Back-to-School Brand Photos with Children’s Shoe Brand Common Tread
There are some collaborations that make immediate sense, and brand photos with children’s shoe brand Common Tread was one of them. was one of them. Common Tread makes barefoot shoes for kids that are designed by an occupational therapist and engineer, handcrafted in South Africa, and made for the way children actually move. They’ve recently brought their brand stateside, located right here in Charlottesville, and I was fortunate enough to connect with one of the founders. We first worked together in the winter for a short studio session, but when she came to me with the idea for this back-to-school shoot idea, I knew it was going to be next-level.
We pulled the shoot together in under a week, from gathering willing kiddos to participate, to styling, props, and location. It all fell together with some dedicated effort and could not have gone more beautifully.
Sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in over-thinking and over-planning – but it was the organic nature of this whole thing that made it feel like just that: organic.
The Concept
We envisioned photos with a children’s shoe brand to actually show the shoes in action, the way kids really play. Common Tread doesn’t want their shoes to be dainty or reserved – even though they are elevated in style, they’re made for climbing, riding, and running in all conditions. And even though we were leaning into school for a timely message for families, it needed to feel grounded and natural as well to emphasize the natural materials and handcrafted nature of the shoes themselves.
For this shoot, kids played on the blacktop and the playground, climbed in the treehouses, gathered leaves along the wooded trails, and laid on a blanket in the dewy grass with their books and markers. It was bright, unhurried, and genuinely fun.
The Location
The location was a huge part of the session’s success. We chose to do the shoot at Free Union Country School, a nostalgic and warm early childhood & elementary school nestled just 10 minutes from Charlottesville. It is absolutely charming, with outdoor trails, treehouses, and little log cabin classrooms – making the perfect setting for this nature-oriented brand. We utilized many of the outdoor spaces around the campus for variety and to keep things interesting for the kids. The whole feel of this location lended itself beautifully to showcasing the shoes in lots of different environments and uses.
Styling
Common Tread’s marketing lead, Sarah, pulled in much of the clothing from closet pieces they already owned and a few incredible local boutiques we’re so lucky to have nearby. Our oldest model was also a natural stylist in assisting the choices for each child. It was a team effort, and the clothing was all so comfortable and breathable and soft, that all of the kids were perfectly happy playing in their fits.
All these pieces together became a golden combination that made for an hour and a half of natural play and light direction that showcased the shoes in all the wonderful ways they’re used in the real world by real kids.
About This Collaboration
- Barefoot leather shoes: Common Tread
- Location: Free Union Country School
- Styling: Leah O’Connell and Sarah Donovan
- Children’s clothing brands featured alongside Common Tread shoes. All brands in italics are local to Charlottesville!
- Green Jacket: L.L. Bean
- Overalls: Fostered Collection
- Socks: Escuyer from Black Pepper Trading Co.
- Antique books, baskets, and badminton racquets: Hey Day Antiques & Vintage (recent)
- Toolbox as crayon box, socks, notebook: Black Pepper Trading Co.
- Red Sweater: Wild Wawa from Whimsies
- Yellow Dress: Little Cotton Clothes
- Blue Gingham Dress: Pink Chicken
- Navy Sweater: Two x Two
- Backpack: Crate & Kids
- Denim cargo jacket: Fostered Collection
- Cardigan and long sleeve blue dress: Rylee & Cru (older)
Working Together
Brand photography for small businesses and children’s brands is a natural extension of what I do with families. I love the challenge of bridging direction with natural play, intentional planning with creativity and spontaneity. At the end of the day, the purpose of brand photography is to help the brand communicate their message and aesthetic to attract the right customers. If you’re a small business or brand looking to collaborate, I’d love to hear about what you’re building and make pictures that represent it well.
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