What could be more exciting than a new collection? Whether it be dresses, jewellery, accessories, cakes for a seasonal lookbook – the list goes on – it is a chance to elevate your imagery and thus your brand in the luxury wedding market.

However, there are some key things often missed when creating the images of a new collection to share with the world, and here I’m highlighting 4 of them – and how we made sure to achieve them in the case of Ailsa Munro Bridal’s new 2020 dress inspiration collection, Armada. 

 

OVERARCHING SHOOT THEME

Often – but not always – your collection itself will have a theme. From florals to historical periods, places to literature, there is usually a commonality (be it intentional or an organic development). In the case of Ailsa Munro, she named this collection after the Spanish Armada, a fleet of ships destined for England in 1588. As a designer based on the south west coast (the desired destination for the fleet), and the shoot taking place at Pynes House, Exeter, this was naturally the starting point for shoot inspiration. It’s important to have a theme so that all the other aspects are in keeping and not just randomly thrown together.

 

CONTEXT

Adding a floral display, a tablescape, details, stationery – things that are more than just what you’re promoting – give depth to an otherwise one-dimensional shoot. Having more than a model standing there wearing the item, more than a cake on a table, for example, might seem pointless, but actually helps your new products and creations shine brighter and gives a shoot more chance of being featured in high profile publications. 

 

COHESION

Do the flowers match the colour palette? Does the tablescape match the style? The aforementioned context only works if it’s cohesive throughout the shoot. This is why creating a detailed lookbook is such a key element in the shoot pre-production process. If we had thrown in a contemporary black candlestick in Ailsa’s shoot or a shade of blue more purple in hue might seem small, but it would have thrown the whole vibe off.

 

DETAIL

Following on seamlessly from context is detail. As in every shoot I direct, the theme for Ailsa’s shoot was woven through each stylistic element, down to the heavy linen tablecloth and the antique style cake stands. I go the extra mile in finding the right props for a shoot. For example, It’s not just choosing gold cutlery – it’s choosing the exact style of said gold cutlery. Is it champagne gold or yellow gold? Is it modern or vintage? Plain or engraved? Right down to using gold ink calligraphy on deckle-edged paper for an invitation to view Ailsa’s collection, every detail was thought of to bring the aforementioned overarching theme to life. 

 

USING THE IMAGES

As previously mentioned, submitting the images for publication in bridal blogs or magazines can be a highly successful option as your are getting your creations in front of a wider audience. (You can find this shoot on English Wedding Blog). Depending on the blog or magazine, bear in mind that publishing lead times vary greatly and this needs to be factored in to a marketing campaign. It’s also important not to overlook the more obvious uses of the images – social media (including any covers or banners) and your website to keep it fresh, cohesive and captivating, and of course the often overlooked printed usage.

 

 

As you can see, there are many hidden layers that are key to making a collection shoot successful. If you’d like to make your next line of creations shine, let’s schedule a time to talk.

 

Credits:

Concept & Styling: Sarah Shuttle Creative | Photography: Lottie Ettling Photography| Dresses: Ailsa Munro Bridal | | Flowers: Ruby Alice Design | Venue: Pynes House | Hair and Make Up: Victoria Fergusson | Hair Accessories: Victoria Fergusson | Stationery: Fine Art Calligraphy | Cake: Edible Essence | Shoes: Emmy London | Ring: Sarah Gauci | Styling Assistant: The W Studio | Models: Frey Nielsen & Ella Natasia

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