MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | WORKFLOW WEDNESDAY | STYLED SHOOTS

Maryland Wedding Photographer | Workflow Wednesday | Styled Shoots

Having just spent the weekend with over 30 photographers, there were so many great topics talked over. At the AKP Retreat we discussed our business struggles, our goals, and the way we spend our time. If you’re a photographer reading this, you will probably agree “free time” is sparse. Thus, what we do with it is so important.

During a more conversation with a smaller group of girls, we discussed styled shoots. With a varying group of artists before me, there were many in the group who had never done one of their own. Questions about how to pull it off, who to approach, when it’s the right time to do one, and where everything comes from all took me by storm. I proceeded to answer them and there was so much to say. It was an AKP blog just waiting to happen.

As I jump into tips, I want to fully disclose that I plan to be brutally honest. Styled shoots are amazing, but I do have some problems with them. There is a time and place for such opportunities and I do think they are important. But, when is it the right thing for your business versus a time suck?

FIVE TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1. Stay local.

If you can help it at all, keep your resources close by. It will be easier to convince a business to get involved who may also be hired by your client. Providing cross promotion for someone who is looking to attract the same market can be appeasing as it is free advertising and association with relatable businesses.

2. Timing.

Most artists plan styled shoots to highlight a new season, a new trend, or simply to stay creative. These are all great reasons to coordinate such an affair. Remember that if you are planning to submit the session, to plan it early in the season. Publications can often take months (or longer) to turn around an accepted submission. If you push a seasonal boundary, you may end up waiting for it to come back around, leaving your feature in limbo for a year.

3. Details.

While we all get excited to shoot a gorgeous couple with no strings attached, it’s very important to remember that the true purpose of a styled shoot is in the details. Publications are looking for fresh content, and they want to see all the vendors you’ve included. Creating a large vendor team can often give you a better chance of being featured. Just remember not to spend all of your time shooting the couple and to give justice to those beautifully curated accents. Remember THOSE are what your vendor team will want to share.

4. Funds.

Popular to contrary belief, not all styled shoots are “free.” Remember that there are going to be tangible materials that will need to be taken care of. Flowers, for example, will still cost a florist wholesale pricing despite sponsoring the event. While you will come across vendors who will donate their products and time, it is always a good idea to have a budget prepared in case. You should always be willing and prepared to pay as much for the event as everyone on the team.

5. Sneak Peeks.

Beware of your own excitement! If you’re anything like me after a styled shoot, you want to rush home and show off everything you just took. DO NOT DO THIS! When planning a styled shoot for submission, you want to keep the details hidden until it has been picked up. This increases your chances of being featured exclusively, and will give more attention to the shoot as a whole when it is released. It’s okay to show off a few bridals or smaller details that aren’t as substantial.

FIVE TIPS FOR KEEPING IT REAL

1. Editors.

Get to know the publications you are submitting to. Take time to learn about the editor, their name, and maybe even a personal fact or two about them that you can relate to. Know that your work is a good fit for that publication you’ve selected. Be sure to include a note to the editor about why you think it’s a good match, and be grateful for the opportunity.

2. Tagging.

Be SURE you are tagging your vendors in every single post from the shoot. Even if you are doing previews of a simple bride and groom, it is so important to acknowledge your team. Though you may not be able to share details for them yet, it is always crucial that you pay it forward and give credit where it is due. Every time!

3. Frequency.

Don’t make styled shoots a full time job. If you’re seen doing a lot of curated, polished work.. you disconnect yourself from your actual market. Although this can be very attractive to the creatives around us, we also need to realize where our industry stands. Publications are rejecting more and more styled shoots due to their popularity and similarities. Style Me Pretty recently included in a rejection note for a styled shoot we were sure was perfect for them that they were gearing their focus on real couples and real weddings this year.

Furthermore, don’t get caught up in styled shoots because you think it’s what you should be doing. As mentioned earlier, there is a time and place for these events. They have so many wonderful benefits, but they also come with their drawbacks. You are taking away time from your clients, your families, and ultimately taking a gamble on whether it will be worth what you put into it. If I’m being brutally honest, and I said I would be, there are only a few times where you might need to do a styled shoot:

• At start-up, when you need to build a portfolio.
• During branding, if you need images that are more cohesive.
• When price changing, to include more lavish details if you have not had access in your real weddings.
• If you are in a rut, as these are wonderful creative opportunities.
• At a workshop or gathering.
• If you have time during your travels.
• When you have a unique idea.

4. Inspiration Attracts.

One of the most important things I can tell you is to remember who you are doing this for. While it is wonderful to be acknowledged by our industry peers, they are not putting food on your table. Everything we do should be an attempt to reach a future bride. While couples might love a beautiful portrait, they are far more likely to get excited about a table-scape they could see arranged for them on their wedding day. Styled shoots can be a great source for inspiration and that is what our clients are truly looking for.

5. Get Real.

Don’t lose yourself in perfectly curated details. I love shooting the perfect fairytale as much as anyone else, but it’s important to acknowledge that it isn’t likely a wedding day will really look or be like that. Be sure that you supplement a lot of REAL content throughout social media to counter your lavish projects. You don’t want to lose touch with your followers, so keep it real!

It’s a lot of information. I know! Whether you’ve done styled shoots, you’re planning one, or you want to do one in the future, I hope that this will guide you in the right direction. Let me know what you’re planning in the comments. I love hearing from you. :)

-Ash

Photography | Ashton Kelley Photography

Florals | Potomac Floral Wholesale

Rental | VRBO

Event | AKP Retreat

Ring box | Julia B Jewelry

Stationary | Paper Hearts Invitations