Photoshoot crew: What do wardrobe stylists do?

When you {photograph} individuals, you’ll rapidly understand how sure outfits can drastically alter all the feel and appear of the venture. Nonetheless, you might not be capable of simply pinpoint why one thing doesn’t look fairly proper. Enter your secret weapon — a wardrobe stylist. Wardrobe stylists (generally known as vogue stylists or just stylists) are garment specialists.

Desk of Contents

• What Does a Trend Stylist Do?
• Getting the Greatest Wardrobe Stylist for A Shoot
  • Sourcing Wardrobe Stylists
  • Selecting a Stylist
• The Price of Hiring Wardrobe Stylists
• What to Count on When Hiring a Stylist
  • Pre-Manufacturing
  • Manufacturing
  • Submit-Manufacturing

Wardrobe stylist Maria Aponte’s job contains making changes on set, serving to fashions/expertise look genuine of their function, and guaranteeing that no element goes unnoticed.

Many have studied vogue design, giving them intensive information of materials and cuts plus a really feel for the way they work on the human kind. Wardrobe stylists know put on, mix, and alter any wardrobe piece to create the proper clothes story for the venture. It’s the stylist’s job to be up-to-date with vogue and styling, even understanding how clothes is worn in sure conditions and by sure individuals. They supply numerous sorts of clothes which are applicable for every kind of shoot.

Alice Timms, a wardrobe stylist primarily based in London, explains:

There’s plenty of completely different kinds of images, like life-style images and vogue images. Likewise, inside styling, there are lots of sub-specialties. So somebody who works in vogue may not know type a way of life shoot, which is extra costume-design versus developments and present fashion-based.

The Girl Of Shallot, photographed by Julia Fullerton-Batten. Wardrobe stylist Alice Timms created the bespoke costume, hand-painted and made the necklace, and painted by hand, dyed, and sewed the blanket.

What Does a Trend Stylist Do?

Wardrobe stylists go by many names — vogue stylist, vogue editor, costume stylist, and so forth. Nonetheless, it is very important word that it doesn’t matter what title they go by, they’re distinct from vogue or costume designers and picture consultants. A stylist fastidiously curates completely different clothes gadgets and equipment for editorial options or print and television advert campaigns. However, designers will work for a vogue model to conceptualize and create particular person clothes gadgets and equipment whereas picture consultants will work with people (akin to enterprise professionals) to arrange and refine their private wardrobes.

Behind the scenes of the group engaged on the Girl Of Shallot venture. Alice is within the heart of the picture, wading by knee-deep water.

Wardrobe stylists are an integral half of a bigger inventive group. They should collaborate with the photographer and director, the consumer and dressmaker (who can generally be the identical particular person), the hair stylist, and the make-up artist. Collectively, they’ll resolve on and execute the precise search for that venture. Michael Leckie, a vogue and life-style photographer primarily based in Arseley, United Kingdom, says:

It’s a collaborative relationship and the wardrobe stylist is there to assist facilitate the images course of. Wardrobe is a key piece that makes the ultimate shot. Earlier than the shoot, the photographer and consumer ought to focus on a temper board with the stylist that may showcase the appear and feel of the pictures. Then the photographer ought to anticipate the stylist to offer choices to play with. A stylist should use their information and expertise to satisfy expectations and even elevate them. Then, in the course of the shoot, the stylist has to grasp the shoot necessities and angles, leaping in to regulate gadgets to sit down appropriately and look flattering.

Daily and each job is completely different for a stylist. In order that they have to be ready for something. For instance, on-set sizing changes, managing the schedule and different styling crew, swap-outs, and dealing with unintentional spills or stains.

Having a background in vogue design prepares you for wardrobe styling to some extent. For instance, what I realized whereas finding out included understanding how one thing is made. So if an merchandise must be altered on set, I understand how to try this. Understanding how the darts work, so that you could pin issues or lower issues in the fitting place and alter it to cover the seams. I also can make clothes and have typically carried out so, particularly if we will’t purchase or borrow what we’d like. – Aice Timms

Getting the Greatest Wardrobe Stylist for A Shoot

Sourcing Wardrobe Stylists

For the novice photographer, discovering and selecting a stylist could appear daunting. Particularly when each influencer and their designer canine appears to be a fashionista nowadays. You’ll find a superb stylist both by phrase of mouth or an business database. One other manner that’s extra tedious however could also be well worth the time is to have a look at styling credit on different photographers’ Instagram posts or in magazines. You may then do some sleuthing to search out that stylist’s web site and take a look at their portfolio. Vital data to notice is their house metropolis, the high quality and elegance of their portfolio, and who they’ve labored with earlier than.

