Photography:
What to Expect

This page is here to set clear expectations so shoot day feels smooth (and never awkward). Our goal is to photograph the space and the design decisions behind it, with as little disruption to you as possible.

Before the shoot: our pre-visit + planning

Before we schedule professional photography, we typically do a quick photo walk-through at your home.

  • We take cell phone reference photos and note the key views we want to capture.

  • We may also document small details that help tell the story of the project (even if they don’t end up in the final shoot).

  • This gives the photographer a clear sense of the spaces, light, and access so they can arrive with the right equipment and plan.

You don’t need to worry about staging, bedding, blinds, or lighting. We handle those details.

Shoot day: timing + what it feels like

How long it takes

Our shoots are thorough. A typical session starts at 4 hours (and can be longer for larger projects). We work as efficiently as possible, but great photography takes time: multiple angles, careful composition, styling, and resetting each space.

Your comfort during the shoot

You’re absolutely welcome to be home during photography. That said, because the process is long and can be a bit stop-and-start, many clients find it more relaxing to go about their normal at-home routine in other parts of the house, or step out for a bit and come back when we’re wrapping up.

It’s often more fun to see the finished images without watching all the activity in real time, and it can reduce stress for everyone (especially when we’re moving through rooms, adjusting styling, and resetting spaces).

During the shoot, we may move everyday items out of frame and swap in pieces that are less personal and more visually quiet so the focus stays on the architecture and interiors not on decor or personal belongings.

  • This is normal and never a judgment.

  • We’ll treat your home and belongings with care.

  • We will put everything back when we’re done.

If you’d like, we can coordinate a simple plan (e.g., you’re home at the start for access, then relax elsewhere while we work).

Styling approach (what we use and why)

We style to support the design story.

  • We typically use items that blend into the surroundings and keep attention on the space.

  • We avoid anything that feels overly personal or distracting.

  • If we bring in styling pieces, they’re chosen to reinforce materials, scale, and function.

People in photos

Sometimes we include people in photos to show scale and how the space is used.

  • Most often it’s us in the images.

  • If you’d like to be a model, you’re always welcome, just tell us ahead of time.

  • In some cases, we may add subtle people blur effects later for a lived-in feel, and even imaginary people to achieve that needed scale.

After the shoot: sharing + credits

These photos are created primarily for our portfolio and marketing.

  • If we share images publicly, we’ll keep captions respectful and avoid personal identifiers.

  • If you share photos on social media or elsewhere, we appreciate being tagged and ideally the photographer as well. We will be sure to share their information!

Common questions

Will I receive the final photos?

We don’t promise a delivery timeline to clients because these images are produced for our portfolio workflow. We typically share the gallery with you for personal use only.

What if something isn’t perfectly finished?

That’s normal. We’ll either adjust the shot list to focus on what’s ready, or we’ll reschedule if the unfinished items will be too visible.

Can we exclude certain rooms or views?

Yes, just tell us what’s off-limits.