Working as a part of a creative team can be a magical experience! A photo has only a few seconds to capture attention. But the love and hard work that goes on in regard to production is endless. As a makeup stylist and creative artist, I find myself in every different work environment! Some days it’s just me and the client, and sometimes I’m on set with a large team. It’s important to know how to work as a unit to portray the vision of an advertisement or image. I recently worked with 1209 Creative on advertisement material with a beautiful team. It was such a great working environment, and it made me think of a few tips for stellar team shoots. Let’s talk about the ins and outs of working in harmony on set!
1209 Creative is a bespoke wedding floral and event planner based in Madison, WI and Phoenix, AZ. They have a really hazy, whimsical feel to their imagery, and I was so thrilled when they asked me to be a part of their photo shoot! The team consisted of creative directors, event planners, florists, a photographer and two models. After taking about an hour to get my models camera ready, we went on location to shoot different curated looks!
Makeup artists have a really important role on a team shoot.
The most important thing is that you do beautiful makeup. However, there is a lot that you can do to make sure the shoot goes smoothly. It starts from the very beginning. Make sure that you communicate with your point of contact! Know where you are meeting and what the vision for the day is. Be prompt, present and ready to work! There will be many times that you don’t know who you’re working on, so have your kit packed to accommodate every skin tone and type. I will do a separate post soon about effective ways to pack your kit!
Be a flexible and ready for anything…
After you’ve done the initial makeup, you should always be prepared for more. Take a small set bag with the essentials you will need to touch up, as well as makeup you might need to change the look later. The creative directors on this shoot in particular communicated with me so well in regard to what the looks would be. Also, take photos or write down the looks if you need to keep yourself on track for the day.
Have a lot of fun and a lot of respect on set…
When you’re on set, having fun is key! It’s also important to have a lot of respect for those around you. Stay off your phone as much as possible and always ask for the protocol in regard to what you can and can’t post on social media. Be present with your team by interacting and having fun! Also make sure to be flexible to whatever the team may need. Stay close to your model and make sure to touch them up before shooting begins. If the photographer needs anything added or changed, do it happily! The photographer sees things in camera that you might not, so extend a lot of patience and know that it will reflect in the end result. When it’s time to change the look, be quick and efficient…especially when the photos depend on natural light!
Celebrate your hard work and help promote the advertisement or brand!
YAY, you made it through the shoot! You were professional, personable and did rad makeup! But the work still isn’t over, if you can believe it. If you really loved and believed in the company, why not spread the word about your stellar teammates? Keep in touch until the photos are released! I asked my creative director from 1209 Creative about social media, and she graciously provided me with all the social media accounts of the team members and clothing brands used. When you’ve got the final images in your possession, it’s always great to share on social media! Just remember to tag everyone, every time. This is important. You might not think you do, but you have the influence to drive traffic to the company, which is so beneficial. This step is optional of course, but it’s a great way to show your work and promote the brand.
The beautiful bottom line is that working with a team is a lot of fun!
To summarize all of the above:
- Practice great communication skills from the start.
- Pack a great kit and be ready to work.
- Be present and attentive during the shoot.
- Bring a small set bag to touch up and change the look at any time.
- Share on social media if possible and make sure to tag everyone involved!
I hope these tips will encourage you to have fun working with creative teams! I am going to share some images on social media from our 1209 Creative shoot, and I hope you love them! The team I worked with on this shoot was incredible, I am going to put all their info below so you can check out their incredible talents! Can’t wait to talk to you again soon. 🙂
Florals + Concept: @1209creative Madison, Wisconsin and Phoenix, AZ www.1209creative.com
Planning + Design: @thewoodviolet Wisconsin: woodvioletevents.com
Photography: @parkermicheaelsphotography www.parkermichealsphotography.com
makeup: @thebrilliantaesthetic
models: @asta + @titusfauntleroy
dress: @cleoandclementine www.cleoandclementine.com
2nd look from Nordstrom
Suit: @theblacktux