I just wrapped up one of my favorite brand photography projects, and I’m excited to share the experience with you! This shoot involved stationery photography, a passion of mine thanks to my love of paper products. I had the pleasure of working with Amy Wilkins of Everyday Verity, a letterpress stationery business. She is located in beautiful Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina. Amy has launched seven artistic businesses, but she is most passionate about Everyday Verity, her first solo venture.

I loved bringing Everyday Verity to life through brand photography, and I can’t wait to take you behind the scenes! I’m covering the planning process, the shoot day, and the final results. Let’s jump in!

Project Goals

On our initial call, Amy shared her vision and goals for Everyday Verity and the photos. From her experience with past businesses, she knew she didn’t want to DIY her brand photography again. Without a social media presence planned, she also recognized her “website imagery [was] everything!” (her words, and I have to agree!). Amy recognized that presenting her products beautifully from the start was a must.

Since she was building an online home from scratch, I suggested two separate shoots. First, a Signature Brand Shoot to introduce Amy and her letterpress process. Secondly, a dedicated product shoot for her e-commerce site.

For the product photos, we captured clean, grid-like compositions with lightly textured backgrounds. Additionally, we avoided additional props to complement the simplicity of the Everyday Verity brand.

With several colorways and monogram options in her product line, I recommended we photograph one key variation per collection to stay within budget. Amy created PDFs with additional options for her website to showcase the other options.

The Shoot Planning Process

I have a simple 5-step shoot planning process that I’ve honed over the years. I followed the same steps for Amy’s shoot!

Before digging into shot list creation or styling details, I coordinated with our hair and makeup artist (included in all of my Signature Brand Shoots) to make sure our tentative shoot date worked for her. Once we had that locked in, we were ready to start planning!

First, I sent Amy my 20-question questionnaire to explore her goals, business, brand, and personality. Her thoughtful answers were incredibly helpful as I crafted her shot list. I use a Notion template to transform each client’s responses and our conversations into a draft shot list.

Next, I built out her shoot plan and organized all the details, from logistics and inspiration to wardrobe. I always share this plan with other team members involved, like our hair and makeup artist Domanique of Shadows and Shears.

Next, I scheduled a video planning meeting with Amy to walk through the shoot plan. She kept saying, “I’m so happy to have my own presentation!” which made me laugh! It was customized for Amy and her brand, helping her feel fully supported and giving me a clear roadmap for the shoot day.

All the while, Amy and I checked in with each other over Slack to share ideas on photoshoot outfits, new shots ideas, and beauty inspiration. The planning process was such a breeze with Amy!

Signature Brand Shoot Highlights

On a typical shoot day, I often feel nervous, especially when traveling (this shoot was about a 2-hour drive from Charleston). I have to pack my gear, make sure I arrive on time, and mentally run through the shoot schedule and shot list. Not to mention getting my daughter set with childcare!

But when shoot day arrived for Amy’s shoot, I felt so excited! I knew Amy was well-prepared, and I was confident that our plan was solid.

When I arrived, Amy gave me a tour of her beautiful home studio, which I’d already seen in photos she’d shared ahead of time. To my delight, she’d even printed photos of her outfits and pinned them to pages in the Shoot Planner to stay organized. Paper lovers truly are the most organized people, and I love to see it!

We started the day on her porch, capturing lifestyle images of “writing rituals,” the perfect way to bring our stationery photography to life. The goal was to show customers how they could use her products in everyday life, while also conveying the brand’s message that the art of the handwritten note is something to savor.

Next, while Amy got her hair and makeup done, I took wide shots and detailed photos of her studio space. The goal of these shots was to give Amy’s customers a look at her workspace, materials, and tools.

Once she was camera-ready, we moved on to portraits in the studio, followed by process shots. We showed Amy printing at her 750-lb press, mixing ink, stamping grommets into gift tags, designing at her computer, and using her die-cutter. Process shots are always a favorite of mine. They’re versatile and allow for a mix of wide shots and close details.

After a quick lunch break, we headed back to the studio to capture portraits on the porch swing and Amy on her bike. This was an important shot since many of her local customers will receive their orders by bike delivery (how charming is that!?). We then wrapped up with shots in the community mailroom and portraits under the oak trees.

After a full 6 hours of shooting, that was a wrap! Within the week, I sent Amy her proof gallery, and she selected her 75 favorites for me to retouch. Once her photos were ready, Amy filled out her website with her new shots!

Stationery Photography: E-Commerce Product Shoot Highlights

Amy also sent her product collection to my home studio, where I photographed them for e-commerce. We kept them super simple and took a single detail of each grouping to show off the texture of the letterpress and materials. Amy gave me the most organized list of SKU’s for her products and organized them in order in the box for me so it was super easy for me to work through the shots.

Shoot Results

Amy now has 75 on-brand photos that beautifully tell her brand story and align with her business goals. She also has 130 stationery photography product images for her brand-new e-commerce website. Amy is currently working on building out her new website, and I can’t wait to link to it here when it’s ready!

Wrapping Up

From the moment Amy’s inquiry email landed in my inbox, I was all in! I was so honored she chose me to capture her and the Everyday Verity brand. This project wasn’t just about taking pretty pictures. It was about bringing Amy’s vision to life and helping her connect with customers. Together, we crafted a story that showcases her love for letterpress and the special art of handwritten notes. I’m thrilled that our stationery photography has made such an impact on the Everyday Verity brand!