The Vision

This mother-daughter-founded brand discovered me through Instagram, and quickly after they reached out, I hoped on a consult call and chatted about their ideal vision for their new brand. They had several ideas in terms of locations and models and once they shared their inspiration, I immediately knew how we could achieve that coastal granddaughter vibe! Initially they were planning to book another photographer, but after hopping off our intro call, they decided to work with me due to my passion about this project and willingness to go above and beyond with sharing ideas and coordinating the photoshoot, which was such an honor and privilege to do. Their brand ideas involved a strong coastal and East Coast vibe, reminiscent of a blend between Meredith Blake's style and Princess Diana's iconic looks. They sent over photos of their sample products, and the vision started to take shape—coastal, navy, white, bright tones, with a refined elegance that would showcase the essence of their debut collection.

The planning

Planning played a crucial role in making sure the shoot was a success. After our initial discussions, I took the lead on scouting both models and locations, keeping their vision front and center. We decided to shoot on a sailboat in the San Diego harbor, giving the shoot a classic East Coast feel while incorporating the coastal aesthetic they wanted. To add variety, we also planned to shoot on the docks before moving to the boat. I booked the sailboat while they hired a videographer to capture both the behind-the-scenes and the beauty of the entire shoot. At the shoot we aimed to create an authentic, fun atmosphere that reflected their vision. With this shoot being for their first-ever collection, it was important to give them a wide variety of content, from close-up product shots of these 100% linen pieces to landscape images, ideal for both their website and social media presence.

The execution

On the day of the shoot, the energy was light and fun—exactly what we wanted. We started shooting on land for an hour while it was a bit overcast, capturing shots by the docks to set the tone. Once we boarded the sailboat, the real magic began and the sun came out to shine just in time. The models were incredible to work with, and I made sure to keep the mood playful and relaxed. We spent about two hours shooting on the boat, incorporating various poses and locations on the deck to ensure that each image offered something unique. The videographer captured candid moments, adding life and movement to the content. We used the natural light and coastal backdrop to elevate the brand’s products, and I even had the models laugh and engage with the environment to create a more genuine feel. The entire day was filled with laughter, and we were able to capture both posed elegance and spontaneous fun, which was essential in telling their brand’s story.

The Outcome

The final images exceeded all expectations, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The blend of coastal colors, the sailboat setting, and the intimate, mother-daughter dynamic came together to create a visually stunning and vibrant collection of photos. We provided them with a plethora of content that would be useful for months following their launch until their next collection was ready to shoot. The photos reflected the essence of their brand while offering the flexibility they needed for different marketing platforms. Reflecting on this project, I'm thrilled with how everything turned out. The mother-daughter founders were wonderful to work with, and the combination of our creative direction and their personal story made this shoot one of my favorites. This experience has set the stage for what I hope will be many more collaborations in the future. We are already working on their next collection photoshoot!

Brand Recognition