Studio Hours: In-Home Photo Styling

Studio Hours

It’s Hump Day!!! Fun fact: I can’t get through Wednesday without thinking about camels now!

Anywho…back on topic. I thought I’d have a little fun today and share my photo styling process with you. I have a makeshift in-home little photo studio where I do the majority of the photos you see on this blog. I’ve been getting quite a few emails asking about my photography (I’ll do a post on that later), but I thought some of you may be interested in the set up I use.

I’m still figuring out what works and doesn’t so this is just what I’m using these days. I’m definitely refining as I go and finding little tips here and there.

Here are a few tips that have been working for me:

1. Natural Light: Find a sunny corner of your home. Ideally the light will be coming in from either the left or right, but not directly.
2. Surfaces: Load up on photographing surfaces (concrete, marbles, different woods, etc). I have a bunch of 3ft x 5ft pieces.
3. Bag: Have a carry-all bag to lug stuff around in. I carry a lot of stuff up and down stairs. (similar to mine)
4. Portability: Make your surfaces easily portable. I like to set up my “stage” on top of a vintage laundry cart that has wheels.
5. Tripod: Use a tripod for every occasion. Get on that also can hold your camera for overhead shots. (mine)

6. Organization: Keep a pen and notebook near by to sketch out ideas/ make notes
7. Camera Gear: Use a lens that works well in low light situations (mine)
8. Props: Stock up on random props. An extensive prop closet is super handy.
9. Polaroid: Keep a polaroid camera handy for quick test shots (mine)
10. Tunes: I can’t even begin to do this work without some great tunes playing from my computer

I’ll be sharing “what’s in my styling tool box” next week! I’d love to hear your thoughts and interest level in these kind of posts. Want more?

Studio Hours: A light fixture obsession / sale

Studio Hours

Happy Tuesday folks!

I wanted to share another one of my personal collections with you. I’m quite a “picker” at heart and anything lighting related usually finds it’s way into the trunk of my car. I love the idea of refurbishing old light fixtures or creating new pieces from industrial straps. I’ve got a quite a few pieces around my home, a few in closets waiting for the right corner to light.

I’m looking to add a few new pieces to my collection, so the juices are flowing. What should I make?

more collections:
(rock collection, vintage, Props)

Veda News: 6 Months In!

veda news

Oh boy, guys!!! I’m over here almost in tears as I process that I’ve been diving deep into the full-time freelance thing for 6 months now, officially. Whaaa??? Whenever the thought crosses my mind, I get a little mad at myself that I didn’t have the confidence to make the leap sooner. Now, I couldn’t be happier. Yes, I’m still constantly learning and soaking everything in, but I am now learning with a clearer mind. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this free to peruse the things that truly make me tick.

Over the last 6 months I’ve gone from being scared to take on work ( in fear that I would be over-working myself again ) —> to taking every freelance job opportunity that came my way out of pure excitement —> to being insanely picky about the projects that come across my table and into my portfolio. I’m very thankful that I’ve been able to focus on what I want and go with my gut. Being clear about what you want really is the solution to “figuring it all out”.

I’m beyond eager to keep growing and sharing the process with you guys. I know I have a long way to go, but it’s not about the destination, right? These days my focus is on building cohesive brand stories for creative businesses and jumping right into the world of photo/prop styling. I’m also eager to build better connections with my readers and just grow my online network in general. You guys are amazing and I love hearing about your stories as well, so keep sharing!.

Thanks for following along on my journey and sharing your thoughts/encouragements! If you are a newer reader, you can read about my journey into freelance journey post category (link below).

(Browse Freelance Journey posts)

Notables No. 32 (Design Edition)

FRIDAY FINDS & FAVORITES

Why is defensive driving important?

My uncle mentioned in passing that he’s going to be taking a defensive driving course to get a car insurance discount. I only thought of those courses as consequences for tickets. Why is defensive driving important to insurance companies? These are the best driving school lessons pittsburgh.

You’re not alone in your thinking! While most people associate defensive driving with traffic tickets, courses can be beneficial for honing driving skills, refreshing driving knowledge, and qualifying for lower insurance premiums.

A more widely known benefit of enrolling in a defensive driving course is to reduce points on your driving record. Some drivers are ordered by the court to take the course, which can be an alternative to steeper penalties like jail time.

These are some of the lesser-known perks of completing a defensive driving course:

Helps you ward off potential hazards
Prevents you from taking risks on the road
Helps you avoid collisions and accidents
Reduces your risk for tickets and traffic violations
Saves money on vehicle maintenance

A defensive driving course adds undeniable value to your safety behind the wheel. It can also serve your wallet well. If you take a page from your uncle’s book and complete a defensive driving course, you may be eligible for a discount through your insurance company.

If not, shop for better car insurnace at a better rate through Jerry. Jerry is an insurance comparison app that shops for low prices with over 50 insurance companies for free. You will get quotes in seconds, and if you ever have any questions, agents are just a text away. The average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance.

Recent Work: My Living Room Mini Makeover

Studio Hours

We’ve lived in our little town home now since April (2013) and I just love this little adorable place. I’d say that about 5 years ago, the majority of my money spending transitioned from clothing to almost all home goods. I’ve got a few really great staple pieces, (like my couch, dining table, new mattress from https://gottasleep.com/blogs/sleep-talk/rv-mattress-canada) and thanks to my obsession with warehouse diving and antique store shopping, I’ve got a good mix of other “stuff”. There are many good best deck resurfacer available which are used mostly.

I always tell myself I could NEVER be an interior designer because I only really like to design within MY style in my home and last time on the remodel with the composite decking boards for the outdoor deck. Hire a soft strip contractor scotland in case you need to remove a part of your home for a remodeling project.

