Meredith Events Volume I | Page 22

Can you describe your process and a little about what a Wardrobe and Prop Stylist does?

Let me give the process of what happens behind the scenes of a Wardrobe Prop Stylist:

A client - which may be a production company, photographer or a magazine - comes up with a concept, a story, or product to be sold. Along with story boards, drawings, and color schemes, there may also be fabrics or demographics of whom they are targeting…usually all of the above.

Then in turn, I go out with my team to several wardrobe houses, prop houses, different designers, and PR firms. I gather all they would want to see in their ad campaign and story. Then once that is all gathered, I put my own presentation together, so they have many, many choices to see how they want it all to unfold before we start the final shooting.

How do you gain and maintain your clientele?

To maintain and gain clients is always an ongoing project and you can never be lax in this area. Once you are established, you do get projects through word of mouth or, if you have a representative as I do, they get a call and send your work out to see if that is what clients are looking for. The same results are possible by networking in your field and introducing yourself to people who may need your services.

Once you work with some people a few

times and all goes well and they like your ideas, you usually become their "regular,"and they call you for upcoming projects.

But with our business you always have to stay fresh and up-to-date and never, ever get too sure of yourself. The oldest saying in our business is, “You are as good as your last job!” So on every job you must go overboard on what your client wants and think outside of the box to give them more than what they ask for.

What advice do you have for aspiring Wardrobe and Prop Stylists?

My best advice for an aspiring Wardrobe and Prop Stylist is to be eager, never be shy, and - if someone you call or email says no or is nasty - keep trying.

Be organized. If you do not know about resources, try and get to know some. Always ask questions and be polite but driven. Never say, "No!"

Stacey Anne: Zenobia Agency

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