you're already settled and we're just shooting.
Calm before the golden hour.
For Surry Hills, a different energy
Brick walls and afternoon light call for something slightly less polished. Lived-in hair. Easy skin. The kind of look that says 'I got ready in fifteen minutes' — which we all know takes considerably longer than fifteen minutes.
Effortless is the most high-maintenance look there is.
Bondi means SPF. Genuinely.
Beach shoots need different products — sweat-resistant, wind-resistant, will not turn chalky in direct Australian sun. We've tested this thoroughly so you don't have to find out the hard way in your profile photos.
Bondi light is unforgiving. The prep isn't optional.
The Investment
Curated Packages
ESSENTIALS
You Have No PhotosFor Dating Apps/Social Media/LinkedIn. The essential starting point to build your online presence with professional clarity.
- Pre-shoot consult call
- 1 x location (multiple settings)
- Photographer’s favs list
- Profile strategy suggestion
SIGNATURE
Update Your PhotosFor Dating Apps/Social Media/LinkedIn. A comprehensive session designed to refresh your profile with a diverse range of looks.
- Pre-shoot consult call
- 1 x location (multiple settings)
- Photographer’s favs list
- Enhanced narrative depth
PREMIUM
Tell Your Own StoryFor Dating Apps/Social Media/LinkedIn. The ultimate storytelling experience across multiple sessions and locations.
- 2 x 60 min Photo Shoots
- 2 x locations (multiple settings)
- Pre-shoot consult call
- Photographer’s favs list
* Additional hours and retouching available upon request.
Travel fees may apply for locations outside the Sydney metropolitan area.
THINGS PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO KNOW
1. Is the styling included in the photography session or is it extra?
It's an add-on to the dating profile photography session — not a separate booking. You book the photography, add styling, and it all happens on the same day in the same flow. Details on what's included are in the packages section below, or you can see the full photography session overview on the dating profile photography page.
2. I'm a guy. Is the makeup thing going to make me look like I'm wearing makeup?
No — and this is the most common thing men ask. For guys it's mostly skin: evening out redness, taking down shine, making sure the camera doesn't pick up things your bathroom mirror missed. You'll look like yourself. Just not like you've been outside in Sydney for three hours.
3. I never wear makeup day-to-day. Will it feel weird?
Probably slightly, yes — and that's fine. The goal isn't full glam. It's closer to 'you, but your skin is having an excellent day.' Most people forget about it within ten minutes of the shoot starting. The ones who don't usually end up preferring how they look in the photos anyway.
4. Can I do my own hair and makeup?
You can, with one caveat: let me know in advance so we can talk through what photographs well. The main issues are foundation with SPF (goes white on camera outdoors), heavy contouring (looks great in person, reads as muddy in photos), and hair products that flatten in direct sunlight. If you know what to avoid, DIY is absolutely fine.
5. What if I want to look more dressed up than usual?
Then we do that. Some people want natural, some people want to look like a better version of their everyday self, some people want to pull out a look they've never had the occasion for. All valid. We talk about it beforehand so it's not a surprise for either of us on the day.
ARRIVE
AS YOU ARE
We'll handle the rest. Add hair and makeup to your dating profile photography session — and show up on the day with one less thing to think about.