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Thoughts about the future of Veranda from Steele Marcoux on BOH
Thoughts about the future of Veranda from Steele Marcoux on BOH
 

I just finished listening to the latest Business of Home Podcast featuring Steele Marcoux of Veranda magazine, discussing their new issue and commitment to print publishing. It’s an exciting time for fans of Veranda, and fans of printed magazines (not to knock the digital realm, but seriously, aren’t we all a bit tired of scrolling through images on our phones?). Veranda is not just changing the physical size of the magazine, but also doubling the page count, which is going to make this next issue feel more like a Sept issue from years past of one of the major fashion magazines.

All of this means more content, better laid out content, and just overall prettier and more engaging content. This is huge for anyone in our industry, from designers to craftsmen to photographers and stylists.  I feel this will be a defining moment in print, we will all remember the day we laid our hands and eyes on this issue.  

For me personally, I am really happy to hear that one of my favorite magazines is doubling down on print. Steele discusses the push for Veranda to assign and direct (what every magazine used to do…) their shoots for total editorial control. This establishes a narrative and trend base that will be followed for years to come. Whoever is a part of this creative re-birth will become our new guides directing our own shoots and content creation moving forward. Mood boards flooded with thick glossy pages from Veranda, shining brighter than anything else. To be included in any Veranda issue is a major feather in your cap, but now this may become someone’s defining moment in design. 

Cheers to Steele and everyone who fought for this in the halls of Hearst and cocktail parties/dinners/trade shows. Thank you for pushing this through, I cannot wait to get my hands wrapped around it all!

Steele Marcoux courtesy of Veranda

 
blog, marketing, podcastStephen KarlischInterior photography experts, Interior design photoshoot, interior photography tips, Published interiors, Steele Marcoux, Business of Home, VerandaComment
2020 Year in Review (Press!)
2020 Year in Review (Press!)
 

No matter what, 2020 will be a year to remember. It reminds me of that quote about “the best of times and the worst of times.” Despite the pandemic and shutdowns, it was still a good year for the interiors business. I am so grateful to so many talented clients and was honored to have my photographs showcased on many shelter magazine covers and in several books. The years highlight was being selected to be the official photographer for the first Kips Bay Showhouse in Dallas. 

At the end of one year and the beginning of another, I think it’s important to look back at pivotal moments in the past 12 months and to celebrate successes. It gives me the motivation to push myself even more creatively and to set challenging goals for the new year. So here’s a look at the year in review for my studio:

PUBLISHED BOOKS

I was so excited to be a part of the Lucas Eilers book Expressive Interiors, published by Rizzoli. In 2019 going into 2020 I traveled with the designing duo of Sandy Lucas and Sarah Eilers to Charleston, Park City, Galveston plus the hill country, and their hometown of Houston to shoot projects specifically for this book. Because of my work with them and other designers, I am always now encouraging all designers I work with to understand how valuable and important it is to always think about how any shoot would look in a book format somewhere down the line.  

I have loved working with iconic designer Jan Showers over the past 20 years, so I was honored to be able to shoot for her again for her newest book Glamorous Living, published by Abrams in the fall. We worked with Jan a few years ago on her book Glamorous Rooms and a few months ago at the Kips Bay Showhouse in Dallas. She’s an incredible and gracious designer and we’re lucky to be able to collaborate with her.


As if that wasn’t enough book love, I also had a photograph featured from the designer Robert Passal shoot in the gorgeous new book de Gournay: Hand-Painted Interiors. It’s a gorgeous celebration of the company’s historic and modern collections of wallpaper, fabric, and porcelain. 

COVERS + EDITORIAL

We have a great track record in the studio of getting our work published. And this year was no exception, but what was incredible for us was the number of covers our work garnered. Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors began the year with making the cover and a feature in NY Cottages and Gardens from our NY shoot Park Avenue residential shoot. Our photo of a kitchen designed by Jean Liu Design was on the cover of House Beautiful.

A living room we shot for Emily Summers made the cover of Modern Luxury Interiors. A Hill Country home by Deb Baxter of Baxter Design Group also made the cover of Luxe Austin + San Antonio. And a fantastic set table in a dining room by Cullman & Kravis was featured on the cover of Southern Home. 

In a time of Covid and economic ups-and-downs, it can be tempting to drop your marketing or decide not to earmark money for professional photo shoots. But I can tell you that would be a big mistake. Shooting your projects is a must for your portfolio and your image marketing. And the local and national exposure is critical for your business. Our photography for leading designers has definitely helped them increase their brand awareness and their businesses in a crazy year.

