Testimonials

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.

Mervyn is an absolute god send! From start to finish he has made this whole experience so enjoyable, instantly we built a strong connection over video call and I felt at ease. It is a pretty vulnerable experience to push yourself out of your comfort zone with a shoot like this, but with his guidance and the ability to build ultimate trust in him - all felt easy, it actually was really fun and we laughed through the entire shoot. Merv has empowered me and made me feel like an absolute goddess. He has a genuine gift and to make people feel comfortable to push boundaries with their insecurities. I’m really pleased I pushed myself to do this experience and I felt I owed it to myself, its all down to Merv that the pictures and my experience turned out as amazing as it was! Thank you, I will always be so grateful and I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone you have photographed amongst the year - thanks for the empowerment.

Absolutely loved my debut lingerie shoot! It was a treat, and the photographer was awesome, offering great posing tips. Big thanks!

My photoshoot with Mervyn was one of the best experiences of my life!

Mervyn is so kind and makes you feel safe and supported. He brings out the best in you and I felt very comfortable with him during the whole process.

He is on a mission to empower people and to make people fall in love with themselves, especially the parts that we hide away or are ashamed about and instead gets us to celebrate our inner goddess or god!

Highly recommended and an experience I’ll never forget.

I can’t possibly put into words what this experience has done for my confidence. If you are on the fence about booking a shoot, here's your sign to go for it!

From the moment we had our first call right until the final images were delivered Mervyn has been incredible, his communication throughout the whole process has been amazing. Mervyn was incredibly patient and kind and noticed immediately when I was uncomfortable and needed a moment. He took the time to listen to me and offered valuable advice that I will remember forever. I left the photoshoot feeling like a completely different person. On the journey home I couldn't stop smiling and felt like a complete badass!

I had always loved the idea of a body confidence photoshoot but imagining myself in that position felt so alien. But I did it, and I still can’t believe I did it! Every time I look at the photos I feel so much joy remembering exactly how I felt in that moment.

Thank you so much Mervyn for the most amazing (and life changing) experience, I am so grateful and will treasure these beautiful photos forever.

Mervyn is so engaged from the moment the shoot is booked all the way to the end. He checked in on me on the days leading up to the shoot not only to understand what I wanted to get out of it but also to check in on how I was feeling. On the day made sure to spend time with me to discuss some uncertainties I had about some of my outfits and help me choose. I personally didn’t feel nervous at all from the moment I saw him on the day because he had such a calming presence and takes the time to make sure you’re ok! If anything I was only sad that I couldn’t spend the whole day in that shoot 😄

Doing a boudoir shoot has always been a dream of mine however as a woman who has dealt with body confidence her whole life I never thought I would .
I travelled to London from the USA for my 50th birthday and my husband knew there was no better time to make my dream come true.
He booked a photo shoot for me with Mervyn as he knew that when he found "You at Yours Photography" he had found the photographer for me.
Mervyn is absolutely amazing ! He coordinated with my husband for months to make sure my experience would be nothing less than perfect and it was . I spoke with Mervyn about a month before the shoot and he helped ease some nerves but also reminded me that being nervous is 100% normal and is actually a good thing.
When photo shoot day arrived I thought there was no way I would go thru with this. Despite my nerves and anxiety I did get myself to the shoot and am so thankful I did. The experience was life changing and the start I needed on my journey to self love . Mervyn made me extremely comfortable. If I had to use one word to sum up photo shoot it would be "FUN"!
As we were leaving London 2 days later Mervyn made sure he had my photos ready for my reveal the next morning ! I was actually more nervous to see the photos than I was for the actual shoot , which Mervyn says is also normal. As soon as the photos starting appearing on the screen I was overcome with emotion. Mervyn did exactly what he says he would do and that is bring out your true beauty. The only regret I have about the whole experience is that it went so fast . In a blink of an eye we were done shooting and it was over.
I will always remember how I felt during this experience: beautiful , strong and confident !
From the day of booking to the final stage of selecting my photos Mervyn has been nothing less than amazing !
If you are thinking about a boudoir shoot and not sure if you are ready I would say stop hesitating and do it with "You at Yours photography".
Thank you Mervyn for showing me that even the things I don't like about myself are beautiful and that's what makes me me!

I love the whole experience start to finish I had a smile on my face and genuinely felt more confident
The hardest part was picking what pictures I love the most at the end.

Merv is an absolute star! Trust me the process was as wonderful as the photos :) for helping me feel comfortable and confident, to making me see myself in a different light - thank you so much. Not to mention - absolute professionalism, great at accommodating timelines. Absolute recommend to everyone at least once in their lifetime!

