This beautiful bohemian-inspired master bedroom is the second of three interior projects I photographed for Esther of This Wild Heart. She drew inspiration from her trip to Joshua Tree National Park, bringing warm tones and textures into the room.
Head over to This Wild Heart to see where to get just about everything!
Esther of This Wild Heart created this Montessori-style playroom for her son. What’s a Montessori-style playroom, you ask? I had the same question and here’s what I learned.
The theory behind the Montessori Method is to create an intentional space that helps a child’s development. It’s supposed to encourage them to be more independent through the room’s design and layout.
One idea is to create an open space that allows kids to move freely. Here are some more ideas.
Keeping toys and books on low shelves makes them accessible to children so they can easily interact with them. This helps to keep activities within reach and children will be more engaged with them.
Include child-sized furniture to give them a comfortable place to read or play. A comfortable space creates a better environment for learning and play.
Leaving open space is like a blank canvas. It encourages kids to use their creativity and imagination. It also gives them space to move around.
Peg board: Gautier Studio
Mini letter pennants: Little Rose and Co.
Felt Plants: Contrabotanic
Alphabet Chalkboard: Chalk Full of Design
Tea set: Kolkid Raduga Grez Tea Set
Everything has a place. This creates a routine, which is highly beneficial for children. It may take time to develop the habit, but it’s meant to create order and teach them to put back their things in the same spot,
Many toys are wooden ones instead of battery-powered ones that light up or sing. The idea is to promote imagination and engagement so children develop their motor skills and focus when they’re not distracted by toys with flashing lights or noise.
To see where to get these toys and decor, head over to Esther’s blog post!
Wendy of The Kwendy Home partnered with Lagostina to launch their new risotto pot, La Risottiera and asked me to photograph this series for it.
I’ve been fortunate to work together with Wendy on multiple influencer marketing projects and I can attest to how hard she works on each one. As the photographer for these marketing campaigns, it takes time to prepare, source props, style the product before actually shooting.
All the work behind the scenes is worth it though. The results of this shoot came out beautifully and most importantly, the client was happy with the images.
What Are Business Branding Photos?
Heather came to me because she needed business branding photos to use on her website and social media. Businesses, especially small business owners, have to build their brand from scratch and one of the important steps is to take professional business branding photos. They want professional, genuine photos that represent who they are and what they do. That’s why I love working with them.
What If I’ve Never Had Professional Photos Taken Before?
One of the most common things that business owners tell me is that they’re nervous in front of the camera and I totally get it! Most of the people I work with don’t usually have their photos taken by a professional photographer so I thought I’d share 3 quick tips on how to create a successful business branding photoshoot:
1. Before The Shoot: Preparation Is Key
I can’t emphasize this enough. It’s so important to plan for the shoot. Experienced photographers do not just show up to a set without planning.
Once you’ve signed the contract, create a shoot brief with a mood board, shot list, prop list, shoot schedule, location and contact information, deliverables, etc. This will keep everyone on track and make sure that you get the shots you need.
2. Shoot Day
a) Arrive early. Not on time. But early. At least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time so you can settle in and start setting up. Every minute spent waiting for someone to arrive is time that is not being used productively and when you’re renting a space and hiring a photographer, it’s costing you time and money.
b) Communicate. Make sure to communicate with the team throughout the shoot. Don’t wait until the end to bring it up if you felt that something wasn’t working. Also, be ready for unexpected changes. As much as you prepare ahead, there are some things that may not go as planned and you have to roll with it and find a solution. Trust the team. When you choose a great group of people to work with, let them do what they’re good at.
c) Don’t overthink it. It’s ok to feel nervous, but don’t worry about how you “should” be posing. You’ll end up with stiff and unnatural photos. This goal isn’t to scrutinize every detail about a pose. It should be about showing your personality to attract the clients you want.
3. Post-Shoot Day
Now that you have your photos, use them! Don’t be afraid to post them (and re-post them!). With algorithms, it’s likely that your audience won’t see it the first time, or even the second and third time so get those photos out there :)
Another thing to note: It’s not emphasized enough but a key to creating a solid relationship with the team who’s helping you is to pay them on time. Your photographer, hair and makeup stylists are your team and you want to create a strong relationship of trust for the next time you need their help again.
I hope this helps! There’s a lot on this that we can talk about so if you have any more questions about this or other topics, feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch through Instagram or email.
The Apartment is a vintage furniture and decor shop nestled in a row of shops on Queen East in Toronto’s downtown core. Fiona, the owner and curator of the shop not only finds vintage pieces, she also offers custom upholstering so that you can choose the colour and fabric of your liking. For sets of small items like glassware, she hunts for a set so it’s easier for collectors to find a set of 4 or 6.
Pieces are constantly coming and going so for the most up to date items, follow her on Instagram or visit the shop at 238 Queen St East, Toronto.
