Design Crush

I have the internets really bad today. [the girls and I coined the term 'internets' in design school for when you're super off-task and on the internet. it's when you can't.stop.looking.] I guess in the same respect, you could get the twitters, pinterests, or facebooks. But internets just sounds better. 

I love to look at other interior designers' websites to see what's happening in the world of photography. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a million times....'Don't turn over your work back to your client until you have taken your photos.' Don't fool yourself.. it will likely never be the same if you try to plan a photoshoot once they've gotten settled in. It is their space, right?! We as designers must plan accordingly for when we plan to get our shots, and it's extremely important to make them count. Does it make any sense for you to pour your heart into a design and then just take pictures as-is? We all know there are elements you must bring in to photographs that wouldn't normally be in a space. Do people usually keep their fur blanket quarter turned and laid over the back of the sofa? No. [Well, I keep mine perfectly folded and have mini-flipouts if people change it. But that's OCD, not real life.] Do they usually have fresh-cut flowers in every room? No. But in photography, it's all these details and elements that can make or break a shot. You want it to look lifestyled, not lifeless. You can also think of photography as you do an outfit: if you're showing a little more leg with a skirt, cover up your top with a blazer. You don't have to see it all! The worst photography shots, in my opinion, are those that are taken to show everything. If you love the fabric and legs on a chair, only show half. It creates visual interest, and it still shows off the parts that you love. If you have negative space on a console, crop part of that to bring the viewer's eye to the accessories. And please Lord don't just plop an accessory there just to have something; it's usually blatantly obvious once the photos are enlarged.Even when overall shots are taken, good photographers know not to show every corner of the room and every complete piece of furniture. Booooooring. 

Instead of taking hours to compile photos from a million different sources, I have just chosen one today that sparked this post. These shots are from Lizette Marie, a talented designer out of the San Fransisco Bay area who seems to have the styling aspect handled. I'll start with my favorite photo and go from there:

Cropping? Check.
Editing? Check.
Fresh flowers? Check.
Angles? Check.
Details? Check. 

If you're a designer out there, what are the essential things you always bring with you to a photoshoot for styling purposes and how much time do you spend gathering these things since they are an out-of-pocket expense? I am dying to hear your opinion! 

xoxox

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