We’re excited to share our latest “Try This” column from Richmond’s R. Home magazine, where we focused on backyard entertaining and easy ideas to elevate outdoor gatherings.
Because magazine shoots often happen months before publication, we had to photograph our not-yet-blooming yard in March. To create the illusion of a lush backdrop, the photographer and I repositioned the patio table so evergreens and whatever greenery we could find filled the frame. In the close-up that ran in the magazine, it looked natural — but behind the scenes the table placement was anything but normal. You could almost spot the left leg tucked into the mulch.
To lighten the scene, we swapped our usual black outdoor chairs for white indoor chairs, which gives a breezy, casual feel that works well for a sunny summer gathering. The weather didn’t cooperate initially: it rained for three days before the shoot, and our first scheduled date was washed out. When we finally took photos, the grass was still damp. To protect the borrowed picnic blanket from mud, we laid down layers of cardboard underneath. It’s the kind of small, practical detail readers don’t always see but that keeps props looking pristine for the return to lenders.
People often ask how our contributing editor process works, so here’s a concise overview. The editor-in-chief briefs us on the theme for an upcoming issue — in this case, outdoor parties and casual gatherings timed for a May release. We spend a few days brainstorming dozens of concepts, then present a handful of polished ideas back to the editor, such as a relaxed patio table setting and a casual picnic arrangement. We also suggest simple, stylish touches like using a cake stand filled with seasonal fruit as a centerpiece, creating cheerful cheese labels for a picnic spread, and repurposing a metal silverware caddy filled with ice to serve cold beverages.
After the editor selects her favorite concepts, we shop for props and materials. Stores often loan items to magazine contributors “on approval,” meaning we must return borrowed pieces in perfect condition. Once the props are assembled, we schedule a shoot date with the photographer. The shoots are low-key: it’s typically just the photographer and us, without a prop stylist or lighting crew. That can mean improvised solutions on set — holding up a sheet to block glare, crouching under a tree to steady a prop, or nudging items into place while the lens is open. It’s rewarding to watch an idea move from a simple pitch to a polished spread months later.
We always do a practice run with props before the photographer arrives. That trial helps us spot setups that feel too cluttered or too sparse when viewed through a camera lens. For this feature, our rehearsal took place on the dining room table because it was pouring outside. Having that mock shoot helped us fine-tune placement, color balance, and scale so the final images looked effortless.
The published layout turned into a cheerful, light-filled spread that captures the relaxed spirit of casual outdoor entertaining. Thankfully, none of the behind-the-scenes tricks — the odd table placement or the cardboard under the blanket — are visible in the finished photos. We returned all borrowed items promptly the weekend after the shoot, though we admit it was a little sad to say goodbye to the striped picnic blanket we used. Little touches like that become favorites during a shoot.
For readers curious about the nuts and bolts of contributing to a regional magazine: the process typically follows these steps — concept briefing from the editor, a short period of creative development and pitching, shopping and prop sourcing (often including borrowed items on approval), a rehearsal or mock set-up, and finally an on-location shoot with a photographer. That collaborative, hands-on approach is part of what makes editorial work fun: the creative problem-solving, the small improvisations, and the thrill of seeing several months of work condensed into a single, glossy spread.
We’ve already completed another column slated for July with an especially fun theme, so stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes stories and simple entertaining ideas you can try at home.