So so glad I booked up with Merv - he made me feel comfortable instantly and knew exactly how to get the confidence out of me I didn’t even know existed.

I normally hate looking at photos of myself however it was a struggle choosing my favourites from the shoot as they were all so incredible. I have even looked back on older photos that I used to hate and have been able to look at myself in a new, compassionate way.

This isn’t a ‘sexy’ shoot - it’s a shoot which will empower you and in turn the images will turn out powerful, and therefore sexy in their own right.

This shoot is truly life changing!

Don't think twice, just book your photoshoot with Merv!

I am incredibly grateful for my photoshoot with Merv, what an empowering experience!

I am plus size woman, I’ve been super self conscious about my body… I remember to be close to walking away just before I arrived at the studio, panicking about the shoot and being so vulnerable in my underwear.

Today, I have one of those pictures hanging on the wall in my bedroom. Today I look at those pictures and I realise how amazing and powerful I am for overcoming everything in life and for celebrating myself.

Merv made me feel comfortable and really helped me build up my confidence throughout the shoot. And damn, he is the best photographer out there…!!

I will be doing this again. Don’t wait for the perfect time for the shoot. Today is always a perfect day to celebrate yourself and your body!

I wish I could give Merv 6 stars instead of 5, the whole experience was just brilliant from start to finish. Merv is genuine, patient and understanding, which made a huge difference in my how I felt when booking, the lead up to the shoot, during and even afterward! Not for one second did I feel like a statistic, Merv isn't about that. I felt he was genuinely invested in me and my journey to build confidence in myself, and that's exactly what he did. He is obviously talented, but I think you really have to trust and believe in the person behind the camera, and I can hand on heart say I did. I would highly recommend the experience, it's a once in a lifetime experience which you will not regret.

Mervyn is incredible at what he does. He radiates an energy that makes you feel safe & seen. He knows how to put you at ease & bring out sides of you that you’ve kept hidden away for far too long. He is professional, patient & just an all round lovely guy! It was by far the best photoshoot experience I’ve ever had! My only criticism which is not a criticism at all (it’s me unreasonably asking for more because it was that good) is that it wasn’t long enough & I never thought I’d see the day where I would say that about being in front of a camera. The photo reveal was the defining moment for me. I didn’t expect to like many of the photos, if any, not because of Mervyn’s photography skills (he’s amazing) but because of my own issues. It was a very emotional experience. I ‘knew’ before going in that I’d be going home with the smallest package because I anticipated not liking what I was going to see during the reveal but I loved the photos so much I ended up going for the biggest package 😂 no pressure is put on you to make a purchase which is another great thing to mention. Mervyn really does allow you to be in complete control of the whole experience while guiding you & giving you the support you need to help you through it & enjoy it every step of the way. It’s easy for your mind to convince you that being able to celebrate yourself in this way is impossible when you struggle with body confidence. Mervyn gave me an experience that showed me you can be bigger than your insecurities (no matter how big or small they may be) & that it is more than possible to not be defined or controlled by them. The impact of this experience has remained long after my photo reveal. It’s something that has really left its mark on me & has instilled in me a feeling of self-love, acceptance & empowerment that I didn’t think I was capable of feeling. You come away from it seeing yourself in a whole new light & it stays with you. I will forever be grateful for the experience & I encourage anyone who’s been thinking about booking with Mervyn to just go for it. I cannot recommend it enough!

Whilst on holiday, one of my friends recognised how l was so hard and down on my body and recommended a photoshoot with Mervyn as a friend of hers had done it.

I had my initial chat and l booked within minutes, Merv has a natural ability to open up and l felt right at ease and knew that l would be in safe hands. On the day itself, it was incredible, Mervyn has such a beautiful way of creating a safe space, making you feel comfortable and giving words of positive encouragement. It was almost like a therapy session! The photoshoot was so much fun and l felt able to take myself to new limits and focus on the feeling then what the end result would be which you carry through with you upon the review of photos.

I recently had a second review of my photos as it was incredibly hard to decide on what to keep because you want to keep them all!

If you're thinking about having a photoshoot with Merv - do it and you'll never look back! What a wonderful way to celebrate yourself.

After reaching out to several photo agencies, I found Mervyn, and the personal connection he instantly established was unlike anything I had experienced before. Mervyn's work philosophy perfectly resonated with my aim for the photoshoot – an experience that would boost my self-confidence.

Throughout the process, Mervyn ensured the experience was easy and natural for me. He created a secure environment that put me at ease, enabling me to truly connect with myself and to unleash my utmost energy.

I am glad I finally went through with the shoot despite delaying it by two years due to listening to my (now ex) boyfriend, who planted seeds of doubt in me at the time.