We’ve had photographs published in almost too many publications in 2020 to name, but here are a few:

And so many more including an abundance of on-line media. It was a great year for publishing in our studio. We can help you with your image marketing and publishing goals in 2021 – just contact us by clicking here.


PROJECTS + APPEARANCES

This was a year like no other when it came to large-scale photo shoots and speaking engagements – we had to do things a little differently. I shot catalogs and campaigns for both Sutherland and Perennials this year. And with Perennials we had to rethink our process since it was the Summer of Covid. You can see the entire three issues and read how we pulled it off by clicking here

I love public speaking, especially when I can talk to interior designers. This year we went virtual, including a keynote at the Decorative Center in Houston with Lucas Eilers to talk about their book a couple of weeks ago. I had a great time talking with designer Traci Zeller about tips to take your photography to the next level – it was a keynote for the High Point Market. Also for High Point Market in the fall, I shared a virtual stage with Chad Dorsey to talk about getting the most out of your photography budget. 

Podcasts have also become more important than ever for our studio. It’s another great way to talk photography and get the word out about how important image marketing is. I’ve loved talking to great experts in several field, like Kaleigh Wiese and Jane Dagmi. We’re hoping to move to more live interviews and appearances in 2021, but I think we’ll still have a few digital months to go before that happens.


AND NOW TO 2021

So what’s next? The new year starts with a full calendar of shoots of completed projects around Texas and Oklahoma. Due to Covid, shoots have been juggling around for months and we are now making up past ones and newly scheduled ones. We expect the next six months to be full and continue with caution. Hoping travel starts back up by second part of the year to work with clients again around the country. Please visit our blog post on tips about photographing your projects during a pandemic. We already have a few fun things lined up for the new year, including a BIG project we’ve been keeping under wraps. We’re not quite ready to reveal it yet, but look for an announcement early 2021!


If you’re ready to book with us for a 2021 shoot, be sure to contact us as soon as you can. We’re ready to help you reach your image marketing goals and intentions for the new year!

 

 
marketing, client projects, Media & Publications, photoshoot, podcast, Speaking, tips & tricksKristen Karlisch2020, Interior design magazine, Year in review, Lucas Eilers, Jan Showers, Kips Bay, de Gournay, Denise McGaha, NYC&G, Celerie Kemble, jean liu, House Beautiful, Baxter Design Group, Cullman & Kravis, Southern Home, Emily Summers, Veranda magazine, Departures Magazine, Paper City, Milieu, Interiors Magazine, Rue Magazine, California Home Design, Chad Dorsey, Southern Home magazine, Luxe Magazine, Sutherland, Perennials, Decorative Center of Houston, Highpoint Market, Highpoint market speaker, Kaliegh Wiese, Jane Dagmi
Photographing Thomas Pheasant at home
Photographing Thomas Pheasant at home
 
Designer Thomas Pheasant at home in Washington DC

Designer Thomas Pheasant at home in Washington DC

A couple of months ago I was being interviewed on the SAID podcast with Jane Dagmi, and at the end of the talk she asked me who some of my favorite designers were. At the top of my list was Thomas Pheasant. Ironically Jane had recently interviewed him for her magazine and I decided to put the wheels in motion to get her to connect us.

A chance trip to DC was planned for a family celebration and I decided to schedule the shoot with Thomas. Everything fell into place with a few short emails and I was all set. Driving to his home I remember being a little nervous, which is strange, I’ve been shooting high profile designers and clients for years, even stuck in an elevator with Giorgio Armani once snapping his portrait, but never felt nerves before. Maybe it was because I had willed this to happen and didn’t want to fail, or let myself down somehow.

All the elements I could ask for were in place, it was a gorgeous day, the sun was hitting the right part of the house when I pulled up, and to top it off he is a PRO. So my job would be easy. After a bit of chit chat and scanning the rooms for a good spot to work, I felt like I had stepped into his instagram feed. His home is everything you would imagine it to be, and it is flawless. Homes like his can create chaos in minds like mine because the visual experience is almost too much to take in, and the options for shots are endless. Luckily he had some great ideas, and the light in the front of his home was perfect, so we stuck to his entry and formal living space to maximize the light.

Someday I would love to explore the rest of the home, and document his space, but feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and photograph a design hero of mine. Thank you Thomas for the time, and sharing a piece of your home with the world.

 
Portraits, podcastStephen KarlischThomas Phesant, interior design creatives, environmental portraiture
Becoming an influential interiors photographer. A deep dive with Stephen Karlisch.
Becoming an influential interiors photographer. A deep dive with Stephen Karlisch.

