seattle lifestyle photography

Seattle Interior Photographer | Whidbey Airbnb

If you’ve ever been to Whidbey Island, you’ll know how magical it is to experience a summer week just across the water from busy Seattle in a whole world of its own. With pastoral views, quaint little towns like Langley and Coupeville, and views of the Puget Sound all around, it’s an idyllic place to get some rest and relaxation.

This Airbnb, sweetly named The Kingfisher, is about 20 minutes from the ferry terminal and down a long private road where you end up in this serene setting right on the waterfront. The tide comes in and out dramatically offering a walkable beach at times, and a refreshing plunge from the seawall at others. It’s a great place to launch a kayak or paddleboard for a quiet moment out on the water.

The interiors of this home were so wonderful to capture! Between the open beamwork and the nearly floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows offering insane water views, there was quite literally no bad angle. The homeowners prepared for this shoot so well by supplying fresh cut (but not too precious!) flowers and plenty of charcuterie supplies and pastries. Orange juice is kind of a magical secret for vibrant photos — the color! Leaning into the styling of these shoots really helps to set the images apart from more traditional looking real estate photos. The goals couldn’t be more different. A lifestyle shoot like this takes time — like a full day! And it’s so worth it to capture the changing light and many beautiful styled scenes in addition to listing photos that show full spaces in full natural light.

I approach most every single shoot with all natural light. We were lucky to have a sunny day for this shoot, but I do the majority of my shoots in the midst of some kind of weather (we are in Seattle after all!). Whether its a hazy marine layer morning or full-on January gloom, bright light is not necessary for stunning interior images because of the technical approach that I use. It’s been tested over many years of photographing throughout the Pacific Northwest (and as far over as the East Coast!) in less than ideal weather conditions. Anything goes!

You can book the Kingfisher right here!

Seattle Interior Airbnb Photography | Queen Anne

It’s a two-fer! This beautiful Queen Anne home is actually a duplex, both with stunning views of the Puget Sound. Located in my favorite part of the neighborhood (where we first lived when we moved to Seattle!), it’s a short walk from Kerry Park, Parsons Gardens and the downtown core of Upper Queen Anne. We had such fun styling this shoot, creating a dreamy tablescape (using discards from the landscapers working outside, yes, literally!). A bit of greenery goes such a long way in creating inviting images, even with short term rental photos. Bringing an Airbnb or VRBO listing to life means treating the photos like a magazine shoot. It goes way above real estate photos (whose goal is to show each room looking its biggest and brightest). In interior shoots, the goal is to create a mood on the inside. It helps a prospective guest imagine what a stay would look and feel like, inviting a little more imagination. That’s also why good interior shoots take TIME. This is a big expectation shift if your only experience previously has been real estate photos for listing. The intentionality in composition and styling is huge, and really makes the difference in stellar listing photography.

You can book this beauty right here and now on Airbnb.

Sézane Seattle Pop-up

September is an exciting month for me, with the whisperings of a new season and seemingly a fresh start (will I ever evade the circularity of the schoolyear?). I tend to stock up on things like socks and notebooks to take me through the next chapter, and seeing the colors change in the trees sends a little charge through me. This season is exceptionally exhilarating, though, with the much-anticipated arrival of the Sézane boutique in Seattle’s University Village. I’ve been a fan of this brand for many years, with their feminine-but-not-too-flouncy tops and dreamy knitwear. Their shoes and bags are effortlessly Parisian with classic silhouettes with just enough of an edge. When I wear Sézane, I feel creative, competent, and beautiful.

Needless to say, when I received an invitation to their grand opening event I immediately opened my calendar app and logged it in. My friend Shay and I headed together the morning of the event greeted by bluebird skies and a sea of flowers outside their front doors: fodder for a bouquet-making station in the new shop.

The store is every bit as cool as you’d expect, furnished with restored vintage pieces and fixtures that make the clothing feel as part of the decor as shoppable real estate. After chatting with the Sézane team about the excitement of their arrival, I selected pieces I’d previously only ever seen on a screen, gathering them into a fitting room for a styling session. I emerged with an Emile Sweater and a long list of wishlist additions.

Take a peek at my visit here: