Styled shoots. Content Days. Editorial Shoots. Shoot Crawls. They go by many names. You have probably seen photographers talk about them in photography groups online. Maybe you have thought about attending or even planning one for yourself, but thought “How can styled shoots elevate my business?”

Styled shoots can be the perfect opportunity to elevate your photography business in several different ways. Styled shoots can help inject a little life into your portfolio by reviving your creativity and provide an opportunity to practice your photography skills.  These shoots can also help you gain valuable relationships in the industry while creating fresh content for social media. But most importantly –  styled shoots can curate a portfolio that reflects (and attracts!) clients in your ideal market. 

Let’s look deeper into these 5 Ways Styled Shoots Can Elevate Your Business:

1: Revive Your Creativity

The first, and possibly the most fun way, that styled shoots can elevate your business is by reviving your creativity. Wedding days, and even portrait sessions, can be very high pressure. For many of us, we fall into a routine to combat that pressure. As professionals this allows us to deliver a beautiful, consistent product to our clients. There is nothing wrong with this, but in order to keep our business growing, we need to stay creative and innovative. Styled shoots give us the opportunity to try new things – whether it be planning the shoot content; trying a new editing style; changing up our typical posing – or even genre of photography! 

What is something you have been wanting to shoot just for fun? What new techniques or poses have you been wanting to try? Styled Shoots are a great way to try something new!

2: Gain Experience

Are you a new photographer? Or have you been a photographer for a while and working on a new skill? Styled shoots can elevate your business by giving you a place to gain experience. If you are a new photographer looking to build your skills, styled shoots are extremely beneficial. They can be great practice, especially if you are working toward wedding photography. 

Another benefit that takes us into the third way styled shoots can elevate your business, is being able to learn from other photographers. Styled shoots have a reputation for being somewhat competitive. However, if the person or group planning the styled shoot creates a climate of collaboration and sets the intention of the shoot as a way to learn from one another, it can be a beautiful experience. Even if that isn’t the case – listening and watching other photographers work, as well as asking questions when appropriate, can lead to a wealth of knowledge you may not have had before.

3: Relationship Building

As I mentioned before, being able to learn from other photographers is a very important way to elevate your business, but taking it a step further and building relationships with other photographers is crucial for your business to stay healthy and grow. I could write an entire blog on this topic alone. Having other photographers that you can learn from, share referrals with, and be encouraged by is priceless. 

Another set of important relationships that can be built through styled shoots is relationships with other vendors. Styled shoots offer a place where you can build trust between vendors from all over the industry that can lead to reviews and referrals for future clients. This leads me to the fourth way styled shoots can elevate your business….

4: Strategically Expand Your Portfolio

There are several ways to strategically expand your portfolio through styled shoots. If you are looking to break into a new market (geographically, type of photography, luxury, elopement, etc.), or attract a specific type of client – you should look for styled shoots that address those metrics. For example, if you are looking to break into the luxury market, you will want to attend a shoot at a high-end venue. You will look for vendors that cater to clients in that market. If you are wanting to focus more on clients that are doing small elopements in the mountains, you will want to attend styled shoots that reflect that aesthetic and include vendors that serve those clients. Perhaps you are just looking to showcase more diversity in your portfolio? Styled shoots that feature diversity – whether it be ethnic and racial diversity, LGBTQ+ inclusive, or includes cultural and religious elements  – can elevate your business by reaching clients that are often marginalized.

5: Content Creation

The last way that styled shoots can elevate your business is through the content created at these shoots. We know that next to word of mouth, social media is one of the most important ways we can reach new clients and continue to engage current clients. Having fresh content to regularly share on social media is a key takeaway from these shoots. Looking ahead at your calendar year, you can begin to pre-plan the types of content you want to share. Seasonal and holiday content are easy to plan and can be incorporated into styled shoots that you plan yourself, or you can find ones to attend.

All images were captured at a recent styled shoot I attended and was hosted by HM Productions Media

Other Vendors:
Venue: The White Crow Wedding Venue @whitecrowwedding
Florals: @cherished_by_melanie
Dresses: @ladymaysfrocks_frills
Tux: @southernbellebridal
Makeup: @appalachianbeauty828
Hair: @nicolefromhairbenderssalon
Cake: @seaofsweetsbakery
Rentals: @magnoliastonerental @helmproductionsevents
Invites: @cashmoredesigns
Mobile bar: @Pourhorse_rollinbar

Want to see more of the gorgeous White Crow Wedding Venue? Check out Allison and Neal’s snowy engagement session HERE!