Photoshoots & Projects!

Yesterday my photographer & her assistant (Helen Norman & F.J. Hughes) -are also good friends- arrived to shoot a few projects.  I am SO EXCITED about these photos!!!!!  Today we're shooting another one & I can't wait to see these. 


{Not a photo from our shoot yesterday...  this is froman earlier shoot of  my textile line}

Yesterday, we shot a living room & dining room in an adorable bungalow along with my newly (& finally) finished office and workspaces at home.  I had help this time from Holly Chapple, an amazing floral designer based out of Leesburg.  Holly'a work is featured frequently in magazines & wedding blogs and she is INCREDIBLE.  If you love flowers like I do, her work is pure eye candy.  We met after she saw my feature in Victoria Magazine & the timing couldn't have been better.  Together we looked at scouting shots I'd taken of the rooms to be photographed and came up with loose plans for arrangements we could use when we took photos of my finished work.  Holly then created the actual arrangements in her own style for the shoots.  

{This isn't one of our photos but a beautiful little arrangement I pulled off of Holly's blog- The Full Bouquet-   You need to visit.  But you'll spend waaaaaay too much time there, just a warning! ;)

So anyway...  I get emails & questions every once in a while about showing more of my finished work.  The reason I don't show very many of my finished projects on my blog is because I'm hoping that some of my unshown finished projects will be published.   The Catch 22 with finished projects in the interior design business is that to attract clients & show others what you can do, you need to put your BEST projects on your portfolio & your blog, but you also need to bring attention to your business by being published in shelter magazines...   And many magazines (including some digital magazines)  don't want to use projects that have already been shown online. 

I have been lucky enough that some magazines- both local and national- have published projects seen on my blog/portfolio, and I can't explain how thankful I am that I have been able to share my work with you on here & then with a much larger audience when the magazine is released.  I completely understand magazines not wanting to publish things that have been seen already anywhere  because they are looking for completely fresh & new content, but I also really appreciate that some other magazines understand that these projects & the sharing of them is directly related to designers' livelihoods & will still publish things that have been seen before.  I think it really affects newer designers (like me) because each project is really a different facet of what you can do & your business drastically increases every time you add new photos to your portfolio because you attract new people & you improve and solidify your business.  (Although I guess this probably applies even to very established designers because I'm sure they're pushing their own design envelopes too with every new project.)   We are in the business of creating & we have to share & show what we create in order to keep going & to keep moving forward, but we have to be really careful about how we best "share" our work the first time. 

Believe me, I am like a child when it comes to being excited about finished projects that I'm proud of.  ("Look what I made Mom!!!".)  And the first thing I want to run & do is post the pictures right here to share with you all because I feel like you are routing for me & offer me so much support, but I have to temper myself & my excitement.  (It's torture, for real.)  And I want to put them on my portfolio so that potential cllients will see them & want to work with me.

But then...  Every time I have learned that a project of mine is going to be published, it's like a dream come true.  Honestly.  I pour over magazines & just love them so much, and when I find out that something of mine will be in one, it's surreal.

So I have to balance it all & decide carefully.

Any thoughts?  I'd love to hear your experiences & I've been thinking for a while that it would be great to compile a list of magazines who do accept projects that have been on blogs & those that don't, just so that people are aware of what options they are closing off when they put things on blogs & what options are still viable.  Anyone know any ones in particular that are one way or the other??
.....

I'm off for the day to the photoshoot--- have totally been on the computer blogging while my children run wild.  Oops.


xoxo, Lauren

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

17 comments:

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

Well, running a little online magazine myself, I always appreciate finding people who will deliver new content and images, while being willing to hold off sharing it with the world until after the issue is released. Some are happy to do so and others resist. I do get it, everyone is trying to get the word out about their business to help their success.

Excited for your opportunities! Janell

Dana Frieling said...

I think your magazine list would be very helpful, Lauren. Just out of curiosity, when your work is published, is it from something you submitted to a magazine or did they seek you? Looking forward to your future shots.

Razmataz said...

Submit to Canadian House and Home. Your look suits the vibe of the new Editor Suzanne Dimma.

I prefer not to have seen rooms and houses on blogs before I purchase a book or magazine. Not so bad with a magazine, but i recently bought a book and found all but one house featured were from blogs. I had seen it all before. True, the styling was a little different but I had paid for this book and was very disappointed. I think the publisher failed the reader on this one.

I say show a few vignettes of your projects and save the rest so when we buy a publication we see new fresh material.

Jennifer said...

Everything I've seen of Holly's has been flawless! We have used/featured her a number of times in a wedding mag I freelance for. Can't wait to see your fun project!

Unknown said...

I agree with Razmataz, I think you should only give sneak previews and hold of the big reveal for a publication... if your prospective client wants to see them fine, but the internet! TMI ...sometimes this viral stuff is so repetitive and I hate it when Ive seen images all online or Pinterest that are in mags and books...

Happy Weekend...Check out our first give away!
Nancy
http://www.powellbrower.com/2012/02/powell-brower-home-maiden-giveaway.html

Beth said...

