Styling for Interior & Architectural Photoshoots | Toronto Interior & Lifestyle Photogapher
Styling for an interior shoot can be a big job!
If you are new to shooting your projects or are just looking to be a bit more organized when shoot day rolls around, here are some things to consider when planning ahead.
Depending on the scope and scale of your project, know that every shoot will be a little bit different.
Think about the areas you’d like to cover. If you provided full-service design including decor, art, and styling, your prep might be minimal. If you were brought in to refresh certain areas, you might need to bring in more props on the shoot day to bring your vision to life.
Scout your project ahead of the shoot date.
This will give you an idea of the current conditions of the project, how much prep you’ll need to do, and what props you might need to bring in.
Just as important, prepare your clients for the amount of time you’ll be in their space. For a smooth shoot day, being able to clean and style ahead of time if possible is a huge help. Consider bringing in a house cleaning service to help with the prep or try and plan around when your homeowner’s cleaner comes if that’s an option.
Prepare a shot list.
When you scout, take some cell phone shots of the areas you’d like to shoot. This will help you plan your shot list, and create a list of the sort of items that are missing or might elevate the areas in terms of styling. Some designers like to plan a very specific shot list, with sample angles or inspirational imagery. Others like to make a rough one with a number of shots of a specific element or area. Both are great options depending on how your brain works and will give you enough information to plan the styling.
Have an overall vision, how will the imagery from this shoot support your brand?
Consider this when choosing your props and how you execute the styling. A primary goal for photography is for your portfolio, so plan your styling in a way that aligns with your brand aesthetic and the ideal customer you hope to attract. For example, are you channeling a luxury hotel vs. a casual and cozy family, the choices you make appeal to different audiences so choose what best suits your brand.
Another goal might be getting published, so consider which publications your project might best suit and what story you would pitch. The story might be about the design elements, the history or heritage of the home, the homeowners, the design challenges - something that shows how this project is unique and interesting. Styling can be a huge component to support the project’s story and shot list. You can also bring in a stylist with editorial experience to help with this. Stylists help with planning, sourcing, styling and are on site on shoot day to offer art direction and insight.
Sourcing props
Once you’ve established what you might need, there are lots of options to source from.
- Buy and return items, while this can be a bit of work, it ensures you’ll have some fresh elements in your shoot that won’t repeat across other projects.
- Consider borrowing or renting from a stager or prop house. Toronto is home to several options. Many have online inventories, or you can visit in person.
- Do you have a good relationship with a local home decor brand or store? Consider if they are open to you borrowing some items.
- Purchase some fresh produce, florals, branches and/or plants to bring life to your spaces. Browse some publications for inspiration. You can stick to classic options or find something a little more unique that might be seasonal or has a colour or texture element that compliments your project.
- Have variety in terms of textures, scale, materials etc. Sometimes what looks great in person might read differently on camera. Having a few options on hand to swap out can help refine a shot.
Choose materials that are timeless or look high-end. Wood, stone, glass, and ceramic tend to stand the test of time.
- Build a small inventory of regularly used items. Some items like solid
coloured towels, bar soaps, candles, or coffee table books might be
sourced frequently over the course of your career. Having a set that is
generic enough that can be easily mixed in with new pieces can save
some time if you know you have a good set of staples on standby.
Suggestions by space
‘Who lives here and what is the purpose of this space’
Bathrooms
Bathrooms tend to need minimal styling as there are less surfaces and shelving. Channel your favourite high end hotel or spa look.
- Fluffy white towels, solid coloured towels with a texture or turkish towels tend to add warmth but don’t detract from the overall design.
- Bring in a few high end bath products with minimal branding. Keep in mind shower niches and ledges tend to be narrow, so make sure you bring items that will sit nicely in the space.
- If you have extra spaces you’d like to fill, consider perfumes, makeup brushes, candles, and other bath items.
- As always, florals or plants can help bring a space to life.
- Create vignettes next to a tub or in a blank space using a stool or small table.
- Glass and mirrors always needs a little extra attention in terms of cleaning. Be sure to bring glass cleaner just in case.
Kitchen & Dining Spaces
Choose an overall theme for the space. Try not to have too many contrasting or busy vignettes.
- Islands tend to take up a lot of space in the frame. Low flat bowls or trays or one large florals/branches on the surface ensures the styling won’t block too many elements in the background or distract from the other areas of the kitchen.
