CasaBlanca + Virgin River
Styling a Casino Lifestyle Photo Shoot at CasaBlanca + Virgin River in Mesquite, Nevada
As a Las Vegas fashion and wardrobe stylist, one of my favorite parts of the job is getting to step behind the scenes of commercial photo shoots and create wardrobes that help tell a story. For this shoot, I headed about an hour and a half outside of Las Vegas to Mesquite, Nevada, to style a lifestyle photo shoot at CasaBlanca Resort & Casino and Virgin River Hotel & Casino.
The goal of the shoot was to capture the many different things people actually do when they visit a casino resort. From lounging by the pool and enjoying a meal to gambling, relaxing in a hotel room, and spending time around the property, the wardrobe needed to feel stylish, approachable, and realistic.
My job was to shop for and select all of the clothing for the models, creating looks for each scenario while making sure the wardrobe worked together visually across the entire photo shoot. Sometimes I get a lot of details and other times I don’t get much. It’s wasn’t until I was on the shoot that I realized we are shooting a full on ad campaign for both properties. There were 5 main talent and 10 background. With several changes per day and moving locations each day, it was alot.
The Shopping & Wardrobe Prep
Before arriving on set, there was quite a bit of work happening behind the scenes. I am responsible for shopping and pulling the wardrobe for the models, which meant thinking through every scene ahead of time, and hoping the model brought clothing I could use. I had to make sure I have clothing that would fit every model for every scene/ activity.
Commercial styling involves much more just shopping. For things to looks effortless there were hours spent making a mood board, drafting emails, researching, shopping, pulling, organizing, steaming, fitting, and coordinating behind that image.
Styling for CasaBlanca + Virgin River
Having both CasaBlanca Resort & Casino and Virgin River Hotel & Casino as locations gave me the opportunity to showcase different sides of a Mesquite casino getaway.
The shoot wasn't just about gambling. It was about the entire experience — staying at the hotel, hanging out by the pool, dining, getting dressed for a night out, gambling, relaxing, and enjoying time away from home.
That variety is what made this shoot especially fun from a styling perspective.
Instead of creating one signature look, I was essentially creating an entire wardrobe for a fictional casino getaway.
Why I Love Commercial Wardrobe Styling
One of the reasons I love working as a Las Vegas wardrobe stylist is that no two photo shoots are exactly alike.
One week I might be styling talent for a commercial production in Las Vegas, and the next I might be shopping for a lifestyle campaign in Mesquite. Every project has different talent, locations, creative direction, and wardrobe requirements.
For this shoot, the challenge was creating clothing that felt fashion-forward but realistic. The models needed to look like people enjoying a casino resort — not wearing golf shorts and t-shirt.
That's often the sweet spot with commercial wardrobe styling: making the clothing look aspirational enough to catch your attention while still making the viewer think, "I could wear that."
Behind the Scenes of a Mesquite, Nevada Photo Shoot
Mesquite is a laid back location for a lifestyle photo shoot. Located in northeastern Nevada, it offers a change of scenery from the Las Vegas Strip while still providing the casino, resort, dining, pool, and entertainment environments that make great commercial photography locations.
For a wardrobe stylist, shoots like this are an opportunity to show case what real people are wearing with a little aspiration. From the pool to the restaurant, casino floor, and hotel room, every outfit played a role in showing what a typical getaway at CasaBlanca and Virgin River could look like.
Looking for a Las Vegas or Nevada Wardrobe Stylist?
I work as a Las Vegas fashion and wardrobe stylist, providing wardrobe styling for commercial photo shoots, advertising campaigns, lifestyle photography, personal branding, productions, and other projects.
Whether you're producing a photo shoot in Las Vegas, Mesquite, or throughout Nevada, I can help with the entire wardrobe process — from researching and shopping for clothing to pulling complete looks and making sure the wardrobe works for the creative concept.
Hair & Makeup: The Batterman Group