Food Photography & Styling Basics

I began blogging four years ago, there were a few front runners when it came to food photography and styling. As I began photographing, I quickly found that I longed for others to compile tips and advice when it came to shooting food. How did they get stunning images? What are the essential images for every post? Are there basics when it comes to prop styling and a way to build it without breaking the bank? In today’s post, we’re sharing the basics when it comes to food photography and styling. (If you’re a photographer, small business owner, or blogger, you’ll want to make sure to read this post.) Grab a cup of coffee and settle down for this 10 minute read.

Keep reading for the full post after the jump!

15 Minute Dinners: Braised Lamb Chop Bowl

Decadence and 15 minutes. Is it possible? As a lifestyle blogger, this recipe was born out of simple desire to enjoy lamb, knowing I had 30 minutes before I had to walk out of the door. Here’s the thing about being a lifestyle blogger. You write recipes and plan gatherings meant to inspire. Very rarely do my readers make recipes or recreate gathering ideas. It’s kind of like HGTV. The goal is to get you excited about the content. With this recipe, I wanted my life online to be mirrored in my plate. Great food without hours of recipe testing and using ingredients I had on hand. At the time that meant some lamb chops in the freezer, a bit of jasmine rice, a tomato, and a few marinated artichoke hearts. (Can you tell I needed to go grocery shopping?) This recipe is a perfect combination of the practical and the beautiful. The ordinary and the extraordinary.

Keep reading for the full recipe after the jump!

Before + After: The $200 Guest Bath Makeover

You’ve seen the home tour on our Instastories and now it’s here on the blog. I could quickly dub this house the one where there’s 6 Shades of Gray. With every makeover, my goal was to bring a color, life, and beauty into the space. It’s just proof that in a rental a little bit of styling and a baby budget can truly go a long way. There’s nothing like a phenomenal bath. Baths where you can unwind from the cares of the day with lavender bath salts, soft towels, and the best face mask. It’s the best way to unwind and inspired our latest before and after. Keeping things crisp and clean, our palette was cohesive and continued from the palette throughout the house. With fresh hardware (this stuff is seriously beautiful), thoughtful accessories, and a few touches throughout the finished product is beautiful.

Keep reading for the full makeover after the jump!

What to Wear: A Summer Outdoor Wedding

When it comes to all things summertime, wedding season is here and definitely upon us. Last year, I had a challenge for my budget. Could I make a single dress work for 2 weddings and 1 graduation? I was definitely able to and am so thankful for that dress. (I wore it often with sandals throughout the summer.) While this year isn’t as full of weddings, thee are a few scattered throughout the summer (one of which I’ll be coordinating.) Summer weddings are beautiful and a challenge to dress for. Here in NorCal, the temps are already in the hundreds. Today is 102 degrees in fact. Looking for a balance between beauty, comfort, and dancing the night away, make sure to check out this look after the jump!

Introducing 15 Minute Dinners: Shrimp Tacos

We’ve all been there. The days where you’re absolutely exhausted and knowing that the night will be equally as long. There’s a constant temptation. To pull over and sit in the drive thru, knowing that the nagging hunger can’t quit. But what if there was a better option? I’ve been right there with you and have given into that temptation more often than I would like to admit. (Yes I’ve totally survived on salads from the deli section and the drive through over the past school year. It’s something I’m super thankful to curb.) Meet the 15 Minute Dinner. You can make this recipe faster than time you sit in drive thru at In-N-Out. Sounds good? We thought so.

Keep reading for the full recipe after the jump!