Edmonds Traditional | Seattle Interior Photographer

With Seattle real estate being so competitive and limited, home satisfaction is sometimes best achieved by a renovation approach. When it comes to designing for a kitchen renovation, function and form are key. Sometimes, to move forward with joy, we need to look to the past to take hints from traditional design elements, while tuning them to a modern flow. I loved the way that Reanna Channer of Design to Elevate approached this project.

While the kitchen maintains a mostly while palette, it’s anything but sterile. The layered textures come from the floor-to-ceiling tile, combined with the cabinetry, built-in banquette, and elevated hardware finishes. This layered neutral approach continues through the living space, where definition is create by detail and texture. A natural wood theme carries throughout these spaces, too, reminding us of the soaring pine trees surrounding this Edmonds home and the trademark of our beautiful Pacific Northwest region.

I photographed this project in natural light, allowing for the minute textures to shine through. Allowing natural light to dictate the highlights and shadows creates a natural, inviting, immersive experience while viewing. My greatest hope is to convey a feeling through my images, and my best partner in doing so is utilizing light. There are quite a few steps in the editing process to make this approach successful, but it’s so worth it! (Just remind me to sit up straighter as I’m curled over my monitor editing.).

The styling for this project really helped bring the photoshoot to life. Reanna’s team did a great job bringing enough materials to work with. Everything felt native to the kitchen, even if it was produced for the shoot. Between each and every shot, there’s a meticulous rearranging of prop elements. I have my image previews up on an iPad screen, so the styling is truly a team approach. This takes time as well, but creates the most beautiful stories within the photos.

Feeling grateful for a brand new year and all the beautiful spaces I have yet to see!

This project was a winner of the Seattle Design Center NW Design Awards. See more here!

Seattle Architectural Photographer | Colman Park Renovation

Seattle has no shortage of fabulous midcentury architecture. When attempting a full scale renovation, Office of Ordinary does an amazing job of preserving historical details (or emulating them if adding new elements). This home in Seattle’s Colman Park neighborhood sits high up in the trees on one of Seattle’s many steep hills. This gives the opportunity for a real tree-house vibe, which was achieved with great skill in this project.

My favorite part of this home is the new banquette dining area, which was a new addition to this home. With wraparound windows and seating, it feels like you’re really in a treehouse (with far better insulation). ;)

In capturing this home, we kept with a natural light approach, which highlighted the soft green glow from the outdoors. Allowing natural light to guide the way does pose some challenges (I have to do quite a bit of post-production work for these images to be successful), but it always feels like the right choice in telling the truth of the space, capturing light, and creating an inviting mood.

This beautiful project was recently featured on Amazing Architecture, where you can see more details about the renovation process, view the floorpans, and learn more about Office of Ordinary.

Eclectic Kitchen Remodel | Seattle Interior Photography

What a cool project to photograph! This classic Seattle craftsman home got a big injection of modern eclectic design with this total kitchen remodel. I loved the mixture of textures (those polished floors!) and the thoughtful styling of the space to reflect its well-traveled homeowner.

Before I start each photoshoot, I like to spend time perfecting the styling of the space to make lifestyle vignettes that help to tell the story of the space and its inhabitants. I work with my client to strategically place art and prop items that will create visually appealing moments, and this almost always includes adding some fresh greenery. I usually just clip it from outside! My tip is go bigger than you think you need. Dainty little greens just don’t do it the same as big dramatic branches! Interior design photoshoots are a little theatrical in nature: you’re setting the scene for a viewer and it should definitely have a point of view and some fun.

Laurelhurst Renovation | Seattle Interior Photographer

I’m so excited to share this renovation with you today! In one of the historic neighborhoods of Seattle, this home got a full lower level refresh with a new kitchen, living room and dining room. It’s beautifully designed for its resident, a baker (who graced us with scones on the shoot day — they were props and then became our snacks!). I worked with the Seattle interior design team Corr & Steele on this shoot day. A wonderful pair, we collaborated on making each shot just perfect.

My approach to photography is all about collaboration and creativity. I focus on maintaining consistency in my work through careful composition, natural lighting, and elevated styling. The best shoots happen when both my client and I enjoy the process of capturing beautiful spaces. I'm passionate about what I do, and shoot days are always enjoyable. By shooting tethered to a screen, we can make small adjustments to styling and composition, resulting in inviting, editorial-quality images. When it comes to editing, I prefer a clean and natural style, with minimal use of Photoshop tricks. I achieve a bright and natural light look without the use of flash, which I feel makes for a flattened image.

I’m based in Seattle but take projects all over! I was recently in Orange County and Atlanta, and often take photography projects in my hometown of Chicago. The best thing about traveling for interior photography work is seeing how architecture and design styles vary depending on the location.

Design: Corr & Steele

Construction: Darren Patt Construction