My Top Styling Secrets for Interior Design Photoshoots

Investment & Impact: Highlighting the Benefits of Professional Styling for Commercial Photography

The Photographer’s Perspective on High-End Home Design Industry Styling

Hi, I’m Julian. As a Commercial Photographer specializing in the home design industry, I collaborate with interior designers and architects across the Greater NYC area and New England to create imagery that tells their story.

I want to emphasize that your investment in a high-end design project is most dramatically amplified in the final images when we incorporate professional styling. My focus is always on capturing the interplay of light and shadow, texture, and craftsmanship—and these elements are exponentially enhanced through strategic preparation.

Styling is the single highest-leverage point for ensuring our shoot is efficient and the results are published. Professional styling maximizes your visibility and strengthens the connection your audience feels to the design.

1. Professional Stylist: Maximizing Your Investment in Your Brand

For the caliber of interior design work you produce, engaging a professional stylist is a practice that yields significant benefits for your visual brand and client acquisition.

Why do I, as your photographer, stress this collaboration? Because styling is about visual editing and curation—a skillset distinct from design. A professional stylist ensures that every detail—from the textile folds to the mise en scène—is intentional and translates perfectly to the camera, helping us achieve magazine-worthy imagery.

This two-part collaboration offers the most direct path to a powerful design portfolio:

  1. Partner with an Expert Commercial Photographer (that's me!).
  2. Engage a Professional Photo Stylist.

Budget Constraint? Let’s Collaborate. If a full stylist day rate (typically $600–$1,200+) is a challenge, utilizing my Storyboard Planning Service offers significant benefits for detailed photoshoot prep. We will still need to establish a precise prop list and shot list in advance. Crucial Insight: To maximize the quality of the final images, surfaces should be spotless and props ready the day before the shoot.

2. My Top Three Principles for Intentional Imagery

My approach is rooted in collaboration and authenticity. These three principles help us achieve intentional imagery that highlights your craftsmanship:

A. Abundance of Options Highlights Texture

Bringing a wide variety of props—especially fresh florals, textured textiles, and unique objects—allows us to fine-tune every vignette to maximize the feeling of texture and detail within the frame. Having choices available is key to unlocking the perfect shot.

B. Style for the Frame, Not the Room

To best capture the use of light and shadow within a single composition, we often make visual decisions tailored for the lens. This may mean repositioning or removing a functional piece of furniture that visually clutters the frame, or introducing an element (like a small table or art object) to balance the weight of the photograph. This strategic approach is standard in architectural photography and contributes significantly to the final image's impact.

C. Create Authentic, Lived-In Moments

I strive to create photos that feel authentic. Styling introduces aspirational, task-based moments that invite the viewer in: a well-worn book, a layered throw, or a beautifully composed vignette suggesting use. This visual connection to the space is what resonates most powerfully with your high-end audience.

The Essential Prop List for Achieving High-Impact Photo Styling

If you are managing the styling, these items are highly beneficial and serve as the building blocks for compelling vignettes:

  • Florals & Greenery: Must-have for shape, texture, and movement.
  • Books & Vases: Varied sizes and textures for stacking and anchoring.
  • Textiles: Throw blankets, pillows, and decorative linens.
  • Task-Based Items: Dishes, glassware, and attractive perishables (food/drinks).
  • The Toolkit: Steamer, scissors, museum putty, and tape.

Ready to Capture Your Vision?

I look forward to collaborating with you to produce beautiful, high-value professional interior photos that serve your business goals and highlight the craftsmanship of your high-end design project.

Julian Huarte (Commercial Photographer) specializes in the home design industry, creating imagery that tells their story for Interior Designers, Architects, and Manufacturers across the Greater New York Region and New England.

Let’s connect—reach out using my contact form, and let’s start the conversation!