Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Larson-Brown.
Hi Bethany, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – To start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Growing up, my intuition always told me that I was meant to do something creative as a career, constantly receiving hints from the universe along the way. Whether those hints from the universe were finding myself mesmerized by beautiful Kate Spade retail window displays or showing up to school in an outfit that was far too formal for the occasion, I knew that a career sitting at a desk crunching numbers wasn’t for me. I was also very shy as a kid, so the idea of communicating a story or idea visually was very interesting to me.
Fast forward to when I was a senior in high school, there was only one college I had my heart set on – the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in California. One thing that was very beneficial in making my decision to go to FIDM was the fact that they had the option to go to a three-day workshop to attend classes that gave you a taste of the different majors they offered. I ended up choosing Visual Communications, which was the major that provided the most options in terms of creative, visual careers. I ended up making the right decision, I loved my classes, teachers, and students around me.
I graduated from the LA campus and moved back to Minnesota to be with my boyfriend, who is now my fiancé. I thought I would have a relatively hard time finding a job in my field here, but I ended up finding the perfect one. My full-time job for the last six years has been different variations of Lead Set Stylist at ShopHQ, a live home shopping network similar to QVC. Here, collaborating with lighting technicians, production managers, and visual product coordinators, I design and style sets using furniture and props for different categories of products. These categories include jewelry, fashion, beauty, electronics, health, kitchen and home.
It is very rewarding collaborating with brands such as Mackenzie-Childs, which is a luxury home brand, to bring their brand identity to life on set. While I love my job and find it very rewarding, I also do some freelance work on the side. My most recent freelance project was working with the biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb to create a picnic set for a patient story video shoot for the drug Camzyos. I keep myself open to receiving any projects that will allow me to hone in on my craft.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been a smooth road. Being the daughter of a software engineer and a nurse, being a set stylist seems way left field. Trying to navigate a career that isn’t traditional can be intimidating, especially when there is little to no information about it. My advice for anyone in this boat would be to simply start somewhere. Figuring out what you don’t like is just as important as figuring out what you do.
The second struggle with set styling I’ve had is the strain that moving furniture in and out of studios/on sets creates on the body, especially if you’re moving furniture alone. I have had one major hip surgery so far to alleviate my chronic pain and may have one more in the future. Always get help lifting if possible and use proper body mechanics.
Last but not least, more recently, the unpredictability that Covid had on consumer buying habits was a learning curve. At ShopHQ in particular, we had to quickly pivot from our normal product to more health and fitness-heavy items to keep consumers interested. In turn, the set design and styling became very simple and clean.
Thanks – So what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in set styling, art direction, and photo styling. I am known for capturing a mood with the use of color and texture to promote a product or brand. When you walk into a studio or on set, you should feel a change in mood based on the set design. I make sure that the background of a set supports the product, is cohesive, and is easy to look at.
I am most proud of my collaboration with the luxury home brand Mackenzie-Childs at ShopHQ. Collaborating with their team to bring their whimsical brand identity to life on set has been very rewarding. Their customer has a deep appreciation for small quirky touches, which I love.
What sets me apart from others is that I have a deep appreciation for what I do and I am always staying curious. Staying curious for me means always learning how I can do my job more effectively and/or how I can come at a project from a different angle. No matter what I am working on, I always remind myself of how lucky I am to love what I do.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
To get inspiration for set styling, most of the time Pinterest is my first stop. Usually, one idea snowballs into another and eventually I end up with a genius idea, or so I think! Podcasts that help me look at interiors differently are Domino Design Time and Dear Alice.
When working with interiors, I think it’s important to stay connected to the pulse of consumer behavior. To get myself up to speed, I enjoy listening to Office Hour, which is by two FIDM professors. In this podcast, they discuss trending topics in design, marketing, fashion, and retail. Whenever I need encouragement, my go-to is the Cathy Heller Podcast. She will get you right out of your chair.
I also really enjoy Masterclass, which is an online education subscription platform. They have great classes on various topics with leaders in each field. My personal favorites are Kelly Wearstler’s Interior Design, Karla Welch’s Building and Owning Your Style, Natalie Portman’s Acting, John Legend’s Songwriting, and Anna Wintour’s Creativity and Leadership.
One of my other loves besides set styling and interiors is travel. The connection between these two loves for me is that they both immerse the consumer in a unique energy, so much so that it can change their entire mood. I also love how traveling allows me to see the world through a different lens, even if it’s just for a short time.
Pricing:
- 1 day of set styling coverage starts around $650. Price varies depending on the project.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bethanylarsonbrown.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/bethanylarsonstyling
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/bethany-larson-brown-588332111
Image Credits
Jerry Johanning and Tom Matre
