Arrive prepared.
Everything you need before your session with Ben.
You booked this. That took something — and I don’t mean money. I mean the kind of courage that doesn’t usually get acknowledged. The decision to say: yes, this is for me.
So before we get into what to wear and what to eat the night before, I want you to know this: I’ve done a lot of sessions. I’ve worked with women who arrived nervous, stiff, certain they were going to hate every photo. They didn’t. Not one of them.
Not because I talked them into liking themselves — but because the session was designed to take that pressure off before the camera ever came out.
This guide exists so you arrive prepared, not panicked. Read it. Use what’s useful. Leave the rest. The only thing I actually need you to bring on the day is yourself — and you’ve already shown you can do that.
See you there.
— Ben
2–3 outfits. That’s enough. More than that and you spend the session in your head instead of in the moment.
What photographs well- —Texture — lace, silk, satin, ribbed knit, soft cotton. Fabric that catches light has life in it.
- —Deep colours: burgundy, forest green, navy, black, rust. Or cream/ivory for soft.
- —Simple shapes. A clean bodysuit, a well-fitted robe, a shirt that just works.
- —One statement piece per outfit — then let the rest breathe.
You don’t need lingerie. Full stop.
Some of the best images in sessions like this have been in an oversized shirt. A robe half-open. A simple bodysuit from Kmart. Bring what you feel like yourself in — that’s the brief.
Alternatives that work- —Bodysuits — sporty, lacy, barely-there
- —A long robe or kimono
- —An oversized button-down (yours or a partner’s)
- —A slip dress or structured blazer
Logos, busy patterns, anything that doesn’t fit you right now, anything that leaves compression marks. If it’s tight, wear it last.
- —Moisturise daily. Hydrated skin photographs cleaner.
- —Skip self-tan at least one week out. Uneven lines are hard to work around under studio light.
- —Avoid sunburn — even subtle burns change how light falls on your skin.
- —Stay hydrated. It shows in your skin more than people realise.
- —Arrive clean-faced. No makeup, no moisturiser — the H+M artist needs a blank canvas.
- —Skip the gym. Heavy exercise can flush your skin for hours.
- —Eat something real before you arrive.
- —If you wax or shave, do it 48 hours out, not the morning of.
It’s included.
Hair and makeup is included. You don’t need to arrive ready — you just need to arrive. Wash and dry your hair but don’t style it. If you have a reference photo or mood board, bring it or send it before the day.
The H+M artist is briefed on the Bare. aesthetic: editorial, considered, a little dramatic but never overdone. Think polished and present, not masked. You’ll still look like you — just more so.
If you have allergies or skin sensitivities, let us know beforehand.
There’s no rush built into this day. You’ll arrive, the H+M artist gets you ready, and by the time we hit the studio space you’ll have had time to settle in.
The space is private. Just us, and whoever you’ve chosen to bring. No audience. No strangers. A space designed to feel more like somewhere you’d actually want to be than a studio.
Refreshments are there from the start. Help yourself whenever.
You don’t need to know how to pose. That’s my job. I’ll move you through everything — sometimes a small shift in the shoulder, sometimes a direction, sometimes nothing at all. You won’t be left standing there wondering what to do with your hands. I’ve got it.
The reveal happens same-day. You’ll see your images before you leave.
“You don’t need to arrive feeling confident. You just need to arrive.”
The rest is what the session is for.