The Fashion Lab: Styling for Story, Brand & Impact

In this hands-on workshop, students will dive into the creative and strategic world of product styling for photography. Guided by Maren Lightheart from Cotopaxi, students will learn how visual storytelling, styling choices, and brand identity come together to create compelling product imagery.

Students will:

Style looks for a professional photo shoot using real-world design principles.
Experiment with color, texture, accessories, and composition to enhance visual impact.
Collaborate in creative teams to prepare a wardrobe for a camera-ready presentation.

Students will learn:

The fundamentals of styling for different brands utilizing creative briefs.
How brand values and audience influence styling decisions.
What goes into preparing a variety of looks for professional photography in retail and media contexts.
How stylists collaborate with photographers, designers, and brands in creative industries.

This workshop blends fashion, design, and marketing to show how styling shapes how products are seen, shared, and sold.

Maren Lightheart

Maren Lightheart grew up in Oregon and moved to Utah to attend BYU, where she studied Graphic Design. Through roles at böhmé and Kizik—both Utah-founded apparel brands—she discovered her passion for e-commerce, retail, and visual storytelling through art. She’s always loved fashion and thinks of outfits as art projects she gets to wear every day. Her personal style leans colorful and maximalist, with a love for accessories and unexpected combinations.

Recently Maren attended a summer intensive at Vogue College of Fashion, where she studied Fashion Media and Art Direction. She’s currently the Associate Art Director of Photo and Video at Cotopaxi, primarily running their studio team. With a background in competitive gymnastics and a long-standing love of board and video games (her Fortnite main is Hatsune Miku), she’s deeply drawn to the art, strategy, and design systems behind the game.