Good morning, Friend! (Or good afternoon, or evening, or midnight … I’m not here to judge when you read this post, I’m just glad you are reading it at all!) Today I’m talking about one of my favorite things: styled shoots! If you do not know what a styled shoot is, in today’s blog post I will be explaining what a styled shoot is and why they are important for photographers and for you, a potential client! I will also be including a section for my photographer readers on how to plan a styled shoot, but feel free to skip that part if it does not apply to (or interest) you.
What is a styled shoot?
Even if you have never heard of a styled shoot before, I would be willing to bet that you have seen images from one, either on social media, on Pinterest, or on a photographer’s website. Styled shoots can take many different forms and be for any niche – from big, traditional weddings to elopements or even to a simple maternity, family, or couples session.
The basic definition of what a styled shoot is, is an event where a photographer (or several photographers) takes pictures of a couple (or family, etc.) who are not their real clients – the couple being photographed did not hire the photographer (and in fact in some cases, the couple has been hired by the photographer as models). Whoever is putting together the styled shoot (it could be a photographer, a wedding or elopement venue, a wedding planner, a hair and makeup artist, or any other vendor wanting to showcase their business) has chosen everything from the location to the clothes the models are wearing to the flowers they are holding and their makeup and hair styles.
A lot of times, new photographers will plan or participate in styled shoots to build up their photography portfolio, however a styled shoot can be beneficial for seasoned photographers as well. Since no client is paying you for your product, you can be as creative and artistic and take as much time as you need to get the photos just right and achieve the style you want. This is the perfect time for vendors to introduce and showcase new products or designs that they are wanting clients to purchase from them, since it can sometimes be hard to imagine what something will actually look like if you do not have a photo for reference.
Why is a styled shoot important for photography clients?
Styled shoots are important for you, the client, because it can really showcase the style of the photographer you are considering hiring for your wedding. Understandably, no one would want to hire a photographer without seeing examples of their work, and styled shoots are the perfect way for a photographer to show you what they can do.
Since the job of a photographer is to capture your wedding visually, we are often very in tune with what design and style elements photograph well. When I was getting married, I reached out to my photographer several times during the planning process to ask her opinion on different things, from my veil to my timeline to the table placement for our pre-ceremony brunch. That was, of course, before I became a photographer myself, and now I love that I get to be the one who gives my opinion on these things.
The way I learned the best times of day for certain locations (and it differs if there are a lot of trees in the area, what direction I will be shooting in relation to where the sun is, etc.) was by attending styled shoots. The way that I learned how to pose my brides for portraits was by attending styled shoots. The way I learned how to scout for locations was by attending (and hosting) styled shoots. The way I discovered my passion for photographing elopements and couples who are madly in love was by attending styled shoots. I wouldn’t be the photographer I am today if it wasn’t for styled shoots, and I know a lot of other photographers feel the same way.
How to plan a styled shoot
If you are a photographer or wedding vendor, chances are you have participated in a styled shoot before. If you have a vision of hosting your own styled shoot, just know that they can be as simple or as intricate as you want. Here are the steps you need to take:
Step 1 – Inspiration
Plan out your ideal choices for every detail of the shoot – models, attire, location, date, time, hair and makeup artist, flowers, jewelry, decor, food, etc. I would recommend creating a Pinterest inspo board that aligns with your vision that you can send to vendors who are considering participating in your styled shoot.
Step Two – Partnership
If you want to control every aspect of the styled shoot, you can host it by yourself. If you want to partner with another vendor, you can always reach out to them on social media. I recommend sharing your vision, any Pinterest board you’ve put together, and possibly some examples of your past work if you have any. You can offer them free photos from the shoot (and specifically of their product) in exchange for their partnership and participation, but always be clear in your expectations. Don’t feel offended if they are not interested in co-hosting a styled shoot with you; it can be a lot of work and, depending on how many details you plan to include, a significant financial burden.
Step Three – Location
I would recommend starting with the location. Find out if there are any permits or fees associated with that location and go from there based on availability. Most places, whether it’s a venue or an outdoor location, would have better availability on a weekday rather than the weekend. Never skip out on photography permits for outdoor locations just to save on the cost of the styled shoot. Permits ensure that these locations are maintained and able to stay open for use in the future. I also always mention that I will be following the principles of Leave No Trace when I am reaching out regarding permits, and it seems to help.
