Its time for the second installment of the monthly Photography Styling Challenge. The first month we photographed food and the challenge for this month is to style and photograph a pretty table setting. It is easier said than done, because our dining room is small, has no windows and I need to photograph it when the light through the living room glass doors is just right.
This challenge obviously has two parts. One, creating a pretty table setting and two, photographing and presenting it beautifully. Growing up in India, my mom entertained a lot, but the emphasis was always on the food. She used pretty placemats and dishes, but that’s about it. No elaborate centerpieces or tablescapes. Nothing to detract from the stars of the show – the food!
As always, I decided to keep things simple, but interesting. I personally prefer a simple tablescape like a pretty flower arrangement, a potted plant or a large bowl of fruits in the center. But, where is the fun in that? So, I set about creating a simple, somewhat rustic and informal tablescape. It took a few trial runs.
Here is the final result, with my light cream tablecloth as the perfect neutral backdrop.
I have a habit of hoarding old wine bottles and other glass jars. They are too pretty to toss. First, I wrapped old book pages around a few wine bottles, stuck twigs in them and grouped them in a tray to be the focal point. Pretty, but I found it extremely hard to photograph all the bare glass. Also, it was missing some much-needed color. So, I ditched the wine bottle idea and decided to use my DIY tinted glass bottles and a couple of bud vases with raffia bows. I thought they turned out better and more colorful.
Next, I gathered some foliage from my little garden and created a couple of simple arrangements in glass jars. I planned on some roses, but my bushes ditched me that week. I got just one. Boo! I placed a bowl of limes and another of dark cherries on either side of the main centerpiece.
To create an informal setting, I used simple plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery grouped in a glass jar dressed up in brown ribbon. And oh, pretty handmade napkins add a fun pop of color.
I wanted a table setting that was somewhat symmetrical (because extreme asymmetry and wanton randomness makes me hyperventilate sometimes!), but not too stuffy or overly thought about. Does that make sense?!!
Anyway, I am pretty stoked about what I came up with, because I rarely create beautiful tablescapes. Most of our dinner time is spent nagging little Boy to finish his food! It’s good to know I have it in me! Thanks M and Ginny for the challenge!!
Check out the other posts for this challenge at these blogs
And who knows, maybe you’d be inspired to join too! Drop in a comment or email if you’d like to join.
Go here to take a look at my post for the first challenge and let me know if you think I have improved!
If you like what you see, please follow my blog via Email (button on the right), Pinterest or Bloglovin’, or maybe even all three!!!
I am linking this up at these awesome blogs.
- C.R.A.F.T
- A Blossoming Life
- Skip To My Lou
- The Dedicated House
- Between Naps on the Porch
- Better With Age
- Colours Dekor
- Home Stories A To Z
- My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
- A Stroll Thru Life
- Cedar Hill Ranch
- Coastal Charm
- Elizabeth & Co
- House On The Way
- VMG206
- Daisy Cottage Designs
- Savvy Southern Style
- The NY Melrose Family
- Not Just A Housewife
- High Heels and Grills
- Southern Lovely
- The Shabby Creek Cottage
- House of Hepworths
- 52 Mantels
- Domestic Superhero
- Living Well Spending Less
- Reasons To Skip The Housework
- Design Dining and Diapers
- The Shabby Nest
- French Country Cottage
- Common Ground
- Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
- My Romantic Home
- The Charm of Home
- Thirty Handmade Days
- Crafts a la Mode
- Love of Family and Home
- Tatertots and Jello
- Its Overflowing
- DIY Show Off
- Three Mango Seeds
- Nifty Thrifty Things
- By Stephanie Lynn
Lovely! Can you come over and set my table for Thanksgiving? 😉
Haha… sure! But I don’t really consider myself an expert!!
Anjana,
I love the bottles and the mix of the bowls on the side with the pops of color, This is beautiful and so simple! Thanks for linking up at the Inspiration Gallery!
~Sarah
Thanks Sarah!
Your table looks so great! I love the bottles and the beautiful colors! Thank you so much for linking up to Thrifty Thursday!
Thanks Ruth!
Anjana! Hello 🙂 Good work on this challenge. I like your use of whites. It is quite lively and fresh. I think that one thing you could do to improve the photograph is to simplify. There are a lot of colors and patterns that you’re using. All are very cool, but it’s best if you feature one or two patterns at a time. That will help the photograph shine.
