It's all in the detail...
The difference between a space that looks nice and a space that makes you want to jump through the screen to experience it for yourself is all about the small details...and it doesn't have to be complicated. The Em Callaghan method of elevating a room for a shoot is to deck it out with food, foliage and a little bit of fun. Setting up a breakfast scene with a couple of pastries and a cup of coffee on the bed; or an outdoor scene with a picnic basket; allows potential guests to envision themselves in those very spaces, enjoying those treats while they relax into their escape. A board game set up on the table or a magazine lying open on the sofa creates a more lived in, welcoming atmosphere, communicating a way to entertain or unwind.
Rooms can appear a bit flat without the texture and colour of foliage & flowers. I am a forager and prefer gathering seasonal blooms & herbs from the garden or bunches of freshly cut foliage from trees & shrubs rather than picking something up from the store for my shoot. Working with nature's seasons adds authenticity as well as beauty. A vase of dried autumn leaves in the bathroom or a jam jar of backyard blooms on the bedside table can soften and lift a bland space. Kitchens with a loaf of sourdough on the breadboard or a cup of tea by the chair on the verandah really round out the image.
During the planning phase of a shoot I talk through these kind of styling details with my client to get a clear idea of their property and how they want its atmosphere conveyed. I create a styling/shot list for each room and visualise how I'm going to capture the space in its best possible light. During pre-shoot prep my brain is completely occupied with that commission. Simple, thoughtful layers of detail that elevate your space...that is what you get with an Em Callaghan Photography property shoot. If you're an accommodation host who needs fresh images that really connect with potential guests then I'd love to have a chat...you can get in contact with me here.
Til next time...pip pip xx Em