When you’re starting off as a wedding photographer, building a portfolio of high-quality images can be a daunting task. One effective way to get started is by participating in styled shoots. Styled shoots are pre-arranged photo sessions where photographers collaborate with other vendors, such as florists, makeup artists, and models, to create a specific theme or aesthetic. These shoots provide a low-pressure environment to experiment with posing, lighting, and camera settings while also providing an opportunity to build your portfolio with beautiful and diverse images.

Styled shoots are not a replacement for the experience of shooting an actual wedding, but they are a great starting point for novice photographers. They offer the opportunity to build confidence, develop technical skills, and get comfortable with the wedding portrait process. Additionally, styled shoots can be a great way for experienced photographers to push creative boundaries and experiment with new techniques, angles, and styles.

In this blog post, I’m sharing images from a bridal shoot that I styled and led at the Reset Conference in Waco, Texas. I was thrilled to teach photography business practices again and to also plan this shoot at the beautiful Magnolia Market, drawing inspiration for the shoot’s styling from the subtle bohemian elements found around the property. Each bride had a unique bouquet that I created, and we were fortunate to have beautiful wedding gowns and accessories provided by Luxe Bridal Nashville. The talented Diana Marie Makeup Artistry worked her magic to ensure our models, Trenina and Jess, looked beautiful.

Enjoy!