Confident in Your Skin with Photographer Mervyn Reid Nelson

In this episode of Photography Adjacent, Tom Trevatt sits down with Mervyn Reid Nelson, the body confidence photographer behind You At Yours. On the surface his work looks like boudoir photography, but Mervyn is at pains to point out that it is something else entirely. Over eight years and 800 sessions he has built a practice around helping people, mostly women, see themselves clearly, often for the first time.When it gets down to it, Mervyn explains in the episode why the photograph is almost beside the point. This is a conversation about bodies, power, desire, and what it means to feel seen.TAKEAWAYS-The skill is making people feel safe, the camera comes second-The real results show up weeks later, not in the images-Women are reclaiming their bodies, not just having their picture taken-Performativeness runs deep and unpicking it is part of the work-Before and after comparisons cause harm, even with good intentions-Photoshopping clients sends the wrong message to everyone who sees it-A man with a camera and good intentions are not the same thing-Printing images is closer to exposure therapy than most people realise-800 sessions in, and scaling slowly and intentionally is the only way-Let your business be an extension of who you actually areCHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Mervyn Reid Nelson00:42 What You At Yours actually is04:25 Why people skills matter more than photography skills07:00 From wedding photography to body confidence work10:00 Why almost all clients are women16:00 Reclaiming the body, the male gaze and patriarchy24:00 Desire, performativeness and looking inward32:00 Printing images and the value of physical photographs37:00 Being present versus capturing everything on your phone41:00 Mentoring photographers and people centred education46:00 Toxicity in the industry, Photoshop and before and afters52:00 The man with a camera problem57:00 Reaching 800 sessions and scaling with intention01:02:00 Coaching as a standalone offering01:05:00 Where to find Mervyn and final adviceLINKSWebsite: https://www.photographyadjacent.comInstagram Tom Trevatt: https://www.instagram.com/tomtrevatt/Guest: Mervyn Reid NelsonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/youatyours/Production: Keenlii: https://www.instagram.com/keenliico/SUBSCRIBE AND ENGAGEIf you found value in our conversation, please subscribe to our channel for more insightful episodes. Comment and let us know what topics you'd like us to explore next.SUPPORT OUR PODCASTTo support our podcast and help us bring you more content, please consider leaving a review on YouTube or sharing this episode with your photography-loving friends.ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY ADJACENTWelcome to Photography Adjacent, a podcast about photography and everything else. Each week on our show, we speak to artists, activists, writers, and the occasional photographer to learn about life through their lens. Discover the Stories Behind the Lens: Join us as we explore more than just the art of photography. This podcast celebrates the voices shaping our understanding of the world, from the creative minds that capture life's moments to the change-makers who challenge our perceptions. Through these conversations, we hope to uncover experiences that inspire artistic and personal growth.