- Bring the space to life a few small vignettes. Some examples are a cutting board set out prepping a recipe, baking/cookbook open next to a mixing bowl, prepping florals by a sink, coffee set up, cocktail set up, baked goods or other fresh food elements.
- Open shelving and other corners can be filled with other kitchen elements and decor.
- Objects tend to look best where they ‘make sense’ in a kitchen.
- Styling can take many directions. Here are some of the many items to consider as you build the scene:
- Include dishes: stacks of solid coloured dishes, vases, glassware, pitchers.
- Cooking tools: mortar and pestle, oils & vinegar, salt & pepper, wooden or metal kitchen tools, boards & trays.
- Near the sink: soaps, brushes, scrubbers.
- Other elements like cookbooks, small artwork.
- On the stovetop: Dutch oven, stock pot, cast iron or kettle.
- Include some fresh elements using fruits, vegetables, herbs and/or florals.
- Add softness with tea towels, napkins or other linens.
- If showcasing functional areas like drawer inserts or an appliance garage, be selective about what items will showcase the feature in an aesthetically pleasing way, generally, less is more.
Living & Family Rooms
Create an inviting space, add props to match your aesthetic, or thin out homeowner items to help achieve the look you want.
- Take time to style shelving, and work in groupings varying the types of items on each shelf. Generally, less is more.
- Usually, it’s best to remove anything overly personal such as family photos or items with names on them.
- Have a variety of low-profile items for coffee and side tables (e.g. books, trays, bowls, baskets).
- Bring additional throw blankets and throw pillows to add a cozy feel.
- Adjust sofa cushions and pillows so they are looking filled out and smooth.
- Steam drapery and evenly space out the folds as best as possible.
Bedrooms
Similar to bathrooms, these spaces tend to do well with simple styling.
- Don’t overcrowd nightstands. You just need a few items.
- Books, small jewelry dish, florals, glasses, small decorative boxes, and small pictures frames work well.
- Hide cords. In most cases you can unplug lamps.
- Steam your linens and drapery.
- Don’t be afraid to bring in different bedding, throw blankets or throw pillows to enhance the look.
- In kids’ rooms, have a little fun and select a few toys for a vignette that will help play up the design.
Entryways & mudrooms
Create a story or lifestyle element with the accessories about ’who lives here’
- Structured bags and baskets tend to sit nicer for photos.
- Consider the colours combinations and materials.
- Runners and rugs can add softness, bring in an alternate if the one your client’s currently have has a bit more of a functional look or has some wear and tear.
Exterior spaces
Lawn maintenance and landscaping makes a huge difference, so be sure to assess this and see if improvements need to made before shoot day.
- A few planters with seasonal flowers can give the exterior a more inviting look.
- Outdoor entertaining spaces or pool areas can benefit from some accessories or small vignettes. Again, think about how the spaces are used and what might be there.
Adjacent spaces
While not all spaces will be photographed, sometimes we may see into an adjacent space on certain angles. Do you best to keep them clean and clear if we might catch a glimpse. We can usually wait until we are in position to move out furniture or clear surfaces if necessary.
Artwork
Don’t forget about artwork! If your client’s project is still missing some pieces or you think a different style might suit the space better, bring them along. We can hold them in place and do a little work in post-production if it’s not something you want to affix to their walls.
A few final suggestions!
Like with anything in business and life, with experience, you’ll develop a bit of a process, which will add some ease to future shoots. Here a few final suggestions:
- Bring some cleaning supplies with you. Even if the home is clean, packing, unpacking and moving around elements tends to stir up some debris. A broom or Swiffer, micro fiber cloths, glass cleaner, stainless steel cleaner and paper towel are great to have on hand.
- Other tools that can come in handy include scissors, floral clippers, tape, sticky tack, and command hooks.
- Know that you can always borrow props from other spaces or move props around shot to shot, nothing is fixed.
- Focus your energy on the most important spaces.
- If all this seems too overwhelming or time-consuming, consider hiring a freelance stylist.
- If you are styling yourself or it’s a large project, bring someone along to help out - an intern, a colleague, or even a helpful friend. There is a lot to load in and out, and having an extra set of hands can help you focus on the creative parts of it.
- Leave behind your clients a small thank you - a plant or a floral arrangement from your shoot is always a nice gesture!
Relax and enjoy! Your project is complete, photographing the space is a great way to admire and celebrate a job well done.
If you have any questions or need a few more suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to chat about styling and upcoming projects!
