Thursday, August 30, 2007

PHOTO SHOOTS ARE HARD WORK - PART 2

I know the photo above doesn’t look like I’m working hard, but, trust me, the travel portions of our shoot were worlds away from cruising along the Gulf Coast in a Lexus convertible. Although I did get to do that too.

On Monday, Dan and I were scheduled to meet in the Tampa airport. His flight was supposed to get in a half hour earlier than mine.

When I landed at 11 AM, however, there was a message on my cell phone saying that Dan’s flight had been canceled due to plane malfunction and that he wouldn’t arrive until 4 PM.

My fabulous friend Fifi (Chez Fifi) drove an hour and a half to rescue me at the airport. She took me to lunch in Sarasota in a cute restaurant that was once a gas station.

Since there was plenty of time, we stopped by her cottage so I could borrow a few props.

Being a whirling dervish of creativity, Fifi is forever redecorating, and her cottage looks prettier than ever these days.

After stopping to buy some fruit and flowers for the photo shoot, Fifi dropped me off at Nikki’s and Jeff’s home on Casey Key to start "fluffing" the rooms we would be shooting in the little time we had left that afternoon.

Some time after 5:30 Dan arrived, and we worked in high gear to finish four shots (Nikki’s bedroom and bath) before we lost the sun.

At the end of the shoot, we grabbed a quick bite and headed for the Venice home of Susie and Mark Holt.

The Holts, owners of The Cat’s Meow, had invited us to spend the night at their guest cottage.


The cottage was featured in my last issue of Romantic Country, and I slept in the room that was on the cover. Surrounded by Suzie's vintage pink treasures, I drifted off to sleep. After sleeping for what felt like an hour or two, my cell phone alarm went off. It was 6 AM, and time to get going.

I heard Dan's alarm go off a few minutes later. A very busy day got under way.


After a quick look at the previous day's Polaroids, Dan and I went next door for a cup of coffee with Suzie and Mark. They recently removed a wall between their kitchen and living room and the new space was gorgeous--light and airy.


By 8:15 AM, we were back at Nikki and Jeff’s cottage and ready to shoot the first shot of the day, the family room.

To Be Continued…

13 comments:

Vintage Rose Collection said...

Oh Barbara, I loved this post so much; thank you for taking us with you. You looked very chic in your little sports car..
Susie and Mark are the greatest arent they! That bed must of been heavenly to slumber in, even if you did only have a few hours to spend on it..
Fifi looks beautiful and her home is enchanting, as always...
Jo-Anne Coletti

Anonymous said...

Babette you look like a movie star in that car! Reading the post I felt right there with you! How nice to have a chance to see Fifi and have lunch...and staying at Susie and Mark's must have been wonderful. I visited their beautiful store in Venice a few years ago, just lovely. Thanks for sharing as always! xo

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you have the perfect job!I should have paid more attention in my High School photography class, instead of kissing boys in the darkroom!LOL
Everything looks fab. Cant wait to see the rest of the shoot. Tracy

Cottage said...

Barbara, thanks for the lovely blog photos! I love them all! I always look forward to your blog and can't wait for your BOOK to come out.
Melissa

cjan said...

What a precious friend you have in Fifi!! Her home is lovely and so happy you got to sleep in the beautiful pink room!
Thank you for taking the time to post on your blog when you are sooo busy!

hugs,
Jan

Anonymous said...

Dearest Babette,
You are ever so gracious! I was the lucky one who got to spent time with my favorite editor and oh! so caring friend.
You make it sound as if it was a "walk in the park" when, in fact, it's anything but. Yet, in spite all the obstacles you encountered you, as usal, rose to the occasion. I know your work and, no doubt, your styling magic will make the rooms look that much better. As for your words they will be the "icing on the cake."
Can't wait for the book to be out!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
fifi

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Barbara, what a whirlwind of a couple of days! Everyones homes looked wonderful. How nice to have such great friends when you travel!

It is so much fun going on this trip with you!
Penny

Catherine said...

Beautiful photo's, and friends, you have!, what a tease,~ can't wait to see more photo's from the shoot! fifi looked like a ray of sunshine, and the shot of her bedroom and cat on the bed, ~charming like fifi and the rest of her cottage!! Glad you have your white lightning problems solved! Enjoyed my visit again!!
Catherine

Georgia Peachez said...

Wow, I can appreciate how air travel can really screw up your business plans. Air travel sucks! But that aside, your schedule was a whirlwind. Can't wait to see the photos, thanks for all the hard work. Business travel sounds like fun, but not really, right! xo, suzy

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Ohhhh what a joy to be able to visit those gorgeous homes and to be able to call all of those talented ladies friends !!! Thank you for sharing with us !!!

Dawn-Hydrangea Home said...

Barbara- Love Fifi's blog and her style! The Cat's Meow too! Can't wait for your book to come out. Good luck to you! And thanks for stopping by my blog and for the nice comments!

Unknown said...

Barbara it was a pleasure having you and Dan stay at our guest cottage, we wish you would have had more time to enjoy yourselves, I also cannot wait for your book to come out. Nikki and Jeff's house is such a beautiful home to photograph I can't wait to see it, and the two of them are every bit as beautiful as their home, as far as our dear friend FiFi who could not love that girl.......we sure do...Her home is always as charming as she is...
Susie Holt

Cathy said...

Barbara, being able to sleep in the Guest Cottage of The Cat's Meow ~ what an exciting life you lead my friend. Enjoy these wonderful experiences, even if you are sleeping in some of them!