How to Organize a Fashion Shoot in Bali

Bali's thriving fashion scene has created endless opportunities for fashion photoshoots. With vast options of stunning natural landscapes, one-of-a-kind locations, and creative sparks from its people, setting up a photo shoot in Bali is an exciting day for any brand owner. Thankfully, Bali is not only a home for both local and international designers, but this small tropical island also has all the players needed in a fashion capital including fashion photographers, stylists, make-up artists, and models.

When it comes to fashion photography, following the latest trend and booking the top models are not the only highlights. And we know for sure that planning is the most important aspect of a successful photo shoot. The process of getting everything set up correctly is essential to ensure that you get what you envision and desire. This is the hard work you put in advance that will guarantee the quality of your work. While every photoshoot is different, here are some necessary steps to follow for organizing a fashion shoot in Bali:

A Great Place to Start is a Mood Board

A mood board helps you visualize your creative thinking and concept towards the fashion shoot. It can also be useful to pitch your ideas with a mood board to other creatives. You can go online or old school (cut and paste physical copies) when creating your mood board. Include visuals and ideas for every element of your intended shot lighting, styling, hair, makeup, location, models, and even poses. Your mood board should communicate a clear visual theme so that anyone looking at it will understand what you want to achieve.

Build Your Dream Team

Fashion shoots are teamwork. To bring your idea to life, connect with creative professionals that fit perfectly with your needs. 

• Photographers

Choosing a photographer because you like their style is a perfectly valid reason, and is one of the most important aspects of portraying your products in a manner that fits your brand. Once you’ve done your research for your ideal fashion photographers, find out if their photography rates are also matched to your budget. In Bali, if you are interested in working with international photographers, it's important to choose someone that already has a stay permit or also known as KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas). It means that the photographers are not doing the business illegally and it's more secure for you to work with them. 

• Fashion Stylist

We like to start off with styling. Clothes are an important element of fashion photography and the best person to help you with this would be a fashion stylist. A stylist’s main job is combining outfits and garments that match the concept you set out in the mood board. Handing over-styling responsibility to an experienced fashion stylist can free up your time and help you focus on the shoot. 

• Model(s)

You will have to decide on how many models you want to shoot as well as their gender and physical appearance. As you’re going to be working closely with the model(s) on your shoot, make sure that you source talents based not only on their portfolio and look but also on their professionalism and communication. We make it a habit to have our models sign a talent release form before the shoot. In Bali, you might want to check out modeling agencies like Bali Model Agency, Balistarz, or Castaway Model Management. 

• Hair and Makeup Artist

When it comes to bringing your fashion story to life, hair and makeup make all the difference as they can enhance the model appearance into the role that you need. 

At Supercool Studio, we offer services on fashion photoshoots that include professional photographers, photo assistants, make-up artists, and stylists on request. 

Survey The Location

From the beautiful white sand beaches of Uluwatu, colorful restos, and elegant villas that spread across Seminyak and Canggu to lively jungles in Ubud, there are myriad choices for the location of your fashion shoot in Bali. Whether it be a natural landscape, studio set-ups, or other indoor locations, make sure that the type of location suits the look you are going for. Once you decide, it's super important to do a location recce before the shoot. It helps you find out the suitable spots for the shoot and answers if there’s a suitable place for the model to change, or if it's accessible enough for your team and to bring your tools to the location. 

Mind the Details

In terms of equipment, make sure that your team is prepared and triple check the shoot lists. On the shoot day, you want to keep this in mind: happy teams are more productive than grumpy ones. So pay attention to the details to ensure the shoot runs smoothly. 

Keep Your Cool and Stay Focused

As a brand owner, your attitude will drive the overall mood of the shoot. It would be nice if you can be encouraging and show appreciation to your team’s efforts. 

Remember that your efforts in prior planning will ensure a good day, so go for it and enjoy the process! Stay Supercool ;-)