Your project might be ready and you’ve narrowed down how you’d like to style it, but choosing the right photographer to capture your vision matters. You may be thinking, how does an interior photography shoot work? Here’s what it actually looks like to work with me, from start to finish. I want you to feel confident in the timing, the shots we’re capturing, and how everything comes together in your final gallery.

How Does an Interior Photography Shoot Work: Before the Shoot

I start by touching base and getting a feel for your project. If we’ve worked together before, it’s usually as simple as picking a date, time, and location. You might send me a few preview photos of the space, but since I already know your style and what you’re looking for, planning tends to be pretty straightforward.

If this is our first time working together, you’re probably wondering how does an interior photography shoot work with me, so we’ll start by chatting about your business and the project in more detail. We’ll go over how many rooms you’d like to capture, how you plan to use the photos, and how many hours I’d recommend. Once we’ve settled on a plan, we’ll lock in a date and talk through any details that might affect the shoot so everything feels organized and relaxed on the day.

Timing and conditions can play a key role in your shoot, like this one for JM Designs’ Civic Place project. With an outdoor fireplace, a mini putting green, and couch cushions out on a rainy day, it just wouldn’t have worked. Good weather and great light are key, so planning around both as much as we can is important. I want your work to look its absolute best just as much as you do.

Another example would be with my shoot with Interiors by Daphne for her Dog Lake new build project. Timing was crucial because Daphne wanted exterior shots at blue hour, but due to the short Canadian winter days we needed to think ahead for scheduling. I planned for an early start to make the most of the daylight and to make sure we were done before sunset, giving us a few minutes’ break before heading outside blue hour. Of course, this meant styling had to happen earlier too. This is totally doable, just something we plan for ahead of time so the day runs smoothly.

We also chatted ahead of time about capturing some shots for her new website and social media, adding a bit of time for branding portraits during the shoot. I photographed her designing, styling, and interacting with the space so she ended up with content that felt personal and useful for a project that was incredibly important to her.

How Does an Interior Photography Shoot Work: During the shoot

Once we’re on site, I’ll guide things while still leaving room for what matters most to you. We’ll focus on getting the hero shots, the ones that really capture the space at its best.

I’ll also check in with you throughout. What details are important to you? What made this project special? What are the homeowners like and how did you work with them on this? Those answers help shape how I shoot and make sure the final images feel aligned with your vision. I don’t want to miss any key details that are important.

This kitchen from my project with Jessica is a great example of how we work through a space to get the best shots. We start by figuring out the hero shots and then balance that with what will look strongest in photos. The kitchen had a beautiful window, but the neighbour’s brightly coloured house could have clashed with the kitchen’s palette. We kept the blinds open to make the most of natural light while shooting from angles that avoided distractions and kept the focus on the space. We also explored different perspectives to show the patio door windows and the room as a whole, making sure exterior views complemented the interior instead of clashing.

I also make it a point to capture the decor details that matter to you, especially custom touches for your clients. In the Dufferin project, Jessica was asked to hide the microwave in a way that felt seamless. Showing solutions like this not only highlights your work, it shows how you creatively meet your clients’ needs.

I also focus on all the smaller styling pieces, because when you use the photos on your website or socials, you want to highlight the little decisions that make a project feel refined. Those details are what make your style yours and give the entire project that polished, “cherry on top” finish.

After the shoot

After everything is wrapped, you can expect a preview of a couple images within a week, so you can give your feedback right away. From there, you’re always welcome to ask for small editing tweaks to make sure everything feels just right.

I’ll also ask if there were any other contractors or collaborators involved in the project. Sharing the photos with them not only supports everyone who worked on the space, but it also helps get your project in front of more people.

If you have any further questions about How Does an Interior Photography Shoot Work? or what an interior photography shoot looks like with me, feel free to shoot me an email and I’d be happy to answer your questions.