Monochrome Floral Fashion Photoshoot + How to Plan a Test Shoot or Styled Shoot

Have you ever wanted to plan and execute your own photoshoot concept? In the world of weddings this is called a “styled shoot,” and in the world of commercial and editorial photography it’s called a “test shoot.” As a new photographer these style/test shoots are essential to be able to start your brand and show potential clients what you can do, and as a seasoned photographer it’s a great way to elevate your portfolio, work with new people/fellow creatives, and stay fresh and inspired. I’ve created these types of photoshoots every year since I got into photography, and this year is no different! I keep a list of ideas/concepts in a notebook and jot them down whenever they come to me. Then I wait for the best ideas to stand out and I make plans to bring 1-2 of them to life each year!

This colorful floral fashion photoshoot is something I had been dreaming up for a while (since last year) and after almost half a year in the works we were able to pull it off! It was a good lesson in patience and pivoting when needed, especially since we ended up having to switch dates once, then switch out creatives closer to the rescheduled date, and finally had to switch models the day of! I couldn’t have pulled it off without these amazing women that brought it all to life:

Photographer + Concept | Sarah Eichstedt Photography (me!)
Makeup & Hair Artist | Michelle Montes Makeup Artistry
Florist | Bloomlin Design
Stylist | Abby Young Styling
Stylist Assistant | Nicki Rose Styling
Models | Zoe Monet, Jenna Brown, Sammie Sargent from Scout Model Agency
Location | Creative Space Studios
Props | The Wild Ones Rentals
Backdrops | Savage Universal

When planning a test shoot like this, I like to have a loose concept and leave some time in the day to play around, get creative, and see where things go! And that’s exactly what we did for this photoshoot! I’m weirdly organized (I blame it on the ICU nurse in me; my first career) so I like to use a shared Google Doc or Canva doc for planning so everyone can see ideas, colors, shot list, etc.; and I like to create a timeline of the day so we know if we’re roughly going to get through everything we want. (You can grab my free Canva planning doc here!) The concept I started off with was monochrome solid colors with flower fashion accents, and it evolved into a deeper story, which I’ll share with you below.

As the day progressed and the first model was changing outfits, I laid a pair of shoes on the green backdrop that we had set up, tossed a few flowers around it, and took a photo. Then Linda (our florist) hopped in and helped me lay out and style more flowers, and I tipped a few of the vases over and voila! We had such a fun image (see first photo below) and seeing it made a lightbulb go off in my head! Something about after a great party when you kick off your heels and toss everything on the floor thinking that you’ll pick it up in the morning. Then in the next look we had a moment where flowers fell off the model (second photo below) and it just reiterated our after party concept! The full “After Party” concept was born!

We carried it through to other moments with shoes and then added the models themselves on the floor splayed out with their accessories (see photos below). I love the direction that we went!

Keep scrolling to see some favorite photos from the shoot, and make it all the way to the end to read some of my tips and steps for planning your own test shoot!

—

Steps for Executing a Test Photoshoot

1. Plan out your concept/idea. Whether you gather photo inspiration or draw your own illustrations, you’ll need something to share with the other creatives that you invite to participate.
2. Invite a few key players. Think of a few people that you really want to work with and send them a personalized message to see if they would be interested in working together on your concept.
3. Plan a date that all your key people are available. Book the studio or location to make sure it’s nailed down far ahead of time. Consider the time of year and dates (weekday vs weekend) that everyone would be available (for instance, if it’s a wedding styled shoot consider that most of these people are busy on weekends and during peak wedding season).
4. Create a shared planning doc so that everyone can be on the same page and collaborate. List who is responsible for each part of the photoshoot. Make sure to plan out the timeline with space for creativity! (You can get my free Canva photoshoot plan template here)
5. Touch base with everyone as the date gets closer to make sure outfits and props have arrived, models are booked, etc. You may need to pivot if things don’t arrive on time. For that reason I try to order backdrops and props super early!
6. Arrive on photoshoot day ready to have fun and create! I like to bring snacks/drinks and order lunch for my crew as a thank you. I also like to make sure everyone has a chance for their work to shine!
7. Deliver the photos as soon as possible to everyone involved and make sure to thank them. I find it’s helpful to include a written list of who to tag when posting on social media so that everyone gets credit. Don’t forget to add the photos to your own portfolio!