how does soona work?
Plan a shoot in minutes - not days
Share your goals & plan your shoot in just a few steps. Select & pay for models & upgrades at this time.
Join your shoot & approve selects in real-time
Attend the live shoot from the platform. Collaborate with your photographer & give approvals in real time.
Order assets & get edits in 24 hours
Purchase what you love for $39 per photo + editing and $93 per video clip. Get free editing & assets in 24 hours with the Standard plan.
Optimize & improve performance
Measure listing performance over time, get actionable recommendations & instantly generate brand-ready imagery using AI.
frequently asked questions about soona
do I need to join my virtual shoot with a hand model?
Yes! We highly encourage attendance for all soona shoots, but especially encourage attendance for shoots with models or other pro-services. This is to ensure you can give live feedback to the model(s) and we can capture your content just the way you need it. We will continue shooting if you are not in attendance!
do hand models arrive with manicures?
The hand model service includes clean and unpolished nails that are cared for by the model themselves at home. Your model's hands will be moisturized and cuticles trimmed. Nails will be free of dirt and no longer than 1 cm in length above the fingertip.
If you want a custom polished look - use our custom manicure service for $99 per model.
what kind of models are available?
Our models are every day people local to our studios and our directory is constantly changing. Log into your soona account to browse our directory at book.soona.co/directory to see what kinds of people we may have available for your shoot.
You can book directly with any model in any city straight from the directory. After booking, you'll be able to filter and select your top preferred models from your booking's assigned city.
If you can't find a model that matches your vision, email us at hey@soona.co with the description of your preferences and we'll let you know what options are available.
how do soona prices compare to a modeling agency?
prices at modeling agencies can be variable and booking fees can differ from model to model. there are also usage + renewal fees to use the content after the shoot and there may be extra fees added due to contract negotiations.
at soona you pay a one-time fee that is the same for every soona model. and that’s it! there are no usage or renewal fees - so you never have to worry about where or when you can use your content!
do I need to join my shoot if I book a model?
Yes! We highly encourage attendance for all soona shoots, but especially encourage attendance for shoots with models or other pro-services. This is to ensure you can give live feedback to the model(s) and we can capture your content just the way you need it. We will continue shooting if you are not in attendance!
how much experience do your models have?
We pride ourselves on bringing everyday people local to our studios into our model directory. This allows us to celebrate diversity, accessibility and inclusivity. We offer a wide range of relatable models who have different levels of experience in production. All soona models undergo a test shoot and all operate under the same soona standards and expectations.
can I talk with my stylist before a shoot?
You can communicate live with stylists during shoot kick-off calls at the start of a shoot and using the chat feature during the shoot. Please provide clear shot lists and shoot goals before your shoot so our stylists can review and execute on your expectations.
If you're looking to talk to a soona team member before a shoot for production and shot list support you can use our producer service starting at $999.
are stylists creative directors?
Stylists help elevate and evolve an existing brand and shoot concept - they will efficiently recreate the shot list and shoot goals you provide. Our stylists follow your creative direction to setup scenes and capture your vision. Stylists do not define your brand's creative vision or manage your creative project. You must provide a shot list and shoot goals before your shoot for our stylists to review and follow.
For further assistance building a shot list and help with creative direction, you can use our Producer pro-service. Read more here.
what's the price of a stylist?
A stylist is $149 per hour.
Hot tip! To get 10% off all pro-services, sign up for our Standard membership.
what’s included?
inside our Etsy starter pack you’ll receive 5 photos and 1 hand model. what we recommend: utilize our white and colored backgrounds to capture multiple angles. insert your brand elements. bring your product to life with your included hand model in two lifestyle settings to really give your customers a feel for what your products might look and feel like in their hands.
what does fashion styling include?
Our fashion stylists can:
- Steam your items*
- Pin + fit apparel on models
- Create garment + accessory flatlays
If you're looking to include a mannequin in your shoot you can book our ghost mannequin service starting at $249 for seamless floating shots of your apparel.
There may be additional costs incurred if your product or shoot requires significant additional prepwork
how many items can you steam during my shoot?
We can steam up to 20 items. More than 20 items will require multiple steaming upgrades.
how was soona started?
soona was founded by Liz Giorgi and Hayley Anderson after realizing how hard and expensive it is to create professional photo & video. Liz and Hayley are a dynamic founding creative team with a shared vision of using tech to enhance the work of creatives and improve access to high-quality custom content.
what if I don't need a model for the entire shoot?
we suggest you make a booking dedicated to just model shots. this may mean you create two bookings - one for model photos and another for non-model photos.
for example: if you need 16 photos with no model and 12 photos with a hand model we suggest you book one hand model shoot in the 10-15 photo range. and book another shoot without a model in the 16-25 photo range.
if you have special shoot needs or need help with booking reach out to hey@soona.co for suggestions!
do I need to join my shoot if I book a model?
Yes! We highly encourage attendance for all soona shoots, but especially encourage attendance for shoots with models or other pro-services. This is to ensure you can give live feedback to the model(s) and we can capture your content just the way you need it. We will continue shooting if you are not in attendance!
how much experience do your models have?
We pride ourselves on bringing everyday people local to our studios into our model directory. This allows us to celebrate diversity, accessibility and inclusivity. We offer a wide range of relatable models who have different levels of experience in production. All soona models undergo a test shoot and all operate under the same soona standards and expectations.
what’s included?
our fashion starter pack includes 9 photos + a ghost mannequin and our professional fashion stylists to perfectly convey the details and dynamism of your clothing. these assets are perfect for any application. ecommerce shop. social channels. print. catalogs. and more!
is product assembly included in styling?
soona crew will assemble items that take one hour to assemble. There may be additional costs incurred if your product or shoot requires significant additional prep work
what if I need shots above the elbow? or want to feature other body parts?
