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My living room destroyed and rearraged… the story behind the photo shoot…

ByJennifer
23 Comments
I know most of you know what my living room looks like. If you need a refresher, you can see it here.
I had been planning the shoot for my collection for months. I had this awesome outdoor location picked. And even though I knew it was March in Chicago, I thought “As long as it’s not below freezing or snowing we are good.”
Can you already see where this is going?
 When the beautiful, cursed, white flakes started falling ten o’clock the night before, I have to admit, I was in tears. I stupidly had no plan “b”.
So I had to make one.  Fast. Luckily I had some help to finally arrive at this:.

 This one below was my first attempt. I put every piece of furniture and decorator item I had all over my house to make space… And then I did this. With vintage sheets. I thought “it will look like vintage wall paper.”

 And then I sat back and cried. It was already 11 at night and all I had was homeless chic. All those flat sheets thumbtacked into my wall looked like my kids were getting ready to put on  a play  and I wasn’t sure how I was going to shoot it on a flat wall like that. I was totally overwhelmed and trying to figure out what I was going to do, and crying.. again. I cried and prayed.Then the Lord had the Holy Spirit whisper in my ear.

Suddenly, I thought about moving my fireplace mantle into the corner and making it like a nook. it would be easier to shoot.And then stretching one sheet across the wall as tight as I could to really mimic wallpaper.Then I remembered -ironically enough-(with help) a vintage book of fruits and flowers of the bible that I had, and with more thumbtacks I started ripping out pages and sticking them on the wall.

 Once they were up, I tacked another sheet in the pass through area to make a little alcove,like another wall and hide all of the other junk I had crammed in there to make room.

 I had found this chair at a thrift store a few weeks earlier and suddenly remembered it again (with more help.). Once the furniture came in, it all started coming together. And I realized that this was actually going to be just what I needed.
  
  It ended up being the perfect place for us to shoot.  The weather was controlled. I could control the lighting and after we got back from church, it had the best lighting of the day. Even though it had snowed, the sun gave a  pretty, warm glow. 
My wonderful hubby offered to take the kids out for the day so we could work with out interruption, and the Lord had given me tons of inspiration.

 The girls looked adorable and it made it so easy to place shots and product.

And to do shots like this one with the Anywhere blossom pin. I could mess with their hair as much as I wanted and didn’t have to worry that they were cold and we were running out of time. Or me for that matter. I don’t do well in the cold. I think it went so much faster than it would have outside. Everyone was relaxed and comfy. I was and still am so thankful.

 It was such a blessing is disguise. One I didn’t know I needed even though at the time I was convinced otherwise. And I learned that I can do a shoot almost anywhere,  and under pressure.
And here there is a will, and a way… and a whisper.

 
Jen

P.S. My $500 in product giveaway is still going on! You can click here to enter.
Or click here to see the full collection.

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23 Comments

  3. I love the “story behind the shot.” We’re all so dependent on His inspiration . . . the whisper of His creativity in our ear. Thanks so much for sharing!

  4. Something tells me that your improvised Plan “B” was the one you were meant to go with all along. Thanks for sharing your inspiration.

  6. Your photo shoot is beautiful! Don’t you love how God will show us our plan A is not always his plan A for us, and how his plans for our lives our so much better than we can imagine! I’m glad it turned out so well.

    Sherrie

  7. I have to admit…..when i first saw your picture of the setting for your new spring line, it took my breath away because i thought it was so RIGHT, so YOU and so AWESOME! But then again…..that’s what those “whispers” always do for us! Praise God, we have the ULTIMATE editor working beside us!
    xxo-j

  8. I love how we hear God when we are at our lowest, although we know He is there always. I love A Ruffled Nest comment, completely agree! Thanks for sharing behind the scenes and how you pulled it together with His guidance.

  10. What a wonderful post, and to think some people don’t believe in Him, or that He cares about our every need. Love hearing this, and the shots are perfect. the old book pages had me hooked at the start! (so nice being able to comment)

  15. It’s hard to imagine all that anguish over something that in the end was nothing short of Anthroly delicious. GREAT job to you and your inspiration 🙂

  17. Your new spring line is styled and photographed beautifully!

    As I admired your spring line’s unveiling the other day, it never occurred to me that you might go through the same tearing apart of the house like a tornado hit it that I do for my feeble attempts as a newbie photographer.

    It gives me comfort to know it’s all part of a natural creative process, and I will happily (and messily) continue to aspire to your amazing standard.

    Thanks for sharing!

  20. Oh, WHY do we do that to ourselves. We make all these “wonderful” plans about how WE are going to accomplish things, have them come crashing down, and THEN pray and let the LORD guide us to the perfect answer.

    “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

    Your staging was gorgeous, Jennifer, and your photo shots turned out fabulous!

    Blessings,
    Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage

  21. What an incredible story and such a great result! You are such a talent, Jen — I have said it before and I am sure I will say it again and again and again! Well done!

    I just pinned this, too, because I know it’s just a temporary space for a photo shoot, but I am in love! If I can capture this same feel in my living room I will be a very happy person!!!

    ~Angela~

  22. So creative! I love the dark ( crying and frustration) before the light (the angels started singing when you felt it was coming together!). Great job, the images are fantastic!!!

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