Styled SHOOTS by Southern Bride
Styled SHOOTS by Southern Bride offers photographers, videographers, and content creators the opportunity to capture luxury-level wedding content while also growing their skill set, their portfolio, and their professional network. Each event combines stunning visuals with invaluable learning opportunities, expert-led insight, and a chance to showcase your talent through our exclusive publication competition.
We carefully select breathtaking venues in top destination wedding cities across the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond. In each location, we collaborate with the area’s most talented wedding designers to create immersive, high-end themed spaces. With multiple styled stages at every event, creators of all levels—digital and film alike—can push their artistic boundaries while building a portfolio that speaks directly to their dream clientele.
Attendees gain access to exclusive venue(s) fully transformed by local design pros, each of whom curates three styled areas (Ceremony, Reception, and a Wild Card) along with a flatlay—each within a cohesive, editorial-ready theme.
If you’re passionate about creating stunning work, connecting with fellow creatives, and growing a strong, like-minded small business community—Styled SHOOTS is for you.
Average Group Size
Workshops
Design Set-ups per Event
Cities Annually
For Photographers
Think the print feature is stunning? That's just the beginning! Unlock an exclusive digital deep-dive for every styled design on SouthernBride.com! Just scan the QR code in the magazine to instantly access a treasure trove of even more breathtaking images – a whole extended gallery awaits! This is your chance to shine even brighter online, complete with direct links to you and your team's Southern Bride Vendor listing - connecting readers to you and your talented team members!
For Videographers
Get 6 Months FREE Premier Vendor Access – Our Gift To You!
For Event Planners
VOTING EVENT SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT: Get ready for your close-up! We'll feature designer interviews and dynamic Reels for each space, broadcasting directly to Southern Bride's followers for real-time voting and maximum engagement. Your team gets tagged, your genius gets seen!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT OUR EVENTS
GET PUBLISHED!
Compete to be the BEST Photographer and win a feature on SouthernBride.com, in Southern Bride Magazine, and on our Southern Bride social media properties, including Instagram and Facebook. Each event will have the option for photographers to add “The BEST Photography Competition” to their experience, a $1,200 Value.
What We Look For
Competition photos go through a minimum of 3-4 rounds of judging before final calls are made between our editorial staff, digital feature staff, and participating wedding designers. We are looking at quality, creativity, and overall style, with a few more technicalities to best showcase design work for print:
- Proper Light Balance. As photos will be printed, the images mustn’t be too dark.
- Natural Color Temperatures. To respect the designer’s original color choices and ensure the best printing quality, natural color temperatures are preferred over muted/sepia tone edited images.
- Frame Variance. Utilizing horizontal and vertical framing with varying shot perspectives (wide, medium, full, close-ups of details, etc.)
- Varying detail shots of the design space, especially medium/full shots of the following elements: cake, florals, flat lay, stationery, and tablescape. Showcasing these items with and without models is preferred.
- Unique poses of models in the ceremony, reception, and the bonus spaces will be considered highly in final selections.
ONE Photography Winner will be selected for each design team. The BEST Photographer Winners will be announced 2-4 weeks after each event via social media. In addition to winning publication in print, on southernbride.com, and socials, winners will receive an official Styled SHOOTS by Southern Bride BEST Photographer Badge to use for promotional purposes.
Disclaimer: Photographers must release images to Southern Bride and all participating vendors. Southern Bride and all its vendors must provide photo credit on all images they use, whether for print, websites, or social media.
Each venue was designed in a breathtaking way! The fact that you get to meet so many amazing vendors who put so much effort into each designed space is worth the investment.
Maggie
You must attend a styled shoot with Southern Bride. They are super friendly people, organized, and thoughtful. I would attend any event they promote.
Christian
This shoot was great for getting more experience and learning from others… and they worked really well with everyone to make sure we were all on the same page. I will definitely be attending another event!
Jordan
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tulum, Mexico
July 28 - 31, 2025
Temecula, CA
September 9, 2025
FAQ
How many spots are available?
We know how hard it can be to fight crowds at styled shoot events, so there will be a maximum of 6 photographers per design space. Each venue will have a maximum of 18 photographers on-site.
What does my time with the models look like?
Photographers are grouped into three rotating roles: 1st Shooter, 2nd Shooters, and Detail Shooters. Throughout the day, everyone will have the opportunity to step into the 1st Shooter role.
The 1st Shooter leads the session by directing the models and setting up their desired shots during their assigned time slot. 2nd Shooters can photograph the same scene from different angles and perspectives at the same time.
When not scheduled with models, photographers are considered Detail Shooters and are encouraged to capture flat lays, venue details, and styled elements until their model rotation begins.
Are there time slots?
With multiple photographers, locations, and styled spaces, timed shoots help keep the day running smoothly and fairly. They ensure that each photographer gets their dedicated time to pose the models and bring their creative vision to life. Please honor your assigned time so that everyone gets the opportunity to shine.
What is a "shoot-out" style?
During a “Shoot-out”, the model(s) are posed in a space for all photographers to shoot simultaneously
I want my photos in Southern Bride magazine!
Southern Bride hosts a Photography Contest for attending Styled Shoot Photographers. Contest participants will be considered for a feature in Southern Bride magazine/blog, and on social media.
Can vendors bring in outside photographers?
To respect the nature of our photographer competition, designers may not bring outside photographers who are not registered with Southern Bride to be on-site during the event. Only approved participants may be present while the styled shoot is actively taking place. All photographers must be approved in advance to ensure a fair and cohesive experience for everyone involved.
Will I be able to submit my shoot images to other publications/blogs?
If your images win the Photography Competition, we ask that you wait to submit your images to other blogs/publications until after the Southern Bride publication date.
Are there other costs that I need to know about?
You will be responsible for your transportation, hotel room, meals, and the contest. Workshops and The Wrap Party Designer Awards Ceremony is included with the fee.
Can I bring an assistant?
They would be considered a participant and, therefore, the same participant fees would apply to them.
Can I post my images on my social media?
Yes, but you must give credit to all vendors for that theme. A Tag List will be provided from Styled SHOOTS. Please note, collaboration requests between photographers and @southernbride will not be accepted until the photography contest winner has been determined. All photographers will be required to sign an agreement.
Do I have to share my images?
Yes. Images must be submitted to Southern Bride so that they can be properly shared with vendors as per the participation agreement. Vendors must provide your photo credit on everything they use. All parties will be required to sign an agreement.
Can photographers share images with vendors?
To preserve the integrity of our photographer competition, images must be submitted exclusively to Southern Bride. This ensures submissions are properly formatted and presented blindly to the participating designers, who also serve as contributing judges.
Sharing images directly with designers or vendors before judging is complete compromises the blind review process and will result in disqualification from the design competition.
When are my images due?
Images must be submitted within 2 weeks of the event to the event organizer.
How many images do I submit?
Are tickets refundable?
Event purchase and add-ons are non-refundable, except for event cancellation (does not include flights or rooms). Event purchase is transferable to another photographer with notification to and approval by the organizer.
Where I can get more info about a shoot?
The most up-to-date information can be found on our Instagram page. There, we post upcoming mood boards, special announcements, and even secret promo codes! 
