My Verve Portrait experience- plus WIN your own

My family and I were very kindly invited to go along to a Verve Portrait experience and I jumped at the opportunity because we have never had a studio shoot as a family. We are a 'blended' family- I have two teens from my first marriage and then my husband and I have a two year old as well. I love taking the opportunity to do family things because the older the teens get the less opportunity we have to spend together.

As part of the service Verve puts you in touch with a consultant who talks you through the shoot and what you would like to get out of it. She also does a very intensive interview on each family member- their likes and dislikes, personality, hobbies... everything you can think of. She advises you to to bring some changes of clothing and some props. I stopped short a bit when she said props- I was thinking about naff toys and silly things- but once she talked me through it all it made sense!

Anyway- having booked our studio time I did neglect to tell my husband and son all the details... they are both very introverted and weren't loving the idea of getting in front of the camera. So I made sure not to mention props until the day before so that I didn't have to listen to the complaining!!

On the day we packed our props- we are big readers so we packed lots of books, some of Tully's stuffed toys, some lollies and Zali brought her makeup and hair accessories. We arrived at a gorgeous studio and were welcomed enthusiastically. We were introduced to our photographer, Wendy, and that's when I saw how beneficial the pre interview is. Wendy had read all her notes and knew all about us- she knew that Tahrin was into game of Thrones and Harry Potter and that Zali was all about fashion and style- this helped her build a rapport with them quickly.

Based on the info I provided, Wendy had come up with some fantastic ideas- below is my favourite- it really captures the personality of each kid so well!

The whole shoot was very centred around Tully which was great- I was a bit concerned how she would go as she is very '2', and not really a people person at the best of times. However she LOVED it! She was dancing around the white space like a crazy person and did everything we wanted (although there may have been some bribery involved!) Wendy was just fantastic- she was warm and friendly, creating a relaxed environment and made it so much fun. She also knows how to shoot quick, which is a definite advantage with a toddler in the room!

All in all, we all loved the experience, even the apprehensive boys. We loved it so much that we are giving you the chance to WIN your own Verve Portrait Experience!

First Prize is a Verve Portrait Experience valued at $1200. The experience includes: A 1.5 hour fun-filled photography session, a 1.5 hour design consultation with champagne and nibbles, and a piece of artwork (a 20x20 inch canvas)

Second and Third Prize is a Verve Portrait Experience valued at $600. The experience includes: A 1.5 hour fun-filled photography session, a 1.5 hour design consultation with champagne and nibbles, and a arctic block with your favourite family image.

Verve believes in dynamic portraits with character and personality that show the real you. Combined with their drive toward cutting edge design, Verve Art is a beautiful statement for your walls. Their obsession for creative photography and design, combined with 5 star service, has seen Verve recognized by some of Australia’s leading organisations, already winning many national creative and business awards. To book your Verve Experience visit www.verveportraits.com.au

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Additional T&Cs- Verve has studios in NSW, Qld, Vic and WA. It is the winner's responsibility to choose their closest studio and they are responsible for travel to and from the venue. The winner will receive one complementary artwork based on the prize package won. Any other artworks are purchased at the winner's expense.