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!
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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!
