5 “Don’ts” For Beginner Stylists

Here are prop stylist Robin Zachary’s top tips for your first “assistant stylist” gigs:

• DON’T WASTE TIME. “Keep busy; don’t sit around idly or spend time checking your phone, and be sure to ask how you can help out throughout the day,” Zachary writes. You are there to learn, so be present and soak up everything you can.

• DON’T MISREPRESENT YOURSELF. It can be hard to get your first job as a stylist if you have no experience. But Zachary encourages people to market their other relevant skills. “Maybe you love to iron or you’re so incredibly organized and are good at painting backdrops. Mention that!” Zachary writes.

DON’T POST ABOUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. “Don’t post photos from the shoot to social media without asking permission, because the product may not have been released to the public yet,” Zachary writes. As a rule, it’s better to keep any photos to yourself unless you are specifically asked to post behind-thescenes photos.

• DON’T SOCIALIZE WITH CLIENTS. “Don’t socialize with clients on the set and give them your contact information,” Zachary says. Save networking for another time, and just focus on the shoot.

• DON’T WORK FOR FREE. You want to show a client that your skills are worth something, which will make them trust you more and expect higher-quality work. “A paid assistant can make anywhere from $200 to $300 and up per day,” Zachary says.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROBIN ZACHARY, HER NEW BOOK AND HER STYLING CLASSES, VISIT

THEPROPSTYLINGEXPERIENCE.COM AND

INSTAGRAM: @ROBINZACHARY.

[ABOVE, LEFT] “While this book is aimed toward those aspiring to be commercial prop stylists and content creators, working freelance for clients in all types of businesses, all creative types can benefit from the information here,” Robin writes. [ABOVE, RIGHT] Styling Beyond Instagram: Take Your Prop Styling Skills from the Square to the Street, by Robin Zachary, published by Schiffer Craft, July 2022; schifferbooks.com [RIGHT] For tabletop styling, the focus is on the dinnerware, but stylists might be asked to bring other props. “That might be flatware, linens, food props and flowers, or backdrops and surfaces,” Robin Zachary writes.

[RIGHT] Robin worked for 10 years as creative director for Bridal Guide Magazine before taking the risk of pursuing freelance work in prop styling. What Robin learned on the fashion shoots gave her a greater understanding of photo composition and the language of the industry.