2025 Prop Styling Workshops Online via Zoom

Courses are designated as (F) for Fundamental or (N) for Niche Specific.

Are you looking for ways to up your styling game, create better images for Instagram or create a professional portfolio or website for your business?

If you have taken the intro class, STYLING BEYOND INSTAGRAM you’ll want to continue to experience the prop stylist life learning with Robin Zachary and like-minded creatives in an intimate salon style setting via Zoom from her NYC studio.

These workshops are perfect for aspiring stylists, photographers, foodies, interior designers, event planners, makers, bloggers, digital creators and creatives of all types looking to improve their styling skills. No professional photography experience is necessary. While we will cover working with light and staging your shoots, camera skills and photo editing will not be covered.

Topics will range from fundamentals of styling to niche styling areas like florals, food, interiors to vintage styling. We'll delve into composition and creative direction—choosing the perfect color palette, establishing themes, styles and narratives, sourcing and making backdrops and surfaces while we work together in our own spaces.

While you can jump in anytime, going through the whole series in order will enable you to build upon all the material in sequence. All classes include a presentation on one specialized styling topic with examples, live demonstration and Q&A. My goal is to help you explore your creativity and shorten the learning curve as you move towards your styling goals.

If you took some of these in the past but missed a couple, it’s a great chance to catch up!

add on a one-hour
private consultation
and/or A portfolio review to
any class
for an additional fee.

“Thank you for sparking my creativity! I loved hearing how you think about your photos, styling, backgrounds and lighting. Your examples helped me in training my eye in what makes a photo “good”. Thank you for sharing your expertise and gearing this class for vintage sellers.” —Lisa L, vintage shop owner, NC

“Robin is lots of fun and a fantastic teacher. Taking Robin’s classes during quarantine was a lifeline to creativity. I highly recommend you take her classes! “
—Amy Hilton, Florida

“I’ve taken 6 online prop styling classes with Robin. It is painful for me to look back at the images I took prior to the courses because I see a million ways they could be made better. The angle. The lighting. The framing. The composition. All of it. The fact that I’m already putting into practice what I’ve learned and feeling a difference in my images is testimony of the value of Robin’s classes. Her classes provide valuable insights about what you need to create and capture the most evocative moments.” —Melissa Parks, Vintage Dealer, Chicago

"As an artist and Etsy shop owner, I wanted to improve my skills in presenting my products in a way that told a story to engage on social media. By the end of the class, I created beautiful images to post on my site and across social platforms. I truly loved this class and would highly recommend it to all Etsy shop owners and entrepreneurs!" —Min, Mintybasil Design, NYC

class schedule:

styling beyond instagram - FREE class! (F)

WEDnesday, January 22nd
1 PM - 2 pm EST
Click below to sign up

A FREE intro workshop discussing the wonderful prop styling business and the joys of shopping for a living! This class is perfect for those interested in prop styling for food, home decor, tabletop, product, florals and is a great introduction to the rest of my classes. And you’ll get a look inside my book STYLING BEYOND INSTAGRAM that was inspired by this class. I will cover:

• The different career options under the vast umbrella of Prop Styling and why everyone needs to know how to style now.

• How does one become a stylist?

• How to assess the skills and talents you already have and apply them to styling

• The difference between what a Pro Stylist, a Content Creator and an Influencer need to know about styling

• What does a maker or vintage seller need to know about styling?

• A look inside my book!

• Note: If you are an educator or publish styling tips on social media, please contact me before registering.

STYLING FLOWERS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY
hosted by New York Botanical gardens (N)

saturday jan 25th
11 AM - 1 PM EST
ON ZOOM
Click below to register

This class has been beautifully hosted by The New York Botanical Gardens since 2020 to rave reviews. I’ll be sharing my techniques for styling Instagram-worthy photos of your floral creations. I’ll show you how to curate a variety of still life sets with backdrops and props and find the best spots in your home for shooting. This class is great for creating shots of your finished work for your portfolio, website and social media. Registration includes a materials list and a review sheet. Bring a snack or drink because class running time is 2 hours through lunch time. Note: This class focused on styling and photography and not a flower arranging class.

photo composition hacks for Stylists (F)

Saturday, february 8th OR
Friday, February 21st (choose 1 date)
11 AM - 1:30 PM EST
Click below to register

Learn the fundamentals of composition for arranging various photo styles—flatlays, vignettes and more. This is a hands-on class (virtually speaking) that will give you an opportunity to try techniques in real time at home during the class. You’ll learn:

• 12 or more ready-to-use strategies and tips for placement and arranging props on set.

• The basic rules of composition and why you should defy them.

• How to frame your shot for a specific usage. (social, website, print)

• How to get in the flow and allow the composition to “happen” more expressively and intuitively.

• Upon registration you’ll get a list of things to bring.

• Includes a composition cheat sheet PDF.

• NOTE: This class is from a styling perspective, therefore we will not be discussing camera settings.

