Sariah & Jarred’s downtown Spokane winter session

I used to be VERY intimidated by styled shoots. I had no idea how anyone would put one on or what they were. Some styled shoots were very over the top while others were simple. Styled shoots can seem like a private (maybe snooty) photographers club at times, but I WANTED IN. Well, years later I’ve learned a lot! Styled shoots are something I love to create to meet new people, serve new people, and let my creative juices flow!

So what the heck are they!? Basically, a styled shoot is a staged and designed photography session where many vendors participate. Usually, it’s a staged elopement of some kind. If they are done right, they serve all who are involved in the session! So how do you do it right then? Well, keep reading 🙂 

Get excited because I’m working on creating a five-part blog series all about how to do this and will be ending it with a styled shoot here in Spokane. As long as the smoke from all the fires doesn’t come back, it’s going to be amazing! I will leave you with one of the most important tips.

Tip one: serve your vendors with strategic pictures. If you expect others to want to join your styled shoot you MUST be strategic with the images you take. Don’t think of the session as a regular couples session. For example, If you have a hair and makeup artist involved, what would they like for their website or social media platforms? Probably not a pulled back landscape portrait of the models. That doesn’t mean you can’t get that shot. BUT. Most likely, they would like up-close images of their makeup and hair skills from different angles while the models use varying expressions.

This is my first (very modest) styled shoot I did when I moved to Spokane at the beginning of this year. When I moved I was desperate to take pictures! I had paused my business since I was so pregnant and busy with graduating from college and needed to get behind the camera again. So I hosted a GORGEOUS styled shoot with a couple of new vendors in Spokane. Sariah and Jarred were my models and looked amazing! And Marina from Lavish looks and locks did the hair and makeup!

Big or small, styled shoots are so much fun! I can’t wait to start this blog series and share all my tips and tricks with you!