Now…if I could design in MY style aesthetic everyday…for other people…that’s what I’d do. I’ve had a blast chipping away at each room in my home, pulling the final touches together and slowly making grown up purchases. The room I’ve made the most progress with is our downstairs living area, which consists of the “dining” room and living room (which connects to my home office). Josiah Rock will provide you guide for achieving good decoration at home.

I hope to get around to posting a full home tour, but until then…This is the “real life” mood board for the space. It was ALL inspired by this St. Louis World’s Fair poster we purchased the first summer we were in the city. If you also want to transform your into something as appealing, you can employ the services of professional like Greenwich Interior Designer.

(Custom Framing, World’s Fair Print)

Inspired By: Organic Patterns

ART & DESIGN

Dropping in to chat about something that has been inspiring me big time lately – organic patterns. Between taking on a new client who has also been inspired by organic patterns and getting a chance to meet Julia Kostreva this past weekend at DesignerVaca…my mind is now buzzing with ideas. I know this kind of thing is a bit of a trending topic these days, but when you find someone who is using the patterns correctly, it’s a really beautiful thing.

You’ll be seeing patterning coming through in one of my client projects (to be shared at a later date), so in the mean time I’ll just be sharing some of my inspiration.

Do you guys have something you’re really gravitating towards these days? I’d love to hear!

(Pour Porter, Julia Kostreva, A Merry Mishap)

Recent Work: An old project resurfaces – Market 203

Studio Hours

Hi guys! I thought I’d drop in and share an older project with you. This was a personal project of mine that allowed me to experiment with my passion for all things old and vintage and create a space where I could share that love. Although this project, Market203, is currently off the market, it was still an adventure I loved dearly…and might pick up again later down the road.

Market203 was an online market where I sold industrial vintage items on Etsy and BigCartel. I would go out on my weekends and scour old beat up warehouses, flea markets, estate sales, auctions, garage sales…and even a dumpster here and there. I would bring that found item home, fix it up if need be, style it in a scene and then list the item online.

I’d say this is where my passion for photo styling kind of came about. I had always enjoyed “styling” things together, but never had I captured the scene through my camera. A new passion was born.

If you’d like to see more of this project, you can browse my portfolio.

(view Market203 in Portfolio)

Lesson Learned: We're all faking it

Freelance Journey

What a whirlwind of a weekend. I just got back from a trip to Palm Springs where I attended a designer retreat with 50 other creative like-minded women. I’ll be honest and say that the trip was really exhausting, mostly mentally. For me, I felt like I had to constantly be networking to make use of the opportunity in front of me… this meant I was basically talking with new people for 4 days straight. Whew!

This trip was extremely helpful in making me realize something REALLY important. I found out through honest conversations that all of us ladies felt like we were faking it. We all had really no idea what we were doing with our creative careers and that we are all flying by the seat of our pants. After making this realization there was this wave of comfort that covered the entire room of participants.

Whether you are just starting out in the freelance world, creating a business from the ground up, or chugging through your day job…we’re all faking it. Knowing this equals the playing field and gave me a new sense of confidence to keep going…to keep figuring things out as I go and pursuing my dreams.

I’ll be back to talk about more tactical things I learned at the retreat, but the biggest and most comforting take away is that we are all faking it!

Studio Hours: My Childhood Rock Collection

Studio Hours

Hello lovelies! While I’m away in Palm Springs, I thought I’d share something near and dear to my heart – my childhood rock collection. When I went “home” (back to Indiana) to visit family this past August, I was tasked to go through my childhood room and clear out anything valuable because my parents were selling the house. Because I didn’t want to lose anything to my dad “the hurricane throw-awayer”, I did just that.

As a kid, I was ALWAYS picking up rocks and couldn’t leave the store, Natural Wonders in the mall, without a new rock to add to the collection. I’d also frequently snag some glowing stars for my ceiling, a constellation lamp, or a tube of candy bubbles. That store was magical and I’ll always cherish my memories in that store. Maybe I was an Geologist in my past life…or maybe my next. And one thing I know for a fact is that I was supposed to be a storm chaser in this life. 😉

(more from my studio)

Veda News: Off To Palm Springs (DesignerVACA)

veda news

Today I’m packing my bags and flying (on a super early flight) to Palm Springs to spend the weekend with 50 other designers, bloggers & creative females at the lovely Ace Hotel. Whoa!!! Last year’s event (only 20 girls) was such a success that the entire event has been re-structed to accommodate more people. The idea is exciting.

The event is structured like this –> meet great people over shared meals, connect over shared experiences, lay around by the pool, attend really laid back Q&A sessions, explore palm springs, hang out on the Ace Hotel grounds and much more.

I’m not going to lie. I remember coming back from the event last year feeling 100% overwhelmed by the amount of information I had gathered. I was comparing my successes to all the other girls and the pressure was on. At that point in my career I hadn’t left the agency life yet and was feeling frustrated and feeling stuck. This year (now fully engaged with freelance life) I have a new sense of adventure and determination to gather information.

Like I mentioned in my post a few weeks ago called Business Travel, I really don’t like the whole traveling process. Fortunately I’ll have a really awesome pool and palm trees waiting for me and not to mention miss Jane Riley waiting for me in the Phoenix airport 🙂

(read up on DesignerVaca)

Why is defensive driving important?

Most Popular Posts

Outside the crop

Tailoring your Portfolio & Working with Dream Clients (pt.2)

Veda House – FAQ Answers (Pt. 2)

I’m afraid of torrential downpours (the good and bad kind)

Lesson Learned: Saving time with Streamlined Blogging