Marketing 101: Our First Styled Shoot—and the Pool Party That Changed Everything
Years ago, I was making my way into the social scene of the events industry and quickly began receiving invitation after invitation to wedding-themed styled shoots—like this stunning shoot at D'Vine Grace Vineyard.
In the early days, those content shoots were incredibly valuable for our social proof, as they gave our new, inexperienced company professional photos. Even more, I learned the value of styled shoots went beyond the photos and that wedding industry vendor relationships were actually the greatest asset produced from a shoot. But after five or six traditional wedding shoots, I started losing creative inspiration. The photography was beautiful—but everything also started feeling the same.
I wanted content that was edgy, colorful, fun, real, and maybe even a little sexy. So I partnered with two friends Abbie and Heather—owners of Got Your Bash and Heather Lane Events and got to work. In just a few weeks, we produced our first styled shoot: an outrageous bachelorette pool party called Girls Just Wanna Have Sun that remains iconic to this day.
A Dallas Coffee Cart Styled Shoot That Refused to Play It Safe
We built a pitch deck, inspo board, and got to work contacting hundreds of companies and influencers who were interested in the collaboration. Weeks later: 19 models, 26 sponsors including FUNBOY, two amazing photogaphers—Abbie Mae Photography and Laning Photography—and one unforgettable day.
Color and beauty would steal the show. Bright swimsuits. Heart-shaped sunglasses. Oversized pool floats. Iced lattes—and, of course, one Dallas-based coffee cart parked directly beside the pool.
Our goal was to show that a coffee cart can be a fantastic centerpiece to literally any event. While weddings and conferences take the cake, a coffee cart is equally delightful at a bachelorette party, baby shower, or 40th birthday. Was it crazy and impractical? Absolutely. Was it iconic? I’ll let the photos answer that.
The Miserably Hot Day That Built Real Relationships
What I remember most is how unbelievably hot it was. Plans changed. People sweated. We moved equipment, adjusted décor, solved problems, and struggled through the day together. And that was the best part.
Here's what i learned that day: Nothing builds relationships like sweating together. Friendships formed, business relationships developed, and everyone involved became permanently connected to the experience. We struggled together—and the result was a masterpiece.
That single creative project built stronger relationships than 20 networking events combined ever could.
Bold Marketing Creates Brand Exposure—and Community
The photos became valuable marketing assets, but the shared experience became even more important. This bold pool-party styled shoot taught us that unforgettable marketing and real relationships are built by creating something together.
Every vendor had a story to post, tag, and remember. That is experiential marketing at its best: people do not simply see your brand—they become part of it.
The lesson was simple: never surrender your creative spirit. Create the idea nobody has seen. Call talented friends. Make something loud, strange, beautiful, or unmistakably yours. Your marketing does not need to appeal to everyone—it needs to make the right people stop scrolling. It may not go perfectly. You may sweat through your clothes. Someone may question why there is an espresso machine beside a swimming pool. Do it anyway.
Keep the Creative Energy Going ☕️🔥
📸 Why We Create Our Own Coffee Cart Photoshoots
🖤 A Black & White Case Study for the Modern Event Planner
🌭 Wienerschnitzel Acquires Dallas Coffee Catering Juggernaut Nightowl Coffee
Ready to create a bold guest experience? Book Nightowl Coffee for your next event, activation, wedding, or styled shoot.
Photography by Laning Photography and Abbie Mae Photography.