Alice created these two-toned outfits after attempting to supply the proper gadgets, however not discovering something that may work for the venture.

Selecting a Stylist

The extra essential a part of this course of is assessing and selecting a closing stylist. You probably have discovered just a few by trusted suggestions or a vetted database, then your alternative might come right down to value and availability. Nonetheless, if you happen to discovered a stylist by every other means, you have to to fastidiously assess them to resolve if they are going to be a superb match for the venture:

• View their web site and portfolio to see if their type is an effective match in your venture.
• Discover their current work (typically you may see this on Instagram) to make sure they’re nonetheless lively within the business and holding up-to-date with developments.
• Search for proof of somebody who persistently places collectively robust and cohesive seems to be.
• Ask for references and discuss to them – attempt to determine dependable, organized, punctual, {and professional} stylists.

Have a look at the stylist’s portfolio and think about if it fits the venture temporary. For instance, you’re going to need a stylist with good information of sportswear for a sports activities shoot. Additionally, it’s price contemplating their style. Regardless that it’s typically troublesome to pinpoint since all of us work to the model’s or consumer’s temporary, if you happen to discover a stylist whose “style” in clothes fits you, that may be nice. – Michael Leckie

Alice provides that have is one other ingredient you must assess on the subject of selecting out a stylist:

Have a look at how skilled they’re. Most individuals who haven’t been styling for lengthy may not know all of the tips and information you’ve constructed up by expertise. It additionally relies on the form of shoot you’re doing. When you suppose issues shall be tough or that there could also be sudden curveballs, it’s all the time good to have somebody with the expertise to deal with it.

One other essential ingredient to working with a stylist, particularly for a shoot the place the consumer doesn’t present the wardrobe, is to discover somebody who has constructed robust relationships with designers and types. It’s because they should supply gadgets from numerous individuals and locations. They may supply higher high quality gadgets at decrease costs if they’ve robust skilled relationships with fascinating designers and types. In any other case, they must purchase gadgets outright or hire them — which may add to the price of your shoot.

The Price of Hiring Wardrobe Stylists

By now, you ought to be questioning how a lot does it value to rent a vogue stylist? There are just a few choices for cost on the subject of hiring a wardrobe stylist. Most stylists will fall into considered one of three classes:

Hourly price — a set price billed per hour of labor carried out for the venture.
Day price — a set payment for every day on the venture, together with days for prep and wrap-up.
Undertaking price — a flat payment for the size of the venture (AKA a buy-out) or for being on name for a sure interval (a retainer).

I cost day charges: $650 per 10-hour day for stills shoots and $850 per 12-hour day for video.  The quantity of expertise and purchasing the job requires will decide the quantity of prep and wrap days. On the very least, one prep and one wrap day are anticipated along with the shoot days the job requires. — Tammara Kohler, Fused Trend

Wardrobe provides the ending touches to any venture. Alice Timms labored on this venture with photographer Hannah Maule-Ffinch for on-line retailer Very.co.uk.

Typically, editorial assignments pay much less whereas industrial initiatives pay essentially the most. The speed of the stylist (hourly, each day, or per venture) will depend upon the scope of the job, their expertise and coaching, and site. When budgeting, bear in mind to incorporate funds for the style stylist to accumulate all the required gadgets for the manufacturing. This quantity is over and above the stylist’s payment and may embrace overlaying any incidentals (the place an merchandise can’t be returned for a refund on account of loss or harm). Windermere, Florida-based wardrobe stylist Tammara Kohler says,

A photographer ought to anticipate to offer ample budgetary tips to efficiently cowl the entire purchasing wants for the shoot, in addition to give the stylist clear-cut route on the variety of choices they want per expertise or per look.

