Eveline
The photoshoot with Mel was empowering and liberating, not to mention freeing. It was an experience that was nothing short of superb. Mel is fabulous and gets into a groove of creative flow, tapping into your individual essence and the unique nature that reveals us, and exposes us authentically, and vulnerably. I felt energised and invigorated through the opportunity to express myself in a safe environment, supported by Mel’s gentle words of encouragement. Mel took the time to check in and suggest ideas, but also insure that I was completely comfortable. The end product? I feel she captured my energy and drew it out from my womanhood. I actually “saw” myself as a grown woman, but felt the energy of my younger self coming through in a fun way, and a sexy way. I highly recommend that you treat yourself to this experience as an exploration of “YOU”. I will never forget the first moment that I saw the images it was an experience of wholeness and connectedness to me as a woman. I was deeply moved and had to really compose myself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Mel and I will always remember you leaning on the wall and sliding down on the wall while holding your camera your camera, trying to get the right angle, it was absolutely hilarious.
Lee
To say that this photography shoot was way outside my comfort zone is an understatement. But Mel’s calming soothing approach to discussing it with me finally gave me the courage to go ahead. Still recovering from the draining impacts of breast cancer surgery and treatment, I felt even more self conscious than previously and although I don’t wear much makeup up, attending the shoot without any was pretty daunting. Oh my goodness! What a wonderful, empowering experience it was. I am so grateful to Mel for her encouragement and I am also a little bit proud of me. The photos are just divine, so personal and emotive. Mel has the ability to capture things that you don’t see in yourself very often or at all. I am so glad I embraced this opportunity and absolutely love my beautiful wooden photo box. Thank you so much Mel.
Carmel
What an amazing experience having a photo shoot with Mel! Mel’s photography shows your natural personality & raw beauty. No make-up. No PhotoShop. Just yourself – in your element. Photos that are REAL which is very rare these days ! Thanks Mel for the empowering experience and these beautiful photos.
Lisa-Marie
My empowering experience with Mel was one to remember. Mel makes you feel warmly welcomed and comfortable from start to finish. The passion to capture you at your natural best is evident through her process of understanding what makes you tick, listening to your needs and being open to creative requests. I asked if she would be willing to photograph me with loose glitter and her enthusiasm to make it work helped me be more at ease in front of the lens. There was a moment near the end where I became lightheaded and dizzy and even then, she flawlessly transitioned from photographer to nurse to make sure I was looked after. So I can confidently say yes, she sure exceeded my expectations! Lisa-Marie
Amy
“‘Wow! What an experience Mel! I was so nervous, but you created a beautiful space for me to just be…and what you captured was magic! This was a wonderful way to embrace and love all the unique parts of me. The whole process of working with you was focused on maximising this very personalised experience, from the thoughtful handbook on how to prepare for the shoot, the collaboration with Emma from Statement Styling to select outfits that would pop in the black and white photographs to the beautiful unveiling of your work. This experience and the finished product far exceeded my expectations. Thank you for this wonderful experience and the gorgeous photographs I will treasure!”
Nicole
I never expected that a portrait experience would be something I would feel comfortable doing. Mel’s intuitive & kind nature allowed me to relax and be fully present within my own skin, celebrating my personal uniqueness from the inside out. Embracing the body I find myself in, imperfect and interesting, finding what I thought was lost, re connecting with my spirit, my joy & my resilience. Should I forget myself again, I now have these powerful images as reminders of how I felt in that moment – honest, raw & real. No make up, masks or facades. Thankyou Mel, for your creativity and the important work you do in this world.