After this experience, I wish I had recorded Mervyn’s encouraging and empowering words as a morning audio clip for my daily confidence boost! But with the album photo, I will relieve the experience anytime regardless.

I originally booked this shoot to gift the photos to my husband for our wedding anniversary but very quickly decided that this experience should be for me to really get the most out of it. The minute I made that mental switch, I felt so empowered and knew that I had made the right decision.

For me, the timing of this shoot was everything as I was in a very negative space at the time of booking. I hoped the shoot would build me up and offer a lifeline but I never imagined the genuine long lasting effects it would have on me.

From the minute I stepped into Mervyn’s space, I felt calm and comforted. Mervyn had a way of understanding what I needed in the moment, despite having only known me for five minutes.

During the shoot, Mervyn ensured I was happy throughout and directed me in the right way to get the most out of the day, encouraging my true self to shine through.

I did not for one minute think that I would come away loving all the photos captured… all of me! I had never looked at myself or admired myself in a way that I do now because I see beauty in the person looking back at me through those photos. This impact has spread throughout my relationship, my personal confidence levels and self belief.

As with all experiences, there are a couple of things that I regret:

1. I didn’t book two and half years ago when I originally enquired because I’d be so much further along my journey of self love, and

2. I wish I bought more of my images.

Not bad regrets to have!

Mervyn, a genuine thank you for doing what you do, the message behind it and giving me the belief that I am beautiful through the art you create. I’m sure the effects of this shoot will be felt for a long time.

I can’t wait to receive my digital images and app!

Merv is AMAZING. Right from my enquiry all the way up to me viewing my photos he was (is) amazing.

I made the decision to do an outdoor body confidence shoot as part of my own journey to build my confidence, love myself and my body for the way it is now (not getting “photoshoot” ready and to push myself outside of my comfort zone to see what I was capable of.

I wouldn’t have had the experience or outcome I did without Merv. He is hands down THE BEST person to book your shoot with.

He provides nothing but positive and uplifting energy, he will be your biggest cheerleader on the day, he provides a safe space for you to be vulnerable, step outside your comfort zone and he really helps bring out the best in you.

It’s about so much more than the photos. It’s about the experience and bringing out the best version of you that you didn’t even know existed. Then continuing to be that version of yourself that you see in the photos.

Merv has a real gift and talent for bring out the best in people and it’s clear he is insanely passionate about what he does, it’s clear his job is about way more than just “getting the shot” and taking nice photos. It’s an entire journey that I would recommend everyone embark on at some point in their life.

I’m proud of me and also very grateful Merv and I crossed paths.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I decided to embark on a body confidence shoot because a friend just had an experience and was raving so much about it, I thought let me see what all the ‘fuss’ is about! I am glad I was subjected to peer pressure because I haven’t been the same since my shoot. It is so much more than taking photos. The feeling you are left with is indescribable and if you are anything like me, it will have an impact on your life!

Right from the outset, Mervyn was (is) amazing. From the first call to ensure it was the right choice for me, he made me feel at ease and almost instantly, I felt like I was talking to a long lost friend. Mervyn talked me through the process and then I booked my shoot a few days later.

The day of the shoot came and naturally I was nervous because I had never done anything like this before but honestly, I can hand on heart say it is one of the best things I have ever done FOR MYSELF! Mervyn arrived and we chatted before heading to the space for my shoot and then we began…the energy shifted and I left that day feeling renewed! I left feeling empowered to do anything and this feeling has infiltrated my personal and professional life; A completely life changing experience. And every time I am feeling down/inadequate, I just look at my photos as a reminder of how powerful I am!

Mervyn you have a gift and and I am so glad you are working and WALKING in the space to make women feel empowered and seen without feeling objectified. You are an incredible human being. I have told allllll my girls to book a shoot with you! Thank you so very much.

P.s. 5+5 = 12 in my eyes (you’ll know who this is when you read that part). Hahaha

Merv is the photographer that everyone needs. Transmitting body confidence to someone is not an easy job, but he does it so naturally, and through his eyes he creates your body art that you can love and treasure forever, you'll see a part of yourself that you never consider or maybe weren't able to appreciate. His passion jumps right on you and makes your beauty shine.

As a photographer myself he is a great inspiration and I feel lucky to have met him.

The body confidence shoot with Merv was one of the best experiences of my life and the best thing I did for myself. He provided a very safe and comfortable space to shoot and play in. I've (re)discovered myself, who I am at the core, what I like, and what I need. If you're unsure about doing a shoot like that just know that you'll gain confidence from this and will go through a journey unlike any other. Just do it!

I am here now though, after more than a year from that day looking through my photos again, as I did many times over this past year, to say that this experience was more than a simple photoshooting!

