Vavoom Pinups

OK. I’ll admit it. I’ve been obsessed with Vavoom ever since I saw them a few years ago on TV. I knew that this was something I always wanted to do, but I was also honestly a little nervous about doing it. However, I finally took the plunge definitely do NOT regret it!
This past Saturday, I brought one of my besties, some cute lingiere and my makeup-​less self to be vavoomed! :) The entrance was so non-​descript, we almost missed it! Heather’s (the owner) husband opened the door and welcomed us; he also assured me that this was an all-​female studio and he would be leaving shortly. (whew!) The inside set-​up is adorable, it feels as though you were transported to the cutest vintage studio!
On the main floor, 2 gals worked their magic with hair and make-​up and turned me into a 40s pin-​up girl with classic victory curls and winged liner with a red lip. I honestly felt like a movie star and incredibly good about myself. and I hadn’t even taken any photos yet!
From there, we were led to the basement where she has racks of clothes, sets and props! Since this was a gift for my fiancé, I knew that I would want to do something bridal related but also some traditional pin-​up shots. Heather helped me figure out which looks would be best and helped pick dresses that would compliment me (super helpful). I did 3 outfits/​looks and honestly, it was so much fun! I felt extremely comfortable and Heather was a great coach. Immediately following the shoot, Heather uploaded the photos to her computer and we instantly could remove bad shots (which was so hard to do because she did such a good job). 2 days later I received my link to view my images and have already purchased an album. I am SO excited to see it in person and cannot wait to give to my fiancé for his wedding gift. He will be blown away!
Overall, everything about Vavoom was seamless, easy and fun. Yes, of course this is a little on the pricey side, but you definitely pay for what you get! I would highly recommend the studio if you’re looking for a fun and unique gift idea (or if you’re just looking for a confidence booster)! :-)

InI just had my photo shoot at Vavoom Pinups yesterday and it was one of the best experiences of my life!!! I’ve always loved the sexy and classic look of pinup girls and have always secretly wanted to be one. So when my husband bought me a photo package for my birthday I was beyond excited. I brought my sister to cheer me on. When we arrived we were greeted by my photographer Marissa who was very friendly, bubbly and personable. She gave us a tour of the retro vintage adorable studio and showed us all the awesome clothes, shoes and props I would get to work with! I also got to look through books of photos for ideas. Marissa was very helpful with what I wanted and what would work best for me. Then I got to slip into my fancy silk robe and get ready to go into hair and makeup and transform into my inner Pinup Kitten!!! My hair and makeup team of Sara and Mary were amazing! Both were friendly and funny and skillfull at their job. They added to my wonderful experience at Vavoom Pinups. Now off to wardrobe, I was a little overwhelmed with all the choices but with Marissa’s help I found four outfits that defined the pinup I wanted to capture. She is truly talented at her job! Now the best part… picture time. Of course I was nervous but Marissa and my sister cheered me on on my inner Pinup Girl was born!!! I can’t believe how amazing the photos turned out! I can not express enough how much I enjoyed this experience and want to do it again soon! It is pricey but definitely well worth it!!! All the ladies are great to work with! I also got to meet the owner Heather and her new baby Olive and Heather is very friendly and Olive is just beautiful! Can’t wait to go back! Thanks for the wonderful experience!

