What is a styled wedding shoot?

There are some breathtaking images of all different types of weddings published in bridal magazines both online and in print but not all of them are from real weddings. Here’s how a “styled wedding shoot” can inspire wedding couples and benefit all the professional wedding suppliers involved.

What is a styled wedding shoot?

Flicking through bridal and lifestyle magazines whether a glossy paper version or on the internet, you will see fabulous photography promoting beautiful wedding suits and dresses, with glamorous couples standing in idyllic locations.

Sometimes the models in the photos are real couples, sometimes they are professional models but chances are that this is not their actual wedding day. What you are seeing has been specifically set up or “styled” according to an agreed look or theme.

At a styled wedding shoot, all of the suppliers needed to create a wedding have teamed together, usually all giving their services free, in order to create some great images that they can use in marketing their own particular product.

Who is involved in a bridal magazine shoot?

The couple is at the centre of any wedding ceremony.
Dressing them involves:

• Wedding dress and or wedding suit suppliers
• Makeup artist
• Hairdresser
• Shoe supplier
• Jeweler for rings, necklaces and cuff links
• Accessories such as hair adornements

To create a wedding ceremony you need:

• A celebrant or other officiant
• Florist or floral designer for bouquets, button holes and wedding decorations

Other essential wedding personnel may include:

• Wedding planner or event co-ordinator
• Caterer
• Wedding cake specialist
• DJ and/or musician

And none of this will happen without:

• Photographer
• Venue!

How do you organise a styled bridal shoot?

One of the best ways to connect with other local wedding suppliers is through social media.
There are some Facebook groups for example who actually specialise in styled wedding shoots. You can be reactive and respond to callsfor suppliers in your area or you can be proactive and start your own post explaining who you are, where you are, what you can offer the group and what you are looking for.

Find out who is orchestrating the shoot and what the timetable of scheduled shots is.

Make sure everyone expects the same outcome from the day – a contract or letter of understanding is a great way of ensuring that everyone is quite literally on the same page!

What happens after the day of the shoot?

Your shoot co-ordinator should circulate a list of suppliers complete with their web site and social media handles.

Every time one of the team publishes a photo, they should credit the other suppliers involved in that image. This is a great way to extend your reach and raise your profile beyond your own specific sector.

Using social media and reciprocal links and credits from your wedding shoot team you can network and begin to promote yourself within the other specialist wedding areas.

For example, the Celebrant promotes the photographer and the wedding planner, who in turn promote the Celebrant.

You now have a catalogue of photos you can use on your own web site and social media to market your own brand – but remember to credit the other professional collaborators.

Finally, about it. Next time you pick up a bridal magazine it could be your article you are reading and your own styled shoot images you are swooning over!

Our behind the scenes photos are from a styled shoot on location at Palacete de la Najarra, Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Spain

Wedding Planner: Mar Aday

Photographer: Toni Bonet

Photographer: Lara Jackson

Wedding celebrant: Debbie Skyrme

Wedding celebrant: Wendy Sherwood

Florist: El Rincon de Los Flores

Hair stylist: Cesar Morillas

Makeup artist: Violeta Carvajal

Bridal fashion: Rafa García

Groom’s fashion: BXS

Hair accessories: Cala by Lilian

Hand painted fan: Pinsed Pintura

Girls: Olalla, Estefania, Carmen, Aitana

Boys: Migue, Jesus, Miguel-Angel, Fran