What’s in My Styling Kit…
…and Why I’ll Always Work with a Stylist When I Can.
After more than a hundred wine shoots, I’ve learned that great imagery rarely happens in isolation. It takes a team of people who see beauty through different lenses.
Some of the most important collaborators on any set are the stylists. Whether food, prop, or set styling, their work brings a kind of invisible magic to every frame. They make scenes feel lived in, balanced, and believable and they are often one of the hardest working people on set.
I am not a stylist, and I don’t pretend to be one. But I have learned from some of the most talented stylists in the industry. Watching them work has changed the way I see composition, texture, and detail. They have taught me that good styling isn’t about adding things; it’s about creating harmony and story through restraint.
When the budget allows, I will always choose to have a stylist on set. The energy they bring, the textures they build, and the eye for nuance they bring to every moment elevate everything we create. The right stylist can turn a simple tabletop into a narrative, a bottle into a memory, a frame into a feeling.
But not every project has the budget for a full crew. When I’m working solo or thinking on my feet, I rely on the styling kit I’ve built through years of practice and many lessons learned from stylists who have become my friends and teachers.
The Folk Haus Styling Kit: My On-Set Essentials
The Folk Haus styling kit
I always tell my team that your kit is an extension of how you see. It’s part practicality, part instinct, and part backup plan. These are the tools I reach for on every shoot, the quiet heroes that keep the day flowing and the story consistent.
Over time, this collection has evolved from a few essentials into a carefully built toolkit shaped by lessons from the stylists I’ve worked with. Every item earns its place because it solves a problem or saves a shot.
Here’s what you’ll always find in my styling kit:
Paint brushes in different sizes for cleaning surfaces and brushing away crumbs.
Makeup brushes for propping delicate items, especially sandwiches or burgers.
Shims and spacers to level tables or props on uneven surfaces.
Vintage cutting boards and trays that add warmth and texture without stealing focus.
Dulling spray and glycerin spray to create matte finishes or condensation on bottles.
Zip ties because they somehow fix everything.
Tiny clips and clamps for wardrobe, linens, and small adjustments.
Windex and paper towels for removing back labels on wine or spirit bottles.
Sharp scissors and plant clippers for cutting florals, ribbon, or loose threads.
Squeeze bottles, silicone beakers, and funnels for precision pours and clean compositions.
Toothpicks and mounting putty for holding food stacks or objects in place.
Cooking tweezers for repositioning tiny details with control.
Fake ice and silicone ice cube trays (fake ice is made from clear epoxy — an inside secret recipe, that looks and acts just like real ice).
And the MVP of every shoot: Evian spray water. It brings produce back to life, revives herbs, and creates perfect water droplets on cold beverage bottles. The best part,
These tools might look simple, but they carry years of shared knowledge — tricks, shortcuts, and stories from countless sets. Each one has earned its spot because it helps me adapt, stay ready, and create with intention.
Lessons from the Stylists Who Taught Me
Over the years, I’ve picked up countless lessons from the stylists I’ve worked with. The best ones share a quiet confidence and a sense of calm that anchors the entire shoot.
They’ve taught me to let the crumbs fall naturally. To trust that imperfection often feels more honest.
Styling is a language of intuition and restraint. It’s the difference between something that looks arranged and something that feels lived in. When I am shooting without a stylist, those lessons guide every decision I make.
Why Styling Matters
Styling is often invisible to the viewer, but it’s what makes an image feel. It gives weight, rhythm, and humanity to a scene. It turns product photography into brand storytelling.
When I work with stylists, I’m reminded that creativity is always a shared effort. When I work without them, I’m reminded of how much I’ve learned from being surrounded by people who care about the smallest details. At the end of the day, stylists are one of my biggest inspirations on set and one of my closest collaborators.
Whether it’s a full team on set or a quiet solo session with a single bottle and board, the goal is the same: to make the story feel true. Styling is one of the quiet ways we get there.
