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
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!
what’s included?
inside this pack you’ll receive 8 photos that will be delivered as 5 infographics according to Amazon A+ Content best practices. This includes 2 images of your product on a pure white background and 6 photos in lifestyle OR color backdrop. choose your own journey with your colored backdrops and an included hand model to bring your product to life. the best part? With the variety of the Amazon A+ Content Basic Pack you can take advantage of the A/B testing features available on the Amazon platform.
need more? check out our Amazon A+ Content Premium pack which includes video and a full body model.
what if I want the models to wear something other than the standard wardrobe?
Model standard wardrobe consists of a casual options (white t-shirt and jeans) and an athletic option (black athletic wear). Models will bring both wardrobes to each shoot. Click the link above to read more details and see visual examples.
If you want the models to wear something different, please send us those clothing items. soona will provide your selected model's sizing and measurement information after model selection. We will start scheduling and coordinating your shoot after all wardrobe pieces arrive in studio.
Hot tip: we recommend sending a few different sizes over to ensure we have a good fit on hand.
can a stylist source special props or groceries for my shoot?
soona offers FREE props in-studio for your shoots that you can view here. Not seeing the props you want? Ship us your own!
If you're looking for fresh food, beverages or ingredients for your shoot, our stylists can source the items at local stores with our grocery shopping service for $149 + cost of goods.
what's the process of booking and scheduling a model?
1. create a booking on book.soona.co
2. select the number of images you are looking to purchase
3. select your models and any upgrades
4. pay the model booking fee and book your shoot
5. select your top model preferences + model details in your created booking's pro services tab
6. sit back and relax as we book your most preferred available model
7. join your shoot + watch the magic happen!
what do I need to do after I book?
After you complete your booking, complete the action items listed on the details tab of your booking. Once all of your action items are complete and we have your product in studio, we will get you on the schedule for our first available date and time.
how do I share assembly instructions?
Please share your product assembly instructions via email to hey@soona.co or ship them with your product and include an estimated amount of time to assemble AND disassemble in your email or instructions.
does steaming include styling of the items?
Steaming includes prep time to ensure your items are wrinkle free before your shoot begins, it does not include a stylist on set to style your steamed items. Styling will be required if you’d like your items styled on your shoot.
what apparel products work with ghost mannequins?
Tops:
- shirts, blouses, sweaters, jackets, coats
Bottoms:
- jeans, trousers, shorts, skirts
Other:
- dresses, underwear, socks, swimwear, hats
is styling included with assembly?
An additional styling service is required to have your product styled in a lifestyle scene or with props during your shoot.
what stores do you shop at?
We shop at grocery stores local to our studio such as: Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, Natural Grocers, Kroger, Safeway, Trader Joes, Target Grocery, H-E-B.
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.
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 or two of your product - one for photographing and another for our models to take to the nail salon.
what if I need a specific breed or size pet?
Log in to browse and book directly with pet models in any city from book.soona.co/directory. Filter by pet type, weight, and other measurements in order to find the perfect pet for your brand. Or, after your booking is made, you'll go through model selection which will surface the active pet models in the city your booking is assigned to.
If you’re not seeing a pet type you are looking for, email hey@soona.co with your preferred pet details and we will let you know our options.
what furniture products do you assemble?
furniture products are larger products usually found in a house. office. or business space. furniture products may require power tools to assemble.
furniture includes:
- stools
- chairs
- sofas
- tables & desks
- dressers
- shelves
- beds
what's included?
this pre-built photo shoot includes our most robust offering for a fashion brand. this pack includes 8 photos with a mix of model poses and mannequin styling to give customers a full view of how the clothes will look and fit.
can a stylist swatch my product?
yes! stylists can create texture swatches of your beauty or art products on acrylic surfaces or models (requires a model pro service).
do you shop at restaurants?
No, we currently restrict shopping to grocery stores local to our studio. Please use a food delivery service to deliver food from restaurants to our studio.
how many hair + makeup artists should I book if I need styling for multiple people?
General rule of thumb - 2 people can be styled by 1 hair and makeup artist within a one hour time period.
If you need 4 models styled within one hour - 2 hair and makeup artists will be required.
If you need 4 models styled within two or more hours - only 1 hair and makeup artist is needed.If you have questions about your specific shoot needs - please email hey@soona.co for booking suggestions.
is there a maximum amount of time you spend assembling + disassembling?
There is no maximum hours for this service. Since we charge per hour, we can accommodate any amount of assembly needs for your shoot.
can I use a model instead of a mannequin?
For the “floating” ghost mannequin effect we recommend using one of our ghost mannequins with removable pieces that allow us to photograph your product consistently and efficiently. If you’d like a model showcased in the photo - we recommend booking a full body model.
what training do pet models have?
All soona pet models undergo a test shoot to ensure quality photos and direction can be taken. Dog models have basic obedience training (sit, stay, lay down) and cats have the proper temperaments to make a shoot successful.
If your goals require tricks or special commands, provide detailed descriptions about what actions the pet model must be able to perform. Our crew + pet model owners will review and assess this information accordingly before agreeing to work on the shoot.
what is grocery shopping?
Grocery shopping is the service that allows you to select 20 items found at grocery stores that our stylists hand select before your shoot.
what is ghost mannequin styling?
Ghost mannequin refers to the post-production technique that removes a mannequin from a photo to achieve a seamless “floating” effect with your product. The final result showcases your products’ tailored shape and fit.
can I talk to my stylist before a shoot?
you can communicate live with stylists during the shoot on the kickoff call and live chat. please provide clear shot lists and shoot goals before your shoot so your stylist can review and execute your expectations.
if you'd like to discuss your goals and have support building your shot list: add the producer pro service.
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!
