    We've had another kitchen update! If you've been around here a while, you'll maybe remember we had a mini kitchen makeover a few years ago. It involved tile decal stickers and painting the cupboards pink. Well, the pink cupboards have stayed, but we now have some beautiful new tiles - plus a few other changes!
I spent quite a while gathering tile samples; I initially did want something patterned or a classic metro style. In the end I couldn't choose a colour so decided to go for a patchwork of pastels and a darker grout for a fresh and fun vibe. The tiling was a big job which grew arms and legs and resulted in replastering the walls, so naturally we had to repaint the kitchen as well. I didn't want anything which would distract from the tiles too much so went for a soft green which suited existing appliances and the pink units. Since the old shelves had to come down during the process I thought now was the time to treat ourselves to some rustic new ones for added cosiness. We ordered some made to measure, and I found pink brackets to go with them. One of the slightly complicated jobs was switching over all the sockets to cute pink ones - we also added a couple of double sockets as our kitchen has always been lacking plugs. This has given us so much more flexibility with the layout of our appliances, and the pink makes a feature of them which I love. Finally, we updated the lighting by adding stylish green wall lights which stop the need for big light brightness when pottering in the evening. These are actually not wired in because we only decided on them after tiling! But, we did find rechargeable usb bulbs which mean they work wirelessly. I've made a list of kitchen purchases below, but if I've missed anything you're interested in, let me know.
Next on our home DIY list is the bathroom, our biggest project to date!
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      Stacey of SD Studios got in touch after being recommended me by the lovely Ceramic Button. She explained that they were launching their online shop and were in need of a collection of lifestyle images to capture the mood of their product range. These would be used on socials as well as the new ecommerce site. The main products I was to focus on for this initial shoot were the Be Kind cards which come in four varieties - original, love, grief and business. Stacey went me details on the styling varieties for each but I wanted to make sure the images would have enough similarities to keep the brand visuals cohesive. I chose natural wood as the main background for a homely feel since the lifestyle aspect was important. The wall and other backgrounds was mainly blue to suit their branding. The scene changes from collection to collection but there are some props which intentionally feature throughout to help the images flow - notebooks, scalloped tray and candle. Here's what Stacey had to say about the photoshoot: We are thrilled with the product photoshoot from JillyJilly Studio. They’re exactly what we had wished for, and really do bring our products and personality to life in our new gift shop. The photography really captures the essence of what our products are about, and elevates them to a new level. They have brought a much needed freshness to the collection. We cannot express enough how pleased we are with them, and cannot wait to hear what our customers, friends & family think of the new look. As well as the outcome being perfect, the communication from booking the shoot to the delivery of the photographs was clear, enjoyable and professional. Thanks Jilly!" SD Studios launch their online shop this week so check it out to see more of the product images and browse their fab products. https://shop.sd-studios.co.uk/collections/all If you would like to book a photoshoot you can do so here.   1. Professional photos make a world of difference when putting together a wholesale catalogue. As well as a stand-out cover, you can really share your brand vibe with potential stockists. White cut-out pics are perfect for making an easy-to-use line sheet to help with ordering too. 2. If you’re taking part in a trade show you’ll want to make the most of your stand display - it’s cost you a lot to be there! Hanging large-scale prints of your favourite images is a great addition for catching passers-by at a busy event. Showing your best lifestyle shots can really show potential stockists what your brand is about and help them tell if you’re the right fit for their shop. 3. When setting up your profile for a trade show you can usually supply a handful of images - organisers are always on the look-out for images they can use on their website home page and socials to promote the event so make sure yours are irresistible. 4. Selling on Faire? The same applies, the better your images are the more likely you are to pop up on their featured suppliers. 5. Having beautiful images also makes life easier for your stockists as your products are easy for them to add to their website and promote to their customers. The more they sell, the more they’ll order from you. Summer Autumn Winter Since our first shoot at the start of the year, I've loved working with The Ceramic Button on a range of seasonal shoots. Claire has such a variety of ceramic 'buttons', tags and decor that it's been fun working out how to set up different themed scenes to suit. For summer we had a garden party/afternoon tea theme with cocktails, scones, fresh flowers and berries. In autumn, I sourced some early pumpkins and added cosy candles - Claire sent some acorns and conkers she managed to find too. Finally, for winter we had a couple of different scenes, more traditional cosy Christmas tea with reds and greens, and a baking set up to suit the other products. I kept the wooden background and bokeh lights for consistency. If you'd like to book a seasonal photoshoot you can do so here. I'm currently booking for February/March 2023.     Rachel from Scents of the Wild booked a mini shoot so I could update her Christmas candle photos to work with the images I shot earlier in the year. I used many of the same props and set ups for consistency but with a few subtle differences to add a festive twist. Red twine, holly, fairy lights and striped pegs were in keeping with the apothecary theme but definitely give the photos a Christmassy edge. A mini shoot is perfect for updating seasonal images - it's also super handy having some extra content to share on socials at this busy time of year! If you'd like to book a photoshoot you can do so here.     Before
