There are several words that I hear over and over in the senior photography industry (or any photography genre for that matter)…concept shoots and collaboration.  Each of these words may mean different things to different photographers.  But to me, they mean working with other creative minds in the industry to come up with an out-of-the-box shoot where you can showcase your talents as well as those of the partners you collaborate with.

Senior photography is a perfect place to collaborate and put together a conceptual shoot!  My dream collaboration would be with Vanessa Warren of Butterfly Sparks.  I love her sets, her style and her creativity.  She has worked with some of my favorite photographers such as Shannon Sewell and Millie Holloman and she has put together shoots that look like they should be on the cover of magazines!  One of her shoots has already made it on Seniorologie via a submission from another photographer Vanessa worked with, Heather Thorne!

I had the pleasure of interviewing Vanessa about styling for senior shoots, her company Butterfly Sparks and her creative shop, Jolt.  Below is what she had to say.  If you are anything like me, you are going to want to fly to Texas to collaborate with her!  I know I am going to the first chance I get!!  Thanks for sharing your work with us Vanessa!!

What is Butterfly Sparks?  Butterfly Sparks consists of two parts …

Butterfly Sparks [Designs] primary focus is to service entrepreneurs by creating brand identities for their businesses. I absolutely LOVE connecting with photographers who are passionate about what they do. So, putting my marketing background to use to help one identify what encompasses their brand makes me a very happy person.

Butterfly Sparks [Creative] came about as an effort to remove myself from the computer & allow my love for interior design & all things fashion to be used in a creative way. I love photography & dreaming up a storyboard of what to shoot, so naturally, I just fell in love with prop styling. There’s such a freedom when you step away from the digital world & let your mind run wild & make those crazy dreams come to life in a photograph.

Where did the unique name come from?

Yes, most wonder, what’s with the name Butterfly Sparks. Well, “Vanessa” means “butterfly” & my husband’s nickname is “sparks” … just too perfect to ignore.

When it comes to styling, where do you find inspiration?

EVERYWHERE! Inspiration can strike at any time, in any place … & it’s often unexpected. I snap photos with my iphone of things that inspire me … window displays at the mall, a stroll through the park, etc. I find watching Nick Jr. with my son is pretty inspiring too! I love following lifestyle & fashion blogs. And oh, I must not forget my all time love … PINTEREST.

What is your absolute favorite shoot you have ever styled?

Ooooh, it’s hard to choose because I love them all in their own right. However, if I had to select one, I would go with my very first styled shoot. I collaborated with my dear friend & photographer, Kelli Trontel. We knew we wanted to collaborate on an Independence Day theme that would INSPIRE the creative community, but had no idea that one of our favorite blogs [Creature Comforts] would love our shoot as much as we did! It was an honor to have our very first collaboration be featured on such a blog!

 

What is involved in styling a photo shoot for a photographer?

Knowing a little back story on the client is crucial to making the shoot as successful as it can be. I will then create a storyboard for the shoot & more than likely, create some handmade props for the shoot as well. Typically, I arrive an hour before the shoot & prepare each “set” so that when the client shows up, we’re ready to shoot!

How often do you style senior photo shoots?

As often as I’m asked too! The first senior shoot I collaborated on was with the amazing Shannon Sewell. I enjoy working with seniors because they’re always willing to take risks & I especially love their sense of style. I take any chance I can to style clothing, as well. Especially with the seniors … I love fashion & so do they!

What advice would you give photographers when it comes to styling for senior photo shoots?

Creativity needs to be a habit [for all of us] … something we are constantly doing. And the key to any art is practice. When it comes to styling a shoot, I always advise photographers to take risks, to stretch themselves outside of their comfort zones & to take time to be inspired. Rather than always focusing on the output, we need to reverse our head space & think about the input, which is the inspiration! By looking outside of our walls, thinking about it harder & creating more [which is in fact what innovation is] we all can create big, unique & different ideas. As creatives, our desire is to find/document beautiful things & put them in front of us so we in fact see differently. THAT motivates our passion & fuels us to be innovative! When your inspiration tank is empty, challenge yourself to do what you normally do just a little bit differently. Learning new things & studying the work of others is a great way to pick up new ideas of your own.

What is the most important thing to remember when creating a shoot for a high school senior?

The most important piece of advice is to know your client. What are they passionate about, who do they admire, what are their goals in life, what’s their favorite TV show … I mean, DIG. The more you know, the more successful your shoot will be & the client will be oh-so-thrilled that you nailed a shoot that really represents them.

What are some of your favorite themes, props or concepts for senior photo shoots?

I love anything handmade. I love when clients bring props from home that mean something to them. And I absolutely love any shoot that involves a horse.

What is your favorite thing about styling photo shoots?

Seeing your ideas on paper come to life. However, I am most thrilled when a client shows up to the shoot, sees the set & says “this is totally me!” It makes the work so very worth it.

What is Jolt, creative shop?

JOLT is a creative course for photographers, business owners and entrepreneurs by myself & Kelli Trontel on all things Branding, Social Media, Styling & Collaboration. If anyone has found themselves in a rut … consuming more than creating, and are craving inspiration & collaboration [community] then JOLT is the perfect creative shop to attend.

What can people expect to learn from Jolt?

Our hope is that each attendee comes expecting … & leaves inspired! Inspired to build a community around them and begin to COLLABORATE. Understanding the importance of having your business [whatever it may be] reflect YOU in every way. Ready to celebrate and embrace your creativity and your story.

How did you and Kelli come together to create Jolt?

Collaboration & social media are both huge passions of ours. Together we combine our creativity [styling + photography] in hopes to inspire others. Social media has been something that we have utilized for over 5 years now. We were not “photographer + stylist” when we first met, but we were each spear heading this new way of doing business in the music industry, while living in Nashville. We realized no matter who you are or what you do – everyone has a personal brand. Our personal brands are the stories that other people tell about us. Kelli & I love nothing more than to pour into others & share whatever knowledge we can. Many have done that for us & we’re extremely thankful for it.

What is happening next for Butterfly Sparks?

I am thrilled to announce that I am expanding the [DESIGN] portion of my business. I now offer custom websites & blog designs, along with custom stationary, social media pages & anything else a client can dream up. I am fortunate enough to have a stellar team work alongside me, and creating what our clients dream about seeing is our greatest passion!

Tell me a little about you…where you are from? married? kids? how did you begin your journey in this business?

I am from the GREAT state of TEXAS. Yes, I’m one of “those” proud Texans. 😉 My husband Mark is amazing & our sweet three year old boy, Noah is the joy of our lives! I’m a Dallas native who moved to Nashville after graduating from SMU to work for a record company, EMI, in their marketing division for about eight years. After having Noah, my husband & I decided to come back home to Dallas in order to be closer to our family. I am now privileged to be working from home & at the same time enjoying the company of our son. Now, finding balance between work & family is still a difficult feat, but I absolutely LOVE my stage in life right now … I’m truly, truly grateful.