On the job training Flea Market Style.

Blogged by Jill Hinson:

Last week Ki coordinated and styled the issue’s very first photo shoot, a feature story for the magazine. Yours truly got to come along for the ride…..helping to style the shoot. Needless to say, I had a ball! And while I have styled home interiors before, I have never done any work for a magazine shoot, it was definitely a fun, hands-on, learning experience.

The day began early. Ki told me to expect a long day and I found out she wasn’t kidding. While we waited for the photographer and her crew to show up we reviewed the shot list that Stacey had prepared from Ki’s scouting shots. I learned that in the process of creating a magazine “scouting” shots (a bunch of regular photos) are taken of all possible places the feature might want to include, from all possible angles. The scouting shots are sent to the magazine’s Art Director, Stacey Willey and she does a mock-up of the proposed “story”, complete with the shots she wants included.

After the photographer Kim arrived, she and Ki discussed the really crummy weather conditions. The rain and dark skies that were expected to last the entire day would make for less than desirable conditions for shooting photos.

The decision was made to begin shooting in the lightest part of the home first, and that is where I officially began my styling duties.

During the shoot, I helped Ki wrestle bed linens that wouldn’t behave, creating creases and folds where there should be none! We moved items a fraction of an inch to get the proportions and angles just right. We often “shopped the house” to get just the right item, color, shape or mix of items for the shot. I polished, dusted and vacuumed rooms and accessories to photographic perfection. By the end of the day, I was grateful I chose to wear my comfy shoes and not my stylish stylist shoes!

In addition to having a really great time getting to be a part of something creative, I learned so much about the production of a magazine. Beautiful photographs, particularly of home interiors do not just happen. The process is often painstakingly long and arduous. But in the end there is tremendous satisfaction when you see the final photos, displayed collage style. I just know you are going to love what you see!

Jill Hinson