What to Count on When Hiring a Stylist

Pre-Manufacturing

Throughout pre-production, you’ll work intently along with your wardrobe stylist to speak and develop your imaginative and prescient for the venture. The higher briefed the stylist is concerning the venture, the higher the ultimate outcomes shall be.

Temper board examples for principal characters – styled by Maria Aponte

Stylists anticipate open dialogue and communication with the photographer on the route of the shoot. In addition they have to know the consumer’s necessities concerning the wardrobe. The stylist ought to be capable of ship wardrobe choices for specified seems to be underneath the route of the company or photographer which are on model and on track with the shoot’s general route. — Tammara Kohler

Your stylist must put collectively just a few completely different, however cohesive seems to be for every character/particular person featured within the shoot, typically utilizing temper boards. It is best to anticipate your stylist to supply all gadgets wanted. They will do that by borrowing items from designers in trade for the publicity your venture will give them. Or, they’ll purchase and return gadgets from retail shops. In each eventualities, the stylist can be accountable for guaranteeing each merchandise is returned and undamaged (or cowl the price of changing any broken gadgets). Additionally, they’ll assist resolve precisely what’s going to have to be procured and what gadgets you’ll require the expertise to offer.

You’ll want to decide in the event that they need to rely extra on the expertise’s personal wardrobe with supplemental purchasing or use extra choices purchased by the stylist with the expertise bringing again up wardrobe choices. — Tammara Kohler

Manufacturing

When you arrive on set early sufficient, you might catch the style stylist arriving loaded with baggage and packages. Normally, the stylist has one of many earliest name instances on set. They are going to want time to unpack, steam, and prepare the garments earlier than the expertise arrives. Steaming could be notably time-consuming however it’s essential. As soon as the expertise is dressed, changes might have to be made. For instance, pinning sure areas for an ideal match and lint elimination. Then, whereas the expertise and photographer do their a part of the job, the stylist will observe and be able to step in at any second to make changes or change out equipment.

Behind-the-scenes picture courtesy of Alice Timms — a stylist is steaming and organizing clothes gadgets on set.

All through the shoot, the stylist have to be extraordinarily organized and work intently with all crew to remain on schedule. They may also facilitate a optimistic and seamless working relationship between photographer, consumer, and mannequin, proving important to the venture’s success. And when the venture lastly wraps, the stylist might want to re-pack all clothes gadgets on set. That is typically tougher than it sounds. They deal with delicate gadgets that have to be returned to their authentic homeowners (a retailer, agent, or designer) of their authentic situation.

Maria makes on-the-spot changes to the expertise’s outfit throughout a shoot.

Submit-Manufacturing

After the manufacturing, the stylist manages the logistics of cleansing and returning the items to the suppliers. This contains managing delivery and restore or substitute prices. They need to even have ample insurance coverage to cowl any costly gadgets (akin to jewellery or couture items).

It’s essential to notice {that a} stylist wants prep and wrap days to get every thing prepared and returned. Even on a easy one-day shoot with one topic or expertise, the stylist must prep and wrap. – Michael Leckie

On the finish of the day, not having a stylist in your venture places strain on the remainder of the group. Different group members most likely aren’t as versed in vogue and styling. Because of this small particulars go unnoticed on the day of the shoot, however change into painfully apparent throughout post-production. A stylist’s job is to note these small particulars and make adjustments the place essential. An skilled stylist can do that rapidly, saving the remainder of the group plenty of time and problem. So to keep away from pointless stress, it’s best to rent an skilled stylist.

Maria poses with fashions that she styled for a vogue shoot.

A great stylist may also make sure the shoot stays on observe and that the inventive imaginative and prescient involves fruition. They are going to give attention to translating and elevating the imaginative and prescient for the venture, leaving you free to give attention to creating the pictures. Investing in an expert stylist is investing sooner or later success of your manufacturing and the standard of the ultimate product your consumer receives.

Concerning the Writer

Born and raised in South Africa, Dominique Kilkelly has lived her life as a nomad. She presently resides in South Philly together with her husband, Daniel, and grumpy previous cat, Equipment. After finding out English Literature, Artwork Historical past, and Linguistics she labored as a author after which content material director for an web optimization firm in South Florida, and she or he is presently an editor at Fantastic Machine. This text was additionally printed right here and shared with permission.