Skyyrose Social Brand Photography Brief

---
name: skyyrose-social-brand-photography-brief
description: "Produces a photographer-ready brand shoot brief for SkyyRose — shot list, per-collection creative direction, mood board language, and deliverable specs — for lifestyle, founder, and campaign sessions that feed the Elite Studio imagery pipeline."
allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Glob
---

# SkyyRose Social — Brand Photography Brief

## When to Use This Skill

- Planning a lifestyle or brand shoot for any SkyyRose collection (Black Rose, Love Hurts, Signature, Kids Capsule)
- Briefing an external photographer or creative team on SkyyRose's visual identity
- Preparing a shot list for a founder session with Corey Foster
- Building mood board language without design software
- Defining visual direction before a campaign or collection launch shoot
- Generating shoot assets that will flow into `skyyrose/elite_studio` for the imagery pipeline

**DO NOT** use this for product-only e-commerce shots (white background, angles, detail macros) — use `skyyrose-social-product-photography-brief` for those. This skill covers brand storytelling sessions: lifestyle, editorial, founder, campaign, behind-the-scenes.

---

## Brand Canon (non-negotiable)

- **The Five visual references — pull from these exclusively:** Kith (editorial product storytelling, elevated polish), Oaklandish (Oakland pride, community rootedness), Culture Kings (hype energy, bold streetwear merchandising), Fear of God (quiet luxury silhouette, tonal restraint), Palm Angels (street-luxe graphic confidence). Never Bottega Veneta, Hedi Slimane, Rick Owens, 032c, Acne, or any European luxury-house lineage — wrong brand DNA.
- **Lockup images, never live type:** Collection names in any hero or title frame come from the lockup asset — `assets/images/hero-overlays/` for Black Rose, Love Hurts, and Signature; `assets/images/logos/` for Kids Capsule. Fonts (Archivo, Hanken Grotesk, Anton, Cinzel) apply only to body copy, captions, and slide subtext — never to the collection name itself.
- **Per-collection visual register (never cross-attribute):** Black Rose = gothic luxury, twilight, defiant elegance, silver accents (#C0C0C0). Love Hurts = street passion, crimson heat, raw romance (#DC143C). Signature = West Coast luxury, golden hour, elevated worldwide respect (#D4AF37). Kids Capsule = little royalty, playful-premium, rose gold warmth (#B76E79).
- **Global tokens:** Rose Gold `#B76E79` (brand accent), Dark `#0A0A0A` (background), Silver `#C0C0C0`, Crimson `#DC143C`, Gold `#D4AF37`.
- **Tagline (verbatim, only):** `Luxury Grows from Concrete.` — period included. Never paraphrase.
- **No urgency manipulation, no cross-sell, no European luxury mood.** The garment is the protagonist. One piece, one story per frame.
- Full canon: `../skyyrose-content-engine/brand-guardrails.md`

---

## Phase 1: Brief Intake

Gather the following before producing anything. If the user has already provided these, skip to Phase 2.

| Input | Question | Notes |
|-------|----------|-------|
| Collection | Which collection(s)? | Black Rose / Love Hurts / Signature / Kids Capsule — sets visual register |
| Products | Which specific products will be featured? | Reference by NAME (e.g. "Black Rose Crewneck"), not SKU |
| Shot purpose | What is this session for? | Campaign launch, evergreen lifestyle, founder story, behind-the-scenes, lookbook |
| Platforms | Where will photos land? | IG Feed (4:5 1080x1350), Pinterest (1000x1500), website hero, email header |
| Talent | Founder (Corey), model, or no talent? | Affects shot categories and wardrobe direction |
| Location | Oakland/Bay Area anchored, studio, or other? | Oakland-first preferred |
| Timeline | Shoot date and delivery deadline | Affects shot count recommendation |

**GATE:** Do not proceed to Phase 2 without knowing the collection and shot purpose.

---

## Phase 2: Creative Direction

Define the visual identity for this specific session. Tailor every element to the collection's register.

