It's always a pleasure to deliver the Styling Interiors for Photoshoots workshops for the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID). This Wednesday I did two sessions. We started with coffee/tea and a catch-up so I could get to know the designers attending. With the workshop divided into three parts, the initial focus was on why doing professional shots is essential, a look at the stylist/designer-photographer relationship and the practicalities of a shoot:
Image from Think Home (Ryland Peters & Small) Photography Polly Wreford
We moved swiftly on to looking at 'thinking like a stylist.' I'm always keen to get designers to tap into styling as a skill very different to interior design: we focussed on examples of what works, and what doesn't, before moving on to perfect accessorising and room-by-room tips:
Image from Casual Living (Ryland Peters & Small) Photography Polly Wreford
Then it was time for another coffee/tea break! And only BIID would display it in such a tempting manner:
For the final part of the workshop, we discussed how to approach a magazine with a potential project, and what publications are looking for. This week's sessions were great fun, and hopefully everyone learned some useful tips. I particularly love to hear back from designers after they've attended. Kate Morris, of 102 Interiors, wrote: 'Thank you for yesterday's course. It was thought provoking and I thoroughly enjoyed the event itself. I've been messing about with my house since I got home yesterday, moving things and squinting at vistas!'
And after all, having a sense of fun and experimentation, is what photographic styling is all about!
Image from Think Home (Ryland Peters & Small) Photography Polly Wreford