I cannot recommend Mervyn enough! I have been smiling for 24hr now and I don't plan to stop anytime soon. It's been one of the most amazing, empowering and enjoyable experiences I've ever had, all while feeling beyond safe and respected. I have been struggling with body confidence for years due to health issues which are constantly making me feel out of control and stuck in a body that is not "me". For the first time in longer than I care to admit I felt truly connected to a part of me that I thought was gone for good - realising it's still there, that I'm still there, was incredible. I'm super scared of seeing the pictures - not because I don't trust Merv's talent but because I'm still unfortunately unable to be as kind to myself as I try to be to others. But regardless of what they look like, I have loved every single second of my session and would do it again straight away if I could. So Merv, in case it wasn't clear enough yesterday - thank you so, so much for what you do, you're an incredible human and I'm so thankful we've crossed paths!

I cannot express how incredible this experience was and the impact it continues to have on me.

Merv's warmth, understanding and kindness, created an atmosphere of trust and acceptance from our initial phone call to the shoot day, and I trusted him completely to guide me through this experience. He pushes you gently beyond your limits, encouraging you to embrace your body with confidence and pride.

The entire experience was empowering - it wasn't just about capturing beautiful images; it was about embracing every curve, every imperfection, and every unique aspect of myself. The photos serve as a powerful reminder of the transformation that occurred that day, and every time I look at them I remember the strength and courage Merv helped me to find to step out of my comfort zone.

Thank you, Merv, and You at Yours, for giving me memories that will last a lifetime! x

I booked a shoot with Merv at You at Yours on a whim having seen some posts on Instagram. I have a long history of body confidence issues and was (am) recovering from a break up and I felt that the photoshoot might be a positive part of that journey. The reality of it was that the photoshoot was so much more than that.

Merv is a rare human, he is easy to talk to, confident without being too full on and has an easy energy about him. Throughout all stages of the process I felt supported and safe. I will say if you book a shoot to expect to be subtly pushed out of your comfort zone.

I found the shoot experience to be easy and comfortable. There is always going to a little awkwardness involved in being in a hotel room, with a man you have just met, taking semi naked / naked photos but as a fairly shy person I felt comfortable and never felt unsafe or unsure about any stage of the shoot. I had some personal barriers to over come which made the shoot a little stilted at times, but that was from my end not Merv's. It was a massive personal learning experience and I had and have so many take aways from the day to continue to reflect on.

I was unsure what my pictures would look like as there is still a part of me that is self critical but I was pleasantly surprised. For me the tone and style of the photos was perfect, a gentle mix of black and white and tonal colour. I would suggest mentioning to Merv if you wanted brighter pictures to see if this was something that could be achieved. The photographs perfectly capture the energy of the shoot, the mood in the room and my own vulnerability which is what I asked Merv to capture. They are raw and beautiful.

Due to personal circumstances I chose to purchase (at this time) digital prints only. There where several reasons for this, one being that I am someone who likes to absorb the art and the feelings associated with the art first before deciding what I wanted to purchase. Having the prints on my phone / computer means I can take time to look at them, see the nuances of them and then in time decide what prints I want from there. I fully plan on purchasing some form of non-digital print at a later date from my photos. Merv has many beautiful products available for people to display their pictures, they are an art piece in themselves.

I already have a plan to book a second shoot and I would encourage you to consider booking one if you are on the fence. Merv does not offer the usual boudoir shoot and if you want that sort of photograph I would advise you to look elsewhere, but if you want to feel amazing, have a safe space to express your self and those parts of you which may have been hidden for years, or even remain hidden even now, then please make that booking. It is an investment in yourself and can feel scary in all aspects - financially, personally, physically and emotionally. What I would say is that fear is not always a sign to stop, sometimes it is a reason to push through. On the other side sits parts of yourself you never knew existed, life is far to short not to meet them and this experience is a fantastic way to do that.

I found You at Yours about a year ago. I was looking to do a boudoir/body confidence shoot and, of all the companies that I found, YaY captured my interest the most. The photo results looked so authentic and beautiful, I knew I wanted to work with Mervyn. However, due to various reasons, I couldn’t book a shoot for last year.

Around January, my mom came to me wanting to do sometime of photo shoot and I immediately recommended You at Yours, I knew it was exactly what she was looking for. She had an incredible time and the photos were beautiful. Shortly after, my mom entered me in a draw where a few people would be picked to help trial a new shooting location. I was lucky enough to get picked!

From start to finish, Mervyn was so professional and encouraging. You can tell how passionate he is about what he does and how important it is for him that all his clients are comfortable throughout the process. Mervyn focuses on who you are as a person and everything he does, he does for you to unlock another side to yourself. I made the decision to go topless for some of the photos and there was not a moment where I felt uncomfortable. When I left the shoot, I was on a high, it brought out a side of me that I don’t usually get to express.

The photos themselves are absolutely stunning, I love them so much! If you have any reservations, know that you will not regret choosing to shoot with Mervyn.