For content that features anything more than hands (face, upper arms, torso, legs, feet), book a full body model!
Hand only shots can also be achieved with a full body model.
how many looks can the hair + makeup artist style during the shoot?
soona hair and makeup artists can accomplish up to two natural hair + makeup looks within one hour. We can style and photograph one look about every 30 minutes.
If your shoot goals require changing hair or makeup styles during the session be prepared to account for the extra styling time the artist needs to change the look.
If you have questions about your specific shoot needs and need duration suggestions email hey@soona.co.
what is A+ content?
any brand registered in the Amazon Brand Registry can now upgrade its product details page to include A+ content - formerly known as Enhanced Brand Content. this rich set of tools can improve sales by 5.6% as it allows you to supercharge your appearance in Amazon search and improve the overall conversion rate of each product details page on Amazon.
learn more on Amazon.com
do I need to join my shoot if I book a model?
Yes! We highly encourage attendance for all soona shoots, but especially encourage attendance for shoots with models or other pro-services. This is to ensure you can give live feedback to the model(s) and we can capture your content just the way you need it. We will continue shooting if you are not in attendance!
I’m a nail product brand. how can I showcase my product on models?
to get your nail brand or product looking its best on a model - book with our custom manicure service. the model(s) will take your product to a local salon and have a professional nail tech apply your product before the shoot.
please prepare to send an extra set or two of your product. one for photographing. and another for our models to take to the nail salon.
where can I browse the models that soona offers?
Log into your soona account to preview our Model Directory at book.soona.co/directory. You can book directly with a model in any city straight from the directory. Or after booking, browse available models in the city you're assigned during Model Selection.
what does fresh ingredient styling include?
Our fresh ingredient stylists can cut and assemble fresh or pre-cooked food + ingredients that you ship to our studio or are purchased through our grocery shopping service. Our kitchens are prop kitchens - therefore stylists are unable to cook or bake in-studio. If you want cooked or baked meals please use a food delivery service to deliver the meals to our studio the day of your shoot.
How do I know your photographers, models and stylists are the best of the best?
Our crew is made up of proven professionals with collective experience across thousands of brands and dozens of industries. We know our stuff when it comes to ecommerce channels and what sells where, and that expertise is baked into all our training, outputs, and tech.
We only hire photographers from the top 1.5% of all applicants and have built up a team of specialized stylists in apparel, pet, food, hair, makeup, set design, and more to serve a wide range of brands and production needs.
How long does it usually take to get up and running with soona?
Most of our customers book their first shoot within 4 weeks of their first call. Most shoots are scheduled within 3 to 5 business days of your products arriving in our facilities.
How does soona integrate with our internal teams and processes?
Not only does soona integrate with Shopify, Amazon, and Canva right out of the box to connect with your ecommerce content workflows, enterprise customers get dedicated account management to assist you at every step from your 1st shoot to your 400th and beyond.
Are virtual productions even good? I like being on set.
You always have the option to attend in person on the day of your shoot or join remotely from inside the platform via our revolutionary virtual photoshoot. Either way, soona shoots are interactive, collaborative experiences where you'll be able to chat with the crew and give real-time feedback during the shoot. Just one of many reasons enterprise brands love our virtual shoots? They can keep their shoot going in the background and invite as many people as they want, without increasing their costs. So invite your agency partners. Your retail team. Your intern too. There is no limit to the number of seats who can attend a soona virtual shoot
How do I know soona will “get” our brand?
Enterprise customers get dedicated account management that includes creative onboarding, customized platform setup, and pre-production with our crew to help us learn your brand and your needs. We make your brand standards visible and easy to share across your soona account and content, so they’re not just stuck in a slide deck or, worse, in someone’s head.
Once you integrate your Shopify and Amazon stores, your soona account will also feed in your product listings for a visual mood board of all your approved brand imagery. This serves as an essential onboarding resource, and helps us get more familiar with your brand as you develop more content in soona.
Fast, cost-effective, and on-brand? What’s the catch?
soona works thanks to a combination of logistics wizardry and purpose-built technology led by award-winning creatives and ecommerce industry veterans. Our unique approach puts economies of scale to work to create savings at higher outputs where the traditional agency model would struggle to keep up.
Put simply, we’ve used software to replace the tasks that used to take dozens of emails, spreadsheets and phone calls to sort out. That helps us get to set faster and deliver more content to you in less time—all while building meaningful career progression for the top 1.5% of creatives in our markets.
What does free premium photo & video editing include?
For our standard membership & enterprise packages: free premium photo editing & video add-ons are included! You may select each premium add-on on your photos or videos during checkout. Any additional variants or revisions after your initial order are $9+ each.
With the studio pass & basic membership: each $39 photo includes one complimentary touch-up after purchase. If your photos or videos need more custom editing: premium add-ons are $9+ each.
What’s the minimum commitment for a membership?
You can proceed with monthly membership or pay annually to unlock savings with payment upfront. We have found the creative platform adds the most value to our clients on an ongoing basis. We offer flexible monthly payments within our enterprise plans.
What is included in the $149 studio fee?
The $149 studio fee unlocks access to the virtual shoot platform, network of studios, props, backdrops & lifestyle sets. This fee is paid at the downpayment of each booking created.
For $7 more, the Basic plan includes free studio fees for a year and use of the AI Studio tool. This is our recommendation to get the most value out of soona!
FAQs
you've got questions.
we've got the answers.
not seeing your question above? please email us at hey@soona.co and we will respond within 24 hours!
