Details from the Better Homes & Gardens Shoot

    
    
First off, thank you all so much for the sweet words about my last post.  I received the kindest comments and emails from many of you, and I really do appreciate them all.  I just knew that you would share in my excitement.  After all, many of you have been reading this blog from close to the beginning and have seen what a ride this has been.  It really is amazing what opportunities this online world can bring your way.  (Thanks, Al Gore.  I guess I really owe this all to you.)


Okay, so on to the details of the day of the BH&G shoot.  My nerves were a little shot, mainly because I just didn't know what to expect (and maybe because I drank three cups of coffee. . . ).  Either way, I was relieved to see them show up.  (I felt much like I used to, waiting for Santa to arrive.)


I was lucky enough to get some of the very best out there to photograph and style my home.  Not only is Rob Brinson a super-talented photographer, but he was one of the nicest, most down-to-earth guys I've met.  Katie and I may have asked him a thousand questions while we waited for the shoot to start.  He probably thinks we're the most talkative Southern girls he's ever met, but we like to know stuff :)
    

I was most interested in seeing the stylist do her thing.  And, I had the fabulous Annette Joseph to work her magic.  When we spoke on the phone the day before, she mentioned that some designers were a little uneasy about her making changes to their homes.  I, on the other hand, was anxious to see what changes she thought needed to be made.  You know how your own home just never feels completely "finished"?  If her work is good enough for BH&G, then it was going to be good enough for me!

Katie, Annette and me after the shoot

So, the sad news is that I nearly had to swear on my life not to take any pictures of any kind while they were there.  But, I'll do my best to recap the day, and you'll just have to take my word that the pictures (at least the sneak peeks I saw) turned out beautifully.

They came in and began styling the house right away.  I have to say, seeing them march in with loads of accessories made me a little giddy (see, it was like Christmas).  None of my pillows made the cut (this made me realize I need some new, bigger pillows).  They re-accessorized my mantel, and brought in bright pops of color in each space they photographed.  Overall, I thought it looked like my house, only brighter and happier.  Of course, they brought fresh flowers, including a gorgeous arrangement of pink roses.  (This also made me wonder why I don't buy fresh flowers for our house more often. . . I'm still enjoying these in our kitchen.)

My main job was to stay out of the way; I was just trying to take it all in. . . It was amazing to me how long each of the rooms took to shoot (although they did the entire thing in one day).  Of course, I'm comparing it to how long it takes me to take pictures for my blog.  Their attention to detail is what makes them the professionals, I suppose.  My inattention to detail is what leaves me with a photograph of a plastic carrot under our sofa that I didn't see until I started uploading it to my blog. . .

They spent most of the morning shooting the dining room. (They took down the chandelier.  Wish they could've left it down; I never really loved it.)  Next, they moved onto various angles of our family room and headed to the breakfast area next.  They finished up with the master bedroom and for the grand finale? The dreaded family portrait!  

Annette did give me one job, which I was happy to do.  They wanted the chairs in the breakfast area to be recovered in something more colorful than the dark leopard print.  (Suprisingly, their main concern was not trying to make Pop-Tart stains and Dorito fingers less conspicuous.)  I quickly ran to the fabric store and came back with this Waverly print:

Okay, so I know you're really wanting to know how the kids did.  Well, like I mentioned in the last post, my husband kept them away (and in happy moods!) until it was time for their pictures.  He arrived right on time with a bag full of Smarties in hand (bribery works wonders. . . ).  We quickly got dressed in our "non-seasonal" clothing and headed downstairs.  At that point, Annette told us that we were actually going to gear the family shots toward summer.  Back upstairs, it was, to change everyone's clothes, including mine.  Remember my gold top?  They liked what I already had on better.  (Don't worry, I did get to wear it to another event later that week, so it's all good.)

The fam hanging out until their big moment.  If all else fails, feed them!

My prayers must have been heard, because the kids did great!  All were unusually cooperative.  They did a shot in the breakfast room of me and the kids (you know, the way we usually sit down each morning, fully dressed, with a nice spread of food on the table and in really happy moods. . . ).  They had me repeatedly pour juice while the kids did their thing.  My two-year-old did end up under the table, but it actually worked out. . . They seemed to like her "creative direction" for the shoot.

They also did a family portrait outside.  Yes, the whole family, smiling, looking at the camera--the kind of picture that makes a momma sweat bullets.  I honestly don't know what happened or how it turned out.  I just focused on smiling and looking straight ahead and let the experts deal with everyone else in the shot.  I do know that at one point, the very nice Brent Gipson had to run some circles around the camera to make my kids laugh.  All in a day's work, I suppose.

And, remember what I said about bribery?  Well, my husband followed through and took them to Ben & Jerry's for ice cream afterwards :)

So, my overall take of the whole process?  It was lots of fun, but much more intense that I expected.  I loved watching them work and was fascinated by the detail that went into each shot.  I was also surprised at how planned out everything was (they had a really detailed "script" for each area they shot).  Some of the areas they decided to use suprised me, as well, but they made them look great through the eyes of the camera.   

And for those of you who have asked, I don't yet know what issue we'll be in, but they seemed to think it might be Spring/Summer of next year.  You'll be the first to know when I find out! 

And finally, I just wanted to say the biggest thanks to my friend/assistant, Katie!  She was a wonderful source of moral support during this whole thing, and I'm so thankful for her friendship and help on a daily basis as I work on growing my business.  I love working with her, and love laughing with her even more!   

This is us, after the shoot--happy, exhausted and hungry! :)

Thanks for reading such a lengthy post, and again, for all of your encouragement.  This is such a blessing, and I'm happy I could share it with you.