A Day in the Life of an Interior Design Photographer: Behind the Scenes on Shoot Day
Every shoot day starts with coffee and ends with a memory card full of gold.
Have you ever wondered what happens between that first sip and final backup? Let me take you behind the scenes of an interior design photography session here in Dallas. Trust me, there's way more to being an interior design photographer than just pointing and clicking.
So, what does a real shoot day look like? Let me walk you through mine.
Bedroom design by Brittney Lane Interiors
Entryway vignette design by Chelsea Dunn Design
Kitchen design by Redstone Kitchens
Who said offices can’t be fun and beautiful. Civil engineering firm design by Britney Ratto
Morning: Arrival & Setup
I roll up to the house around 8 AM with my assistant and enough gear to stock a small camera store. The first thing I do isn't touch my camera. I walk through each room with the designer, scouting light, planning the flow, and confirming our shots.
Natural light changes fast in Texas, and it’s not always interior design photography’s friend. I always like to start in east facing rooms to take advantage of morning light and then move through the rest of the house. I follow the sun whenever I can. For days where it's a torrential downpour of rain, I rely on artificial lights to brighten the spaces.
Then comes the not so fun part: setup. My assistant and I unload:
Light stands and light poles (lots of them)
Off camera flashes and various lighting modifiers
Laptop for tethering and instant review
Blackout cloths to block unwanted light
Reflectors
Multiple lenses for different looks
My styling/cleaning tool kit
A footstool (short people problems)
Mid-Morning: Capturing the Spaces
Now for the main event. If wide shots are on the shot list, I always start with them in each room, that’s if the room’s size and space allow for it. These hero images show the full space and design intent. Interior Design Photography is so much more than just taking pretty photos of spaces, they need to showcase the transformation that can happen with design, showcase a designer’s talent for making something out of nothing, and should strongly focus on how they made that space better than it was. Getting these right sets the tone for everything else.
Room by room, I capture the big picture first, then a vertical composition from the same perspective, followed by tighter vignettes, design details, and if the designer wants it, a portrait or two showcasing her styling, fluffing pillows or just a candid portrait shot.
Between each shot, we're constantly adjusting. Moving a pillow two inches left. Steaming a wrinkled curtain. Dusting a side table. Tweaking the lights when clouds roll in.
Longview Texas based Interior Designer Brittney Lane steaming bedding while we figure out lighting.
My assistant carefully placing some cookbooks on the counter, design by Redstone Kitchens.
DFW based interior designer Chelsea Dunn carefully placing some Topo Chicos on this entryway table
My assistant blocking the reflection in the art for the shot.
Afternoon: Final Frames and Review
By afternoon, we're capturing the remaining spaces and portfolio shots.
But here's what clients never see behind the scenes:
Me washing windows because smudges show up in photos
My assistant holding scrim poles, so they don't blow over in Texas wind
Equipment that decides to break at the worst possible moment
Assistants I pay $70 an hour who spend half the time on their phones
Skipped lunch because we're chasing perfect light
Steaming wrinkled textiles for the third time
Emergency snack runs and mid-afternoon coffee delivery to keep everyone happy
After the last shot, I give the designer a quick preview on my laptop so we can review what we captured. My assistant will begin packing up my gear during this time. Once we sign off on everything, we load up the car and I head home.
When I tether to my laptop, the files are saved on my computer, and my camera has dual memory card slots. Once I get home, I back up all files immediately. First to a folder dump on my removable hard drive, then to another drive that backs up to the cloud. I also have this weird phobia around wiping memory cards in case all my backup systems fail, so I just buy new ones. Losing an interior design photography session to a corrupted memory card is my worst fear.
Dallas based interior designer Travis Williams of Travis Pernell Interiors brushing the velvet headboard and steaming the curtains so they lay wrinkle free on the edge of the frame.
Dallas based interior designer Bianca Limones of Casa Liminal holding a sconce straight for the shot.
Dallas based interior designer Jenn Moore of Remedy Home Interiors styling the back counter of this detail shot.
My assistant blocking the reflection in the ovens for the shot.
My assistant straightening and spacing out the barstools for the shot.
Tips from Stacy
Want to know my shoot day secrets? I bring a kit to prep florals, gaff tape to hold textiles in place, a lint roller and velvet brush to remove unwanted pet hair, plenty of bottled water in a yeti cooler, and backup lights just in case. It's Texas, after all.
The key is being ready for anything. Weather changes. Equipment fails. Someone forgets to clean the windows. The kids threw their entire breakfast on the dining room floor before they left for school in a hurry. Having backups and staying flexible keeps the day moving smoothly.
FAQ
How long does an Interior Design Photography session take?
I only book half day and full day sessions at this time. On set, we often get 3-4 images per hour. I plan to spend roughly an hour photographing one room (the big ones, like bedroom, living room, kitchen). Kitchens without a doubt take the longest. Smaller rooms take less time, but their compact size makes composition and lighting a challenge.
Do I need to be there?
Yes, it’s ideal. The space will need to be cleaned and styled and ready to go before we can photograph it. If for any reason a representative of your company cannot be there to prep, clean, and style, I can hire a stylist as part of my team to fulfill that role for you.
How many images do I get?
That is entirely up to you. All projects are custom quoted based on the time it takes to plan and execute the photoshoot and the number of final images you need. Once I have that image count, I can determine how long the session will typically take. During a half-day session, we can capture anywhere between 8-12 images, and during a full day session it can be anywhere between 15-30. If there’s a professional stylist on set or the spaces have not been prepped or styled beforehand you can expect that figure to easily be cut in half because styling on the fly eats up all of your session time.
Ready for Your Close-Up?
Shooting interior design photography is part technical skill, part creative vision, and part logistics puzzle. The best shoots happen when everyone knows their role and we can focus on capturing the beauty of your design work.
Let's make your next shoot smooth, fun, and photo magic.
Hi! I’m Stacy; a Dallas Fort Worth based Interior Design and Commercial Brand Photographer specializing in interior design, architecture, and brand photography for creative businesses.
When I’m not creating imagery for clients, you can find me planning my next vacation, pruning my backyard prairie garden, or spending time with my family.
Are you a business looking for bright and colorful imagery for your marketing needs? Let’s chat.
