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Tips, advice, insights & thoughts on interiors photography, portrait photography, web marketing, and SEO.

Just Released: The Curated Home by Grant K. Gibson

I have had the privilege of photographing some wonderful projects for Interior Designer, now Author, Grant K. Gibson. His new book, The Curated Home, A Fresh Take on Tradition is now available for sale at most major booksellers. In it, you’ll get some great design ideas, practical advice, and inspiration from one of the Bay Area’s top interior designers. You’ll also see many of the photographs I’ve taken of some of the beautiful homes Grant has designed.

Meet Grant on his upcoming book tour and get a signed copy of the book! I will be joining him at 2 of the events in the San Francisco Bay Area. The first will be October 4 at Hudson Grace in San Francisco, and the second, in the Wine Country on Saturday, November 3rd at Macrostie Winery. Make a day of it wine tasting in Sonoma and include Macrostie on your route!

Additional opportunities to meet Grant on his book tour are listed below. Check back on my website for updates to this schedule.

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TO ORDER A SIGNED COPY CLICK HERE.

UNSIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE AT:
AMAZONBARNES & NOBLEGIBBS SMITH, AND LOCAL BOOKSELLERS


Book Tour

September 13th, 2018

NEW YORK

October 4th, 2018

HUDSON GRACE, SAN FRANCISCO

October 6th, 2018

HUDSON GRACE, MARIN COUNTRY MART

October 11th, 2018

THE SAN FRANCISCO FALL ART & ANTIQUES SHOW, 1:30PM

October 15th, 2018

HIGH POINT MARKET, NORTH CAROLINA

Seminar: Getting the Most Out of Your Photography Budget 10-11am, followed by book signing. Alden Parkes Seminar Room, 200 N. Hamilton, South Courtyard 110, Floor 1 (next to Stanley).

October 19th, 2018

PRIVATE EVENT, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

October 20th, 2018

JAYSON HOME, CHICAGO, IL

October 23rd, 2018

STARK CARPET, SAN FRANCISCO DESIGN CENTER

October 25th, 2018

EMILY JOUBERT, WOODSIDE, CA

October 27th, 2018

ELISE GREEN, PLEASANT HILL, CA

November 1st, 2018

MECOX GARDENS, LOS ANGELES, CA

November 3rd, 2018

MACROSTIE WINERY, HEALDSBURG, CA

November 8th, 2018

RED TICKING, SEATTLE, WA

November 10th, 2018

ELISE GREEN, SEBASTOPOL (THE BARLOW), CA

 

 

 

Kathryn MacDonaldComment
Considerations When Photographing Small Rooms

One of the most challenging rooms for an interiors photographer to shoot is a powder room. I find them a challenge but in a good way. Powder rooms lend themselves to flights of fancy for designers. They are an opportunity to use bold wallpaper, lux fixtures, and have a bit of fun. As the photographer, how should I record this bold, yet small room and do it justice with limited access and angle options?

My goal in every interior shoot is to showcase the designer’s creativity and design aesthetic while providing them with beautiful images of their design work to share with editors and prospective clients. 

With that in mind, here are my thoughts on what to think about to get the best shots when shooting a very small room, or in this case, a powder room:

  • Consider what the angle options are:

    • They may be limited. Can a tight detail, rather than an overview shot, tell the story?

    • Consider focusing on the main event -the vanity. It’s hardware and accessories, and often the wallpaper as the backsplash can tell the viewer a lot about the room without showing the entire space.

Design by Grant K. Gibson

Design by Grant K. Gibson

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  • How much to show?

    • Sometimes a straight on, or a single angle shot will do the job.

  • What lens to use?

    • This is a chance to use a semi-wide-angle lens but that may not always be the best answer to the challenge of a small room. Wide lenses create less intimate shots. The tight shot may be the ticket here. Experiment with your photographer about lens options.

Design by Grant K. Gibson

Design by Grant K. Gibson

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  • How far back you should go to capture the right shot?

    • Start to approach a powder room (or small room) before you even get in the door. Will looking at it from the hallway lend it to great photo options?

    • How it is framed can be used for setting the stage. A shot of the powder room framed by the door and seeing into the room can be quite effective.

The take away: Though small rooms can be challenging to document, think about the angle options from the perspective of a person walking up to and into the space. What will they experience at each step of the process? The approach, the entry into the room, the surprise and fun of experiencing its design, and the use and functionality of the space. Keeping these tips in mind will make deciding on your angles much easier and provide a wider range of options.