Admit it. You’ve watched old movies and said, «I wonder what I would look like dressed up like that?» Well, set up a shoot at Vavoom Pinups and fulfill your fantasy of playing retro dress-​up, and get some awesome photos while you’re at it!
Of course my sassiest girlfriend and I did this together! We each got the Mini-​Kitten package (2 outfits), and a concept shot with us together, which was super fun. Even if you’re having pics taken solo, definitely bring a friend to cheer you on!
You can get there 15 minutes early, so by the time we drove from the ‘burbs, parked (meters down the block have a 4 hour max) and schlepped our stuff, we were right on time! Knock on the door and you’re met by a blast of hairspray and rockabilly music. The upper floor is the lobby and the beauty salon, which for someone who doesn’t do much with her hair and wears minimal makeup was a new foreign universe. Hair stylist Nora curled, sprayed and fluffed my hair until I had some stunning Victory rolls (which due to all the product in them were about as crispy as egg rolls, haha!) My friend’s hair is short and usually styled very specifically so she wasn’t sure if they could do anything with it, but Nora did some curls with silk poppies over one ear and it looked great! Makeup artist Mary polished off the look with eye-​catching makeup, including false eyelashes. After you’re all dolled up, you’ll head down to the subterranean photography studio!
There are lots of clothes and accessories to create assorted looks, and this is perhaps my only criticism: some of the items looked pretty beat up, and on the plus size range they were decidedly lacking. My friend is 6 feet tall and very busty and had a hard time finding anything that would close in back. For one outfit they rigged up a dress with pins and a belt, but it made her self conscious and was awkward to move, especially since it was for her first outfit out of two. More separates would be welcome: she fared better with a sweater and skirt for her second «look,» but most options in tops ran very small.
I’m tall but have an average frame so found a dress and a top/​skirt to fit, but the skirt was unraveling at a seam. And these aren’t vintage clothes: some of these were from H&M or Forever 21 in retro styles… which is fine! As long as they’re not coming apart. For as much as one is paying for a shoot, Vavoom could invest in some clearance rack items at the retro fashion retailer ModCloth; I personally wouldn’t buy a no-​returns sale item online for myself, but that would be perfect to refresh their wardrobe, where they’ll use it for hundreds of people! You’re investing in your business and all your future clients, after all.
Anyway, we finally both found outfits and got to it! Unlike I think every other reviewer, our photographer was NOT Heather, the owner, but rather Marisa, who also did a great job! Her vibrant energy got us in the mood, and she coached us step by step for each pose. I’ve never been given a pet name by a stranger before, so being called «kitten» every few shots was kind of funny, but it fits with the whole saucy ambiance. Meow!
Thanks to digital technology Marisa downloaded the images into the computer by the time we’d changed into our «going-​out clothes» (bring some along, because with that fancy makeup and splendid coiffure you’re not going to want to go home!) From there we browsed the proof sheet and nixed the ones that we knew not to bother with. Then they send a web link in a few days and you can pick the ones you’d like to print, which are then photoshopped to perfection. You get a complimentary 8×10 (with digital copy) and can purchase more (insert $$$ here). Needless to say, this is a special occasion event, and they do make creations like calendars and playing card decks, as well as themed shoots (kitchen set; tiki theme). I’d LOVE to do a shoot for holiday cards!
To give you an idea of time frame:
— Our session was on ¹¹⁄₈
— Got emailed proofs ¹¹⁄₁₁; you get online access to them for a month to decide which you want
— Ordered 11/​17, which was confirmed the 19^th & sent for retouching
— Retouched images were online ¹¹⁄₂₈; I worked with the artist to correct a couple of things (a wrinkled sleeve, a background color). After two rounds of emails I gave final approval and images were sent to print ¹²⁄₂!
— Got an email ¹²⁄₉ saying my pictures had shipped (also included the digital files + release in case you plan to print them)!
— Pics arrived 12/​10, well wrapped and discreetly labeled (in case you don’t feel like sharing your fabulous alter ego with ALL your neighbors…). As lovely as they looked on the computer, they are AMAZING in print! Vibrant, glossy & full of life!
I’d do this again in a heartbeat! Vavoom will make any girl bloom into her sassy inner pinup!

This photo shoot was part of my bachelorette party, thanks to my wonderful MOH!
I have cheap friends so only my bridesmaids were willing to fork up the $ 250 to do this… however, after the photos were released on FBK, mad jealously arose!!! That’s what you get for being cheap!!!
Anyway, we showed up on time. They have one person doing hair and one doing makeup. We were in a group of 4, so the other two of us kind of just sat around and waited. They allow parties to bring their own food– they have a little kitchen in there. Our appt was 12pm-​4pm on a Saturday so we just ordered pizza. Eventually, we were allowed to go downstairs to check out the outfits.
The outfits… I get that the theme is «pin up» but a ton of those outfits were extremely ripped and/​or torn and the outfits need to be updated. My group and I only found one out of the many outfits we were willing to wear… until I stumbled across the lingerie rack that the owner did not show us! Thennn I found a few I was willing to wear! But just in general, the main rack should be updated for those who are not as scandalous.
When it’s your turn to shoot, your group watches you do everything… it’s fun if your group cheers you on, but it’s a little awkward if they don’t lol.
I got 38 total pics taken of me and my MOH only got 26… I thought that was an unfair distribution since we paid the same price! She would have ordered more pictures if she had more options! My MOH was also a little stiff in pictures and has some pics where the dress was ruffled in diff places, it would have been nice if the photographer told her to relax her shoulders or fix the dress or something.
Anyway, after our individual photo shoots, we had a group shot. We chose to make it a housewife theme. It was fun.
FYI if you decide to go out for the rest of the day like we did, you will feel hot, but at the same time, a little self conscious. They cake the make up on your face like crazy for the photo shoot (even airbrush makeup) so you kind of feel like your face looks like a corpse up close… but in pictures you look good! even though you’ll be white!
Overall, I give it 5 stars just because I look amazing in my pictures… but I still stand by what I say about the updated wardrobe and my MOH only getting 26 shots after paying $ 250…

