I got an email from a magazine scout. She wanted to know if she could submit our home to a magazine. I said sure, doesn’t hurt to try. I have to admit I was a little excited and hopeful. About a month later I got an email saying they were going to pass on our home. It wasn’t a right fit. I was a little bummed out.
Fast forward to a couple months later and another magazine scout emailed me. She wanted to know if she could submit our home for a Christmas issue featuring kitchens. I said sure go ahead, but told her it was already turned down by that same magazine she wanted to send it to. She said it maybe just wasn’t what they needed at the time. She came back to me about a week later and said they were going to pass on the the Christmas feature BUT they wanted to shoot our entire home for HGTV magazine.
Just shows that you might get a “no” but it might be because there is a better “yes” down the road.
And you know what? Now that our home as been in a national magazine, nothing is different. I guess it is something I can put on my resume. But it is not like I am any happier or more successful. I am not sharing this to boast- just to show that our house is small and average yet it still has something that can be shared.
Homes don’t need to be- perfect, a certain square feet, new or have the latest and greatest to be worthy. Remember that. All homes are worthy.
It was a neat experience to see the behind the scenes and what goes into getting THAT ONE SHOT.
I was surprised to see they don’t come in and snap a million photos, then go back and decide what picture to use. They come with a “punch list” and they know exactly what shots they want to get, how they want it to look and the angle of the shot.
Let me start from the beginning. After the magazine scout asked to feature our home I submitted about 25 pictures of each room from different angles.
They approved our home and then we set a date. They needed two days. One for shooting all the rooms and one day for lifestyle photos with our family in the shots.
We went back and forth via email. They had me tell our story, go into depth about living in a smaller home and source every. single. thing. I then had two separate phone calls that were over two hours each time. A lot of work goes into each article!
The first time anyone from the magazine saw our home was the day of the shoot. I had gotten and email asking where they could “set-up everything”. They thought I had a garage or some magical staging area. Nope….just my basement. After that email, I got worried that our lack of space would be an issue. So I asked “Do you ever decide to not shoot a house once it has been approved?” The editor said, “no, we love your home, we will not back out.”
I have to admit after they reassured me that they would not cancel our house- I was then worried they were going to change everything! And not make it look like our home. I have friends that have had their homes in magazines and they said they changed rugs, accessories…a lot! I get that they want it to look like “them” like their magazine image and styled just right for a national magazine. But I really didn’t want them to come if that was the case. I wanted my design and home style to be in the magazine, not just a prop house.
They asked if they could order some pieces and send them to our home. I said sure, but asked my contact to please clarify what and how much they were going to send. She told me just a few pillows and a few accessories. I was really happy with the end result. They brought in a couple bright pillows for the girls bed and added a few of bright canisters in the kitchen. I mean they are HGTV Magazine, known for their bright colors. So I didn’t mind. Also a lot of flowers went were brought and I think they used maybe 1/4th of them.
Once everyone showed up the day of the shoot they knew what room they would tackle first based off of lighting and where the sun was. Then they would take a picture and everyone would look at it on the computer. There was David A Land (photographer) and his assistant, Mathew Gleason (stylist) and his assistant and one of the magazine editors was also there. Once they made a couple tweaks to the room they would then send it off to the HGTV magazine office to the Head Magazine Editor and her team for approval. They would come back and tell the stylist to turn a pillow a certain way or to move the flowers slightly. It was all very interesting to watch and a big process with a lot of hands on that one photo.
I took a lot of photos and unfortunately my camera card got damaged (along with my camera). I did have some iPhone photos I took. My mom flew out for the two days was here to help me. Finn was only 5 months old, so she was a lot of help with him AND she snapped some behind the scenes of the photo shoot too!
The HGTV magazine photo shoot took place in October 2016 and they knew the article was set to release in the Spring (ended up being a year and a half later!)
They took a couple of different “lifestyle” shots with our family. One area they shot but didn’t end up using was the upstairs family room. I am glad they didn’t use the photo, that room was not really finished at the time. I do love the photo they used of us around the piano. (Can you believe how different our house looks and the kids??!).
Finn’s nursery did take some moving around to get a good shot. They also shared a photo of the daybed space in his room too.
When they took a picture of the kitchen it was dark outside. They used lights outside the windows to make it seem like daylight. And don’t you just love that all the chairs and stuff is just piled on the table? Haha! Totally a “small space trick”. They also shot the kitchen table too and had to hold up the chandelier because it was busy in the photo.
The living room was the first shot of the day. I loved how this room turned out. Obviously it is much different today. I do think that if I didn’t have these brighter colors in here at the time HGTV Magazine would not have come out to our house. I had actually switched the navy stripe to a white curtain from when I sent the original photos to the scout. Thankfully I still had them and we put them back up that day. I will say I like this room both ways, but the way we have it today is more functional with the smaller secretary desk, longer sofa and two swivel chairs (you can see it today HERE if you are new to my blog).