If this is something you would like to explore, I wholeheartedly encourage you to get in touch with Mel & follow her journey of women’s empowerment. Nicole Fi
Peta
I can’t say how glad I am to have come across Mel and to have had photos taken with her. I have always wanted to have some gorgeous photos taken of myself. You know how there’s just those fleeting moments in a day, moments which aren’t expected but where you catch a reflection of yourself and you’re astounded at how great you look? I wanted someone to capture that. My sister had recently had a shoot with Mel and raved about the outcome but I wasn’t sure about the premise of no makeup!! Surely I needed makeup to look good in photos?! Then I looked at Mel’s gallery and talked to her and it sounded right up my alley!! Emma the stylist helped me pick 3 outfits that highlighted my personality and made me feel at ease. I really enjoyed the self care leading up to the shoot – the exfoliating and moisturizing really helped me feel soft and sensual. Then on the day, it was like I’d known Mel forever and we just chatted while she snapped away and gave some gentle positional advice. It was all so easy and I had a lot of fun! I really felt like it was a special day for me, kind of like a spa day! Then I got to see the photos. OMG. No makeup. No artificial lighting. Me looking stunning. In every single photo. I kid you not. I wanted them all!! Mel captured me in ways that I really only ever get to see myself usually. But now I have these stunning photographs to show to EVERYONE. I really feel that this is something all women should do. For themselves. It really is empowering. If you allow yourself to take the journey with Mel and open up to her eye and camera, you will be rewarded with seeing yourself in ways you never thought would be captured. That is priceless.
Emma
Getting to spend some time in front of the lens of Mel’s camera was engaging, captivating and liberating. Mel works effortlessly to make sure that you are comfortable in the space you’re working in and comfortable in your own skin. Simple adjustments in outfits and lighting staged different backdrops create an incredible and interesting space. To the emotional nature of the shoot I would have to be honest and say I was unsure what I was in for but Mel has everything covered with everything from a change room, bathroom and a selection of music so it was amazing to shift from nervous to loved in no time. During the shoot something amazing happened, as I moved and played my inner child came out who I haven’t seen for years. It was wonderful. Touching. It will always be a beautiful piece of my soul. Mel is a Woman who works for Women and knows her clients with an intuitive understanding to say thank you is an understatement. It was love at first snap. Try it for yourself, you won’t be disappointed xx emma w
Georgina
I’ve had a number of photoshoots for personal and professional purposes and have never experienced ANYthing quite like the Empowered Women Portrait Experience!
Mel’s creative vision and process is really unique. She shoots exclusively in black and white and, in a counter-cultural move, captures her female subjects makeup free to set them free from societal constraints and highlight their inner beauty.
In the lead up to the shoot Mel took the time to connect with me, to find out what makes me tick, how I’d like to see myself captured, and any reservations or fears I may have about the process. The entire process felt nurturing rather than invasive and enabled me to relax and place my trust in Mel on the day of the shoot.
The photoshoot itself was a huge amount of fun and surprisingly emotional; we even shared a few a few tears at one point.
The photoshoot felt like it was a culmination of the inner work I’ve been doing over the past decade. Mel was able to bring out a sense of lightness freedom and radiance in me, capturing the changes that have taken place in my body, mind and soul. This seminal experience will be forever imprinted on my heart and the fact that the memory is captured on film is the icing on the cake!!!
Cara
Coming into the experience I was very nervous. The nerves turned to excitement the closer I got to shoot day. Mel’s gentle manner and her holistic approach to the photo shoot really helped me connect with myself and prepare myself well for what was to come. Arriving at Mel’s I was welcomed so warmly into her beautiful space, we sat and chatted about what would happen, the outfits and the process. Once we got into the studio, it didn’t take too long until I was smiling, dancing, expressing myself in front of the camera with Mel’s encouragement. Mel has a very beautiful quiet way about her that helps bring out your authentic self.
I left feeling incredibly uplifted and beautiful within my skin. The final images are beyond what I ever expected. I knew that I had a lot of fun in the studio, but the way that Mel has captured my essense is breathtaking.
Gemma
What a fantastic experience – great fun from start to finish. I felt totally comfortable with Mel – we laughed, we chatted, and in amongst it all she managed to work her magic behind the lens. I normally cringe when I see photos of myself – but I genuinely struggled to pick my prints as I loved them all!
Tanya
I was initially hesitant about doing my photo shoot – I worried that it would be awkward and my photos would show me looking stiff and posed. From the moment I entered the studio all of those thoughts left my mind. Mel was very welcoming and made the whole shoot so relaxed and FUN! It was really fun to focus on me for a while, and Mel ended up getting so many beautiful photographs showing so many versions of me. The shoot, and the beautiful photos, were a lovely treat to myself and helped me see myself again, without that image being blurred by all of the different roles I have in my daily life. I would highly recommend Mel to anyone looking to take a little break from daily life and focus on themselves for a while.
