A Seamless End-to-End Photoshoot Experience

Imagine a photoshoot experience that seamlessly guides you from concept to compelling completion.

This isn’t just any photoshoot—it's a meticulously curated journey that begins with thoughtful concept development and shotlist creation, guiding you through every detail, from wardrobe selection to prop sourcing, and culminating in a fully-produced photoshoot directed by me, in Washington D.C.

Here’s what’s included At-a-Glance:

We'll begin by crafting a unique concept and aesthetic that tells your brand’s story with lasting impact. Together, we'll develop a distinctive narrative that forms the foundation of your shoot, ensuring your imagery not only looks fantastic but also resonates with your brand’s identity. I’ll guide you through defining your look, perfecting your poses, selecting props and settings, and creating a detailed moodboard and shot list. This meticulous planning will have you feeling confident and prepared on shoot day, capturing powerful imagery that truly represents your brand.

Next, I'll connect you with top-tier, vetted D.C. area photographers who align with your vision. We’ll handle all pre-shoot coordination, from wardrobe to props, ensuring a seamless execution on the day. Upon your arrival in Washington, D.C., we’ll walk through the shoot together, perfecting each look and pose to ensure you're fully prepared.

On the shoot day, I’ll be on set to direct, style, and guide both you and the photographer, making sure every detail aligns with our vision.

Afterward, I'll assist in selecting the best shots and overseeing any necessary retouching.

When we say end-to-end - we really mean it.

What Does “Fully Produced” Mean?

You don’t need to worry about a thing. I manage all the moving parts—styling, prop arrangement, and shot composition—so you can focus on being your most authentic self. With over 20 years of experience, I ensure that everything runs smoothly, your wardrobe looks perfect, props make an impact, and the final images meet your marketing needs.

The Process + What’s included

Here’s how it looks:

This comprehensive end-to-end experience comprised of two phases:

Phase 1: Planning

We’ll discuss your specific digital needs - more specifically - the primary pages of your website - to ensure that you have a hero shot that can head up each page and complement the associated page content to ensure a ‘see and say’ cohesion.

From mapping out key shots to choosing the perfect nail polish color, we meticulously plan every detail of your shoot. I’ll partner with you and guide every step of the way - selecting wardrobe and props, and creating a detailed shotlist. This thorough preparation ensures you’re confident and ready, resulting in powerful imagery that truly represents your brand.

Detailed Planning

Every detail matters. We’ll meticulously plan each aspect of your shoot, including:

• Wardrobe Selection: I’ll help you choose outfits that align with your brand’s narrative and ensure they’re styled to perfection for the camera.

• Props and Settings: We’ll select props and set designs that enhance your story without distracting from your main message. Each element will be chosen to complement the overall aesthetic.

• Posing and Expressions: I’ll guide you on how to pose and express yourself to effectively communicate your brand’s message. We’ll practice these poses and expressions to ensure you feel natural and confident.

• Shotlist Creation: We’ll develop a detailed shotlist that maps out every key shot and scenario, including specific details like angles, compositions, and desired outcomes. This shotlist will serve as our blueprint, ensuring we capture all the essential elements of your vision.

Comprehensive Photoshoot Treatment

You’ll receive a detailed photoshoot treatment document, which includes:

• Creative Concept Overview: A summary of your shoot’s narrative and themes.

• Wardrobe and Prop List: A comprehensive list of outfits and props, including sourcing details and styling notes.

• Shotlist and Moodboard: A finalized shotlist with reference images and a moodboard that encapsulates the visual style we’re aiming for.

Collaborative Planning + Preparation

Throughout the process, we’ll determine each of these details through highly collaborative Zoom sessions to refine every detail.

Phase 2: Seamless Execution and Expert Direction

Once our final shotlist is complete, I’ll connect you with one of our favorite, hand-picked, top-tier, vetted D.C. area photographer who perfectly matches the vision and vibe for your shoot. I handle all pre-shoot coordination - securing and briefing your chosen photographer as well as securing a top-notch hair and makeup artist. On shoot day, I’ll be there with you on-set directing, styling, and ensuring everything aligns with our meticulously crafted plan. I’ll guide you through every pose and expression, and track the shotlist to ensure we successfully capture every essential image down to the tiniest detail.

Pre-Shoot IRL Dress Rehearsal

The day prior to your shoot, we’ll meet for detailed in-person pre-shoot prep session. We’ll meet at your hotel (or location of choice) to walk through each wardrobe look and practice key poses and expressions, ensuring you feel completely confident and prepared. This "dress rehearsal" allows us to refine your looks and ensure you’re communicating the right message in each shot as well as to better help me to sequence the shots for the shoot itself. We’ll also review your props, practice their use, and make sure every detail is ready for the big day - so that all you have to do is show up and smile.

