Working with small businesses and other entrepreneurs has been a goal of mine for some time. I assist with photoshoots and the photographer at my full-time job, so I’ve seen how lifestyle brand shoots work.

Austin Down to Earth is a small business that designs jewelry in Austin, Tx. Created by Mary Werner, Austin Down to Earth provides gorgeous and simple jewelry for any woman from the everyday pieces to special moments. Mary and I consulted for a month leading up to her shoot date on location, models, how many pieces she wanted, the style of shooting, etc. We went over a lot of details, and even after shooting, I realized there were things we didn’t consider.

Hire a Hair and Makeup artist (or even solely Makeup artist)

Mary decided to not hire a makeup artist (or MUA) because she wanted to keep costs low. This was a wise decision, but in the future, I would highly encourage hiring a MUA or HMUA. A HMUA or MUA is able to create certain looks that others on the team wouldn’t be able to. You want a specific look for your models? That’s where the HMUA or MUA comes in! Even with doing touch-ups during the shoot is very helpful.

Have a shoot list

We knew which pieces to photograph, but we didn’t have a specific shoot list. Looking back, having a shoot list would have been amazing to determine which pieces would be ideal for the website, or for social, or just for product images. A shoot list would also have been a good reminder to mix up the type of photos I was taking and how I was framing the photos.

Shoot to your strengths

I’ve never shot in a studio or used studio lighting before. I told Mary this right off the bat, so we would have to use natural light. Instead of trying to cram new information and education into my head before a client session, I prefer to shoot to my strengths. I could have tried to learn the new information and practice, but that was still a risk especially with a client that is relying on my photography.

Find ideal models

I loved working with our models! Both Alejandra Palomo and Shelby Sawyer did a great job with modeling the jewelry and were great to work with! Both were found through the Austin Area Models and Photographers Facebook group. Looking through each of their website portfolios and Instagram (which most of the time is their portfolio rather than a website) was a task to make sure we got girls who would do a good job. I also made it a point to make sure we got models of varying race and ethnic backgrounds. That way, not every photo looks the same, and the photos can help build the brand to be more diverse.

Rent out an airbnb

I didn’t think of this at first, but Mary wanted to rent out an airbnb. I was looking through studio space to try and find a good place at a low cost. A lot of the studios were indoor only where you have to use flash photography, or they were far out of our price range. Mary had the idea of renting out an airbnb, and it was the best idea! We got to use the interior of the little house we rented as well as the yard to get some nice photos outside when the weather was a little better.

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Pro No. 1: Your neighborhood will look good.

Generally, an HOA establishes rules to ensure the neighborhood looks sharp, says Brad Pauly, owner and broker at Pauly Presley Realty in Austin, Texas. These include strict guidelines about keeping lawns manicured, restrictions on parking boats and other large vehicles on the street, and limitations on exterior paint colors.

“This type of oversight eliminates issues with one or two properties weighing down all property values due to an unpleasant exterior,” says John Lyons, a broker with Baird & Warner in Chicago.

Pro No. 2: You’ll enjoy access to amenities.

An HOA usually offers community amenities such as a pool, a fitness center, parks, children’s play areas and security gates, Pauly says.

Pro No. 3: Your maintenance costs will be shared.

HOA dues are earmarked for maintenance of shared spaces, according to Lyons. This includes community lawn care (but not for your own yard), community snow removal (but not for your own property) and upkeep of common areas like the pool or the fitness center.

Pro No. 4: You’ve got a built-in mediator.

Involved in a tiff with your neighbor over that big oak tree that’s losing limbs? You can settle some confrontations with your neighbors by taking your grievances to the HOA’s board or management company, Lyons says.

Pro No. 5: You can get to know your neighbors.

Gina Estrada, who lives in a gated HOA community in Clovis, Calif., says that if you’re elected to serve on the HOA board or are otherwise active in the association, you’ll become better acquainted with your neighbors. Heck, you might even make some new friends. “I believe we should know our surroundings, including the people in them,” Estrada says.

Con No. 1: You’ll fork over HOA dues.

When buying a home in a community with an HOA, you’ve got to add HOA dues to your budget. The dues vary, but typically run in the hundreds of dollars per month.

Con No. 2: Your hands will be (somewhat) tied.

If someone buys a home in an HOA community and wants to make changes to the property, such as the addition of an enclosed patio, it normally must be approved by the HOA’s board. “It’s possible that an HOA could prevent certain updates on a home,” Pauly says.

Con No. 3: You might be hampered by an HOA’s financial woes.

If an HOA is facing financial problems or is ensnared in a lawsuit, it could harm your ability to obtain a loan for a home and could hurt sale prices of homes in the community, Pauly says.

Con No. 4: You’ll lose some of your freedom.

When you live in a community governed by a HOA, you’ll have to follow its rules, even if you think they’re ridiculous, Lyons says.

“You do, however, have the option of petitioning the homeowners’ association to change any rule you don’t agree with. But if you lose, you will have to live with it,” Lyons says.

Con No. 5: You might be the victim of a “rogue” board member.

Estrada says her HOA elected a “rogue” homeowner to the board who decided to flout the rules and do whatever he wanted. For instance, Estrada says, the rogue board member thought the community needed speed bumps to slow down speeding drivers, so he had them installed. That move caused a neighborhood uproar. The process to take out the speed bumps and remove the rogue homeowner from the board cost several thousand dollars, including legal fees, she says.

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