How to be a Responsible Styled Shoot Host and Photographer.
As styled shoots grow increasingly popular, more people are wanting to capitalize on this opportunity. Here's how you can be a responsible styled shoot host and a responsible photographer wanting to purchase a ticket.
PRACTICE Hosting a Styled Shoot First As an ametuer host, you should not sell tickets to your first 1-3 styled shoots. Your first shoot should just be you and the models. This will be a learning experience in itself. It teaches you to find vendors and how to fully execute a shoot. You will learn a ton: how to find a bridal gown, (and how to deal with cleaning it!), getting galleries back to vendors, putting together a timeline, figuring out location for not only the shoot but hair, makeup, and getting ready, and SO much more!! After your first styled shoot with you and the models, invite your close photographer friends and give them a free ticket. Treat it just like you would a styled shoot: you as the host, photog rotations, etc. At this point you can implement a contract, client management system. Then get feedback from your photog friends, make changes. NOW you might be ready to start selling tickets - This experience will teach you how to be a host and how to handle your clients (photographers)
How to be organized as a Styled Shoot Host
I am telling you from experience: get a plan in place for how to get galleries back to vendors!!! Try to automate this with a group chat or CMS. It's incredible unfair if your inorganization leads to vendors not getting their galleries, and it's SO easy to lose track of galleries, emails, etc in the shuffle of dealing with multiple photographers and vendors! Think about it - you are the point of contact for ALL the photographers, hair and makeup, venues, decor, etc. Checklist of what you need a place to be a successful and responsible styled shoot host:
Mood board - with credit to all the photographs you use
Backup plan for inclement weather
Cancelation policy
Contract: for photographers AND vendors
Client management system / email list: a system to stay organized, group communication, and way to client ticket sales.
How to be a responsible Photographer - before the shoot Anyone can put together an eye-catching mood board with photos they find on Pinterest. These photos are reflection of OTHER people's work, not theirs. Ask the host to see galleries from pervious styled shoots. Do your research on the host insurance, backup plan for inclement weather, cancelation policy, do they have a contract, does the host have a client management system to stay organized, communicate with everyone, and conveniently get galleries back to all vendors. Know what you are getting into - styled shoots are usually a collaboration effect with many vendors donating their services. Be prepared to give galleries back in a timely manner and tag / credit all parties and vendors involved.
