How to Plan a Styled Shoot
Are you just starting out in business? Or wanting to diversify your current portfolio? Styled shoots are a great asset for growing your business and showing others what you are capable of creating. Today we will be showing you how to plan and execute a styled shoot to build your portfolio and online brand.
What is a styled shoot? A styled shoot is a photo shoot organized by a group of vendors who collaborate to create a beautiful mock wedding or event to showcase their talent. The appeal of a styled shoot, is that vendors are all donating their services in exchange for marketing material from the shoot. They are a great opportunity to work with vendors you love and show of unique styles and creations. And the best part, you can use them in your portfolio to attract your ideal client!
Styled shoots are put together much like a wedding. There is a design concept, a timeline, a budget, a venue, a vendor team, models, decor, setup and tear down, and publishing of the event. There are 8 steps to planning and executing a successful styled shoot.
Step 1: Create a concept for the shoot
When you decide to plan a styled shoot, it is important to sit down and decide what you want the shoot to represent. How do you want people to feel when they see it? What style are you wanting to portray? Who are you wanting to attract? These are all questions you need to answer before you can really dive in.
Step 2: Pick a design theme
After you have decided the overall concept of the shoot, you then have to narrow down the specific design you would like to execute. It is important to consider your brand style, the time of year of the shoot, and the color scheme you’re wanting to use. When I create a design for a styled shoot, I usually find one item that inspires me that reflects my concept to work off of.
Create a design board with your top ideas and your concepts to share to your vendor team.
Step 3: Gather your dream team
Considering the style of shoot you are going for, do your research and reach out to vendors you admire and match your brand and the style you are wanting for the shoot. As long as it is not during busy season, most vendors are overjoyed to partner with other local vendors to create a styled shoot. It is a great way to make friends in the vendor community while creating marketing material for everyone to use.
When gathering your dream team, don’t forget about your models for the shoot.
Step 4: Set the date and location
When setting the date and location, keep in mind when busy season is. For wedding vendors, May-October and the weekends are usually the busiest and therefore bad times for styled shoots.
When choosing a location, it can benefit to use a venue that your clients will be attracted to and can envision having an event of their own at. This is your chance to work a dream venue that you may have not been able to work at before.
Step 5: Organize the little details and decor
After you have created your design plan, you have to coordinate with the other vendors on what materials you need and who will be providing them for the event. Most styled shoots consist of a styled tablescape, invitation suite, and dressed models.
Step 6: Create a timeline
As a planner, the timeline is one of the most important parts. Even though it is a mock event, it has to be organized in order to make sure everything happens that you want and all vendors are on the same page. I typically send out a mass email to all of the vendors two weeks out from the shoot including the finalized timeline and design board and make sure all the vendors are on board with the plan.
Step 7: Execute the shoot
On the day of the event make sure you arrive early, introduce yourself to the vendors. You should begin hair and makeup and decor set up right away. You will have creative direction for the shoot, just make sure all the shots you want are captured and nothing is forgotten. Enjoy the day with your vendor team and let your creative juices flow.
Step 8: Build your portfolio
Once the shoot is completed, make sure to follow up with all of the vendors and send thank you emails.
Talk to your photographer about submitting the shoot for publication if that was your goal.
Once you receive the final photos and video, updated your website, portfolio, and social media pages with the new work. And make sure to tag all of the vendors in your photos so everyone gets credit.
Following these 8 steps will help you create a beautifully organized, successful styled shoot to help you attract your ideal client!