How to Plan a Sustainable Photoshoot

Tips for implementing sustainability into your next photoshoot.

In the midst of wedding season, we love seeing colorful florals and inspiring designs flooding across our socials and Pinterest boards. But one thing we all agree on as vendors is that we don’t love the waste that comes from weddings or events. A wedding day is an incredible celebration of a one-of-a-kind love, but what if it was also kind to the earth? We are here to tell you that it is not only possible to have an eco-friendly wedding, but a stunning event sure to wow and have people asking, this is sustainable!? A great place for vendors to start is by practicing at your next photoshoot.

This styled shoot team is made up of talented vendors that are committed to sustainability throughout their businesses and at every wedding they put together. Wedding Planner Kallan Marie from Realm Planning teamed up with Photographer Jessica Knighton and Silk and Steam to show off the Twin Cities’ newest sustainable venue The Luminare. Together they created a sustainable photoshoot with some summer worthy pops of color within a bright industrial space, highlighting local, eco-conscious brands and businesses.

Let’s dive into the details and get sustainably inspired for planning a sustainable photoshoot!

10 Tips for Getting Started on a Sustainable Photoshoot

Running a sustainable photoshoot involves minimizing your environmental impact and making ethical choices throughout the process. Here are some tips from our vendor team to help you achieve a sustainable photoshoot:

1. Plan Ahead

2. Minimize Waste

3. Design a Sustainable Set

4. Collaborate with Ethical and Sustainable Brands

5. Energy Efficiency

6. Transportation and Logistics

7. Ensure Diverse Representation

8. Post-Production Efficiency

9. Practice Efficient and Mindful Editing

10. Minimal Set Disruption

1.Plan Ahead: Planning and thinking ahead is essential for a sustainable photoshoot. Create a detailed shot list and schedule to optimize your time and resources, reducing the need for excessive shooting and retakes. Consider the venues/locations, lighting conditions, and equipment requirements in advance to avoid unnecessary energy waste.

We chose The Luminare as a location due to their gorgeous natural lighting, energy efficiencies, and commitments to organics recycling and zero-waste as a venue.

2. Minimize Waste: Implement practices to minimize waste on set and behind the scenes. Use digital mood boards and shot planning tools to reduce paper usage. Encourage bringing reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and food containers for the crew. Use a sustainable caterer for any meals. Choose digital releases and contracts instead of paper forms. Resist buying decor or clothing items from a store and returning them. This often leads to waste on the retail side, as many products never make it back on the shelves.

Additionally, encourage the composting, recycling, and proper disposal of waste generated during the shoot.

Aside from one invitation suite, the team designed everything digitally, for a fully paperless project. Invites were designed by B Corp & union print shop, Smart Set Inc. using hemp papers and soy inks. Staff practiced their own sustainable measures by carpooling and purchasing only reusable or sustainable items. The shoot was designed to promote seasonal and local foods through a menu design by Gastrotruck, as well as using uncut citrus fruits for table decor that can be enjoyed after the shoot by staff! Yum!

3. Design a Sustainable Set: If your shoot involves props and sets, opt for eco-friendly or repurposed materials. Consider sourcing items from thrift stores or second-hand shops. When the shoot is complete, donate or recycle these items rather than discarding them.

Items for the shoot were rented from a small, independent rental company, Fond Collective, that wrapped everything in reusable fabrics vs. plastic packaging in the moving process. Our flowers were also rented from Silk & Stem Collective - a local rent and return floral company aiming to reduce single-use waste in the floral industry. If you need to buy new, consider sustainable family owned brands like beeswax trappers from Big Dipper Wax Works. No props were discarded at the end of the shoot.

4. Collaborate with Ethical, Sustainable Brands and Vendors: If you're working with brands, seek collaborations with those that align with sustainable values. Highlight their sustainable products or practices through your work, helping to promote ethical consumption.

All vendors were sought out for the commitments to ethical practices. Dress was rented from ethical wedding boutique, The White Room, highlighting sustainable designers and brands that are offered at their shop. Our jewelry partnership was with Brilliant Earth, because of their commitment to social and environmental responsibility, and their mission of leading a transparent, sustainable, and inclusive jewelry industry. For hair and makeup, we brought in an incredible stylist from Gem Salon, a Green Certified Salon utilizing products from sustainable brands such as Mr. Smith and Kevin Murphy.

5. Energy Efficiency: Make energy-efficient choices during the photoshoot. Optimize natural lighting whenever possible to reduce the need for artificial lighting. Use energy-efficient LED lights if needed, and be mindful of power consumption by turning off equipment when not in use. If shooting outdoors, avoid generators and use battery-powered equipment to reduce noise and emissions.

No overhead lighting was needed throughout the shoot, as we timed the photoshoot to utilize the best natural lighting of the day and powered down the venue space during load in and out.

Featuring dress by The White Room and jewelry from Brilliant Earth.

6. Transportation and Logistics: Minimize your carbon footprint by optimizing transportation logistics. Carpooling or using electric/hybrid vehicles can significantly reduce emissions from crew transportation. When selecting shoot locations, choose ones that are easily accessible to reduce travel time and fuel consumption. Consider the environmental impact of air travel for destination shoots and explore offsetting options if necessary.

Venue was chosen for its central location. Multiple team members have electric or hybrid vehicles and other crew members carpooled. You can measure your emissions impact by carpooling using this great calculator. Crew was also asked not to idle during load in or out, reducing unnecessary emissions.

7. Ensure Diverse Representation: When casting models or subjects for your photoshoot, prioritize diversity in terms of ethnicity, age, gender expression, body type, and abilities. Assemble a diverse team that includes individuals from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. This ensures a broader range of perspectives and experiences, fostering a more inclusive atmosphere.

Some additional tips for post-production to make the most of your sustainable photoshoot:

8. Post-Production Efficiency: Sustainable practices extend to post-production as well. Optimize your editing process to minimize the use of computing resources. Delete unused or unnecessary files, and ensure proper data backup and storage to avoid unnecessary duplication of resources.

9. Practice Efficient and Mindful Editing: Avoid excessive retouching that may require more computing power and time. Optimize your workflow to use fewer resources while achieving your desired results.

10: Minimal Set Disruption: When working on-location, or eloping, respect the environment and local communities. Minimize disruption to the natural surroundings and be cautious of noise levels, littering, and potential damage. Leave the location as you found it, if not better.

Our photographer, Jessica Knighton is committed deeply to sustainability in her business and is a member of 1% for the Planet, a non-profit which encourages businesses of all sizes to donate at least 1% of their annual sales directly to environmental organizations. She is also a Leave No Trace aware! More tips on Leave No Trace principles for any photographers can be found here!

Sustainability is an ongoing commitment and every business can contribute to a positive future. Continuously assess your practices, get your whole team and crew involved and excited, and explore new ways to reduce your environmental impact each time you do a photoshoot. By incorporating these small tips, you can make a positive difference while still producing exceptional content to inspire!