We’re back to share the behind-the-scenes details of our recent photo shoot with the Better Homes & Gardens team for Do It Yourself magazine and Kitchen + Bath Makeovers. The newly transformed nursery and our recently renovated bathroom were the stars of the day. It was a long, busy day of prepping, styling, shooting, eating, and the occasional discreet high-five when no one was looking. Mostly we stood around and watched as the pros worked their magic—and loved every minute of it.
The production setup was impressive: large fabric panels to soften incoming light, camera lenses that looked more expensive than our house, and computers tethered to the cameras so each image could be reviewed and adjusted instantly. Seeing the camera hooked to a monitor reminded us how much effort goes into the polished photographs that fill glossy shelter magazines. On set we also had a nursery chair piled with toys and a printed shot list from the magazine’s art director outlining every image the photographer and stylist needed to capture.
One thing we learned quickly is that at-home shoots require being comfortable with people rearranging your belongings—sometimes piling things into a chair—so they can reset and style the spaces for each shot. The final magazine image looks flawless, but around the edges there are usually props, extension cords, and stacks of unused decor just out of frame. The good news: the crew is respectful, and they return the house to its original condition, often tidier than they found it.
Amid the controlled chaos we squeezed in a short interview to collect a few photography and styling tips from the stylist, Cat, and the photographer, Erik Johnson. Below are the practical tips they shared—the kind of tricks the pros use to make homes look fantastic on the page.
Erik’s first piece of advice is to check your pride at the door and do whatever it takes to get the shot. That might mean lying on the floor, squeezing into odd corners, or climbing ladders to achieve the right perspective. For our nursery he shot from an exterior window—after removing the screen—to get the widest angle possible. They also used a scrim, a strip of fabric, to diffuse harsh sunlight and create a softer, more ethereal quality in the images. The difference was dramatic.
Erik’s second tip is simple and effective: always use a tripod. A tripod stabilizes the camera, increases sharpness, and helps capture brighter images in low light without relying on a flash. You’ll often see photographers standing on chairs or other makeshift platforms to adjust height and angle—whatever gets the composition right.
Once the camera is secured, Erik recommends experimenting with angles. Don’t assume the tripod locks you into shooting straight on; try tilting the camera up or down, or swinging it slightly to the side. Unusual angles—45 degrees up or 25 degrees down, for example—can produce more dynamic, less static photographs. Test multiple viewpoints to find what reads best through the lens.
Two more photography tips came from Erik’s assistant, Abby. Her first tip: use natural light whenever possible. For this shoot, all interior photos were taken without switching on the house lights. With a tripod, the camera can remain steady for slower exposures, producing clear, naturally lit images without the harshness of flash. Abby’s final photography tip: less is more. Instead of taking hundreds of shots, take a thoughtful photo, review it on a computer monitor, and make measured tweaks. Viewing an image at full size makes it easier to spot small issues—crooked curtains or misplaced decor—so you can fix them and capture a final, perfected shot.
Cat shared five styling secrets that helped shape the magazine-ready look. Her first rule: be a perfectionist. Items are often ironed, mirrors polished, and window screens removed to create an immaculate appearance. Don’t be discouraged if magazine rooms look impossibly pristine—stylists do a lot of invisible work to achieve that look.
Her second tip is to cheat where necessary. Cat uses simple tricks—stuffing towels with dishcloths to make them look plush, or nudging accessories slightly forward to catch the light. These subtle adjustments read beautifully in photos, even if they look a bit odd when viewed straight on in real life.
The remaining styling tips are practical and easy to adopt: repurpose objects from other rooms to suit the shot, group accessories in threes for a balanced composition, and play around with textures and arrangements until something feels right. There’s no single correct approach; experimenting leads to the best results.
Lastly, the crew treated us like royalty with a thoughtfully arranged lunch spread that looked magazine-worthy in its own right. They even left a few sandwiches behind, which was a lovely bonus. We had a fantastic time working with Erik, Abby, and Cat, and we’re grateful to the magazine teams for setting up such a fun, professional shoot. We can’t wait to see how the final images turn out and will be sure to share them when they run.