 *Lust Home gifted me the wallpaper and paint featured in this post. All opinions are my own. I was already a huge fan of Lust Home wallpapers after using two of them in our retro caravan makeover, so when they asked if they could send me some for a future project I jumped at the chance to transform the living room. It was on my to do list for next year anyway but there’s no time like the present when your favourite interiors brand wants to collaborate! I chose some samples which arrived quickly and were such a good size for getting a proper feel for the pattern and colours. The paint samples are stickers so you can pop them directly onto where you’ll be painting which gives you a much better idea of how it’ll look in the light of your space. I went for She’s a Wildflower (brights on cream) and Smashed Avo paint to give the fire place a cosy update. The paint is actually an eco conscious (yay!) matt emulsion (meant for walls) but I’ve used other matt emulsions on furniture before - as long as it’s sanded and primed and not a high traffic piece it should be fine. You can always seal with a matt varnish if you’d like extra protection from scuffs. The wallpaper is perfect (shout out to Kelly of Oh So Daisy who designed it) and it really ties in the colours of all the different vintage furniture in the room. It’s paste-the-wall which makes it easier to hang, and a really nice thick weight to it. The makeover wouldn’t have been complete without a new rug. Our current beige rug was a temporary fix after an unfortunate incident with a glass of red wine ruined the previous one. When I found this colourful recycled cotton rug from La Redoute it was love at first sight, but I was a little worried it would be too much with the rest of the decor. When my Mum (who came to share her wallpapering skills) saw the rug she seemed concerned too, but once it was all in place she admitted: “it’s mad… but it works”. I am absolutely over the moon with our living room makeover - after transforming the caravan I found I had the confidence to go bolder in our home. I never thought I’d be a maximalist but it’s just so much more fun! Florals aren’t the obvious choice for winter but it turns out they look magical with the Christmas decorations and glow of twinkly lights and candles. Almost like a fairy grotto. I can’t wait to style the space when spring comes too.
     Ellis & Pip is a personalised jewellery brand with a beautiful range of silver, gold and gemstone pieces that are perfect for gifting. Laura got in touch to see if it would be possible to book a custom test shoot package. She wanted to see if I could capture the detail in her work that her current photos lacked. Laura sent me over her own props so the photos would be in keeping with her shop, and I added some soft pink linen which worked really nicely with these. When I sent over the photos, Laura replied "one word... WOW" and I'm happy to say that we've already got our first full shoot booked for 2023. If you'd like to book a photoshoot you can do so here.      My last shoot for Bluebelle Bombshell was back in Spring. This time, Jenna wanted some similar images but with a focus on on her cards, including Christmas designs. I used a lot of similar props to before - a mix of vintage and natural finds which Jenna provided - but with more stationery and painting items to suit the artworks featured. I love how the images turned out as they feel fresh with the colour pop backgrounds but the styling is still very Bluebelle Bombshell. If you'd like to book a photoshoot you can do so here.  
  I'm a big fan of Simply Katy's work so I was delighted when she contacted me about a photoshoot for her new calendars and tea towels. Her aesthetic is so modern and chic, and her travel inspired prints feature beautiful colour palettes. For the styling I was inspired by a Parisian breakfast theme, with croissants, fresh fruit and an espresso and gold accents. I think it really works in setting the tea towels in a way that frames them as a stylish kitchen accessory. Katy asked for the calendars to be shot in a lifestyle set up, so I kept the desk scene simple with changeable props to suit the featured months. Here's what Katy said about the final images: Awh wow!!!! You have done such an amazing job 🙂 I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the shots, they really show off the products and demonstrate to the customer how they can be used!" If you'd like to book a photoshoot you can do so here.
Wild Watcher Collections is a wildlife and nature inspired outdoor lifestyle brand. For our first photoshoot, Eve sent me a range of cosy embroidered beanies, t-shirts and sweatshirts. I wanted to create a feeling of bringing the outdoors in and when I saw this vintage ladder I thought it would work perfect as an unusual set piece. I kept the other styling quite minimal, with natural ivy and pinecones alongside some vintage props - binoculars and a British birds book. To tie it all in I kept wooden elements in all of the different images, either the ercol chair or natural wood board in the background. Eve was delighted with the final images and has booked in her 2023 shoots already! If you'd like to book a photoshoot you can do so here. |
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