We mentioned briefly that Better Homes & Gardens’ Do It Yourself (DIY) team was here for a shoot, and now we’re filling in the rest of the story. Their crew spent two full days at Casa Petersik photographing our home for a before-and-after feature that will be run across the four 2009 DIY issues, and they’ve invited us to contribute written pieces for each issue. That means we’ll be writing all four articles in a first-person voice—our blog, but in print.
The DIY team arrived with a trunkful of props and spent 48 hours styling and photographing almost every room and detail in the house. Watching a professional magazine crew work was a fast, fascinating lesson in how editorial photo shoots are run—how they style, position, light, and frame each scene to read beautifully on camera.
Here’s the team who transformed our rooms for the camera. On the far left is Beth, Editor of Do It Yourself, who led the shoot. Working alongside her was Cat—someone many of you already know—who styled rooms and handled a lot of the hands-on decisions. Together they decided on prop placement, arrangements, and the small finishing touches that make photos sing. Their direction was invaluable for getting the look they wanted.
The photography was handled by Erik, with his assistant Piper. Their role was to translate the styling into images—choosing angles, adjusting light, and finding the right compositions. The results are gorgeous; you’ll see Erik’s images when the spring issue publishes in January.
Even exterior shots got careful attention. The crew used reflectors and controlled light to bring out the front of the house and make colors pop. It was surprising—and impressive—how much subtle lighting adjustments changed the final image.
We chipped in here and there. For example, Sherry helped hold a giant reflector on a windy day while I played the dutiful husband and photographed her doing it. Little moments like that were part of the process—hands-on, collaborative, and occasionally silly.
The pace was intense: they photographed 32 different rooms, scenes, and details in just two days. Despite the long hours, the atmosphere was relaxed and fun. Beth, Cat, Erik, and Piper were great company during the workdays and joined us afterward for dinner on more than one occasion.
To add extra visual interest, the team brought supplemental props. We went on a couple of quick shopping trips before meals to pick up small items that would help complete the shots. Those finishing touches—books, ceramics, textiles, and fresh flowers—made a big difference in how the rooms read on camera. Sherry plans to share some propping tips in a later post to show exactly what they added and why.
One final snapshot from the day shows that even furniture sometimes had to be relocated for the perfect shot. The coffee table was nudged out of the way so the composition would be just right—proof that nothing is sacred when it comes to crafting a great magazine image.
We’re excited to see the final results in print and to share the story behind each photo when the issues are released. It was a memorable experience to collaborate with a professional team and to learn more about the craft of editorial styling and photography.