Step Four – Models
Now that you have the date, time, and location for your styled shoot, you can start searching for models. I always like to find models who are an actual couple, for obvious reasons. Sometimes I will put out a general model call on Facebook or Instagram, and sometimes I will do my own search for models among family, friends, or on social media. If you are doing a general model call, it can be helpful to ask them to send you a photograph of the two of them. This can help you if you want to achieve a very specific aesthetic – for example if you would like to have more BIPOC or LGBTQ+ representation in your portfolio, or if you really want to photograph a bride and groom who are heavily tattooed.
Here’s an example of what I said when I reached out to Cori on Instagram to model for an elopement styled shoot in Petit Jean State Park last summer:
“Hi Cori, my name is Bree and I’m an elopement photographer based in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve been searching for a couple to model for elopement style photos for me in Petit Jean State Park sometime next month. Since I’m not from the area, I’ve literally just been searching by location here on IG for someone to model for me. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in (or if you know someone else who would be interested), let me know!”
Cori and her now-husband Garrett did end up modeling for me, and I couldn’t be happier with how the photos turned out (all the photos in this blog post are from that styled shoot)! A good tip that someone told me one time was to search Instagram by location to where the shoot will be held, and search for people who would, in general, like to have their photos taken (e.g. hair stylists, makeup artists, personal trainers, etc.). Cori is a hair stylist who lives less than an hour from Petit Jean State Park.
Step Five – Attire
Once you’ve chosen your models, you can start the search for attire. If your models have wedding attire that work with your vision, that is an amazing option. You can also search thrift stores for wedding dresses or suit jackets and ties, or you can reach out to a bridal gown shop or men’s suit rental shop to see what they have available for rent.
Step Six – Vendors
Once the above details are nailed down, most of the work is done! Now you can start reaching out to other vendors to see if they want to participate. If you’re wanting to exchange photos for different vendors’ products, I would start with a general post in a few different Facebook groups for wedding vendors asking if anyone wants to contribute their services for free – make sure you clearly state your expectations. As a general rule, I don’t recommend reaching out to vendors directly and asking them to donate their services for free. Some phrases you can use if you do reach out to a specific vendor are:
“I would love to highlight your [service] in my upcoming styled shoot. I would be more than willing to pay for your services, and I am also open to exchanging my professional photos for a discount on your services.”
If they do not give you a discount on services, it is completely up to you whether or not you send them a gallery after the shoot. However, I would say that if they do give you a discount or offer their services for free, common courtesy would be to send them a gallery. Also, even if you pay full price for a service but they are a popular or well known vendor, it might be a good idea to send over the gallery. Making contacts with other vendors who could possibly recommend you to one of their clients is so valuable!
Step Seven – Photographers
Last but not least, if you are wanting to help pay for some of the things for your styled shoot, you can always open it up to other photographers. You can charge them a reasonable fee based on what other vendors are participating, and all they have to do is show up on the day and take some pretty pictures. *I have attended a large styled shoot with 10+ other photographers, and it was much more challenging for me to get the photos I wanted. It was overall a worse experience than the styled shoots I’ve attended with just one or two other photographers or just myself photographing.
I hope this post was helpful to help you understand what a styled shoot is and why styled shoots are important for wedding vendors and clients alike, whether you are planning your wedding or elopement or you are a fellow photographer or other wedding vendor. If you’re a wedding vendor, drop your website or social media handle in the comments below so clients can find you!
*Although currently I am not planning any styled shoots, if you’re a wedding vendor and would like to check out some photos from previous styled shoots that I’ve planned (or if you would like to plan a styled shoot with me!), click here!
*All my blog posts contain a selection of images that I’ve taken. The images from this blog post were taken inside Petit Jean State Park in Morrillton, Arkansas. If you are interested in booking a wedding or session with me, I am more than happy to send you a full gallery upon request!
I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a couples/intimate wedding/elopement photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook and sign up for my monthly newsletter to get exclusive wedding planning advice and access to all of my new (and old) freebies! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!
*If you’d like to subscribe to my blog so that you won’t miss any future posts, enter your email and click the button below!
One thought on “All Things Styled Shoots”