Only one vintage ornament was harmed during my Better Homes and Gardens photo shoot! I’m excited to announce that my home will be featured in the pages of Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Ideas 2019! I thought it would be fun to share some behind the scenes peeks into the workings of a photo shoot.
You’re also getting a never before peek at my newly painted (spring 2018) house. It went from sage green to this amazing navy blue and I love how it turned out. I’ll share more in a separate post when it warms up.
Before you read any further, you must promise to ignore (or at least don’t judge) the pillow case window covering in the oval window!
It all started back in September when I was invited to the Better Homes and Gardens StyleMaker event in New York. The home editor and I were chatting and she couldn’t recall how she knew me until she finally realized she remembered my Christmas mantel from last year. She asked me to email her some pics of my home once I finished my Christmas decorating and she would possibly pitch it to her editor.
Once it was approved, the home editor and I chatted on the phone and she told me that she would love to do a mixture of the best of this year combined with the best of last year! We talked in depth about each room and what would be shot with which accessories so I knew exactly which areas of my home where they wanted focus.
Check out all my years of Christmas decorating past HERE to get an idea of what’s in store.
Day 1 – Stylist and Assistant
Stylist Matthew Gleason arrived bright and early Saturday morning with his assistant Evan and a car overflowing with fresh flowers, greenery, garland, pillows, wrapping paper and much more! We walked through the house together to determine what he needed to tweak and worked his styling magic.
The magazine decided they wanted a fireplace screen so Matthew had arranged for a local store to lend us one. The three of us hopped in the car and went to choose our favorite (can you guess which one we used).
Days 2 & 3 – Crew of Five
Photographer David Land, his assistant Matt, and Monika from Better Homes and Gardens joined the stylist and his assistant for the next two days.
I could not believe the amount of time that goes into setting up each shot! Once the area was styled, the photographer would snap a photo and everyone would gather around the monitor to analyze it for ages. Sometimes a corner needed more color, a distracting piece needed to be removed, pillows needed to be adjusted or a ribbon needed to be cut.
After shooting the entire living room from many different angles, I realized we forgot to turn on the fireplace so they had to start over from square one to get the shots that included a roaring fire.
Every little detail was attended to – right down to ironing wrinkled ribbons and pillows.
My poor hubby couldn’t find a place to sit!
What you won’t see in the pretty pages of the magazine is my every day clutter shoved to the side!
Matthew brought some his own vintage ornaments to add to my collection but unfortunately he didn’t let me keep them!
My favorites were the edible props!
The last day of shooting ran late into the night and we had to shoot in pitch darkness! My neighbor texted me that the strobe lights set up in my dining room were lighting up her walls!
I was thrilled to have my family involved in the shoot and David took a family portrait, lots of shots of my girls in various settings and seemingly endless photos of me that David would not let me see! I’m a little afraid to myself in print – hopefully lots of editing will happen!
David took this pin up pic of Sushi on his cell phone! She was the star of the shoot and the crew could not believe how well behaved and what a great model she was.
The best part of the shoot may be the fact that they helped me clean up and put all of my Christmas decorations back in my basement. Then then put all of my furniture back in it’s place, swept up and left me with lots of fresh flowers and greenery plus way too many freshly baked cookies!
It was such a fun experience and I can’t wait to see my home and family in the pages of Better Homes and Gardens.
Stay tuned for Christmas 2019!
See all of my Christmas decorating ideas here.
So exciting Kelly ! Can’t wait to see the final feature! Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes.
I can’t wait either Shawn!
So exciting! Your home always looks amazing-I’m sure it will be a stay in the magazine-along with Sushi!
I think Sushi will be the star of the show … as always!
How exciting. Looking forward to viewing your home in the magazine, one of my favorites. And oh, that Sushi!
Sushi has run off to Hollywood to try her paw at acting!
Can’t wait to see! Love your home!
Thanks Pat – my family had fun being “models” for a few days!
Kelly, Wow! I am so excited for you. I am sure everything and everyone including you will look gorgeous. Pat S
Fingers crossed Pat!
How thrilling! Happy for you and your family. Will be looking for the 2019 edition and seeing more of your home. Congratulations! You deserve it. Blessings
Thanks so much Lynda – it was a fun experience!
How exciting. Love your style! Cannot wait to see it all later this year.
Thanks Toni – I can’t wait either!
I always wondered what that was like for people behind the scenes…Love it!! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thank you Lisa – I am so happy to get to share this fun experience with you!
I am beyond happy for you Kelly! You so deserve this. Your home is beautiful! I can’t wait to buy a copy of the magazine. Don’t think I’m crazy or strange, but I think of you as a friend and I can’t wait to see the article. Sushi looks adorable and I’m not surprised she was well behaved. Congratulations again! ❤
Thanks so much my friend – you are always cheering me on and I truly appreciate all of your support!
Congrats!!!!
Also, that was fascinating and thank you so much for sharing the experience.
I will now look forward to checking out the magazine while knowing the “inside scoop” as well.
Thank you so much David! It was a fun experience to get a behind the scenes peek and see how much work goes into getting just one photo!
I can’t wait to see you and all they did it is very exciting and so wonderful for you, congratulations.
Thanks so much Marlene – you’ve always been one of my best supporters!
Looking forward to seeing it! My calendar is marked to remind me to buy an issue:) And don’t you worry…you will look great in print!
Thank you Suzanne! I do believe it will be in the special interest publication called BH&G Christmas Ideas – not the regular issue. Fingers crossed I don’t look like a troll in the photos!
It is so amazing how much time goes into the shoots. My home has been featured several times in BHG , and even with the advent of digital cameras, they still take a long time to shoot. I first won a better homes and garden decorating contest for my kitchen and family room, and from there, they kept in contact with me. My last home was even on the cover! We Just built a new home in San Diego , so maybe this house might get into it also!! It’s so fun to see your house on the newsstand . I couldn’t believe that my bedroom was on the cover!! It was a really neat experience! Enjoy your 15 min of fame!!
How exciting for you Martha
I can’t wait to see the magazine in the fall. So exciting!!! 🙂 When BHG was at myhouse, after taking photos of my living room where the Christmas tree was, they realized the lights were not on, on the tree. They Photoshopped them on. 🙂
I remember you told me that – how funny!
Kelly,
Such an exciting moment to have B H & G spotlight your beautiful home. A lot of hard work has paid off.
Congratulations!
~Melissa
Thanks so much Melissa – I am excited to see my home in print!
How fun, Kelly! Thanks for sharing some of the behind the scenes goings-on! Can’t wait to see your feature!
I can’t wait to see it all Kelly!! I’ve been so excited for you since you first told me ❤️
Thanks Shannon for being my biggest cheerleader!
So fun! I Teresiting to hear about behind the scenes and Sushi is a natural born star!
Sushi says she won’t forget the little people when she makes it big!
So excited to see the issue! Your home is so beautiful and fun.
Thank you Laura – it was a fun experience to see the behind the scenes!
How exciting! Can’t wait to see it next Christmas! Congrats!
Thanks Marsha – I can’t wait either!
What a thrill it must have been for you!…I cannot wait to see it this coming Christmas!! So excited for you!
It was fun Shirley and I hope you like it!