Professional real estate photography and interior styling (aka Home Staging) are the essential combination for visually marketing interior spaces of both commercial businesses and homes for sale.

I recently served as “stylist” for photo shoots at both the Somers, NY, and Briarcliff, NY, Artis Senior Living memory care facilities. Two challenging days. One session ran for nine hours straight, the other for ten. Why did it take so much time just to take pictures?

Below is the story of the Somers photo shoot.

I’ve never been a photo stylist, or at least I didn’t think I had been. As the stylist job is described to me, I realize that this is exactly what I do for every one of my home staging projects. I then realize that the project being pitched to me is a perfect fit. It requires the same need to stage quickly, accommodate real living environments, make quick decisions, and formulate even faster transformations.

My job is simple. Support the photographer in making each space look warm, inviting, and appealing. These are the same goals for any home staging project. The result will be an online photo gallery to market the care home.

Since the photography takes place in newly designed facilities, we begin by utilizing what is already there. We enhance the spaces with a few select props—primarily bedding, pillows, faux plants, and some art—all of which Artis will retain after the shoot.

Ali, the project manager at Aviam—the Kentucky-based marketing firm remotely managing this project—handles the selection and purchase of these accessories. A big time-saver that also ensures the desired aesthetic is achieved.

Prior to the shoot, Ali and I spend a few hours on the phone discussing the details, overall objectives, and results they would like to achieve. We also discuss any rules or legal considerations around performing a photo shoot in an active community.

Here is our process:

1. We use a bellman/hotel cart to transport props from one space to the next.
2. We time our shoots to accommodate the residents’ schedule, but since it is an active community, an employee is with us at all times to prevent anyone from being in the photos.
3. We prep the room/area by tidying it up.
4. Once prepped, we stage the space. The furniture is arranged first, followed by layering in any needed props and accessories.
5. The staged room is now ready to be photographed.
6. When the photography is done, the room is quickly de-staged, props packed up and placed on the cart, and we are off to the next stop.

We repeat this process at least 18 times during our 10-hour day.

The Briarcliff facility is photographed on Tuesday, the Somers facility on Friday of the same week. Looking back, we all agree that it was a bit too aggressive—and unnecessary—to complete an entire shoot in a single marathon session. Instead, we could just as easily, and for the same price and results, split each shoot into two half-days. Oh, well. Lesson learned.

Spending any time in a memory care facility can be emotionally draining. I have to admit that on top of the physical and mental exhaustion, this is the most emotionally exhausting project I’ve completed since I began staging in 2005.

Fortunately, my summer vacation is scheduled for the following two weeks. I don’t think I’ve ever needed a vacation more! Yes, these are both physically and mentally demanding jobs, getting so much done so quickly. A true “speed decorating” project, which is what my Stage to Profit® System is all about…using what you have, working collaboratively, attempting to stage in a day, and spending nearly no money.

Great staging, combined with great photography, is the key to marketing for-sale homes and online businesses.

As luck would have it, the photographer for the Somers project is someone I first worked with in 2016. At that time, he and I quickly bond over mutual goals of perfection and doing the right thing, even if it is a little more work and takes a little longer. He is just as detail-oriented—if not more so—than me, if that’s possible. It is a wonderful collaboration, and I would do it again in a minute! We are both grateful that we had visited the facility in advance. The prep work that each of us did allows us to pull this project off and finish before the sun goes down.

If you’re looking for an amazing photographer who is the best at what he does, easy to work with, patient, kind, funny, detail-oriented, and who has the sole goal of giving you the photos you’re looking for, check out Marcello Scolari at MarcScolari.com. 

A final thought about this project. I want to acknowledge that the staff at both facilities are exceptional. After spending so many hours working with them, I would truly be comfortable recommending either facility to friends and family.

Enjoy these before-and-after images of the 18 different areas transformed and photographed in a 10-hour window. Click here to view the final images selected to market the Somers facility. 

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