Vavoom is the best of the best. All the ladies are warm, friendly, and incredibly talented, and produced amazing edited prints for me in a super tight time frame. You will feel confident, relaxed, and gorgeous in their capable hands! If you are on the fence, please do it, you have no idea how great an experience it is until you try it!

I went here with a group of girlfriends. It was for a friends party and they made sure to make us feel very comfortable and enjoy ourselves. We brought our own wine and snacks and chilled out looking through example pose books while we took turns getting styled. They were very open to our ideas coming into the shoot and also in giving us direction as well. We had a great time! They tried to make us feel very beautiful the whole time which made us much more comfortable and the pics turned out great!

I had the most amazing time at my shoot this past weekend. I literally can not wait to do another. I’ve already got a bunch off gfs who are interested in going to vavoom and getting pictures done of themselves. Huge confidence booster also. I still feel sexy and fabulous and its been a week. I need to plan my next shoot stat! Thank you so much ladies keep doing what you doing!

Ok. So I’m in a friend of mine’s wedding, and when the maid of honor told us she wanted to do this pin up thing at vavoom, I was immediately skeptical. Without having seen any of their work, all I could think about was all the incredibly cheesy, lame wanna-​be vintage photography I’ve had the displeasure of seeing over the years. To make matters even more complicated, I’m a photographer myself, admittedly making me a hard audience.
Without drawing out every single detail, let me just say that this experience blew my mind. The atmosphere is unpretentious and charming. Heather (owner/​photographer) & her makeup/​hair team were incredibly friendly and professional. Heather knows exactly what she is doing; a true master of her craft. She was excellent with coaching every one of us into the various poses and making us smile & feel sexy! Everyone felt totally comfortable and had a blast modeling.
Immediately following our 8-​woman shoot, we all got to huddle around the computer and exchange «ooohs» and «ahhhhs» while looking through everyone’s shots (a fun closing to our session). Another thing that blew me away, is that without taking a billion photos, she managed to capture great shots for every woman & every pose! Wow.
Regarding the cost… after putting it in perspective, it really is WELL WORTH THE MONEY. That initial cost understandably covers space, accommodations, access to wardrobe and props, pro hair & makeup, and an expert photographer (a small price to pay for all of this actually). The truth is, turning everyone’s raw images into these final works of art takes time! As a photographer, I know exactly why she isn’t handing out unedited images as «keepsakes» — because frankly, this could destroy her reputation (or anyone’s whose style is refined & perfected). Let’s be honest, even the most «flawless» of models need a little touching up to actually appear «flawless» in photos. And that is obviously the point of going to vavoom & doing pinup — to appear all done-​up & flawless — otherwise you would have taken your own photos, or gone somewhere else! Hours can easily be spent tweaking photos to perfection. Ask yourself, would you work for $ 5/​hour. Why expect her to?! Know what you’re getting! ;-)

