What is a Styled Shoot?
Styled shoots are not real weddings. They are organized and pre-planned photo shoots meant to inspire engaged couples with the latest trends in weddings, bridal showers, or engagement photos. But sometimes these gorgeous photos can lead to unrealistic expectations. Planned months in advance and shot over an 8-10 hour period, these shoots often have no budget to adhere to. So how can you take what you see and incorporate it into your own wedding?
Genevieve Nisly Photography
purpose
That main point of these shoots is to inspire people. Unless you have a limitless budget, it can be near impossible to replicate them. The photos that you’re seeing took over 8 hours to shoot (typically). On average, a real couple will schedule about an hour in between their ceremony and their reception for photos similar to these. While the intention of a styled shoot is to introduce you to new ideas, fun and fresh trends, and creative elements, they can often set expectations a bit high, leaving you disappointed with your own wedding.
LMAC Photography
If you fall in love with the invitation suite you see in a styled shoot (or any other detail), that’s wonderful! That was the organizer’s intention! But when you bring it into an expert looking for a reproduction, don’t be surprised when they tell you the cost. The wedding dress you see wasn’t purchased – it was borrowed. It could be a $10,000 dress! A dramatic floral arch may have taken 16 hours to build and used $3,000+ worth of fresh flowers. Before meeting with a vendor, decide what is most important to you and what are must-haves for your wedding day. If you’re willing to spend the money, great! But if not, ask how you can get a similar look that’s within your budget. While that detail gave you a wonderful idea to incorporate into your wedding, use it as a starting off point to create your own design. Keeping an open mind will help you avoid any disappointment or frustration if it’s not an exact copy of what you saw in the shoot.
keep an open mind
Your wedding day will be the most incredible and memorable day of your life! We don’t want your memories of it to be dimmed by the failure to meet your styled shoot expectations. Instead, view these shoots with an open mind to give you ideas and inspiration and use that to create a wedding that is entirely your own! By doing this, you’ll create a completely unique celebration, a ceremony and reception that is trendy and within budget, and joyful memories to last a lifetime.
Rustic White Photography
