How to Plan a Styled Shoot in 6 Steps!

Have you been waiting to book your dream wedding in a desert, on a beach, on a rooftop, or anything else you can imagine?! Well you can stop waiting and CREATE your dream wedding with a STYLED SHOOT!! 

A styled shoot is a wedding or other setting involving a couple that is created by a team of vendors where everyone provides their services and knowledge in exchange for unlimited use of the photos of their work. 

Styled shoots require a lot of planning in advance and are a lot of work but they are SO worth it for the connections you create with your creative community and the stunning images you capture to use for marketing your business. After planning a number of styled shoots, I have compiled this list of 6 STEPS to make sure you are fully prepared to have a BLAST planning your own styled shoot!! 

1. CHOOSE YOUR THEME

Start out by planning the theme you want for your styled shoot so you can clearly communicate your vision to the vendors who are helping to make it happen! Examples of themes would be boho elopement, elegant romantic wedding, beachy vibes, lakeside or forest vibe, downtown city style, etc. Check out this Pinterest board for some styled shoot inspiration!

You can search Pinterest for images related to your chosen theme and create a moodboard by opening up a file in Microsoft Word and dragging 10-15 images (or more) into it to communicate your inspiration and vision for the styled shoot. You can send this moodboard to vendors when you message them to make sure they are very clear on what you want! Seeing your vision may be more helpful to vendors than having you describe it in words. Plus it's a lot of fun to make and helps you organise your thoughts!

 2. REACH OUT TO AS MANY VENDORS AS POSSIBLE

Browse through the Instagram and Facebook pages of various vendors in your area and message all the vendors who could help make your vision a reality! Some examples of relevant vendors are:

• Event decor rentals
• Hair and makeup artists
• Wedding or formal dress and suit rentals
• Local clothing companies
• Florists
• Jewellers
• Venues
• Accessories

When I message vendors I give them as many details as possible and hype up how awesome the shoot is going to be. Giving a lot of detail up front lets the vendors know that you are serious and will follow through, and it also gives them confidence that you can take the lead on your styled shoot and give them clear direction about exactly what you need. 

What kinds of details would you be discussing with vendors? Here are some examples:

• The services you will need and when and where you will need them (reserve and rent what you need in advance).
• Pick up or drop off times for items you are renting ahead of time.
• Vendor policies related to damaging or dirtying the items during the shoot. 
• Scheduling a model try-on for suits or dresses. 
• What the vendors are hoping to get from the shoot.

Is there a vendor you'd love to work with but you are nervous they are too "out of your league"? Take this opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and shoot them a message! If you reach out to them with a clear vision and a confidently-worded message you will be surprised at how big brands will respond! If you never try, then you'll never know!!

3. TELL YOUR VENDORS WHAT THEY WILL GET OUT OF THIS SHOOT

What will your vendors get out of a styled shoot? Free marketing images, full copyright to the entire gallery, a fun experience to collaborate with other awesome vendors, food and drinks, a sweet location with amazing behind-the-scenes Instagram Reel potential, etc. Make sure your vendors know the VALUE they are getting by agreeing to work with you on this project. 

A big part of making vendors feel like they got a sweet experience out of your styled shoot is taking care of them DURING the shoot by feeding them and continually showing verbal appreciation for the time they have given to your project.

You can also show your vendors some social media love DURING or IMMEDIATELY AFTER the shoot by tagging them in your Instagram story with a behind-the-scenes of your styled shoot. Pump up how awesome the vendors were to work with and give your followers a taste of what they contributed to your styled shoot.

PRO TIP: Make a list of all the vendors who contributed to your styled shoot and send it to each vendor so it's easy for them to copy and paste on social media when they post about the shoot. This ensures everyone gets credit where credit is due!

 4. BE MINDFUL OF SHOOTING CONDITIONS FOR YOUR LOCATION

Depending on where your styled shoot is located, there will be certain times and conditions that create the best images in the location you've chosen. Be mindful of this and plan accordingly to make the most of your shooting time! 

If you're shooting outside, start shooting 2 hours prior to sunset to make use of GOLDEN HOUR BABY! I probably sound like a broken record because I say this so much, but lighting is SO important as photographers so we can create the most magical images. 

Also be aware of weather, temperature, wind, etc. where you are shooting and consider having an indoor back up plan if you have a lot of vendors who have set aside time to participate in your styled shoot. 

5. FIND A COUPLE THAT SUITS YOUR VIBE

You can use Instagram or Facebook to ask couples to message you if they are interested in modelling for your styled shoot and select from there, or you can directly message couples you already have in mind. When selecting your couple make sure they are comfortable in front of the camera. Have a chat with them before finalizing anything to make sure they would be the best fit for your particular styled shoot. 

When you have a chat with the couple, prepare thoughtful and clear questions so you can easily determine their comfort level. You don't want to choose a couple who is not outgoing, not comfortable in front of the camera, or not willing to try whatever you suggest as their photographer. It will make your job WAY harder, and it won't provide a couple that best represents the work of the vendors either. 

6. SUBMIT YOUR STYLED SHOOT TO A MAGAZINE

You've put ALL this time and creative energy into planning and executing a beautiful styled shoot, so why not find other ways of sharing it with the world?! Look for magazines that accept styled shoot galleries and submit your work. If your work is accepted, you can add your feature to your business page to give you more credibility in the eyes of potential clients. 

I hope these tips have inspired you to begin planning your styled shoot and reaching out to your creative community!! If you have any other questions I haven't covered here, shoot me a message and I'd love to help you dive into styled shoots!!