I saw a picture Vavoom had done on a blog about 3 years ago when I lived in Maryland and was stalking their page regularly just waiting for the right opportunity to make my own visit.
When I moved back to Chicago and was celebrating my 30^th birthday, I figured when would be a better time!
I booked a BFF shoot with my BFF and a good friend of ours came along for moral support. We scheduled a Friday evening.
Sara did our hair and Jen, our makeup. We brought a little champagne to make it more fun and help loosen up, thought it wasn’t really needed.
Heather and her girls were AMAZING! I had so much fun trying to pick up outfits (though it did get a little stressful at times — too many options). I’m also pretty uncomfortable in front of the camera.
Heather’s directions and encouragements were really helpful. By the time I was a few poses in, I had completely forgotten about worrying about sucking in and keeping my chin down — I was having a great time!
Reviewing the photos with Heather immediately after was really nice. We got a quick peek at what the photos looked like and a few good laughs as well. It helped satiate that immediate gratification you want when you do something you enjoy so much.
We went out after wards — which I really recommend. We had such a high going.
I can’t recommend Heather and her group enough! I tell EVERYONE!
I am picking up my album today and plan to figure out a way to hang some of my photos, I’m so proud.
I will DEFINITELY be returning to Vavoom!
The only suggestion I could make to Heather to improve her service is just to have one quick touch up with the hair and makeup girls. After trying on outfit after outfit, my hair was a little flat. This would really just be a nice perk!
The Vavoom girls are awesome (I secretly want to be friends with all of them)!

The ladies at Vavoom Pinups are AMAZING! My friend and I did this to surprise our husbands for Christmas and we had a total blast! They truly make you look & feel like a superstar with hair, makeup, wardrobe, posing, etc. And trust me, their retouching specialists are whizzes ;-) Some may think it’s pricey but I say it’s Worth Every Penny! The photos came out absolutely gorgeous and our husbands were very pleased & surprised. And for those shy girls take a look at their website… you don’t have to bare it all to take lovely photos but with the confidence these ladies will give you, you just may be willing after all!

Absolutely the best birthday gift I’ve ever received.
I’m a huge proponent of female space. Somewhere you can be a little silly, feel happy about makeup and curling irons, and damn-​girl-​your-​ass-​looks-​FINE-​in-​those-​panties. My fiancé knows I have a slight obsession with 40s/​50s pinup style, and booked a shoot for me at Vavoom. As soon as I stepped in the studio, I was transported into this magical land of confidence and sassiness. My hair and makeup were flawless, and Heather guided me through some sexy and fun poses during my shoot. My first reaction after seeing my proofs was «who IS that hot sassy lady?!» not because I looked unnatural, but because the whole entire look, from eyelashes to heels, was so perfectly executed I would have expected to see that image in an advertisement and certainly not during a shoot of yours truly.
Come here, and bring a girlfriend or two (and a bottle of champagne).

I have mixed feelings about Vavoom. I enjoyed the experience very much but found it incredibly expensive for what you get in return. Overall, you certainly get the pin-​up look and experience, but the price made it fall a bit short for me.
Pros: Fun, friendly and comfortable staff made it a very relaxed and fun experience. They also review the shots with you after so you don’t have to wait to get a peek which is a really nice thing. They showed us an example of the photo retouching when we were there and I was amazed at the quality of the shots — they truly make your body look amazing while still looking like you. Very authentic pin-​up look. Great props also.
Cons: The clothing was a little unorganized in terms of sizes or how to create a look. I could have used more guidance or assistance with this in terms of going with a theme. There did not seem to be accessories available or showcased to complete the looks. I did notice some drawers with items in them but they didn’t seem to be part of the wardrobe options. I also think it’d be great if along with the various props they also incorporated different wall backgrounds or some of the cool vintage furniture downstairs.
Also, the photos are extraordinarily expensive. I would have thought for a $ 250 session you would atleast get a CD with the images included, un-​retouched. You do get an 8X10 retouch print included in the top package, but to get anything else, even digital — the price is quite high. I’m not sure what the market is for photography but it seems quite pricey to me. Just 10 images on one CD will set you back an additional $ 300 to what you pay for the session.
Advice for first timers: PLAN AHEAD. Bring photos of the hair and make up you’d like to copy! Talk with the stylists as they are extremely friendly and willing to work with you. Go in knowing what you want to look like. I didn’t do this and as a result I can’t say that I got the look I wanted, though I will say, they nailed the pin-​up look to a T. Also, don’t hesitate bringing your own clothes or shoes. They have a variety of things but if you have your own outfits you know what fits best.
Advice for Vavoom: I think it would be beneficial if there was a package that did not include hair/​makeup services. It would be less expensive presumably, and would allow girls to do their own if they wish. I know for me, it definitely would have made my experience better. I tend to like fixing my own hair or makeup, but the Pros certainly know how to make you look like a true pin-​up doll.
Also, I think it would be great to offer a CD of untouched prints either included in the service, or for a small fee.
Overall, a good and fun experience and a perfect place for a bachlorette party providing you have the extra money, and you plan ahead with exactly the look you want.

