Checklist
Just like planning a wedding, the process of planning a styled shoot is founded in the Aisle Planner checklist. So naturally, it makes sense that step one would be to create yourself a styled shoot checklist template.
Your styled shoot checklist template most likely won't be as long as your wedding checklist template but that doesn't mean that it should lack in detail. If you are the lead planner on the shoot, you are definitely managing and overseeing lots of moving parts, so be sure to include all of the tasks that need to be completed. And because we know that each styled shoot is completely different from the next, we recommend building a checklist template around details that you know to be constant.
For example, your styled shoot checklist template can include:
- All of the vendors and creative partners that we would potentially need to book
- An overview of the design process that includes milestones (like finalizing the mood board)
- Reminders to send any documents (style guides, timelines, shot lists, etc.) to the appropriate creative partners
- Your general workflow to keep yourself on track
Timelines and Shot Lists
The day of a styled shoot is a whirlwind just like the day of a wedding. Sometimes you are on-site for all day or sometimes you only have your photographer for a couple hours. Either way, making sure that everything moves along at the pace it should can be organized and scheduled in a day-of timeline.
Build your timeline to include:
- Call and delivery times
- Set up and tear down times
- The overall flow of the day (think, "When do I need to have the tablescape done for the photog to shoot?")
In addition to building out a timeline for shoot day, you can use the Notes feature to create a shot list. It's easy to overlook certain must-have shots when you are busy making sure that the model is prepped and that the food got plated so having a concrete list of the shots you want (or need!) is a huge help. Take the time to write everything out in detail prior to the shoot and share it with the photographer at least a few days before so that the two of you are on the same page about what the goals of the day are.
Design Studio
Ok, now to the fun part! Wedding planners and styled shoots go together like peas and carrots because they are a chance to design something for you! As a wedding planner, your entire career is spent designing for other people and sometimes you just need to do something for yourself.
The Aisle Planner Design Studio definitely feels like the heart of any styled shoot and for good reason. Since the point of styled shoots is often to give the professionals a chance to create something that is within their design aesthetic, a good amount of time is spent creating mood boards and style guides. And we recommend doing both!
Create a master design overview that captures the overall look and feel that you are trying to achieve and share it with all of your creative partners. Then, you can create individual style guides that are more in depth and send them to the creative partners that need to see those details.
Check out how our style guides came to life below!
See our bridal style guide here.
See our food and beverage style guide here. 
See our floral style guide here.
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