"Photoshoots and Projects!" was such a teaser! I was hoping to see some great photos of one of your design projects, but totally understand why you have to hold back and not share every project. Good luck--I'm sure you'll be published many times more!

Scandi Coast Home said...

Please keep us posted so we can see the finished projects...can't wait!!!
.....................................
Tania Maree xx

page said...

I think it is nice to remember a lot of us are just plain old readers and our own home decorators, not fellow designers and bloggers. We want to see pictures and we want ideas on how we can make our own homes beautiful. I read your blog because I LOVE your style and your design work and want to see it. I personally don't like the sneak peaks without any follow-up. I guess if there was a way I could see the actual project in the near future that would be great but just getting one tiny look without any follow-up is torture! I understand the predicament you are in and don't know what the right thing is to do, but not being able to see your ideas and designs come to life on your blog will be frustrating. Congrats on all your success and keep up the fantastic work!

Interior Design Musings said...

Lauren,
First, I am so appreciative of your posts. They have truly been a blessing to me when I need them. They are very timely - your post on accounting software was wonderful. Now, this one! I just finished a photo of a couple of my projects (getting the pics today, actually)! I too am struggling with wanting to post and resisting for potential magazine features. I do know that lots of national magazines are still willing to feature your work even if it has run in a local interiors magazine. I am certainly not at your level, but I find comfort in this fact. Since the local exposure gets the attention of potential local clients (which is my primary goal at this point). One other issue that I have struggled with is the photographer to use. The shoots are very expensive and may photographers will not give you the rights to the photos, so the magazines will have to pay them in to publish. This time around I used a lesser known photographer who is going to give me the rights, but she is not as connected in the media world to help push my work and I had to do lots of hand holding to style the space for the job. So many issues to think about!!! Thanks for bringing these to the table in your posts. M.

Naomi@DesignManifest said...

Love posts like this!

This is something I struggle with SO much. The only real portfolio pictures I have are of my own home. (My earliest projects aren't to the level I want to share.) My newest projects I'm so so excited about but are full house projects that aren't quite done. I don't want to show off certain rooms and the ruin the chance to get published later. But in the meanwhile I fear that people might think I can't design beyond my own place.

It's such a hard balance...

Unknown said...

I just had a long photo shoot yesterday, it was exhausting but so rewarding. I've done this many times and have been published locally as well as nationally. I don't think it matters at all locally. I've had projects published in local publications that had been on my blog and others and had no issues with that. One of my contacts, a field editor with a national magazine told me recently that they don't consider blogs real competition (no offense anyone), so it won't hurt your chances. Their readership is so much broader that it doesn't really matter to them whether it's been on a blog or not. However, I think it might be different with other magazines. I'd love to know the policy of Hearst, who owns Elle Decor and House Beautiful. I know Veranda published Brooke Gianetti's beach home and it had been all over her blog and everyone elses.

I'm like you, I can't wait to share once I get the photos. I've submitted things and waited months, even more than a year for things to be finally published. I just had something published last year in a magazine that was done and submitted around 5 years ago. After seeing Brooke's home in Veranda I just decided I'm putting my work out there as I see fit and not worrying too much about holding it back. I can't wait around forever for people to find me!

I'd be happy to give you some input for your list. I must say I think things are always changing. With the way Pinterest is blowing up and how easy it is for pics to go viral without any source attached, this whole free exchange of visual images might come to a screeching halt with a couple of big lawsuits. But that's another subject!

Unknown said...

Why not just offer small teasers of a room. When I did a blog recently on a high end retailer, they simply asked that I not shoot their whole display, just fragments. Why don't you do that too. In a sense they act as appetizers for both your readers and potential publications.

Holly Gruszka said...

I'm always curious about the scouting process as well. How do people find your work and who do you connect with to get the feelers out about your work? I've seen a few posts about fellow bloggers scouting projects, but I'm always curious about how they get hooked up with the magazine scout/rep for that region. I guess it's networking and who you know, but i'd love a post about that too. I hope to see your work published Lauren, that would be wonderful! I love that first photo on the porch with your fabric over the table.

Diane said...

You're doing the right thing Lauren. Teasers are fun for us but I know I get very tired of seeing the exact same photos on design blogs over and over. Fresh and new is the key to any online or hard copy publication these days. I always enjoy your blog and the snippets you do share and look forward to seeing your work in larger publications. Regarding your new work space...how wonderful to be surrounded by your own textiles out in the open all day...nice job!

Lori said...

The only thing I have to say is how much I respect you for your honesty and willingness to explain the inner workings of your career and personal challenges.

crisangsteninteriors.com said...

I'm with Naomi - most of what I have on my online portfolio is my own house - really sad! I have these HUUUUGE, awesome, incredible projects going and I SOOO want to tell the whole world about how much fun I am having, but I have to hold back! It's tough!!!

House As Is said...

Lauren,

You took me down memory lane as I caught up on blog posts today. I didn't realize you went to JMU (I did too, Go Dukes!) and I was delighted to read the you use Holly Chapple. She did the flowers for our wedding ten years ago. I don't live in Loudoun anymore so it's nice to read about home now and then!