How to Plan A Creative Editorial Shoot for Your Blog // Part 1: Choosing A Theme
Have you ever wanted to plan a creative editorial shoot for your blog? Think incredible location, fun props, you as the gorgeous model and images that tell a story — all created by you.
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Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be sharing a series for style and lifestyle bloggers on how to plan and execute a creative editorial shoot for your blog.
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My definition of a creative editorial shoot is any shoot that goes beyond a simple outfit shoot, something that includes a theme, a location that ties into that theme or story, props or accessories if necessary and images that tell a story.
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Obviously there is creativity in any photoshoot — from both the photographer and the blogger — but this involves more planning and thought on the front end, more intention in the images and more of an overall story.
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I believe everyone is creative and you don’t necessarily have to be a photographer to plan and execute shoots like this for your blog.
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I love creative shoots because they tell a story and are great for setting you apart from other bloggers.
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They’ll probably take longer to plan and put together but they’re usually more memorable and iconic in the mind of your readers.
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I want to share this series because I think everyone has a creative vision to share.
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Regardless of what type of a blogger you are, there are ideas only you can bring to life in your own way.
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In Part 1 of this series, I want to talk about picking a theme or idea for your shoot.
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You plan your shoot around any of the details — like the outfit or location — but for me it’s been easiest to start with the theme, idea or story I’m going to tell and fill in the details from there.
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Ideas for a shoot could come from so many places. Once you know you want to plan a creative shoot, keep your mind open even when you’re not technically sitting down to plan the shoot. Who knows, it could come to you while you’re working out!
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Start with a story
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The first time I planned a styled shoot (although it was for models and not myself), I started with a story.
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My husband and I visited Italy on our honeymoon and I wanted to do a shoot about an Italian girl who was waiting for a train to head home after a long weekend vacation.
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Obviously, we didn’t have access to an old train station to shoot in, but I found a rustic location with gorgeous lighting and rich textures to work in.
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So even if you can’t find the exact environment, find something close to help tell the story.
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A few ways you could create a theme or story for your shoot (psst, there’s no wrong way to do this):
- Has a movie, piece of art, song, vacation or person inspired you lately? Can you create a theme or story around it somehow?
- Browse Pinterest or your favorite fashion magazine (I’ve got a three foot stack of Vogues for this) until you find an image or shoot that inspires you and go from there.
- What is your blog about? What do you love? Are there any specific themes or accessories that are special to your blog? There’s gotta be a story in there.
- Do you know what outfit(s) you’ll be shooting? Does it tell a story or lend itself to a certain style or location? How can you enhance that outfit's story with props and the location?
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Take this shoot with Jordan Roberts of Cocktails & Converse for example. Jordan was so fun to shoot and collaborate with for so many reasons. Her blog is about exciting things to do in Dallas and she creates Adventure Guides for Dallas (how genius is that?!) to introduce you to her favorite places and in this case, a new cocktail.
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She chose the cutest pizza place in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas, Eno’s Pizza Tavern.
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We had the entire upstairs to ourselves and the most gorgeous natural light coming through the windows. I couldn’t have asked for a better location or person to shoot with!
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This shoot was obviously planned around Jordan’s love of hidden gems in the Dallas area — and because she loves cocktails, she also incorporated a new signature cocktail into the shoot.
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She also included her favorite shoes, Converse (again how clever is she), complete with the cutest Kate Spade outfit and accessories. She let her personality and style beautifully complete the shoot.
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Stay tuned for Part 2 of How to Plan A Creative Editorial Shoot for Your Blog next week!
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Do you know a blogger who would find an email course on shooting helpful? Share this link with them to sign up for free!
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P.S. Are you a blogger or entrepreneur in Dallas? I'm currently booking creative shots for fall! You can book a shoot with me here!
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Dallas blogger photographer