How to Style a Photo Shoot for a Brand
Do you want to style a scene for an upcoming brand photo shoot but are daunted by working with a blank slate?
Whether you want to create a casual lifestyle scene, a work from home moment, or even something more editorial, we are constantly playing in the studio and are here to share our favorite tips for styling scenes that will be perfect for your next brand shoot.
Tips For Styling a Lifestyle Scene
Our cyclorama wall, also known as an infinity wall, is the perfect blank slate for absolutely anything you want to photograph, and with our in-house vintage furniture, a dreamy scene is always at your fingertips.
Cyc walls are incredibly trippy to look at. Ours is so deep, not to mention in a corner, that it’s hard to tell its size without anchoring the space with objects.
Adding a sense of depth to a scene adds context to a product and also makes your photos looks next level. For example: the left image of a blank cyc wall looks plain ol’ empty, but add some vintage styling and VOILÀ: you have the perfect scene to place a subject.
So here are some easy tips for styling a lifestyle scene:
1. Anchor Your Scene With a Rug
A rug not only adds texture but also helps to anchor your scene and provides a structure for other elements and props to look cohesive. Make sure to choose a rug that complements the scale of your other elements. A giant rug with tiny furniture can look a bit silly (and vice versa!)
2. Add in Larger Pieces
For items like chairs and couches, position the front legs so they overlap the rug, while allowing the back portion to sit off the rug. This helps to add even more depth and ensures that the rug doesn’t become overcrowded.
For this scene we also brought in a coffee table to really play that living room vibe and centered it on the rest of the rug to create balance and, you guessed it, even more depth.
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF.
3. Style with Props & Homey Items
Helloooo plants. Our fiddle leaf fig is thriving at Realm and makes for a very powerful statement by adding height and a vibrant burst of color. It’s a favorite for portraits and lifestyle photography alike!
After bringing in the large fiddle leaf fig we added in smaller goods: pottery by Mortar and Stone and dried goods by Pickletown Flower Co. We rounded out the props with layers of Fellow & Darling Magazine.
And that’s a wrap - once the scene is styled - send your models (who can also double as stylists) into the scene and play with positioning and prop interaction.
4. Play with Scale
Whatever the hero of your shoot is, whether it be a small product (like the magazines) or larger item (like our fiddle leaf or yellow couch) make sure any other items you choose to style the scene with don’t compete with your main subject.
Adding in a variety of object sizes helps your final image look cohesive and ensures nothing is getting in the way of the star of the show.
Tips for Styling a Working Scene
Styling a work scene can be perfect if you’re shooting for a solo-preneur or business owner. At Realm, we have a range of tables sizes like our tulip cafe tables for two all the way to our loooong beautiful white tables that can accommodate larger group sizes from entrepreneurs all the way to multi person teams.
Read on for when your shoot calls for some behind the scenes office vibes.
1. First It’s Rug Time
Similar to putting together a lifestyle scene, a rug is an easy first step and can quickly dress up any scene. It can also do a lot to incorporate your color palette and adds textural warmth. We added another rug in our inventory to bring life to this scene—this vintage piece is exactly the right size for the table we’re pairing it with.
2. Place That Table
Our medium-sized tables that we have on site pair beautifully with our smaller rugs. These white table tops pair with a with a danish style white oak leg. We have 8 of these babies in house that can be pulled out and assembled in a hot minute.
Place the table top face down down on a soft surface, screw four legs in and turn it upright. Boom.
3. It’s Prop Time!
When creating a work scene that’s true to your brand, consider what you would have at your desk, how you want it organized (or messy), and what items you can incorporate that give a shout out to brands you love even affiliated partners.
We incorporated a few of our favorites: the Walnut Garrison bag from Winter Session, a CBD drink from Dram Apothecary, plants in Mortar & Stone planters, and of course water. Because if you’re not hydrating while ya work, you’re bound to be less productive. Also it’s an excuse to add in a Vintage blush pitcher.
Time to add a chair and start playing with positioning. Ready, set, go.
Tips for styling an Editorial shoot
Our range of posing blocks, some au natural and others painted white, are perfect for product placement, and for creating scenes that need effortless structure. They were handmade locally in Denver by our banquette craftsman, Jeremiah Clark. We originally wanted some posing blocks, but we ended up with some high end pieces of custom furniture.
These blocks are such a minimal and lovely piece to add into a scene. You can even drop them in a blank cyc wall for immediate dimension.
1. Groups of Three
A cardinal rule when it comes to styling is grouping in sets of three. The varying heights of these b-e-a-utiful blocks makes it easy to arrange them in groups that create variety and balance.
2. Arrange at an Angle
Instead of placing each block straight on, consider rotating them so that an edge is oriented toward the camera. This creates added dimension and help lead your eye through each layer of your composition
3. Place Props
With the foundation in place, it’s time to add in props and a model. You can layer items on top of one another (like our plant on top of a stack of magazines), and creating groupings of props on one block.
Once you have the scene set take a few steps back and finesse the details to really nail the shot.
AND THAT’S A WRAP.
Good luck on your upcoming shoot and we will leave ya with a few more tips on bringing your next shoot to life:
Dial in your vision before the shoot day
Allow for time to finesse the positioning of each element
Chose pieces that are on brand and compliment your brand colors
Bring in small props and soft goods to add your aesthetic
Vary the positioning within each scene so you have options to choose from