Ewps, a year late, I suppose.
My wonderful friends surprised me with a photo shoot for Vavoom for part of my «Bachelorette Day.» After a day of pampering, pole dancing, tattooing (!!!), I was instructed to be ready for pickup with clean hair and face. and bring your glasses (hehe).
I did. I was brought to this unassuming spot in an unassuming neighborhood to be primped and photographed and basically, turned into a sex kitten for the evening.
A-​OK.
I donned a leopard print robe (RAWR) and went into hair and make-​up. The make-​up artist and hair stylist were fun and made me feel extremely comfortable. After I had my big lashes and pouty red lips painted on, it was off to wardrobe. They have quite the selection (including a BATHTUB of shoes!!!) to appeal to your inner pin-​up queen.
Heather will then pose you and prompt you to take the most fabulous photos. Trust me, they are fabulous! She does an excellent job of keeping your comfortable in front of the camera. That’s key, right? I left there slightly buzzed. No, not from the champagne, but from the fabulous pin-​up shoot.
Heather will then go through your photos and you will select your favorites. She will then PHOTOSHOP you (AMAZING) and make you look even SEXIER. Trust me. I was so pleased, I had to splurge on more than my freebie. Can’t help it. (My now-​husband was rather pleased as well.)
Some tips from a former pin-​up girl:
–Go in with an open mind. They know how to make you look and feel fab. Trust them, they’re experts!
–Plan something fun afterwards. Trust me, you’ll want to rock your hair/​makeup for longer than your shoot. Enlist your friends in this endeavor.
–Champagne always makes it more fun. They allow BYO, so do it.
Book it. Pin it up. Be fabulous.

I LOVE VAVOOM! Heather, the owner and photog, is personable and is great at capturing you beautifully. I am the opposite of a sexy little kitten, but she made this tomboy look GOOOOD. Yes, it’s a pricey little venture, but it’s worth every penny if you’re doing it for someone/​something special. My husband is not easy to impress when it comes to gifts, but this was one that left him speechless. :-)

Heather is the Best !!!
She is super friendly and she knows how to make a girl feel sexy…
The studio is super super nice. Wardrobe, Hair, and Make-​up are included. Yes Included.
Ill be back for round 2 soon !!!
I love you Heather !!!

First of all, she’ll call you kitten.
Who?
Heather.
Who is she calling kittens?
You. Me. GIrls in general.
Oh, why?
Because we are all cute kittens waiting to be transformed into beautiful sexy felines at the hands of Vavoom Pinups. Ok, that’s not a fact, but it is working for this story.
—-
In an attempt to one up the bachelorette party ante, my closest pals and I went in on a Vavoom Pinup shoot for our soon-​to-​be-​wed kitten.
Who doesn’t want to get all dolled up, pose like crazy, vintage pinup girl style, and have the outcome look outstanding?!
Suffice it to say: 1. She looked AMAZING! 2. She’ll have highly touched, highly awesome photos forever! 3. We had a blast dressing her up, watching her transform and getting her to pose all kitten-​like.
Here’s how it goes:
*Book an appointment with Heather (owner)
*Check for specials on their site, oftentimes there is something!
*Shoot includes hair/​makeup/​5outfits/​1 touched digital image.
*eyelashes are extra, and encouraged by me.
*Show up, do photo shoot, have fun.
Yes, it is pricey. This is not an amateur photographer. It is going to cost some bucks, so if you go in for a bachelorette party… just make sure the group that chips in is pretty big. Or, splurge on yourself. Just remember, the fee does not include all of the digital files for you to keep. It basically includes ONE. You can buy additional prints/​files if wanted, but they are also quite expensive. I’m not say it isn’t worth it, but know that you are paying for the experience, the shoot, the studio, the outfits, hair, makeup (also, tip!).
So kitten, if you are in need of a little boost, want to get a few cheeky shots of yourself while your tatas are still rockin’ up in that high position, or you are treating a bachelorette gal… go for it!
We might even be back for a group session, which of course… is a bit more limited, but oh-​so-​cute.
Also, note:
*no boys allowed. Yep, its a rule. Kittens only!

