Making seasonal image updates is a key way to keep your audience engaged with your brand and products. This past weekend we created content for two brands during our spring styled shoot. Styled shoot are an exciting way to create really engaging product photos. Typically we have a talented model who can engage with your products to tell your story. This past weekend we set the scene with gorgeous flowers (from Jackson’s Greenhouse in Topeka KS), added a vintage styled bike, a picnic scene, and like magic….the story came to life. The story of spring, fresh, feminine…. it just worked so well together.

Our goal with both brands was to create images set in spring tones and creates some evergreen content- content that can be used beyond spring and recycled throughout the year. We shot to create the most valuable image gallery.

Midwest Dixie Boutique is clothing boutique for women’s fashion. She has both a brick and mortar and online store. She was using manufacture stock images which looked great, but didn’t offer consistency between labels or with her overall brand. Our goal was to create fun seasonal product shots for her marketing and online store front. This spring shoot was so amazing with her clothing! I suggest you run and check out her store… www.midwestdixie.com…

How do we start to plan a shoot?

Anyone I do branding for gets asked a simple question… what is your big word? What is the one feeling your want your audience to feel when they see your session? Quiet, peaceful, luxury, excitement, sexy, cozy…. From this big word we build your shoot. We use this word as your funnel everything goes through. We select props, colors, tones, poses, backgrounds, outfits… all based on that big word. We use this method when we use a model… or when it is just you and me in the studio. People buy off of emotions…. let’s evoke them for your brand.

Element I am always thinking about- Your Message

The message is the most important element of our shoot. I like to start where we want to end. What do you want to say to your audience and where? Where you plan on using content can have a large impact on how we create it! From the quantity, the layout, and the creative direction. A “how to” email may need to show steps, an invite to sign up in an email may need to be taken horizontally vs. vertically… a reel/story needs to be photographed differently than a Facebook or blog header. But.. BUT if we know and can start to envision the final content… now when you start to use your gallery you are not left disappointed or feeling like you are missing anything. We can fill your marketing holes so you are not working your marketing around the image…. the image should support your message!

In the example below we wanted to create content for Hearth and Craft Candle Co to promote their weekend pop ups… she has them often (and they are amazing!) Hearth and Craft Candle Co is a small batch candle company in Lincoln NE. She is a wizard with scents. Truly please smell her Garden Tomato candle… so unusually magnificent! We have done a number of shoots together and every time I learn more and more about her marketing needs. I always love seeing her emails, social media posts, and print marketing pieces. So when working on this styled branding session, when I saw this weekend sweatshirt… I had to have have it! We paired the sweatshirt with her shopping bags and filled the shopping bags with her candles. She can use these image to clearly message to her audience - come shop this weekend for candles!

Variety

The second thing I think about is how I can create variety. Your brand doesn’t need 10 of the same image… you need 10 unique images that coordinate! I try to create variety through poses, tones, storytelling images mixed with product shots….. When you look at your gallery it should feel like there is a common thread. And that common thread should carry on in other shoots we do as well. The goal is to craft a content library full of value- image full of beauty - images ready to a connect to your audience and help you communicate your message (your product, offer, and unique value!)