I'm Rachel Mandel, a fine art wedding photographer based in Chicago, Illinois. When I'm not photographing beautiful couples, you can find me enjoying the city with my boyfriend, Cole or spending time in nature. The Mandelette blog is where I share the stories behind my couples' special days. Pull up a chair and stay a while!
Hi there, budding photographer! So, you want to grow your business. Congrats on taking the first step by reading this blog! I am about to show you what has worked for me in terms of planning a styled shoot in Chicago, Illinois.
Announce to your sphere of influence that you are planning a styled shoot (this can be your friends, family, Instagram followers, and Facebook friends).
Find a venue to host your styled shoot
Create a mood board on Pinterest to achieve your desired aesthetic
Do a vendor call, keeping an eye on which vendors you’ve been dying to work with. This can be done on Instagram stories and Facebook
Do a model call for a cute couple, and reach out to people you know and like to see if they’re interested
Keep in mind group chemistry, and select people you enjoy working with
Sign a contract with each vendor, keeping in mind how each person would like to be credited on social media
Share mood board with each vendor, and have calls leading up to the shoot to ensure all goes smoothly
Create a group email chain to keep everyone informed of the plan
Have back up vendors, just in case someone backs out or becomes ill
Arrive at the venue early! Sometimes, things take longer than planned
Set up with your vendor team, and be as helpful as possible; working as a team
Take dreamy photos, using the skills you have learned in your career
Submit photos for publication before posting anything
Wait for publishers to return your inquiry.
Post photos with announcement of publication, giving credit to each vendor as they appear on the contract
Congratulations! Now you know how to plan a styled shoot. Be sure to email me at hello@mandelettephoto.com if you would like to collaborate, or need any guidance. I can’t wait to see your masterpiece!