I went through them for the designing of the album I can't wait to see and it felt like reliving that experience once more... I can clearly remember how it unfolded... I had no idea what to expect and for a person like me that tend to suffer from anxiety, the before was nerve wracking but Mervyn was able to put me at ease since the beginning and it did that so effortlessly. I did other photoshootings in the past, but this was a different story: a glass of Prosecco, my favourite music playlist in the background and Mervyn guiding me through two hours of self-discovery like I have never done before, to the point that at times I felt I was alone in the room. The result cannot be explained through words, but I can tell you that the photo reveal was filled with a lot of jaw-dropping moments and every time I see the photos the confident side of me kicks in. He somehow was able to capture a part of me that I knew it was hidden somewhere and I never seen it before until that day.

I cannot thank him enough for allowing me to be myself throughout the whole process, and the kind support in working through a payment plan that suited my finances at the time. On top of that, the quality of the photos is outstanding!

Mervyn is an amazing boudoir photographer who will go above and beyond to give you the experience of a lifetime, and I highly recommend you book a call with him as soon as you read this! You won't regret it!

This experience has been fantastic. Merv was personable and supportive throughout the whole process. He helped me feel prepared and beautiful. He’s definitely worth spending the time with if this is an experience you’re looking to have.

This experience was like no other... When I started looking for boudoir experiences, I called many companies and set up initial meetings. I was only really impressed by Merv and one other. However, I went with Merv because he seemed enthusiastic and set on making this a positive and affordable experience.

Merv understands that this is something women want to do for themselves, to make themselves feel beautiful and to allow us to see ourselves in a different light. Throughout the process, Merv ensured to make sure I was comfortable with the activities as well as him as a photographer. He set up many meetings and many reminder emails. I also loved that day of the shoot, we sat and talked and even went through outfit options together to narrow down what I wanted to wear. I did find that initially, he seemed nervous or sleepy, but I think that once we both woke up and let loose, we had a great time.

During the shoot, Merv helped pose me and get me comfortable, but then let me do my own thing. It's amazing the confidence that gets built on set. I was also impressed by the minimalist of materials and space used -- and I think that speaks volumes to the photographer. My boyfriend also joined us during the shoot, and we both were very comfortable with Merv and his professionalism. I appreciated that no matter what outfit and how revealing, Merv always talked to me in the eyes.

After the shoot, Merv was complimentary and excited about the photos. We had our meeting of reviewing the photos, and I ended up loving them more than I thought I would. This is coming from someone who definitely has a lack of body confidence. Not only that, Merv was kind in working through a payment plan. I think that he is driven to ensure that I get a positive experience before, during, and after. This was by far the best experience I could have asked for as a first boudoir experience. I would not put it past me to book another with Merv further down the line.

I found this experience so much more than I thought it would be. More empowering, more life changing and worth every penny and moment.

Mervyn is an amazing person. He truly has a gift to make you feel understood, respected and confident!

I recommend this experience to anyone and everyone.

Mervyn is unbelievable! I had an amazing experience working with him. I loved every second of my shoot from start to finish and I felt happy and comfortable all the way through . The photos came out beautiful, I never thought I’d be able to see myself in such a beautiful way. I would love to do it again!

I was lucky enough to attend Mervyn’s You at Yours celebration event and even luckier to win the raffle prize of a trip to Marrakesh with body confidence photoshoot and 10 images. From start to finish the experience was transformative; as a single parent it was my first time away from my little one aside from work and I needed that space to rediscover parts of myself. The photoshoot was the ultimate celebration of a few of those parts that I rarely get to see/share/reflect on. Merv supported me to let go and feel free. After a long and complicated history with my body, I forgot how the universe gives you exactly what you need at exactly the right time.

This week I got to see the images for the first time. It was emotional and uplifting; I can’t wait to receive the images and forever remember that moment in time.

I booked a photoshoot with Merv a couple of month ago. I was so nervous. But Merv sends regular emails with lots of useful information and interesting testimonials. When the day of the photoshoot arrived, I hesitated getting on the train to London, I kept on wondering "Why am I doing this?!". But I did get on the train and I have no regrets whatsoever. The make up artist was really nice, we talked the whole time about random things, mostly music if I remember properly. And then the photoshoot itself was just pure joy and lots of fun. Merv is really good at giving you advice on how to pose, but I also really liked the fact that he gives you freedom to express yourself as well during the shoot. He makes it very clear that it is YOUR time to shine.

I recently went for the photo reveal and oh boy, lots of tears! It was an intense rollercoaster of emotion and Merv was there the entire time, encouraging me and always finding the right words at the right time.

I hope that I can work again with you Merv in the future. In the meantime, I can only recommend you 😊