Great seasonal content doesn’t happen overnight. Actually, it happens months before the actual season arrives!
At LISH Creative, we know that when it comes to creating stunning seasonal content, working ahead isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a necessity. Seasonal campaigns require more than just pretty props and themed backdrops; they take time to conceptualize, coordinate, shoot, and fine-tune before they’re ready to make a splash!
Brands need to launch their campaigns at the exact right moment, but the magic behind those perfectly timed visuals starts months before the actual season hits.
Every part of the process takes time, from brainstorming concepts to final edits. Finding out-of-season props, creating the perfect set, and ensuring everything fits your brand’s unique voice takes time, precision, and planning.
So…how do we get it done? Keep reading to see how we plan seasonal photoshoots, even in the offseason!
How we plan seasonal photoshoots: Outsourcing props
Whether it’s a client known for their seasonal products (like Starbucks), or a client who wants to prep for holiday content, planning is crucial! We work months ahead so that when the actual season hits, we can roll out all the fun content without any hiccups!
And the first step is meeting with our clients to map out their goals for the shoot. We want to nail the strategy well in advance to outsource the best, most realistic props!
It also gives us time to fix any snags — like the one time we needed fresh fall leaves for our photoshoot with Bath and Body Works! We initially ordered fresh leaves from Etsy, but our order got lost in the mail.
Since it was August, we couldn’t exactly rush out to find leaves in our own backyard. We had to scramble to find a seller who could overnight our leaves, and ultimately found a better prop.
Had we waited until September to photograph this fall content, we definitely couldn’t have gotten the leaves we needed in time!
If you want to see more about how that shoot turned out, check out our recap here!
How we plan seasonal photoshoots: DIYing those holiday vibes
What happens when we need a prop that’s out of season?
We start by researching where we can get props (like fall leaves) months in advance and often source them from online stores, prop companies, or even our own stockpiles from previous projects. But that’s not always possible. Sometimes we have to get extra creative!
We love a challenge, and tracking down the perfect out-of-season items has become one of our favorite parts of the process!
Check out some of our favorite seasonal photoshoots!
From pumpkin spice-coded themes to tropical paradises, check out some of our favorite seasonal shoots!
Creating a tropical summer paradise in the midwest
We love bright colors, gorgeous flowers, and all the tropical fruits we can find! But when you’re in the Midwest, how do you source props to make your set look like an island paradise?
We break it down in our summer photoshoot for Seagrams below!
A spring fling created in January
How did we find bows, Easter bunny cookies, and plenty of pastels for our Easter product shoot with Norman Love Confections? There weren’t many of these props available in the winter when we produced these images, but we pulled it off and loved the result!
Bringing the great outdoors inside
We’ve had enough experiences to know that shooting outside means there’s always a chance that the weather won’t be quite right. How do we improvise?
We have to find a way to bring the outdoors… indoors. Here’s how we created a beautiful wheat field right inside our studio for our Bath & Body Works shoot.
Holly, jolly, and photographed in summer
We’ve had more holiday-themed photoshoots than we can count. So instead of picking one favorite, catch this roundup of our work over the years and how we brought a winter wonderland to the screen even when we were still sweating in the studio!
Plan your seasonal photoshoot with LISH Creative!
Ready to have your own seasonal fun? Whether you need a snowy escape in July or some sunny summer vibes in the middle of a snowstorm, we’ve got you covered! Get in touch with us here to get something in the books!