Editor in Chief, Jane Dagmi with Designers Today podcast SAID, decided to take a more personal approach with Stephen Karlisch. The level of comfort you feel listening to this talk will keep you intrigued about learning more about Stephen’s journey. How he ended up in Dallas, shooting interiors, working on book projects, adding fine art and being sought out around the country. His passion beyond his love of photography is to share knowledge to make us all better in the industry and how he loves to speak at markets or do private teaching and coaching with designers and photographers. You will learn about his background in architecture, tennis, fashion photography and how his portrait work became the natural accompaniment that publications and designers request beyond his interior photography expertise. The stories he recounts with notable names of the past, the value of an image that stands the test of time, to the importance of his wife Kristen and her role in the business will keep you hanging on for more. He has some design crushes he hopes to shoot for in the future. See if your name is on his list. And learn more about his fascination with designers and their “why” to their choices.

Thank you to Denise McGaha Interiors for the surprise scoop on Stephen, especially enlightening the listeners to his well known 2:30 pick me up that he needs for those long day shoots.

If this is your first time listening to Stephen, then we highly recommend you also listen to a more in depth educational podcast with LuAnn Nigara, from a Well Designed Business. He gives professional tips to getting the most out of your interior design shoots. He adds more depth about interior photography with secret tips on the Wingnut Social podcast with Darla Powell. Both podcasts have been invaluable to designers across the country and we just love how Jane hugged this podcast into the mix making all three feel well rounded together.

podcast, Media & Publications, SpeakingKristen Karlischpodcast, interior design creatives, interior photography tips, Interior photography experts, Interior design photoshoot, Stephen Karlisch, Denise McGaha, Designers Today, Jane Dagmi, LuAnn Nigara, A Well Designed Business, Darla Powell, Wingnut Social, SAID podcastComment
Getting the most out of your photography budget
Getting the most out of your photography budget

One of the highlights in my career as a professional interiors photographer is to share my experience and expertise in our industry so that we can all be more successful when it comes to professional photo shoots. My approach to photographing interiors the last 16 years comes from my background of shooting for commercial advertising, catalogs, editorial and coffee table book projects. The photoshoot process can be a bit intimidating and confusing to any newcomer, so I have decided to help ease the pain a bit with some insight into making it more fun and fruitful for everyone involved. Some of the most asked questions I get from new designers tend to all fall into these topics:

Why you should always professionally shoot your projects.

The different types of photographers and who is right for you.

Why scouting is important.

The benefits of using a stylist.

Art directing your projects

What is photo usage.

How to get published.

Over the past year or so I have been speaking at markets, small industry events, panels, and even a couple of industry podcasts. My presentation on “Getting the most out of Your Photography Budget” turned into an accredited presentation and keeps evolving. My guest designer speaker at Highpoint Market was Grant Gibson and at the Dallas Design Market was Denise McGaha. Both contributed their experiences as a well seasoned designer with many shoots and being published multiple times. In the near future I hope to have a stylist, art director and more designers to collaborate with on the presentation to help educating designers across the globe on how they can get the most out of their photography budget.

Please reach out to the studio with any specific questions about any photoshoot related topic, we would love to help spread the most helpful information to anyone who needs it!

Expert Interior photographer, Stephen Karlisch teaches designers across the country about how they can get the most out of their photography budget. It is an IDCEC accredited presentation that designers have enjoyed seeing at High Point Market, Dallas Design Week as well as industry meetings. Thank you to Denise McGaha for joining him at this presentation in Dallas. Please email hello@stephenkarlisch.com to inquire about booking him at your next industry event!

podcast, SpeakingKristen KarlischInterior photography experts, Speaker, interior photography tips, Interior photo shoot, Highpoint market speakerComment
Podcast! Stephen shares his expertise about interior photography
Podcast! Stephen shares his expertise about interior photography

Last February Kristen had the pleasure of attending the Design Influencers conference in Atlanta. A conference specifically focused on the design industry. Among the many design influencers she connected with she was very excited to meet Darla and Natalie from Wingnut Social and also Darla Powell Interiors. We are podcast addicts and love how they are sharing excellent marketing information specifically tailored to the design professional. Stephen shares his expert advice to designers (and photographers should listen too) about getting started working with photographers, lighting, secret tips for you taking your own photos and much more. We hope this podcast will not only bring you new insights but a few laughs as well. Click here to listen to a fun take two.

tips & tricks, podcastKristen Karlischpodcast, expert tips, wingnut social, design influencers conference, darla powell interiors, interior photography tips, hiring an interior photographer