It’s an exciting, slightly chaotic day here at Casa Petersik. A professional photography crew from Better Homes & Gardens is on site to photograph our newly transformed nursery and our recently renovated bathroom for two different magazines: Kitchen + Bath Makeovers and Do It Yourself magazine. We’re genuinely thrilled to have a team here to capture these rooms—and it’s been fun to watch the whole process up close.
Watching the stylists is a treat. Their ability to arrange everyday objects into something glossy and intentional never fails to amaze me: suddenly a plain bottle of soap looks like it belongs on a magazine cover. The photographer on this shoot is someone we already know—Erik Johnson—who photographed the rest of our house for a multi-issue piece in Do It Yourself magazine. Having a familiar team back means the shoot feels comfortable and relaxed, even when there’s a lot going on.
Here we are with Erik and the crew from that earlier session. It’s always amusing to see candid moments from a shoot—little reminders of life behind the polished final images. Those behind-the-scenes glimpses show how much careful styling, light adjustments, and small tweaks contribute to the final photos that appear in print.
On a personal note, I’ve been repeating my mantra all day: “don’t go into labor yet, don’t go into labor yet.” With more than two weeks until my due date, there’s no reason for the baby to arrive early—I’m actually betting I’ll be late—but there’s always that little mental deadline when something important is happening at the house. I want to be present for every moment of this photo shoot and see how the professionals transform our rooms for publication.
Magazines often add small extras to make a scene feel complete. Fresh flowers, carefully folded towels, and perfectly placed props give rooms a lived-in-but-polished look. Even spaces that might seem utilitarian, like bathrooms or nurseries, benefit from a few well-chosen details that add warmth and character on camera. It’s fun to watch how a few subtle changes can make a room read differently through the lens.
There’s a playful side to these shoots, too. Every detail matters, down to whether pets need paperwork to appear in a publication. Seeing the crew coordinate it all—wardrobe, lighting, final angles—reminds us how collaborative a professional shoot really is. It’s not just the photographer and stylist; producers, assistants, and editors all contribute to creating a cohesive, beautiful story for readers.
We’ve shared behind-the-scenes tips from previous shoots, and those posts were full of practical propping tricks and styling shortcuts. From arranging small collections to choosing the right color accents, those techniques help a room translate well in photographs. We’ll share highlights from this session when the magazines give us the go-ahead, so you can see before-and-after moments and learn a few staging tips you might use at home.
For now, our immediate challenge is keeping my belly out of the shots—easier said than done when your midsection measures 43 inches around. The team is very mindful of angles and framing, so they’re already working around that with thoughtful compositions and strategic placements of furniture and decor.
Beyond the shoot, we love hearing about what’s happening in your corner of the world. Do you have weekend projects planned, small home refreshes, or decorative experiments in progress? Whether you’re tackling a bathroom update, arranging a nursery, reviving a room with new paint, or simply styling a shelf, little changes can make a big difference on camera and in everyday life. Share what you’re working on—we always enjoy swapping ideas and inspiration.