how to brief a creative studio for a lifestyle shoot

This is why lifestyle shoots work!

Lifestyle photography is more than just capturing pretty images, it’s about telling a story your audience can see themselves in. A strong lifestyle shoot shows how your product or brand fits seamlessly into real life. But to make that magic happen, your creative partners need a clear and thoughtful brief.

That’s why we’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to brief a creative studio for a lifestyle shoot. Let’s get started!

1. Define Your Objective

Before the first camera click starts, ask yourself:

• What is the goal of this shoot?

• Do you want content for a campaign launch, evergreen website photography, or social media storytelling?

• Should the tone feel aspirational, relatable, or documentary-like?

This clarity will help your creative team focus on what really matters.

2. Share Your Brand Story

Give your studio the “soul” of your brand:

• Your values, voice, and aesthetic.

• A sense of how you want people to feel when they see your imagery.

• Past visuals, campaigns, or even playlists that capture your energy.

When a studio understands your brand essence, the images will resonate more deeply with your audience.

3. Know Your Audience

Lifestyle shoots thrive on connection. Define who you’re speaking to:

• Who is your ideal customer?

• What lifestyle are they living — or dreaming of living?

• What scenes would they find familiar, exciting, or inspiring?

By grounding the shoot in your audience’s world, you make your content instantly relatable.

4. Clarify Creative Direction

This is where your ideas and inspiration come in:

• What vibe do you want? (warm, chic, minimalist, vibrant, cinematic)

• Do you have preferred locations? (e.g. studio, outdoor spaces, cafés, homes, or nature?)

• Are there props, styling elements, or cultural references that must be included?

A simple moodboard or Pinterest link can be all it takes to spark alignment.

5. Be Clear on Deliverables

Different platforms need different images, so makes sure you let the creative studio know:

• Shot types: portraits, group lifestyle moments, product-in-use shots.

• Formats: vertical for Instagram/TikTok, horizontal for website banners.

• Quantity: how many edited images are expected?

This allows your studio to plan the shoot efficiently.

6. Budget & Timeline

Don’t leave this to guesswork. Share:

• Budget range, even if it’s a rough one helps.

• Key dates like campaign launches or events.

• Any deadlines for image delivery and approvals.

Transparency keeps everyone aligned.

7. Collaboration & Feedback

Agree on how you’ll work together:

• Who’s the point of contact for approvals?

• Will you review selects before final editing, or wait for the finished set?

• How do you want communication handled (email, project platform, weekly check-ins)?

The smoother the feedback loop, the smoother the shoot.

8. Stay Open to Discovery

Bring your vision but leave room for spontaneity. Lifestyle shoots often shine in unscripted moments: a laugh, a glance, a candid interaction. Sometimes the magic isn’t in the plan, but in the moment.

A great lifestyle shoot starts long before the cameras roll. By preparing a thoughtful brief, you set the stage for your creative partners to capture not just images, but living stories. At ABHIOLAR.ART we see lifestyle photography as a collaboration, your vision, our lens, one shared story.

Ready to work together? Let’s capture your lifestyle in motion.