Bree
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. This provided confidence within myself, and the photos provide undeniable evidence of this. As humans we naturally do not see the beauty within ourselves, doubt our own beauty and criticise our bodies. This experience I would likely recommend to anyone. I know that in the future I will reflect and go through these photos and still be amazed with the prints and be so extremely proud and grateful that I was blessed with this session and a photographer who captures such beautiful shots. From the bottom on my heart, thank you for sharing your talent Mel!
Shannon
I had a brilliant time from the beginning to the end of my experience with Mel Watt Photography. I felt supported, encouraged and safe throughout the entire experience. I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did and I suspected I would have felt uncomfortable but that was not the case at all. As a women who wears makeup daily I was hesitant about the photoshoot and the outcome of the photos but if anything this made them more valuable to me as I feel beautiful and proud of my photos. Miss S.
Jasmine
Like many women I do not like having my photo taken and the number of photos I like of myself a very few. The idea of having professional photos taken with no make-up and in black and white was scary (*HELL NO) and liberating at the same time. Mel’s talent behind the camera is pure magic and the energy she creates with you during the session is extraordinary. I loved the experience and my photos. My challenge was which shots to select! Miss J.
Haiyang
I had a very special photography experience with Mel. I said I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world which is something I have never said and felt before. The experience with Mel was above my expectation, it increased my confidence and self image. It was perfect. Miss H.
Jodie
Coming into this experience I was anxious, yet secretly excited. I booked this on a whim. I’d seen the photos Mel had taken of my cousin and I was wooed. They were amazing! I’ve never seen myself the way that others have expressed how they see me. I’d look at a photo and I find fault. In the end, I had nothing to be scared off. The whole experience was a lesson in trust and belief. I have LOVED every single moment of this journey. Mel cocooned me in a safe place, and I floated out of the studio the day of the shoot. I left their feeling like the most beautiful woman on earth. She had to go and ruin the experience though by taking the most amazing photos. So amazing, that I didn’t know which ones to choose! But true to Mel’s form, her patience, calming reason and honesty got us through that. Through Mel, I have been able to see me, the real me. I am beautiful! I am strong! I am vulnerable! I am worth this experience and I am grateful I was lucky enough to have Mel navigate me through it. Miss J.
Bronwyn
It was really very empowering now that I look back. I was nervous prior to the experience but Mel was truly wonderful in making me feel relaxed, special and valued. As a mature woman it reminded me that I have not become invisible and have strengths that I value. Mel’s professionalism and lovely manner provided the level of guidance I needed to get the most from the experience. Miss B.
Hayley
What a beautiful empowering experience. I am enough, I have always been enough, I just didn’t always believe that. I am so pleased that I chose to have these photos done with Mel. I would highly recommend the experience to other women. Mel made everything seamless, from the initial contact through the final pick up of my chosen shots. Mel clearly explained everything that would happen and made me feel very welcome and at ease. I felt like I had been seen and accepted exactly how I am and who I am. Throughout the process I felt admired, delighted in and supported by Mel. The experience was fun and freeing. Really loved it! Miss H.
Marilyn
What an amazing experience! Mel is professional, personable and highly talented. From the very beginning she guided, informed and nurtured me, making the process easy, fun and entirely enjoyable. Not to mention the end result: photographs of me in a way that I have never before seen. I couldn’t be more satisfied and would strongly recommend Mel’s service to all women. Any hesitation you may have, Mel will talk you through it. She is literally brilliant! 15 stars out of 5! Miss M.
Tiara
It was an extremely grounding experience. Self love is something I preach to my clients and this experience really made me realize how important it is to continue to talk about it. We will always find flaws but we need to re-frame so we can focus on the beauty instead. The photographs exceeded my expectations. I had no idea how the images would turn out but they were even more beautiful than I could have imagined. Miss T
Megan
Mel, you have an amazing talent for photography – your photos are some of the most beautiful I have seen. Yet I believe you have a bigger talent and that is how you make your clients feel comfortable, at ease but most importantly, beautiful!! Thank you for that because that can help someone more than you know – Miss M.
Claire
Mel is a true master of photography – the images she captures are raw, simple, beautiful and honest. She has a caring, friendly and professional attitude to her work which sets you at ease as soon as you meet her. I normally shy away from cameras but enjoyed the sessions I had with Mel and the pictures will be a treasured memory of this time in my life. Thank you Mel – Miss C.
