We’re excited to share more about our photoshoot for The Nest magazine, which actually took place five months ago. At the time we had to keep the magazine name under wraps, but now we can finally show some photos from that long, hectic, and unforgettable day of posing, puppy-wrangling, and pure creative chaos.
Unlike our previous Do It Yourself magazine shoot, which spanned several days, this session was done in a single 13-hour day—from 8am to 9pm. Despite the long schedule, the hours flew by. We grabbed a few behind-the-scenes shots as the crew of ten (hair & makeup, wardrobe stylist and assistant, the photographer and his two assistants, the creative director, the prop stylist and assistant, and a videographer) transformed rooms, styled outfits, and captured every detail.
Two of the people responsible for making sure we looked cover-ready focused on color and bright, spring-ready clothing. They dressed us in festive hues and piled on accessories to give a more polished, editorial feel than our everyday look.
Although we had scrubbed the house spotless before the crew arrived, the place quickly filled with gear and supplies. The bedroom became home base for wardrobe, hair and makeup, while every other room was stocked with food, lighting, and computer equipment. It was a friendly invasion—organized, creative, and very busy.
Some of the clutter was beautiful, like the stack of pillows and props they used to inject spring energy into each room. The prop stylist and assistant treated every small detail as essential: from laundry detergent for the shelf above the dryer to a bottle of olive oil for the kitchen counter. Watching the professionals dress our rooms was a treat; seeing how different pops of color or textured pieces changed the feel of our spaces was genuinely fun.
Photographic equipment was everywhere—giant flashes, umbrellas, clamps, gaffer’s tape, and even snacks and fruit salad on the counters. The photographer frequently checked images on a tripod-mounted computer setup to ensure lighting and composition were perfect.
While the photographer worked on stills, the videographer filmed a house tour for thenest.com, pausing occasionally so we could pose for magazine shots. That juggling act is why some rooms—like the sunroom—had to be finished after dark or shot in ways that hid the season outside.
For the sunroom feature they even moved furniture—rotating the daybed to face the sliding doors—and shot from an elevated position on a vehicle in our driveway to mask the autumnal backdrop and create a springtime look. You can spot the photographer on top of an SUV lining up that cover-style shot.
They printed a sample sunroom cover proof with a mock header and subtitles so the team could preview how it would read on the magazine. We loved the composition and little moments—like Burger the dog perched on a floor pillow staring up—though the published magazine featured a different selection. Still, we’re glad to have the proof to remember the scene.
The team also used one of our own sunroom photos in the story, so everything came together nicely. Equipment didn’t stay confined indoors—assistants placed lights and flashes outside among the azaleas to fine-tune interior lighting, which is a trick you rarely consider when flipping through glossy home magazines.
There were plenty of amusing moments—finding a living room chair on the front porch, stumbling into a bathroom to find a camera in the bathtub, and watching the crew recreate sunlight well after dark with powerful strobes. The craftsmanship and logistical planning behind each shot became obvious, and it changed how we view professionally styled photos.
One of our favorite snapshots from the day shows us wearing the small wireless microphones—our goofy “butt mics”—captured near the end of the marathon shoot. By that point we were relieved, tired, and exhilarated: the house survived, the photos looked great, and we somehow made it through the video tour.
We’re grateful to the team at The Nest for the feature and the fun video tour. It was a privilege to have our home transformed and photographed by such a talented crew. To wrap up, we’re still pinching ourselves—and we’ll always remember the creativity, precision, and a little bit of chaos that went into making a magazine story come alive.
If you want more behind-the-scenes photoshoot details, check out our previous post about how to style and prop your home for a shoot, and see the reader bathroom makeover featured in the same issue for inspiration.