To make a feature we need four to ten photos of the kitchen with a couple of overalls, the sink and appliances areas, the eating space and material details. When shooting kitchens I wear three hats, that of the Art Director, the Stylist and the Photographer.

Styling points: pick a color range for all the props that will compliment and not over power the kitchen design, keep it simple and let the design shine, make it natural and real for today’s lifestyle.

Dianne Einstein used bold Italian cabinets to enliven a fifties ranch with Pucci modern. California Home and Design loved it too.

House Beautiful will be taking it outside this summer with this Calistoga BBQ. You would have never known that we spent the day avoiding raindrops and looming clouds as we created the perfect summer fete in March.

Arclinea of San Francisco created Euro chic in Orinda. This precisely designed kitchen works perfectly for a family of tidy chefs.

Howard Backen and Nicole Hollis created this grand rustic kitchen in the Napa hills.

Woman’s Day magazine loved the proportions and detailing of this cozy craftsman style remodel in Mill Valley. With the fireside dinning it is truly inviting.

Woman’s Day might use this Mill Valley classic on the cover; there is plenty of room for the title and tag lines.

Down in Carmel, Renovations transformed a bland spec kitchen into a mediterranean dream with color and texture.

For me the elements of scale, color and texture need to come together supporting the balance and harmony of the space.

The principals of Ironies and I took a great monochromatic assemblage of forms and textures and used a lighting and photography style to create a soft mood.

Here from Sub-Zero are styling guidelines that are right on the money and a great help in prepping for a photo shoot…

Photography should look warm, lived in, fresh, approachable, natural, and inviting. It should not convey a contrived, dramatic, or perfect image. Propping should follow this same “relaxed” approach.

Overall Objectives:

Less is more. The composition can be simple and still luxurious.

The purpose of all our photography is to:
• Inspire readers
• Make the room feel inviting
• Convey information
• Reveal how the kitchen functions
• Explain the layout
• Show the relationship of kitchen to adjoining areas

Props should:
• Look realistic
• Be logical
• Reflect a level of accessible good taste
• Use only natural flowers, and in moderation
• Bigger is better and less is more is our desired look

Props should not:
• Be moved from one shot to another
• Use lighted candles in day shots
• Be too messy, crowded, busy, hectic or overwhelming
• Combine incompatible objects (e.g. onions and bananas)
• Be clichéd, such as the dish towel draped on edge of counter

Details should:
• Show something not easily seen or not clear in an overall shot
• Use scale effectively
• Guide the eye to important features