### Per-Collection Visual Direction

**Black Rose**
- Aesthetic: Gothic luxury. Twilight, shadow architecture, defiant elegance. Armor framing — "you already stood up," "concrete answering back."
- Palette: Dark `#0A0A0A` dominant, Silver `#C0C0C0` accent details, deep charcoal and slate.
- Lighting: Low-key dramatic. Single key from above or side casting strong shadow. Negative space used as weight.
- Backgrounds: Concrete walls, industrial iron, wet asphalt, rusted metal gates, foggy Oakland waterfront.
- Wardrobe / styling: Matte fabrics, silver hardware, minimal layering. Nothing soft or pastel.
- References: Fear of God's tonal restraint + Palm Angels's street-luxe graphic confidence + Oakland's post-industrial grit.
- Avoid: Warm tones, golden light, florals, European fashion-week staging.

**Love Hurts**
- Aesthetic: Street passion, raw romance, crimson heat. The bloodline that raised me.
- Palette: Crimson `#DC143C` hits against dark grounds. Deep reds and near-blacks.
- Lighting: High-contrast. Dramatic shadows and crimson color gels acceptable. Sunset or dusk for outdoor.
- Backgrounds: Red-brick alley walls, cracked sidewalk, chain-link, neon-lit corridors.
- Wardrobe / styling: Bold silhouettes, red-toned accessories. Tension in the frame — not romance-novel soft.
- References: Culture Kings hype energy + Oaklandish authenticity + Palm Angels street-luxe.
- Avoid: Pink-and-red Valentine's clichés, soft-focus romance, European editorial detachment.

**Signature**
- Aesthetic: West Coast luxury, elevated, worldwide respect. Stay golden.
- Palette: Gold `#D4AF37` in light and accessories, warm neutrals, cream, amber.
- Lighting: Golden hour, warm late-afternoon sun, California outdoor. Natural light preferred.
- Backgrounds: Sunlit Oakland streets, stadium steps, rooftop with Bay Bridge behind, eucalyptus groves.
- Wardrobe / styling: Layered premium basics, gold jewelry, clean sneakers. Corey in his element.
- References: Kith's editorial polish + Oaklandish community rootedness + Fear of God quiet luxury.
- Avoid: Beach/surf lifestyle, tech-bro minimalism, European neutral palette.

**Kids Capsule**
- Aesthetic: Little royalty. Heritage passed down, playful-premium. Not childish — aspirational and warm.
- Palette: Rose Gold `#B76E79` dominant, soft cream, warm white.
- Lighting: Bright, even, natural. Morning light or overcast outdoor — no drama.
- Backgrounds: Neighborhood park, Oakland mural walls, clean studio with warm backdrops.
- Wardrobe / styling: Kids in full looks. Parents (Corey when relevant) in matching or complementary Signature pieces.
- References: Oaklandish community warmth + Kith editorial storytelling at kid-scale + Culture Kings energy.
- Avoid: Overly cute/saccharine styling, stock-photo "happy family" setups.

---

## Phase 3: Shot List

Build the shot list using the categories below. Recommended total per half-day session: 15–22 shots. Full-day: 25–35 shots. Flag to user if the list exceeds 30 — recommend splitting sessions.

For each shot, specify: **Description · Framing · Mood/Energy · Platform destination**

### Hero Shots (3–5 shots)
Primary images for campaign landing, homepage, social feed anchors. Must be lockup-ready — collection name is a placed asset, never type-rendered in frame.

| # | Description | Framing | Mood | Platform |
|---|-------------|---------|------|----------|
| H1 | Full look, model stationary against primary location backdrop | Wide, centered, ample negative space above for lockup overlay | [Collection register — see above] | IG Feed 4:5 / Website hero |
| H2 | Three-quarter turn, light catching garment construction | Medium, rule of thirds | Confident, unhurried | IG Feed 4:5 |
| H3 | Product hero: garment laid flat or draped on textured surface without model | Overhead or 45-degree angle | Editorial, clean | Pinterest 2:3 |

### Lifestyle Shots (5–8 shots)
Product in real SkyyRose world — Oakland streets, community settings, authentic motion.

| # | Description | Framing | Mood | Platform |
|---|-------------|---------|------|----------|
| L1 | Subject walking toward camera in location | Medium-wide, motion, slight blur at edges | In motion, confident | IG Reel cover / TikTok |
| L2 | Subject in candid moment — checking phone, looking off-frame, adjusting piece | Medium, environmental | Real, earned | IG Feed |
| L3 | Environmental wide: subject small in a large Oakland location | Wide, subject off-center | The Town as backdrop | Website, editorial use |
| L4 | Two subjects together (community frame) | Medium, both in frame | Brotherhood/sisterhood, not romance | Culture pillar content |
| L5 | Subject from behind, walking away — garment back detail prominent | Medium, trailing | Directional, editorial | IG Feed / Pinterest |

