Getting Ready for Our Christmas Photoshoot (in 3 Weeks!)

There’s snow on the moodboard (yet a high humidex outside), and Palettes is humming. I'm pulling together our holiday photoshoot on a tight runway—less than three weeks—and I’m sharing how I'm doing it, what we’re shooting, and the exact creative brief I’m sending to the team so you can see behind the scenes process end-to-end.

The Vibe (and Why It Matters)

This season is all about “old French countryhouse meets vintage luxury.” Think velvet ribbons, aged wood, candlelight, and deep, rich tones—expensive and cozy all at once. It’s not just pretty décor; it’s the design language behind Palettes. We’re capturing both our wallpaper and our paper (yes, including our beloved sheets for packaging, liner accents, table runners and more), plus the founder-led warmth that makes our brand feel real and personal.

The Plan

Lock the Story & Logistics

• Nail the narrative: The throughline is “timeless, indulgent, inviting.” Each setup should whisper, I want that in my home.

• Confirm locations: Kitchen, dining room, bedroom, and fireplace scenes.

• Cast the crew: Photography, staging, and BTS storytelling locked (more on our dream team below).

• Wardrobe & props list: Cottagecore nightgown, crisp button-up, Polo Bear PJs, red mini cocktail dress, ribbons, greenery, baskets, candles, charcuterie board components.

• Shortlist collaborators & product cameos: Florals, baked goods, candles, cards, and dinnerware pairings.

Build Sets & Pre-Style

• Wallpaper installs & touch-ups: Feature walls and shelf/cupboard liners to anchor scenes.

• Tabletop rehearsals: Thanksgiving → Holiday dinner transitions using peel & stick wallpaper as a table runner(easy touch; zero stress).

• Pack the paper: Patterned sheets rolled and stacked in wicker baskets for easy access and styling variety.

Meet the Team

• Michelle — Stager Extraordinaire: The queen of elevated details. Tablescapes, shelving, and “how is this so effortless?” moments are her signature.

• Bailee — Photographer & Icon: Gorgeous, story-driven frames that feel editorial and warm.

• Dela — Hair, Legend, & BTS Videographer: Captures the in-between beats that make social sing—laughter, ribbons, paw-cameos, and the sparkle of set life.

What We’re Shooting (Highlights)

1) Autumn Coffee in the Kitchen

Cottagecore nightgown, ugg slippers, and soft light across wallpaper and framed prints. The “first cup” feeling that starts the story.

2) Cupboards & Shelves

Wallpaper-lined interiors + Le Creuset, fresh linen, cooling bakes. French country character in the small details.

3) Thanksgiving Tablescape

Peel & stick wallpaper as a table runner; pumpkins, candlesticks, and layered plates. This is our bridge scene into the holidays.

4) Christmas Morning in Bed

Polo Bear PJs, Pottery Barn duvet, patterned layers—cozy luxury with paper-wrapped parcels and a wooden coffee tray.

5) Decorating & Paper Moments

Countryhouse charm: fireplace glow, jeans + crisp button-up, hair bow, baskets brimming with patterned rolls and fresh greenery.

6) Christmas Tablescape

Old-money cozy: burgundy candles, thick satin ribbons, greenery, wallpaper-as-runner peeking through.

7) Cocktail Hour Hero

Red mini, bow tights (a wink to Palettes), kitten heel, coupe glass by the fire—this will headline our holiday pages.

8) Collaboration Close-Ups

• Florillia: Wrapped bouquets integrated into our decorating vignette

• Vanilla Sprinkle: Baked goods on tablescapes

• Wood & Heart: Candle textures against wallpaper

• Crystal Clark Art: Cards tucked into layered paper stacks

• Plate partner: Styled against a flat sheet for pattern-pairing inspo

9) Headshots & Marty Moments

We’re grabbing founder and team headshots (One of a Kind Show apps, we see you) and some family-feel frames with Marty—including last year’s fan-favorite: the “dog through paper” shot.

10) Branding Close-Ups

Gift tags, business cards, sheet details, mix-and-match stacks, napkin-ring tags—clean, tactile, and elevated. Sneak peek: the initial collection + five neutral tag designs with a classic stripe.

 

The Creative Brief I’m Sending to the Team

• Vision: Old French countryhouse x vintage luxury; indulgent yet inviting; founder-led warmth; products + personality.

• Goals: Capture wallpaper and paper across real, lived-in scenes; maximize each setup for multi-channel assets; keep the energy playful.

• Key Props/Wardrobe: Velvet ribbons, greenery, wicker baskets, tapered candles, linens; nightgown, button-up + denim, PJs, red mini.

• Shot List: Kitchen coffee; cupboards; autumn tablescape; bedroom Christmas morning; decorating & paper; holiday tablescape; cocktail hero; collaborator close-ups; headshots & Marty; branding macros.

• Deliverables: Website hero(s), product detail stills, editorial lifestyle sets, BTS verticals, headshots, and short-form video loops.

• Tone & Palette: Deep, rich hues; natural textures; candlelit warmth; polished-but-personal composition.

• Logistics: Start 10:00; staged by 9:00; scene order optimized for light and wardrobe changes.

Why This Works (Even on a Tight Timeline)

• One story, many assets: Every scene serves multiple channels (site hero, product detail, reels/TikTok, email banners, press kits).

• Set reuse, fresh styling: A single space—restyled—delivers Thanksgiving → Christmas with minimal turnaround.

• Texture = luxury: Wallpaper + paper + textile + flicker = instant depth on camera.

• Founder presence: Real humans, real home, real charm. That’s Palettes.

If you’re planning your own holiday shoot with a limited runway, start with a strong creative north star, pre-style your hero surfaces, and design your shot order around light, wardrobe, and energy. Then over-index on details—ribbons, greenery, edges, corners, hands at work. That’s where the magic sneaks in.

See you on set. ✨