Prop Styling for Vintage Sellers (N)

Wednesday, February 26th
12 Pm - 1:30 pm Est
Click below to register

Are you ready to level up your vintage product photography? Some simple changes to the styling of your wares will elevate the shopping experience and attract more customers. Whether you sell online or have a physical shop, this class will get you thinking about branding your online presence so you can differentiate yourself in the crowded vintage marketplace and charge more! This is a one and one half hour zoom class plus plenty of time to ask questions on your specific situation afterwards. We will cover:

• What does a vintage seller need to know about styling?

• Styling for your product pages vs. your Instagram account

• Choosing the ideal backdrops for your brand

• How to find and set up the ideal spot in your home for photography

• Some common mistakes made in shooting with your phone and tips for upgrading your photos right now.

• A “look inside” my book, STYLING BEYOND INSTAGRAM

• NOTE: This class is from a styling perspective, therefore we will not be discussing camera settings.

prop styling for food photography (N)

DATE TBD
11 am - 1:30 PM EST
sign up ON WAITING LIST BELOW

Prop Styling for food photography is the bulk of the work I do so it is really special to me. I stay up on styles both commercial and trendy by attending the markets and trade shows often. This class is for chefs, photographers, food stylists, bloggers and foodies of all types. We’ll go over pro techniques and look at lots of props and discuss “how does one choose what to use?” If you go crazy over dishes, serveware, glassware, kitchen tools & flatware, then this class is for you! I’ll cover:

• Why is prop styling sometimes a separate job?

• What are the roles of a prop stylist on a food shoot? And what can we learn from the pro prop stylists even if we are doing everything ourselves? (cooking, photography, and props)

• Choosing props by recipe, style, story, branding colors or season.

• Curating a collection of distinctive props.

• Light food styling and plating simple dishes.

• A teaser for the Linen Styling Primer.

Prop styling for interior DESIGNERS:
LEVEL UP YOUR photography W/ VIGNETTES (N)

date tbd
11 AM - 1 PM EST
sign up ON WAITING LIST BELOW

Learn techniques to style each room of the home with finishing touches that will make all the difference. Through simple-to-incorporate steps, I’ll reveal the keys to taking designed spaces to the next level for relatable, eye- catching photography whether for submitting to magazines, your design portfolio, or your content. I’ll cover:

• Room-by-room prop ideas

• Whether to rent or buy props

• Working with the photographer on getting close-up "moments" in addition to the wide angle room shots

• An overview of some basic prop styling techniques

• Should you hire a professional stylist or do it yourself?

• You’ll receive my room-by-room prop list PDF

setting up your home studio (F)

Date tbd
12 NOON - 1:30 PM EST
sign up ON WAITING LIST BELOW

Reimagine your space for creativity! Find your ideal shooting area in your home whether for food, product, vintage or home decor photography. Learn how to make the most of what you’ve got and get set up for shooting! In this overview class, I’ll cover:

• How to find and harness your best window light and position your set to use it throughout the day and year!

• How to set up for Flatlays vs. Vignettes

• Making a fake kitchen and bathroom counter

• Supplies you need to get started

• Backdrops & Surfaces: Resources for purchasing, what you can use that you might already have.

• Includes a supply list PDF with my favorite resources.

CREATIVE DIRECTION- Part 1
THEMES, STYLES & NARRATIVES

date tbd
11 noon - 1:00 PM EST
sign up ON WAITING LIST BELOW

Creative Direction sets the language for communication between a photograph and its viewers. We will start by observing and dissecting the creative direction in photos and discussing the benefits of establishing an identifiable theme. You’ll learn the steps for unlocking ideas for props, backdrops and the overall setting. This class is great for product, food, vintage and home decor photography. I’ll cover:

• Storytelling through styling.

• My brainstorming process for letting your imagination run wild.

• Tons of ideas for themes and combining with narratives.

• You’ll receive a review booklet after the class.

• An optional assignment will be given which will be critiqued at Creative Direction part 2.

future CLASSES

TABLETOP STYLING basics

DATE TBD
12 NOON - 2:00 PM EST

For foodies and tableware lovers alike and essential for those interested in editorial and product photography, even weddings too!

• Learn the fundamentals of creating an inspired table setting for photography rather than home entertaining. It’s very different!

• Learn to mix and match different styles of dishes, glassware, flatware and linens.

• Building a place setting from the ground up.

• Basic napkin wrangling and working with all kinds of fabrics

• Accessorizing with organic matter and other surprises!

creative direction Part 2
More THEMES & Moodboards

Date TBD
12 NOON - 2:00 PM EST

As a follow up to part 1 we’ll continue on with more expanded, stylized themes and a special presentation of mixed media moodboards and how they can stimulate original ideas for a styling project for product, food, vintage and home decor. Also we will learn how to engage the senses to enhance the viewer experience and bring your shots to the next level. In this class I’ll cover:

• Step-by-Step how I create mixed media moodboards and how to use them in a styling project.

• Tons more expanded themes, establishing time and place.

• You’ll receive a Review Booklet after the class