This week we wanted to take you behind the scenes of a few photoshoots we are coordinating of our recently completed projects here in New Orleans by sharing our typical process - from initial decision making to execution.
STEP ONE: Understanding a project’s marketing potential. This helps us establish a budget for the photoshoot, select a photographer, and better organize our efforts.
The marketing content will fall into one or more of these categories:
before and after photos
website imagery
editorial pitches
award submissions
newsletter content
As we are weighing up the marketing angle, we will also ask ourselves some other questions:
Will the investment in photography pay off in the long run? If the photos help attract more clients, then it’s money well spent.
Does the project stand out? It’s about being memorable. If a project has that “wow” factor, then it’s definitely a candidate.
Does the work represent our values? We are proud of our design work! So when we are considering a photoshoot we are asking ourselves if the project reflects our style and ethos.
STEP TWO: Scout the project for the perfect angles! We look for the angles that really tell the story - whether it’s showcasing a dramatic transformation, or just capturing the essence of our design.
Why do we do this? For starters, it helps us plan ahead. If we're doing any "before and after" shots, we need to find the best vantage points to really highlight the change. Plus, it gives us a chance to figure out what kind of styling accessories we might need to spruce things up.
We take notes on each frame and make a shopping list for our styling needs. Whether it’s a pop of color here or strategically placed greenery, every detail counts!
STEP THREE: Make preparations and go shopping!
New Orleans is a gold mine for consignments stores like Merchant House or Floor 13. I also love going to the local plant stores. This is a guilty pleasure of mine, because when I am shopping for a photoshoot, I’m secretly shopping for myself. I love freshening up my house each season with new plants.
We will prepare our photoshoot bag. This typically includes items like: shears, twine, command strips, glass cleaner, leaf sheen, etc.
Photoshoot Day!
We’re in full-on hustle mode, constantly tweaking and adjusting, running props in and out of the shots like there’s no tomorrow. Some photoshoots are an hour long and some last all day.
Depending on our photographer’s style, we might need to do a bit of post-production magic to make the images pop. Most professional photographers do their own post-production work, but in the images below, we used a real estate photographer because our budget was small.
We added green grass to this shot because the owner’s lawn had not filled in yet. - make this this image caption
Photoshoot Day Tips:
Bring snacks and bottles of water for you and the photographer; especially for summer shoots!
Don’t wear heavy clothing. Trust me, you’ll be sweating.
Find where the owner keeps the ladder ahead of time, or arrange to bring one yourself.
Thank the owner! They’ll have to make time and space for you to work, and without their support, there would be nothing to photograph!
So there you have it! We hope you enjoyed this peek behind-the-scenes at the work that goes into making our projects shine on camera.
Thank you to our clients: Kate & David Dekay, Sam Berman, Ellen Sitkin & Ben Cortopassi, Sam Coley, Tom & Pam Messonnier, Peg and John Bolton, Jayson & Paris Seidman, Robert & Stacey Sexton.
Thank you and acknowledgement to our photographer Jacqueline Marque & stylist Suzonne Stirling
Thank you and acknowledgement to our photographer Laura Steffan