February Collective: Host a Galentine’s Day Photo Shoot
Now that we've survived what felt like the year-long month of January 2022, Valentine's Day is almost a few weeks away! We thought it might be a fun idea for you to have your gals over and host a Galentine's Day photoshoot. Here are some tips for a cute yet inexpensive way to show your friends some love!
1) GATHER THE GOODS
You don't need a lot to make a huge statement! Balloons are a cute and cheap way to add a lot of bang for your buck. Visit the following stores to see what they might have online or in-person:
Target (Check out the dollar section first!)
Dollar Tree (They have insanely cute mylar heart balloons.)
Hobby Lobby (Talk a long walk down all the aisles of Valentine's Day decor! We got these sprinkles for our photoshoot.)
Party City (This is where we bought our mylar and latex heart balloons for our photo wall!)
We primarily went for a photo wall with a couple of extra balloons on the ground. None of ours had helium in them, but holding a bunch of balloons could be a cute idea too! Get creative and do whatever you think gives off Valentine vibes of red, pink, white, or purple.
2) INVITE YOUR GIRLS
Once you've gathered the goods, it's time to invite your girls! It's easy to invite your besties over. However, this is the perfect opportunity to invite someone who needs a friend! Ask the Lord to reveal to you who to reach out to for your photoshoot. Then, text them the deets for when and where to meet you!
3) ASSEMBLE THE BACKDROP
Clear a wall that you can easily add your decorations to as a backdrop. (Make sure to ask your parents what you can use to hang up any balloons, streamers, or signs.) Since we were in a studio, we duct-taped the balloons to the brick wall behind it. We wouldn't recommend this for home walls, but scotch or painter's tape should do the trick.
Didn't it turn out so adorable?!
4) TAKE CUTE PHOTOS
Once your gals arrive, let the fun begin! Put on some music. (We highly recommend the Parent Trap album. It's PURE GOLD.) Then, start snapping photos, videos, or reels, whatever your heart desires! Make sure to tag us in it. We want to see your creativity and repost it!
5) LEAD INTENTIONAL CONVERSATION
Most importantly, after you've finished, take some time to be intentional with your friends. Visit a local coffee shop or plop down on your family room couch to do a heart check-in with the group. Ask them some questions such as:
What's your favorite romantic comedy? Why do you love it?
When you think of Valentine's Day, what emotions surround the idea? Why so?
What lies are you tempted to believe about your relationship status?
How does Christ's love differ from our romanticized view?
Take this time to wade into the Gospel! Ask some surface-level questions surrounding Valentine's Day and dating. Tell them what you love about each of them. Then, most importantly, remind your friends of Christ's love! Maybe read 1 John 4:7-12 or Ephesians 3:14-20 to outline the extent of His sacrifice. How great is His love!
Ultimately, there are two truths we want you to remember about this fun idea. One, it doesn't have to be super fancy or expensive! Don't break the bank trying to impress others. Use things you already own that easily blend into the Valentine's Day theme.
More importantly, do you need a photoshoot to ask these questions? One hundo percent no! This Valentine's Day season, where people can feel all sorts of things, be intentional in sharing the most incredible love you've ever known: Christ Jesus!