### Detail Shots (3–5 shots)
Construction, craft, brand marks. Feed into product pipeline and close-up gallery.

| # | Description | Framing | Mood | Platform |
|---|-------------|---------|------|----------|
| D1 | Fabric texture or embroidery under directional light | Macro, tight crop | Craft, premium | Product page detail |
| D2 | Hardware, zipper, or label close-up | Macro, 30-degree angle | Branded precision | Social close-up |
| D3 | Collar, hem, or seam construction | Macro, raking light from side to reveal texture | Artisanal | PDP gallery |

### Founder / Story Shots (4–6 shots — if Corey is on set)
Corey Foster: earned, direct, Oakland-grounded. Not a fashion model — a founder. Every shot should read as real, not rehearsed.

| # | Description | Framing | Expression | Platform |
|---|-------------|---------|------------|----------|
| F1 | Direct eye contact, neutral or slight smile | Head and shoulders, clean or minimal background | Confident, founder energy | Press kit / About page |
| F2 | Corey in environment — doorway, loading dock, or Oakland street corner | Medium-wide, environmental | Purposeful, in his city | Brand Story pillar |
| F3 | Hands-on moment — holding product, adjusting tag, reviewing production | Medium, hands prominent | Working, intentional | Behind-the-scenes pillar |
| F4 | Candid laugh or off-guard moment | Medium, natural | Real, human | Community pillar |
| F5 | With Skyy Rose (daughter) — if appropriate to session | Wide enough to show relationship | Heritage, legacy | Brand Story / about |

### Behind-the-Scenes Shots (2–4 shots)
Authentic process content. Not staged — captured during the shoot.

| # | Description | Framing | Usage |
|---|-------------|---------|-------|
| B1 | Behind the camera: photographer or DP working | Wide | Stories, TikTok |
| B2 | Rack of SkyyRose pieces backstage | Medium | Stories |
| B3 | Close-up of styling table: tags, accessories, brand packaging | Overhead | Stories / Pinterest |

---

## Phase 4: Logistics and Deliverables

### Aspect Ratios Required
Provide crops in these ratios for every hero and lifestyle shot:
- **4:5 (1080×1350)** — Instagram Feed primary
- **1:1 (1080×1080)** — Instagram Feed square / carousel
- **9:16 (1080×1920)** — Instagram / TikTok Stories and Reels cover
- **2:3 (1000×1500)** — Pinterest
- **16:9 (1920×1080)** — Website hero banner, YouTube / email header

### File Specs
- Deliver RAW + high-res JPEG (minimum 2048px on shortest side) + web-optimized JPEG
- Color grading: match per-collection direction above. No cross-collection bleed.
- Retouching: remove technical blemishes (lint, dust, sensor spots). Preserve real skin texture. No heavy smoothing.
- White balance: consistent within collection. Black Rose: cool-neutral. Love Hurts: warm-dramatic. Signature: warm-golden. Kids: bright-neutral.

### File Naming Convention
`{collection-slug}-{shot-type}-{sequence}-{aspect}.jpg`

Examples:
- `black-rose-hero-01-4x5.jpg`
- `signature-lifestyle-03-9x16.jpg`
- `founder-story-02-1x1.jpg`

### Elite Studio Pipeline
All delivered assets flow into `skyyrose/elite_studio` for composite rendering, 3D integration, and social posting pipeline. Deliver assets to the designated Elite Studio intake folder. Do not place hero collection name text in the photography — the lockup image from `assets/images/hero-overlays/` is composited at the Elite Studio stage.

### Delivery
- Shared drive folder organized by: collection → shot category
- Timeline: confirm with photographer at brief handoff
- Usage rights: all-rights buyout for skyyrose.co commercial use; confirm model release forms before shoot day

---

## Artifact specification

The skill produces a single photographer-ready brief document. Structure:

```
# SkyyRose Photography Brief — [Collection] [Session Type]
## Session Overview (collection, purpose, date, location, talent)
## Visual Direction (aesthetic, palette, lighting, backgrounds, styling, references, AVOID list)
## Shot List (tables by category: Hero / Lifestyle / Detail / Founder / BTS)
## Logistics (aspect ratios, file specs, file naming, delivery timeline)
## Elite Studio Notes (pipeline destination, lockup-image compositing note)
```

---

## Example

**Request:** "Need a brand shoot brief for the Black Rose collection. We're shooting in Oakland — industrial location, Corey on set. Output goes to IG feed and Pinterest. Half-day session."