Our backyard did get a photo too! They liked the strips on the deck and wanted to show that. We have since changed this space a lot and I like it way more the way we have it now (you can see what it looks like now HERE if you missed that). But I did like the navy stripes!
Brooke!
This is so cool! I love seeing the “Behind the Scenes” and hearing how they did it! So fun! And great family shot by the piano!
xo
Annie
Thanks Annie!! xxxx
This is so awesome, Brooke! I looked everywhere for the magazine this weekend but they still had last month’s out. So thanks for sharing here. Congratulations! No one deserves it more. 🙂
thank you Clarissa! I finally found it at Barnes and Noble!
So neat to see and hear the behind the scenes! I love how you said that nothing really changed after being in a national magazine. That’s because you’ve always been the Best!! Great job, Brooke!
Oh I think you are the best! Thanks Rach!
So exciting!! Congratulations!!
Thanks Julie!
Brooke, I love how you state, “All homes are worthy!”. Congratulations on well deserved recognition! I have no doubt your sincerity, authenticity and neighborly ways will be recognized and celebrated again and again as you practice your passion for style and influence.
Kudos to HGTV for featuring you.!
w/L
You are so kind and generous with your words. Thank you!
This is so awesome and fun! I absolutely love your home and blog! Thanks for sharing and inspiring all of us 🙂 And, congrats on the magazine shoot – a little bit of awesome right there!
Can’t wait to pick up the issue!
WOW so exciting!!! I gotta get me a copy! Congrats, girl! <3
Congratulations Brooke on your feature in HGTV magazine! I can’t wait to receive my copy in the mail. I love your style, but more importantly your design philosophy. “Every home is worthy”! You inspire us to love & create in the home we have instead of pinning for more. Thank you for generously sharing the results of your hard work. Blessings!
Thank you Penny! I appreciate that very much.
This is so exciting! Congrats to you and your beautiful home!!! So cool to have insider details on home photo shoots! Thanks for sharing!
Love love love! Thank you for your inspiring blog! You help me everyday to embrace my little house and make it a HOME!!! ❤️
Thank you Maria! I appreciate your encouraging comment! xxxx
Thanks so much for sharing this! What a cool experience! I found you “on accident” on Instagram and you’ve become my very favorite person to “watch”! Thanks for always sharing and giving me the courage to try new things in our home! Also….I made your Mom’s bread recipe…it’s relish! Shared it with my sister (along with your Instagram and blog) who’s granddaughter is allergic to eggs so she is excited to make it for her! I will be purchasing the new HGTV issue VERY soon!!!
**delish…not relish….gotta love auto correct!
Oh yay! I am so happy you found me!! And yay, that bread is so easy and fun to make!
What a fun experience! You have such a beautiful way of styling and making a cozy and happy space, no wonder they wanted to photograph it all!
That is to very kind, thank you Lisa!
I enjoyed every bit of this! 💗
Thank you Tracey!
So glad I just resubscribed to this magazine. I look forward to reading the article.
oh yay!! Then you got it early! Thanks Kay!
Brooke,
Congratulations! I recognized your charming and beautiful home and family as soon as I opened up March’s edition of HGTV that arrived today. You gave so many great tips and tricks to making a smaller home feel so much larger. Its so nice to see a “real home” that most of us can relate to.
I was also happy that this months HGTV edition featured a couple (Young House Love blog) from my hometown of Richmond, VA. They are super talented and have done amazing things to their once dated 80’s era colonial in addition to writing books and renovating a beach house.
Thank you Teresa! I really appreciate that. And I do follow Young House Love on Instagram, fun to see them too!!
Congratulations! So excited for you, can’t wait to read it!!
thank you!!
Love how cozy your home is. Have you ever shared a footprintt of your home. I’m not clear on the layout of the rooms.
Best wishes from sunny Durban, South Africa
Thanks! I haven’t yet- I should!
Thanks for sharing about your experience! Love hearing your thoughts on how yes, it’s something I can be glad that happened, put on my resume, etc, but that it really didn’t change anything. Your home’s purpose is still the same! To be a place of warmth and love for you and yours!
I’m a recent newbie–6mths following and absolutely love your style AND your heart.You’ve got amazing talent on creativity and decor BUT also a heart of gold and passion for your family and friends that is inspiring and contagious!
On a side note-halfway through my first Whole 30 and feeling great. Considering Paleo for my next chapter. Love reading your healthy eating posts for some new and fun direction. Excited to see how “Mama’s Bread” turns out with the new Gfree flour options 😉
love
Mama of 3
Oh thank you Mama of 3!! I really appreciate your kind comment and words of encouragement- this give me such a boost! And I am excited to share the bread! Some actually turned out!!!
That is so exciting- can’t wait to grab a copy (darn- my subscription just ran out too!!). 😉 Congratulations!
Thanks Kristen! Mine ran out too!!
hey girl- I got my HGTV mag in the mail last week and was so excited to see you and your family in there! So cool!
I love the insights you learned just from the way they set-up, plan and shoot! Thank you for sharing. And congratulations – so well deserved.