Tiny Worlds (Part 1) in Queen Anne

Happy Friday! Remember when we talked about inspiration? The sun in Seattle is (as silly as this sounds) a very inspiring source for creativity. On a walk yesterday, I couldn't help but notice tiny worlds developing in the smallest of places: a moss meadow, a valley of tiny foliage, a field of greens. I photographed a few of my old porcelain + plastic friends in some little environments around the neighborhood. I hope these Tiny Worlds--the start of a new series--will inspire you!

What worlds are in your backyard?

Images by Andie Powers.

Artist Spotlight: Christopher Boffoli

Sometimes we sooo wish that we had the physical Assemble space in order to have amazing art shows with local, fabulous artists. Christopher Boffoli would be at the top of our list. A Seattle-based photographer, Boffoli uses miniature models and every day food products to create a whimsical, dream-like world for his pieces in a new collection: "Big Appetites."

The collection is hilarious at first, but a darker, underlying tone about the relationships that humans have with food makes this work resilient and timeless. Check out more of the collection on Boffoli's website and read his statement about the project.

What awesome work!

Images courtesy Christopher Boffoli

Washington DC + Virginia Farmer's Market: A Pictorial Retrospective

I had a little vacation this last weekend to Virginia and DC to meet the brand new (and only) baby in our family: Kyle Marshall. While we were there, we detoured to all of the must-see sites including the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the American History Museum at the Smithsonian. We got to see Julia Child's kitchen--my main goal for the museum stop!--Lincoln's top hat, and so much more. As a kid, I saw all of these sites (the ones that are old at least), but it was so much more amazing seeing all of them as an adult. Then a quick trip to a local, Virginia Farmer's Market and it was back home. Enjoy the East Coast photos!

Photo Fun + Tutorials

Recently, we got the opportunity to do a quick photo shoot with Jessica May Photography. Other than giggling the whole time, we got to have some fun in front of the camera and get some brand new photos (we didn't have ANY together!) So, we got gussied up and headed out to Auburn for fun times. See below for a few of our favorite photo tutorials on the web, full of great tips for shooting.


Some other photography fun tips:
• Blog Tip: Basic Photo Tips for Bloggers
• Etsy Success: Product Photography for Beginners
• Why Your Photos May Look Bad on the Web
• How to Pose for Photographs

Point + Shoot: 12 Tips to Shoot a Great House Tour

I'm no professional photographer, but I have learned quite a few tricks of the trade while working for Apartment Therapy and our ongoing work on Assemble. Here are a few of my favorite tips for shooting a great house tour!


Photo of me shooting via our Instagram
1. Turn off the lights. If you don't have lots of amazing lighting equipment, an odd lamp on here and there will sometimes inhibit your editing capabilities due to the contrast. If the room is pitch black, obviously a light is necessary, but try on and off and then see what you come up with.

2. Don't be afraid to get into weird positions. I always ask the home's occupants if I can sit on their furniture, lay down on their bed, or squish into a corner to get the best shot possible.

3. Take some candid shots. Not everyone is a professional model, so sometimes staged photos can prove to be dull or rigid--candids can save you! Capture them in their element, working or chatting. (Not eating--that's just not fair!)

4. Take wide shots of each room from several angles and lots and lots of detail shots. People want to see the "lay of the land" so to speak, but really enjoy seeing the tiny details that make a house a home.


A wide shot of a Chika Eustace's lovely kitchen in one of
my upcoming House Tours for Apartment Therapy
5. Watch for shadows and reflections! These can take the viewer out of the experience.

6. Don't be afraid to fix things. Cat walked on the bed? Straighten the bedspread. Make the space look as wonderful as it can.

7. Try to capture the homeowner's personality. Are the worker bees? Fun-lovers? Take photos that illustrate those traits. Collections can truly set the stage--what are they reading? What tools are in their offices?


A lovely handmade and unique pillow collection in Jean Lee's adorable living room in one of
my upcoming House Tours for Apartment Therapy
8. If a photo doesn't work (sometimes bathrooms are impossible with amateur equipment) throw it out. Don't publish photos that don't work.

9. Use Lightroom (my recommendation) or Photoshop to make sure the White Balance and shadows are under control. If one of these doesn't look right, the photo is immediately subpar.

10. If you aren't sure how to use the photo-editing programs you have, watch Youtube or Vimeos to learn tricks of the trade. There's always room for learning!

11. Slow down. The slower you are, the better the photos are, and you won't miss anything! It feels intrusive to take your time in someone's home, but they want it to look great as much as you do (if not even more!)

12. Check and recheck your photos and camera settings. I learned this lesson the hard way on poor Blair Stocker's home tour. I shot the whole tour on a bad setting and had to reshoot. Be careful!

Images by Andie Powers for Apartment Therapy

An iPhone Pictoral Arrangement: Christmas in Durango, Co