WHY I BELIEVE IN STYLED SHOOTS AND YOU SHOULD TOO

I’m not sure when exactly it dawned on me, but it was during one of the most bizarre living situations after Hurricane María hit our island and a long/hard/teary conversation with my friend and talented photographer Vanessa Vélez, that I knew I had to plan and design a Wedding Styled Shoot if I wanted to continue my career in the wedding industry; this time, as an independent wedding planner. Having worked as a Destination Wedding Coordinator and Project Manager for another event company for almost 7 years, I knew in my heart I had the caliber and experience to take the leap, but I had zero wedding content of my own to create a portfolio that would speak to future brides. So, I did what any ole passionate, driven human would do, I used the little savings that I had and invested it down to the very last penny in my new business and planned a styled shoot that portrayed my vision as a new brand.

Styled Shoots are A-LOT-OF-WORK, not gonna lie. They are also a big financial investment and there’s always been a controversy around whether they have enough of a “Return on Investment” or whether potential brides are embracing them or not. However, I can only speak for myself and what has worked for me. From my planner’s point of view, I completely stand by them and can definitely say they are one of the best ways to showcase not only your talents, but also those of other wedding vendors. So, if you are just starting out, have no good portfolio, and still have trouble locking down brides who trust your creative vision and skills, I really, really, really recommend doing one.

And while no respectable vendor should ever advertise to prospect clients that these shoots are in fact real weddings. Because, obviously, there are no guests to entertain, no real couple is getting legally married, no meal is being served, which are normal event areas that certainly need of your logistics strategy and coordination abilities. When planning a styled shoot you will still need to see through time constraints, unexpected cancellations, unpredictable weather conditions, scheduling conflicts, flower orders that got delayed in shipping (and the list goes on) much like it can happen at any real wedding. So, styled shoots can certainly polish your planning skills, maintain your momentum and make you a better equipped wedding professional.

And my very last and most important reason why I believe in this so much. Style shoots nourish your creative side and feed your soul. The day of this shoot, I remember being in the room watching a crew of 12 plus people working hard and happy to make it all happen. The feeling of accomplishment I got from that moment is one I will never ever forget. If you invest in a style shoot with the sole mindset that all that effort will strictly translate into booking more clients, you are missing the point. Do it for you! Don’t wait to work with your favorite vendors when the moment comes, don’t wish you will book the bride someday that will give you creative freedom. Create these opportunities for YOURSELF. When else are you going to have such an amazing networking opportunity? when else are you going to have entire creative control to show your skills and potentially benefit brides that are looking for fresh inspiration? And that’s why, my friends, I totally support styled shoots as long as this wedding industry exists.

I’d like to give out a huge THANK YOU to all of the people who made this shoot possible. I will always remember how deeply personal this project felt and how so many talented friends and professionals contributed in many ways. Even my blessed father who picked up my clothes for my own portraits, because of course, that was the one thing I did not include on my check list and completely forgot to bring with me; for all I new Vanessa Vélez was going to take beautiful pictures of me wearing sweat pants and a T-shirt, if it hadn’t been for my dad. A simple mention below doesn’t feel enough to express my gratitude for these people. Trust me when I say these businesses and professionals are some of the best in the industry! Thank you all for believing in me, for listening to me, for taking my vision and making it even better, for creating crazy beautiful things by my side, for giving me so much more that I could’ve ever dream of.