Sneak Peek – Photo shoot with Shelter Interiors

Yesterday I had a photo shoot with Julie Richard of Shelter Interiors.  This is our second photo shoot together and I absolutely love working with her.  She has an amazing eye and I find myself learning so much as a photographer after each day with her.  Her style is perfectly imperfect, which I love.  Here are some Instagram sneak peeks from our shoot yesterday and check out her blog (if you don’t already).  Note: I have found myself starting to use Instagram the way photographers use to use polaroids.  A great way to frame and work on composition while while working on lighting with my SLR.

iPhone pic by me (composition by Julie)

iPhone pic by Julie

iPhone pic by Julie

Interiors Inspiration

So we are knee deep in the design, layout and contractor selection of the renovation of our new home.  The house has great bones but needs a lot of work.  I am excited and absolutely terrified at the same time.  We have a crazy aggressive timeline to get the work done and move into the house, but the amount of work to do to get there feels huge.  I am thinking of a way to incorporate our renovation process into this blog without it becoming the blog becoming too “My renovation,” so let me know what you think.  But the other night, as I was putting the baby to bed and the hubby was out at a work dinner, I realized I needed some calming inspiration.  Pinterest is an amazing recourse and I already have numerous boards developed for the house.  (Check out my boards here.  The renovation specific boards are labeled Homeland.)  I started flipping through the photos from a recent job I did for Stayci Fast and I realized I haven’t shared them yet.  I love photographing with Stayci.  The woman is an amazing home stager and designer and has the best props in the world.  All of here accessories have me super inspired.

How cool does this West Elm light fixture look when lit?!

Party time

Saturday night my friend, studio mate and interior design ninja, Erin hosted a party for her husband’s 40th Birthday.  I popped over early to take a couple of shots of her party styling, knowing it would be absolutely perfect.  I of course got side tracked by her gorgeous newly renovated home and own design.  Love it all so much and am super jealous.

Her sputnik light is like a piece of sculpture.

How cute was Erin’s husband Andrew?!?!

“I want a all like that.” – my husband  

 

What goes into a photo shoot – interiors

What may seem like a straight forward photo shoot…i.e. photographing the interior of a home…has a ba-gillion different moving parts to consider: lighting, gear, people, no people, not to mention styling.  Nobody lives in a photo ready home, so a little styling and arranging is always in need.  Here is a little behind the scenes shot of our photo shoot last week.

(Oh and not to mention last minute having to take bébé with us, hence the stroller and diaper bag.  Thank goodness my client was also a close friend otherwise super intern Jacalyn would have had to stay at home babysitting on her last day.)

Sous Style

So it has been an Erin Gates filled month for me.  (I joke that she is the fashion model muse to my Mario Testino.  In that I seem to be photographing her a ton this month.  I know it is a huge ego stretch to put myself in the same camp as Mr. Testino, but I digress.)  Sous Style did a “day in the life” feature on Erin, and I got to follow her around to photograph it.

Sous Style is lifestyle, cooking, home design, fashion website founded by the photo director of ELLE, Pippa Lord, and offers are fun, modern approach to entertaining.  Think a young, hip Martha Stewart.  Here are some shots from the editorial.  Click here for the full feature and to see Erin’s day.  She is one busy girl.

At Home:

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At the office:

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At the Design Center:

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Checking in on a project:

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Finally unwinding:

Derby Days

I know I am a little slow on the uptake, with the Kentucky Derby being a few days ago, but as I was watching the festivities this weekend I couldn’t help but notice what a wonderful design element mint julep cups can add and how functional they are.  A few years ago I stocked up on some little silver plated ones, with the thought they would serve as a great ready supply of hostess gifts to have on hand.  Flash forward to now, and I seem to have given none away and have used them all over my own home.  They add glamour everywhere.

In the bathroom…

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In the kitchen…

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At the table…

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They seem to work almost anywhere.  I also love putting tea lights in them at night for a warm silvery glow.  Perfect for cocktail parties.  I am going to have to keep my eye out and stock up again soon…so I can finally give them away as gifts.

Joss & Main

I was so excited to see Joss & Main used some of my photography for a sale curated by Erin Gates of Erin Gates Design and Elements of Style.  The sale begins this evening at 7:30 pm EDT! The items in her sale are inspired by one of her previous posts about “furniture men hate”  for a “what women want” sale featuring lots of accessories, lucite and the like.  Below are some of my photos incorporated in the look book.  I love the girly glam feel.

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  Go check out the sale this evening.

Champagne & Cupcakes

I am still swimming in a sea of photo editing, but am able to share some of the shots from my photo shoot for Jill Rosenwald’s Spring line.  She is gearing up for the New York International Gift Fair and I just adore her new pieces.  With the styling help of Erin Gates I think the photographs came out gorgeously and I love what the graphic designer Lizzy Vaughan did with some of the images.

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Cheers!

A day in the studio – what a photo shoot is like

Yesterday, in the studio we shot a fabulous photo shoot for Jill Rosenwald’s spring line.  The shoot was styled by the chic and talented Erin Gates Design of Elements of Style and her rock star assistant, Lindsay.  I also had the aid of an awesome assistant, Maggie Emerson.  Villanova University, where I spent my undergraduate years, held a take a student to work day, and I was paired with Maggie.  Maggie will be graduating in May and entering the big bad world, but it is not all bad.  Some days you get to create fabulously, fun photo shoots.    So, guest blogging here today we have Maggie, talking about her day in the studio with me.

Maggie Emerson-

“As a Villanova University senior with 5 months until the dreaded graduation, I jump at any opportunity to venture into the professional world.  I am lucky enough to share my Alma Mater with Sarah Winchester, with whom I was matched up for ‘Nova’s “Take a [wild]’Cat to Work Day,” and so yesterday I came into Boston to help out at the studio, where we did a shoot for Jill Rosenwald styled by Erin Gates.  I had an amazing time watching everything get put together, styled, put back together, changed some more and then shot.  It was a totally valuable experience which made me actually excited about my future (as a college senior, this is near impossible) and reaffirmed my beliefs that I am on the right path for myself.  Of course I Instragramed my way through the whole thing, and here are some scenes from the set.”

Photos by Maggie Emerson

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Also. check out Maggie’s photos from her semester abroad in Paris, her blog here..  They are wonderful.

My Home for the Holidays

With 5 weeks until my due date we are sticking pretty close to Boston for Christmas and New Year.  No air travel for me, but my forced grounding has really lead me to appreciate and love my home even more.

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Our home all decorated for Christmas

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Beautiful 1927 American Flyer train, and 1940′s Aquarium given to me by my dad.

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Charles Street of Beacon Hill, just outside our door.

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3 days until Christmas!