---

# SkyyRose Photography Brief — Black Rose, Brand/Lifestyle Session

**Collection:** Black Rose
**Session type:** Brand lifestyle + founder
**Location:** West Oakland industrial corridor — warehouse exteriors, iron gates, concrete loading docks
**Talent:** Corey Foster (founder)
**Platforms:** Instagram Feed (4:5), Pinterest (2:3), website
**Session length:** Half-day (4 hours, target 18 shots)

---

## Visual Direction

**Aesthetic:** Gothic luxury. Defiant elegance. Shadow is structural, not decorative. "Concrete answering back."
**Color palette:** Dark `#0A0A0A` as ground, Silver `#C0C0C0` for hardware and accent, deep charcoal, slate gray.
**Lighting:** Low-key dramatic. Single key light (strobe or HMI) from camera-left or directly above. Strong shadow; reflector to preserve detail in dark fabrics — not to fill the darkness. No softbox-bright, no even-exposure lifestyle look.
**Backgrounds:** West Oakland warehouse wall (raw concrete preferred), iron security gate, rusted corrugated metal, rain-slicked asphalt at dusk.
**Styling:** Black Rose Crewneck as hero piece. Matte fabrics throughout. No shiny or glossy outerwear. Silver jewelry only — no gold. Clean black pants or denim. No distressed finishes.
**References:** Fear of God quiet luxury silhouette + Palm Angels street-luxe graphic confidence + Oakland's post-industrial grit (Oaklandish community rootedness relocated to hard urban surfaces).
**AVOID:** Warm or golden tones, floral props, European fashion-week editorial staging (clean white studio, floating fabric, motion blur for art's sake), anything that reads soft or aspirationally luxe in the European sense.

---

## Shot List

### Hero Shots (4 shots)

| # | Description | Framing | Mood | Destination |
|---|-------------|---------|------|-------------|
| H1 | Corey in Black Rose Crewneck, back to concrete wall, direct gaze into camera | Medium-tight, centered, 4:5 | Armor, unflinching | IG Feed hero / Pinterest |
| H2 | Three-quarter profile, silver hardware detail visible on silhouette edge | Medium, rule of thirds | Editorial, contained | IG Feed |
| H3 | Full-length against iron gate, negative space above head for lockup overlay placement | Wide, full body | Statement, landscape of defiance | Website hero, email |
| H4 | Crewneck flat on concrete surface — garment only, no model | Overhead, garment fills 70% frame | Product editorial | Pinterest 2:3 |

### Lifestyle Shots (6 shots)

| # | Description | Framing | Mood | Destination |
|---|-------------|---------|------|-------------|
| L1 | Corey walking toward camera on slicked asphalt, low angle | Medium, dynamic, slight motion | In his city | IG Reel cover, TikTok |
| L2 | Corey looking away from camera — past a chain-link fence, industrial background receding | Medium, environmental | Internal, earned | IG Feed |
| L3 | Wide: Corey small in large warehouse corridor, light source at far end | Very wide, subject in lower third | The Town owns the frame | Website editorial |
| L4 | Corey in shadow — only face and crewneck collar lit | Medium-tight, chiaroscuro lighting | Armor, mystery | IG Feed (Black Rose campaign) |
| L5 | From behind: Corey facing West Oakland skyline | Medium, back of crewneck visible | Directional, Oakland horizon | Pinterest / editorial |
| L6 | Candid: Corey looking down at phone or adjusting sleeve in a loading bay | Medium, natural | Real, unguarded | Behind-the-brand pillar |

### Detail Shots (4 shots)

| # | Description | Framing | Lighting | Destination |
|---|-------------|---------|----------|-------------|
| D1 | Black Rose Crewneck — embroidery or screen-print detail close-up | Macro, tight | Single raking light from left to lift texture | PDP gallery |
| D2 | Fabric texture — ribbed cuff or collar close-up | Macro | Directional, no fill | Social detail post |
| D3 | Tag / label detail — brand mark visible | Macro, 30-degree | Natural ambient | PDP |
| D4 | Silver hardware close-up (zipper pull, grommet, or similar if applicable) | Macro | Single key, cool tone | Social close-up |

