What We’ve Been Up To: Content Collective June Newsletter
Hey everyone! June is officially in the books and I have to say, this might be one of my all-time favorite months yet. It genuinely feels like everyone is stepping into their own, finding creative ways to showcase their work and products in ways that feel so them. I love it so much.
I’ve also been thinking a lot about what summer light does for content. Everything just feels warmer and brighter right now, and it’s showing up in everyone’s images in the best way.
It feels a little crazy that we only have a couple of months left in this initial group, but I am so excited for what’s ahead. This newsletter is actually the first of what I hope becomes a monthly thing! And for those of you thinking about re-upping after the 6 months, I’m already dreaming up a big group get-together for all the amazing women in this community. More on that soon.
Okay, let’s get into it!
What everyone’s been up to 📸
Stephanie with Winnie & Ruth used AI to help build out her shot list this month. Such a smart move for diversifying the shots she’s getting and making sure the order of product use actually made sense. Work smarter, not harder!
Vanessa from Saige & Twine created two stunning floral purses specifically marketed toward brides looking for something nontraditional, and she even sourced her own model for the shoot. So good.
Get ready, ladies! Katie from LB Skin & Wellness is a brand new day spa right here in Reno, and we’re working through headshots for her whole team. So fun to be part of building something from the ground up!
Nikki from Astro & Sol came in with fresh creative energy this month, using florals and her own tattooed hands as the perfect backdrop to showcase her jewelry. Those rings? Chef’s kiss. Love when a client leans into what makes them unique to let the product shine.
Mariah from Holy Grail Nails came back for a headshot refresh and brought a whole new vibe with her – bubblegum, sunglasses, nail swatches scattered on the floor… this is exactly the kind of personality forward content that makes people want to follow you. Her clients are going to love it!
From the studio 💬
Everyone is really finding their rhythm, figuring out what we can realistically fit into a session, what works for your brand, and how to make the most of your time. Love seeing it come together.
A few things I’ve been hearing: having a little buffer between sessions would be really helpful for the occasional run-over, so once schedules reset after the 6 month mark, we’ll be building that in.
I’ve also been feeling the “what do I even shoot?” energy from some of you, and honestly, welcome to marketing. It’s a real thing! My go-to tip: stop trying to reinvent the wheel and look back at what’s already working. Instagram lets you filter your content by reach, engagement, likes, and more. Find what’s performing in the area you want to grow – maybe that’s engagement, maybe it’s reach – and then ask yourself: what was that post actually about? Can you recreate or riff on it? Nine times out of ten, the answer is yes.
And speaking of showing up on social, a general rule of thumb you’ll hear a lot is to aim for featuring yourself 1-3 times a week on your feed or stories. People buy from people, and your audience wants to see the human behind the brand.
Exciting studio news: Starting in July, the brown wall is going to start rotating colors each month! I’ll be reaching out to ask what color you’d like to use so we can best prep for your sessions. First up we’ll have BLACK and BABY PINK available and I cannot wait!
Also a reminder: you can always bring props into the studio! My personal take is that the quality of a thoughtfully curated prop setup almost always outweighs fitting in extra shots with less intention behind them. If it takes a few minutes to set up, it’s worth it.
Social tidbit ⚽
If you haven’t been paying attention to trending sounds and topics lately, the FIFA World Cup is happening right now and it is everywhere on social media this summer. The 2026 tournament is actually being hosted in the US (along with Canada and Mexico), so the energy around it is huge.
You don’t have to be a soccer brand to tap into a trend. It’s about riding the cultural moment. If I were planning around this one, I’d think about something like styling a model in soccer gear to show off a teeth whitening pen, or designing a bouquet arranged around a soccer ball for a fun bridal twist. It just has to feel like you with a playful nod to what everyone’s already talking about.
What part of summer do you want to build a shoot around? That might be a fun one to think about for next month🌞
If you’re not part of Content Collective yet but you’ve been watching from the sidelines – this is your sign. Monthly studio sessions, a community of women building their brands, and the kind of accountability that actually moves the needle. Jump on the waitlist here!
And if you’re looking for something more in-depth, a full brand photography experience might be exactly what you need. See what that looks like here.