One thing that I learned about taking photographs is start with the minimum and then slowly build. Only putting in the things that are absolutely necessary for the photo.
For example the bottles are cool, but what if you took away the ribbons from the top of them? That would feature the bottles better. Or perhaps use a solid color napkin instead of a polka-dot ones and the white/red napkin.. etc. just play around and explore how to make things super simple. 🙂
Hello Inge! Thanks a lot for coming over.
I really appreciate your opinions. I am slowly learning the nuances of photography and this challenge has proven to be a big help so far.
Simplifying decor items is really one of the issues I struggle with 🙂
Your centerpiece is so pretty. I love all the different colored bottles, gorgeous tablescape. Thanks for joining Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
Thanks Marty! Glad you liked it!!
Serene Mediterranean setting! N loved the idea of twigs in these colorful bottles!
Thanks Aditi!
What a fun challenge to do! I love simplicity because it is so serene and brings a peacefulness to the mealtime. Good job!
Thank you! Simple touches are always the best.
We’d love to have you join the challenge, if you are interested!
I love challenges as impetus to improve my skills! I’m doing another photography challenge on Instagram right now, but this is great idea too. I’ve followed you so perhaps I can join in when I’m ready. And yes, you have improved. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
And, hi! I found you via the Stroll Thru Life linky party.
Thanks for the kind words, Ali!
I am so glad you are thinking of joining us. We’d love to have another participant. Just let us know when. For future challenge themes, see this post:
http://redesignedbym.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/introducing-the-photography-styling-challenge/
Food bloggers are usually hoarders 🙂 Hoarding helps and works 🙂
Your table setting with wine bottles and a patch of blue, green looks soothing and comforting 🙂
Oh, yes!
Thanks for the lovely words, Nusrat!!
Hello Anjana! I suppose my table setting has you all in a dizzy because of its randomness, huh? haha! I love the colors you’ve chosen – very beachy feeling. I’m glad this challenge has forced you to push your creativity limits. It has definitely done the same for me, too! I’m struggling with the photo second to last because I feel it’s very left-side heavy with the centerpiece and the red cherries up front. The right-side has a lot of white space, so it makes the photo seem visually off-balanced. Plus, I think I would’ve left out the bowl of cherries as the dark red seems to throw off the color balance. Perhaps something lighter like a bowl of green salad? In the first photo with the overall view of the table, I think it would’ve really drawn the eye in to add the wood chairs at the back of the table, to break up the expanse of white wall and white table. I’ve learned so far that sometimes you need to break up the logic of the [table setting, in this case] in order to get the right composition on camera; i.e move glasses out of place, omit plates or objects altogether, etc. What do you think? ~M.
http://redesignedbym.wordpress.com/
Dear M,
Thanks a lot for the critique. I truly appreciate it.
I was trying to capture different perspectives in the photos. For the last but one, the left side does seem color-concentrated, but I wanted to capture a shot from table level.
As for including wooden chairs in the long shot, I found that the table details were lost when I did so. Our room is oddly-shaped and there were only so many angles I could shoot from.
As for the cherries, I am sure my hubby would say “I told you so”! haha… he had the same comment. But I kind of wanted the element of unexpectedness. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much!
– Anjana.
I commend you for getting as many different angles as possible! We all should do this. What if, for that image, you had shot it so the centerpiece was in the center of the image? Good to know that you tried the wooden chairs at the back of the table… I was just wondering how that would look since it seemed like something was needed back there (to me). Haha about the cherries! The other thing I thought about was maybe spreading the color around a bit more, so it was less concentrated in that part of the table.
We’re all learning with this challenge! I think the fun part of all of us working together is that we can learn from each other and not go at it alone. I’d probably be so bored if no one was doing this challenge with me! 😉 ~M.
This is simply beautiful. Outstanding pictures Anjana. You’ve set the table so well. It’ll be a crime to dine at that table. I particularly like the center basket and assorted glass bottles.
I still have to figure out my bit for the challenge. Am so pathetic at these things. Wish me luck!
Thank you, Namrata! Glad you liked it. It took more planning than the first challenge.
All the best to you. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!!