Shoot Day Coordination

Once we’ve had our “Dress Rehearsal” - I’ll work to make sure the shotlist reflects any adjustments made to wardrobe, etc. and will work to sequence the shots according to backdrop, wardrobe looks to maximize our time on set and make everything run efficiently.
On the day of the shoot, I’ll be there with you on-set to oversee every detail. I’ll coordinate the shoot’s schedule, ensuring that we move smoothly from one setup to the next without rushing or skipping shots. I’ll provide expert coaching and direction on posing and styling tweaks, ensuring you’re always at your best. My real-time guidance and feedback will also help to ensure that the photographer captures each shot precisely as we envisioned. I’ll manage wardrobe changes, prop adjustments, and ensure that everything aligns with our plan, so you can focus on being your most confident, authentic, amazing self.

Final Image Selection and Refinement

After the shoot, I’ll assist you in selecting the best images from your proofs. I’ll guide you through the process of color correction and retouching to ensure your final photos are flawless and perfectly suited for your website and marketing needs.

With my extensive experience and dedicated approach, your brand photoshoot will be a seamless, impactful experience that captures your brand’s essence and leaves a memorable first — and lasting impression.

The Investment:

The investment for this end-to-end experience is $8450*

Please note that the fees outlined cover planning, prep, coordination, and on-set direction only. They do not include photographer fees, studio rental costs (if applicable), or hair and makeup artist (HMUA) fees. We pride ourselves on being transparent about what to expect in terms of additional expenses. We do not take a “cut” off of these vendors fees. Here’s a bit of what you might expect regarding these additional costs:

• Photographer Fees: These can range from about $3,800 to $5,500. The higher end of this range typically includes HMUA fees as some photographers fold their fees into their costs. We will connect you with photographers who align with your vision, and you will handle their contract, booking and payment directly - we’ll then handle and coordinate everything from there on your behalf.

• HMUA Fees: You can expect to pay between $500 and $850, depending on whether the artist provides one look or stays on set for additional touch-ups and looks. For photographers who do not include HMUA services, we will arrange and bill you separately for this service.

Other Costs to Consider:

• Wardrobe + Props: Costs can vary widely. Some of our clients opt to ‘buy and return’ items or use items they already own. Let us know your budget, and we’ll try to work within it or use items we can provide.

• Post-Production Special Effects and Graphics: If your shoot requires additional graphic elements or special effects, this will be scoped as a separate project. We can try our best to provide a preliminary cost estimate once your shot list is finalized. On average, you can expect to pay between $250 and $500 per image, depending on the complexity and the skill level of the artist. This fee range does also include our fee for coordinating with and guiding them. However, if additional graphics will need to be created, this may increase the cost. But again, after finalizing your shot list, we’ll work with you to create a detailed scope and estimate for any required post-production work.

• Additional People: Pricing for all of the above is generally based on one person as the primary subject. Adding additional people will likely increase the cost on our end by approximately $1,500 to cover extra wardrobe selection, styling, preparation, and on-set direction. It will also likely add somewhat to the photographer’s fees as well as the hair and makeup fees. If this applies to you, we can help to make a custom quote for you to reflect this.

*Please Note: All pricing is subject to change without notice.

FAQ: 

• What is the overall timeline of this engagement and when should I anticipate having the shoot?

  Phase One typically spans about 5-6 weeks, covering initial image concept + shotlist development, planning, and preparation. To ensure a smooth process, we recommend scheduling the shoot at least 4 weeks after completing Phase One of this process. This provides ample time for wardrobe and prop purchases, shipping, and any necessary exchanges. In total, you can expect the entire engagement—from start to shoot date—to take a minimum of about 10 weeks realistically.

• How many days do I need to plan to be in D.C?

  You should plan to be in D.C. for at least 2 nights. The prep session, which typically takes place in the afternoon before the shoot, lasts about half a day. On shoot day, we'll usually start around 9:30 or 10:00 AM and continue for 5-7 hours, depending on the number of scenarios and complexity of the shots. We recommend avoiding travel back home on the day of the shoot to ensure we have ample time to capture everything without any rush.

• What if I want to shoot in a city other than Washington DC?

If you prefer a location outside of Washington, D.C., we can accommodate this, but it may add to the project’s scope. Sarah would need to either source local resources or familiarize herself with your chosen photographer. Travel and accommodation costs for Sarah will also be required.

• I’ll be travelling to the DC area - can you share a bit more info so that I can plan ahead?

What’s the best airport?

Washington Reagan (DCA) is the most convenient airport overall. Dulles Airport (IAD) is also an option but may involve longer travel times and potential traffic delays if arriving or leaving around morning or evening rush hours.

Where should I stay?

We highly recommend staying in North Bethesda, Maryland (just outside of DC-proper) at the Canopy by Hilton (a boutique hotel by Hilton).

We like it because it offers:

-Modern amenities at an affordable rate.

-Great closet space—ideal for shoots.

-A vibrant area with restaurants, shops, and walkability, reducing the need for a rental car.

-An adjacent spa and nail salon for any last-minute grooming.

• Can I have items shipped to you since you’re local instead of bringing them with me on the plane/train?

  Absolutely. I can provide you with my home’s mailing address should you wish to have anything shipped directly here as I’d be happy to hang onto it for you. I can also arrange to have them shipped back to you after the shoot. We’d just invoice you for any shipping costs.