Behind the Scenes at Darling Stock
How We Create Our Stock Photo & Video Collections
Creating content that feels intentional, calming, and deeply feminine isn’t something that happens by chance. At Darling Stock, every photo, video, and visual detail is the result of thoughtful planning, creative collaboration, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes work.
If you’ve ever wondered how our stock photo and video collections come to life — this post is for you. We’re taking you inside the Darling Stock process: from seasonal planning to photoshoots, editing, uploading, and everything in between.
1. Planning Every Collection With Intention
Each collection begins long before the first photo is taken. I start by looking at the full year ahead — mapping out the seasons, holidays, and key marketing moments for our members.
Then, I create moodboards that reflect not only the season, but the feeling I want to evoke. These boards include tones, props, outfits, and themes that speak to our aesthetic — soft, feminine, grounded, and clean.
From there, I send the mood boards to our photographers (who are spread across the world), and we begin selecting models, choosing locations, and styling every detail with care.
2. Producing the Shoot – From Concept to Camera
Once everything is planned, we book the location, confirm the team, and shoot. Every shoot is done with our members in mind — what they’ll need for the season, what works for faceless brands, and what performs well on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.
Because I work closely with each photographer, they understand exactly what our members need — and they bring their own creativity into each session.
We shoot both horizontal and vertical content, and include smartphone videos for relatable, story-first content.
3. Curation, Editing & Visual Consistency
After the shoot, I receive the full set of images and videos. I sort through everything, selecting the strongest visuals that best represent the story we want to tell.
I edit the photos myself in Adobe Lightroom and occasionally Adobe Photoshop for fine adjustments. Videos are edited using Adobe Premiere Pro — keeping everything in line with our signature aesthetic: minimal, warm, and clean.
4. Organizing & Uploading With Precision
This step is where the behind-the-scenes magic really happens. Every collection is uploaded and organized in a detailed system:
Download links are created
Video previews are turned into animated GIFs
Covers for the collections are designed in Canva
Asana is used to manage the step-by-step process — and it holds dozens of tasks per collection
From uploading files to checking download permissions, tagging visuals, writing file descriptions, assigning previews, archiving raw content, and more — every detail is logged and tracked inside Asana to ensure that nothing is missed and everything runs smoothly.
Every task — from sorting files to assigning tags — is tracked in Asana. I also communicate with my team through WhatsApp and Telegram to make sure we’re in sync no matter where we are in the world.
5. Daily Workflow & Creative Operations
Outside of producing collections, there’s a lot happening every day at Darling Stock:
Answering member emails
Writing weekly blog posts & newsletters
Planning and creating Instagram & Pinterest content
This is where Wordie (our custom GPT inside the Membership) becomes a game-changer. It helps me batch content, write blog articles, pin descriptions, and captions — all in our brand voice. It saves hours and keeps the process flowing.
We don’t just upload photos — we design collections that our members ask for. We listen. We pay attention. We create for brands that value softness, clarity, and ease.
We offer both vertical and horizontal content, cleanly styled and easy to repurpose.
And because I work so closely with our photographers — women I trust deeply, who understand our values — every collection is made with heart and shared vision.
What truly drives me is this: I want to make content creation feel easier for women.
I want our members to spend less time worrying about visuals and more time doing what they love. I want their brands to feel like them — polished, clear, feminine, and cohesive.
I work best when I’m alone, when it’s quiet, and I can pour all my focus into the details. Every photo you download, every video you share — it’s touched by that intention.
At Darling Stock, what you see is only part of the story. Behind every curated collection is a process filled with strategy, soul, and a whole lot of creative energy.
Whether you’re a coach, content creator, service provider, or faceless brand — we’re here to support you with visuals that feel as beautiful as your message.
Because when your content reflects your energy, everything clicks into place.
Ready to explore the latest collections — and create with ease, beauty, and intention?
Step inside the Darling Stock Library and find visuals that reflect your brand.
With love,
Sophie & the Darling Stock Team
Download our 40 stock photos & videos for free now!