The Blog
5 Things You Need for an Amazing Holiday Photo Shoot
We all know that the holidays are busy, especially for creators and bloggers. There are a lot of expectations in terms of gift guides, content, and all of the other responsibilities of being an influencer around the season. Which is why I created my November holiday package. Get all of your seasonal content taken care of in a one hour shoot and then have the images land in your inbox edited and ready to post. What could be easier than that?
Check out my November holiday photo shoot package here!
When planning out what you need for your holiday photo shoot, there are five things that you want to make sure you pack in your bag. Read more to find out what they are!
A Holiday Statement Piece Styled Multiple Ways – Holiday gatherings range from the super casual to the super formal, so having a piece that can be styled multiple different ways gives you even more versatility – both in your photos and your general content. How do you do that? Accessories! See Z below, how she takes her sequined jumpsuit from cool to holiday formal with the change from a black leather jacket to a red suede blazer. She also changes the vibe of the outfit with a quick shoe change and goes from casual to chic.
Your Favorite Cozy Outfit – While November and December are definitely holiday focused, there’s also only so many reasons to get all dressed up. Your audience absolutely wants comfier and cozier options to enjoy when the temperatures drop and it starts getting dark earlier. Bring at least one of you newest obsessions that is keeping you stylish AND warm during the cooler months. Bonus points if you show off how to style it a few different ways. (Example: With a different scarf and different shoes, a simple sweater and jeans can go from casual to date night.) Z stayed with her sequined theme and featured these sequined joggers that she make super cozy with her oversized cardigan and then made a little made upscale with the addition of the fitted black bomber jacket.
A Few Fun Props – With so many holidays on the roster for November and December, the possibilities for potential props are endless. If your shoot is earlier in November, you could go with fall/harvest themed goodies. (If you’re going down the Thanksgiving route, make sure you stay away from any iconography that would be harmful or offensive to Indigenous folks.) Depending on which seasonal holiday you celebrate, there are plenty of decorative ideas to incorporate. And, of course, there’s always New Years. Since Z was using sequins in so many of her outfits, she stuck with a simple wine glass to give her NYE look a Gatsby-esque tone. She also brought the iconic Starbucks holiday cup to throw in a little holiday cheer.
An NYE Outfit – Similar to holiday gatherings, NYE events range in how dressed up folks like to get. You know your audience best when it comes to whether you should aim for fancy or casual. As sequins where the theme of the shoot, Z started with a black sequined set paired with a plain black t-shirt as her true NYE outfit. She then ditched the sequined blazer for a jean jacket to dress the outfit down while still keeping the fun of having the sequined pants.
A Dream Brand Partnership – If there’s ever a time to take a shot on getting a brand’s attention, the holidays are it. Mix a little creativity with a little holiday magic and who knows what could happen?! Z brought a Starbucks holiday cup for a little iconic holiday spirit, but she also could’ve used it to try to gain Starbucks’ attention for a brand partnership. Whether it be a clothing brand, accessories, or something else, you should use your time with a professional photographer to score a few photos to try to land that dream partnership. (Or, if you already have campaigns in the works, make sure to get those photos done during the shoot!)
BONUS: A Beautiful Location – When picking a holiday photo shoot location, there are two aesthetics you generally want: sophistication and seasonal spirit. I tend to go for a mansion or a garden because they both inspire the potential elegance of the season while offering a variety of background options.
