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's included
this pre-built photo shoot includes 6 photos that encapsulate all the angles of your product and 1 360 spin video clip to show off the details. perfect for starting or building a gallery of all your ecomm imagery needs.
what is non-furniture assembly?
non-furniture assembly is the service we require when your non-furniture product ships in multiple pieces and needs to be put together to a complete stage so it's shoot ready.
who steams my items?
Our in-studio crew will steam and prepare your items for your shoot.
can I have the hair + makeup artist style on camera?
If you would like to have the hair + makeup artist style a person on camera - please email hey@soona.co. Our team will assist in your booking process and source an artist that is comfortable being on camera to perform the tasks.
Note: an additional full body model fee will be required on top of the hair + makeup fee.
when do you steam my items?
Our crew will ensure your items are steamed before your shoot begins. They will also continue to steam your items during the shoot as needed.
how do I know I need a stylist?
stylists are essential for shoots with complex shot lists and stylized inspiration images. the photographer focuses on capturing high-quality images. the stylist artfully sets up scenes and adjusts your product and props to achieve your vision.
soona requires styling for the following shoot types:
- 5+ items styled in a single shot
- swatches to highlight texture or color
- food or ingredients styled with your product
- pinned and adjusted clothing and accessories
- bedroom scenes + other decorated lifestyle setups
- to recreate the style of a shot you saw somewhere else
still not sure? email us at hey@soona.co with your vision or inspiration images and we’ll make a recommendation. after you book and we review your goals: we may require styling if we believe it’s essential to reaching your content goals.
can I use ghost mannequins for a video?
Ghost mannequins are a photo-based technique and are not available with our current video offering. However, we can stitch together several photos into a GIF or stop motion for a video-like effect.
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.
what are the mannequin measurements?
who shops for my groceries?
soona stylist shoppers will hand-select your items and drop them off at our studio before your shoot.
what's included?
stay seasonally relevant and make your socials pop with this sweet Valentine’s Day pack. it includes 3 photos. a GIF. a hand model. and festive props!
is styling included with furniture assembly?
an additional styling service is required to have your product styled in a lifestyle scene or with props during your shoot.
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 is furniture assembly?
furniture assembly is the service we require when your furniture product ships in multiple pieces and needs to be put together to a complete stage so it's shoot ready.
can press on nails get wet?
Press on manicures can withstand small amounts of water, oil, creams or other wet products before the adhesive starts to loosen. If your shoot will require the nails to have excessive exposure to water, creams, or oils, we recommend booking a custom manicure.
what is a soona stylist?
a soona stylist brings your vision to life by serving as an extra pair of skilled hands and creative eyes during your shoot. they efficiently execute your shot list as quickly as possible resulting in eye-grabbing imagery that truly allows your product to shine and meets your brand goals.
what items can you steam?
We can steam mid to large size wrinkle prone items. We commonly steam:
- Apparel
- Bed sheets
- Duvets
- Pillow cases
- Curtains
- Table cloths
- Fabric swatches
what if an item is out of stock or out of season?
When an item is not available, our stylist will text you to offer a substitution or skip the item. You must opt-in to texting to receive stylists’ texts. You can check item availability at major grocery stores we frequently shop at: Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, Natural Grocers, Kroger, Safeway, Trader Joes, Target Grocery, H-E-B.
is hair + makeup included with a full body model?
soona models arrive with natural hair + little to no makeup. All hair + makeup is done by the models at home before they arrive.
If you wish to have the model’s hair or makeup styled professionally - you must book the hair + makeup service in addition to the full body model.
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.
are there other pets besides cats and dogs available?
On occasion we have other pet types beyond cats and dogs available. The other pet types available can vary. We recommend using filters during model selection to find our “other” pet types.
are there plus size ghost mannequins available?
plus size mannequins are available at select studios. please send us a note at hey@soona.co for more info.
what non-furniture products do you assemble?
non-furniture products are smaller products that may require materials such as:
- tape
- glue
- scissors
- paint & brushes
- needles & thread
- staples
- push pins
- hooks
- wires
- command strips
- nails & hammer
- yarns & strings
- dyes & fabric coloring
non-furniture includes:
- hanging pieces & wall decor (picture frames + wall art)
- tech devices
- arts and crafts
- inflatable products (paddle boards)
- tents
- toys
what type of video performs best in ecommerce?
Our video menu is based on the top-performing videos on ecommerce platforms. Explore this page to determine what is best for your product and audience.
Check out our most popular video: the how-to demo. This video is perfect for your product listing and social channels! Another ecommerce favorite is our 360-spin video.
how can I book a stop motion video?
We have 1 stop motion pack that is available to book here. We have 3 other off menu custom stop motion options that you can view on our stop motion page.
Email us at hey@soona.co to let us know which one you'd like to book and we'll take care of the rest!
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!
