If you follow along on our insta stories, you’ve probably seen some behind-the-scenes of our OI photoshoots. Photoshoots can be some of the craziest + rewarding days. We think anyone who has entered the world of Interior Design is always surprised by how much work goes into getting just the right shot and really telling the story of the home and the design, so we thought we would take today to show you everything that happens to get the perfect photo!
A day or two before the photoshoot, the OI team heads to the home to conduct a walk-through of all the spaces. During the walk-through, we make a list of any accessories, plants, flowers, etc. that we think could benefit the space. It’s also a great time to check-in and catch up with our clients!
After the walk-through, it’s time to go find the accessories we need. Beautiful coffee table books, vases, frames, fruits and veggies — the hunt is on! One of our team members is running all around Chicago to make sure we get the good stuff. A lot of times our clients like to purchase the accessories that we buy at this time, because they might not have been ready when their project was initially done. The right accessories can def add a ton of potential + life to your space!
Yep, we consider shopping for accessories and shopping for florals two different things — because they are! To get the freshest florals, we like to go early in the am of the photoshoot. If you’ve never been to a wholesale florist early in the morning, please be warned that it is not for the weak. It can feel a little chaotic, but the key is to know what you want and stay focused!
Before our photographer arrives, we like to get all of our accessories unwrapped and spruce up our florals. We bust out our install kit and get to steaming the bedding, folding the throws, making sure all the artwork is aligned, and zhushing the pillows. If we have time, we try to make a donut run so that we can get our morning sugar rush on 🍩
Now that we’re good to go with our accessories, florals, and donuts — we’re ready for our photographer! We absolutely love working with Margaret Rajic, an amazing Chicago-based photographer who is as sweet as she is hard-working and talented. When she arrives, we take a minute to walk through the home so that she can understand the lighting + space.
It’s go time! Margaret will test out different angles, while the OI team works on jazzing up the space. There’s a lot of quick creative problem solving that happens to get the right shot, like having to pull a light fixture back from the ceiling, so the shadow of it doesn’t show in the pic.
When it’s time for her to get her final shots, everyone steps out to make sure we’re not in the way. Sometimes exposures can be minutes long, so it’s important to not have any movement in the background or it will make the lighting super funky.
The important thing to remember is that every angle is different and needs to tell its’ own story of the space. So sometimes that means a chair needs to come into the shot a little or a vase needs to move an inch to the left. (Or sometimes you need to prop up a bench on cans of shaving cream so the top of will it show in the pic…)
This process means that shooting just one room can take over an hour. Rearranging furniture and accessories is definitely the most tedious part of the day, but it makes the final outcome so amazing!
Snacks are very important — do not skip this step! With all the excitement of the shoot and focusing on all the details, it can be really easy to let the day fly by without food. After a few hours of shooting, it’s time to take a few minutes to regroup, eat a snack, chug some caffeine, drink a spindrift, and get back to it!
After Margaret is done shooting a room, she takes time to get some really great detail shots. These are important because they really showcase every small decision we made throughout the design process. It’s also a great time to have some fun with the photos — aka take all the pet pics! #mojo
After all of the rooms and details are shot, it’s time to clean up and put everything back in its original position. Photoshoots can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, so every wrap up looks a little different — but it’s always such a rewarding feeling at the end of the day. Now it’s time to wait for the amazing photos and take a long bubble bath 🛁
After the photoshoot, Margaret makes any edits necessary to the pictures — and we’re so grateful for her attention to detail. When those are all said + done, she sends over the images — which is one of our fav moments at OI! After months of designing, perfecting, photographing, and editing — we have our finished product! 😍
Here are just a few final images from our past projects:
Photos by Margaret Rajic
Design by Outline Interiors
To see more of our photos, check out our portfolio here.
To get started on your next project, submit a project inquiry form here.
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