### Behind-the-Scenes (2 shots)

| # | Description | Usage |
|---|-------------|-------|
| B1 | DP or photographer framing Corey — behind-camera shot | Stories, TikTok |
| B2 | Wardrobe rack of Black Rose pieces backstage | Stories |

---

## Logistics

**Aspect ratios:** 4:5, 1:1, 9:16, 2:3, 16:9 crops from all hero and lifestyle shots
**File specs:** RAW + high-res JPEG (min 2048px short side) + web JPEG
**Color grading:** Cool-neutral throughout. Lifted blacks just enough to hold texture. No warm color shift.
**Retouching:** Technical blemishes only (sensor dust, fly-aways on concrete). Preserve skin texture. No smoothing.
**File naming:** `black-rose-hero-01-4x5.jpg`, `black-rose-lifestyle-03-2x3.jpg`, etc.
**Delivery:** Drive folder organized as `black-rose / hero`, `black-rose / lifestyle`, `black-rose / detail`, `black-rose / bts`

**Elite Studio note:** Deliver all assets to `skyyrose/elite_studio` intake folder. Do NOT burn the "Black Rose" collection name text into any photography frame — the brand-script lockup from `assets/images/hero-overlays/` is composited in post by Elite Studio.

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Never type-render the collection name in the photograph.** The lockup image (`assets/images/hero-overlays/`) is composited at the Elite Studio stage — burning it in photo makes it uncorrectable.
- **Never pull European luxury-house mood.** No Bottega muted-warm, no Rick Owens conceptual void, no Hedi Slimane skinny-suit polish. Pull from the Five: Kith, Oaklandish, Culture Kings, Fear of God, Palm Angels.
- **Never cross-attribute collection voices.** "Bloodline that raised me" = Love Hurts only. "Concrete answering back" = Black Rose only. Do not swap emotional registers between collections.
- **Never reference products by SKU in the brief.** "Black Rose Crewneck" — not "br-001." Photographers don't know SKUs; product names prevent set confusion.
- **Never promise specific camera gear or lighting equipment.** Describe the desired look (low-key dramatic, raking side light) and let the photographer choose the gear. Brief = desired outcome.
- **Never schedule more than 30 shots in a half-day session.** Flag it and recommend splitting into two sessions. Rushed shots are unusable shots.
- **Never produce a brief without an AVOID section.** What not to do is as important as what to do — especially when briefing a photographer unfamiliar with SkyyRose.
- **Never stage "successful founder" clichés:** Corey pointing at a whiteboard, arms crossed in a boardroom, standing on stairs of a private jet. Wrong register entirely.
- **Never use European luxury-house location signifiers:** Parisian cobblestones, whitewashed studio with linen drapes, vineyard settings. Oakland — The Town — is the anchor.
- **Never use warm/golden tones on a Black Rose shoot.** Golden light belongs to Signature. Cross-collection lighting confusion destroys visual identity.

---

## Recovery

- **Photographer unfamiliar with the brand:** Share `docs/brand/visual-references.md` and send them 5 reference images before the shoot. Do not rely on the brief alone.
- **Location falls through on shoot day:** Have one backup Oakland location pre-scouted. For Black Rose: any concrete wall or industrial alley. For Signature: any rooftop with Bay Area horizon. Never substitute a neutral studio as the "safe" option without adjusting the brief's visual direction.
- **Shot list too long for available time:** Protect Hero and Lifestyle shots first. Cut Behind-the-Scenes last. If forced to cut a category, cut Detail (those can often be shot tabletop with product alone in a second shorter session).
- **Corey's energy reads stiff on camera:** Pull back the lighting setup, go to a natural-light moment at the location, shoot candid while he's walking or talking. Real Corey beats posed Corey every time.
- **Delivered shots look wrong (wrong collection mood):** Before rebrief, check color grading — often a warm-grade error is adding gold to what should be cool-silver. Correct in post before requesting a reshoot.
- **Hero shot needs lockup but collection name was burned into photo:** Do not attempt to remove it in post. Use a non-lockup lifestyle shot as the hero and schedule a clean reshoot of that frame. Add "no in-frame text" to the standing brief for all future sessions.