Styled or contrived

Contrived - To deliberately create, rather than arising naturally or spontaneously. Created or arranged.

Contrary to what I used to tell myself, I’m quite capable of styled shoots. They can be liberating, and inspiring. In the past I had expectations of the whole experience being mechanical and unfulfilling.

You, as the photographer and choreographer, are manipulating that narrative, your subject, and the vibe.

I felt like I was cheating on my non posed, on the fly - in the moment genre.

Bride in a Daci Gown standing on the rocky beach at Tonquin Beach British Columbia — Elopement shoot model Kaytee stands gorgeous in this Daci Gown - Bouquet from Wild Bloom Tofino Hat - West Von

Styled Elopement Session Tonquin Beach B.C.

Styled sessions can also give a photographer the chance to collaborate with fellow photog’s. Showcasing locations, venues, stylists, florists, makeup artists, clothing lines you get the picture. This can broaden the reach to your preferred client base, create content and promote the style of photography you want to hone in on.

Also, it’s a shit ton of fun, and in this case, some pretty soul filling scenery, so theres that.

It’s a win win ..

Unless that’s not really the style of photography you are looking to promote. And then your just in it for the shits and giggles, with a creative splash of fellow photog camaraderie.

Which can be extremely therapeutic, causing you to run into the Pacific Ocean fully clothed.

Quite often theses styled shoots take place with numerous photographers involved. You know the old saying, “too many cooks in the kitchen”

Everyone feverishly clicking away and directing poses, trying to capture one or two unique moments, the other 12 shutterbugs may have missed.

In the frenzy of it all, the chances of that happening seem pretty minuscule.

But everyone sees art in a different light, and so in the end there are usually a few moments captured that stand out to you as something you would want to call your own.

Now, where do you post all this beautiful content? When it’s not really what your photography brand is all about?

Or is it?

Well thanks, I thought you’d never ask. Why I post it on my instagram feed so I can further confuse my existing and future clientele as to what the hell I’m actually focusing on behind my lens.

Jillian - Grid + Gertie Dress from Wild Gemini Dress Rentals

Post - Styled Photography Session

And so the battle goes of posting anything at all.

Step 1 -Torture yourself over which pictures best emanate your “photography style” whatever that is.

Step 2 - Agonize over crops, tones and finishes.

Step 3 - Close your eyes and commit. Slap those babies up on the old Instagram. Because it’s your work, and you are proud of those chosen few.

Step 4 - Don’t count the likes. Post what makes you happy. Hence my random and non conformed professional Insta feed.

In the end I always find myself longing for those impromptu happenings, those unscripted moments. Capturing a moment in time. And an opportunity to tell a story.

Those are the things that I love the most about pictures.