I stumbled out of bed rather late this morning, and just like every day, went to the bathroom sink to brush my teeth. Toothpaste successfully on bristles, I glanced up at myself in the mirror, prepared to see the same weary visage that stares back at me every morning at 8:15-ish. To my surprise, there stood a glamorous vixen, a tad worse for the wear, but still smokin’ hot! What the hell? For a moment I could only wonder who had broken into my house, curled my hair, and coated me with expertly applied makeup while I slept. Then I remembered…
VAVOOM! Last night was my photo shoot, and for almost 2 hours I was a bonafide sex goddess, with photos fit to be taped lovingly to WWII era submarine bunks.
I don’t know how Heather and her wonderful team do it, but I arrived at the studio looking tired and tomboyish (as normal), and within 30 minutes they had me ready to star in a burlesque show. With fake eyelashes, a flashy red pout, and perfectly curled hair, I was proud and excited to put myself in front of the camera and ham it up. Normally I’m a little geeky and awkward, but I found myself batting my eyelashes, smiling genuinely, and doing some very provocative poses — none of which has ever come naturally, at least before last night.
After the shoot, Heather looked over the photos with me — I have 89 shots to choose from, and I get one complimentary 8×10 and I’ll probably order some digital shots, as well. I went into this with the idea that I’d be giving my lover some fabulous pics to look at while he’s on the road… but now I’m excited about putting some of these up on the wall. I’m freakin’ hot!
Thanks, Vavoom :-)

I had so much fun getting my sassy pin up photo done by Vavoom Pinups. The photographer, Heather, is such a treat work with. If you are looking for a shoot for an event or just for yourself — you really need to check this place out. I mean, the beautiful pictures from the website speak for themselves.
I am kind of camera shy and I was worried about how that would come off on film. Heather is a pro and has a way of making you feel comfortable in front of the camera. She coached me through some poses and took some really cute shots… if I do say so myself!
Her make-​up artist was fabulous. I was looking good and feeling fatastic with my new long lashes and freshly painted red lip! Our shoot was not held at her studio. It was hosted at the ever fabulous Vive La Femme. What could be better? Chic clothing, mini make-​overs and your own photo session? Awesome!
Vavoom is definitely on my list of folks to call when I’ve reached my goal weight. I would love for Heather to do my «after-​shot»!

Time for an update, and an added star. After my original review, Heather contacted me and apologized for the low quality cards.
She contacted various other printers who make playing cards, found one we felt to be more reliable, and had them print me a new version of the deck for free. We met up, exchanged the low quality cards for a MUCH nicer and more color accurate deck, and she promised to send the old cards on to the former printer to prove their poor printing quality to them.
Through the entire process she was happy and helpful, the same sweet and fun lady I had my shoot with. She was on the ball about the entire thing and I now have a much improved product in hand. Customer service was fab, she was fab, the new cards are fab, and I am a happy customer once again.

I was scared out of my mind about a photo shoot. Could a pretty average gal let loose and channel her inner pinup girl? You betcha!
It wasn’t a traditional photo shoot at their studio. This was a girls night out evening in a separate location hosted by the fabulous Joanne W. We had our make-​up done «pin up girl style” – complete with flirty eyeliner and red lips. Heather, the photographer, made us feel at ease while she shot our pics – Giving us ideas on how to pose, where to look, smile or mischievously grin. So much fun! I used some pin-​up girl props like a martini shaker and telephone, but there were lots more to choose from.
And the pictures I ordered are great quality – not your flimsy Osco print outs. Heather kept me informed of when my prints should be ready and when I should expect them in the mail. Professional and so up-​beat and friendly. This was one amazing evening. I can now thank Vavoom for some amazing pictures that my husband loves and the wonderful compliments from my friends on my pin-​up look.
PS. My new favorite things are pin-​up style peep-​toe pumps and bright red lipstick!