We’re sharing behind-the-scenes details from our recent photo shoot with the BHG team for Do It Yourself magazine and Kitchen + Bath Makeovers. The stars of the feature were our newly transformed nursery and our recently renovated bathroom. The day was a blur of prepping, propping, shooting, eating, quiet high-fives (mostly between John and me), and watching the pros at work as they transformed our rooms into magazine-ready scenes.
The production was impressive: large fabric panels to soften outside light, huge camera lenses that seemed worth more than our house, and computers tethered to cameras so every frame could be reviewed and refined on the spot. It’s a good reminder of how much effort goes into those effortlessly beautiful shelter photos you see in glossy publications. Below you’ll find shots of the high-tech camera-to-computer setup, our nursery chair piled with toys during styling, and the shoot’s printed shot list that guided the photographer and stylist.
One important thing we learned: you must be comfortable with strangers rearranging your stuff to get the perfect composition. During the shoot things were often moved into temporary piles (our nursery chair became a catch-all), screens came off windows, and decor was shifted from room to room. Magazine-perfect images usually conceal those piles of props, extension cords, and unused items that sit just out of frame. The good news: the crew is respectful and leaves your home the way they found it—or sometimes even cleaner.
Amid the organized chaos we managed a quick interview with Cat, the stylist (she’s actually my longtime friend from our days at Country Home magazine), and Erik Johnson, the photographer, whom we’d worked with before. They shared tips and tricks straight from the pros that help produce those polished images you see in print.
Some of the techniques they use are intense and not necessarily practical for casual shooters, but they’re fascinating to learn. Erik’s first tip: check your pride at the door. Achieving the right angle sometimes means lying on the floor, squeezing into a corner, or even climbing a ladder and shooting through an exterior window after removing the screen to get the widest possible perspective.
They also used a scrim—a long strip of fabric—to diffuse harsh exterior light. It’s a subtle trick, but the difference in the final images was dramatic. Small changes to the quality of light can make a room look much softer and more inviting.
Erik’s second tip is simple and practical: always use a tripod. It stabilizes the camera and produces crisper images. Even without elaborate gear, a tripod is one of the easiest upgrades for improving your photos. He also encouraged experimenting with angles once the camera is on the tripod—tilting up, down, or off-center—rather than shooting only straight-on. Small variations like swinging the camera 45 degrees up or 25 degrees down can yield a more dynamic and interesting composition.
Erik’s assistant, Abby Greenawalt, offered two more helpful tips. First: natural light is best. For the entire shoot they relied on natural daylight and kept interior lights off. With a tripod, slower shutter speeds are possible without blur, which avoids the harshness of on-camera flash and preserves a softer, more natural look. Second: less is more. Instead of blasting away with hundreds of shots, take a considered photo, upload it to a computer, and evaluate composition and styling on a larger screen. Small details jump out on a big monitor—curtain placement, the angle of a vase, or a crooked lampshade—and you can tweak and then capture a polished final image rather than sorting through hundreds of mediocre ones.
Cat shared five styling secrets she relies on. Her first piece of advice: be a perfectionist. Stylists iron robes, wipe mirrors until they gleam, and even remove window screens—all to create a flawless scene. So when you admire a pristine room in a magazine, know that a lot of careful prepping likely went into making it look that way.
Her second tip is to cheat where needed. For example, she filled towels with dishcloths to create a fuller, fluffier look in photos. She also subtly nudges accessories left or right to create the right separation for the camera, even if it looks slightly odd head-on. Open-shelf items are often pulled forward to catch the light and appear more appealing through the lens.
Her remaining tips are straightforward and adaptable: repurpose items from other rooms when you need a specific prop (she borrowed a glass from our kitchen to use as a bud vase), accessorize in groups of three for balanced visual impact, and play around—experimenting with textures and arrangements until something clicks. There’s no single right answer in styling; trial and error is part of the process.
The crew also treated us to a lovely catered spread that they arranged beautifully—another small detail that fit the glossy vibe of the day. They were professional, gracious, and left us with a few extra sandwiches to enjoy.
We’re grateful to the entire crew and to Do It Yourself magazine and Kitchen + Bath Makeovers for a fun, educational day and for featuring our home. We enjoyed learning the tricks of the trade and watching the transformation happen. We can’t wait to see the final images and will share them when they run.