Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Photography

Photography

capturing hope

 I’m not a portrait photographer and I don’t plan on expanding my business to include that, but I’ve been asked on occasion to take pictures for my friends and family.  One family from our church saw some pictures I took of “Mini” and they asked if I would take Hope’s senior pictures.  This family is so loving and generous, so I was happy to do it. I introduced Hope to Pinterest and she brought some examples of the kind of pictures she was hoping for, which was so helpful, since I’m usually shooting home decor!   Here are some of my favorites from the shoot… I love the picture above.  She was posing for a picture and her grandfather, who was lounging on a porch swing nearby, called out, “Say cheese!”  Hope started laughing and turned away from the camera for a moment.  I had the sense to snap a bunch

Read More
Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

flow blue photo shoot

Whenever I hit an antique store…or really any store, for that matter…I look for props I can use in photo shoots. There are some things that are staples and I use again and again, but I really prefer to buy something that catches my eye, use it for a while and then sell it and buy some new props. It gives me new inventory and it keeps my photo shoots fresh. When we were in the Poconos recently, I found this pretty antique butter dish (minus the dome.) Since it was missing its other half, I was able to get it for only $6.00 and I knew it would be perfect for a MMSMP Flow Blue photo shoot for our upcoming look book. And here’s the result… I love how the water wakes up the blue pigments.  It makes me smile every time! Now, I know what some of you

Read More
Photography

styling photos

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about styling for a retail space.  In reply to that post, Tanya from Ever After Cottage shared this comment… “This was a great article! Could you possibly do another article on styling for photos? I’m terrible at it! I have a couple of spots that I love in my home, but when I try to capture them in a photo they turn out looking “off” – either too cluttered or too minimalist or too bland. Part of the problem is that I don’t have a lot of accessories that I truly love, but I’m working on that one. The other part is something I can’t put my finger on, but I’d love some tips to try.” So, this post is in response to that comment. I’m going to put it out there right off the bat that I’m not an expert or a professional photographer

Read More
Favorite Finds

Camera Comparison & Shop Goodies

Okay, I love winter and snow, but I’m done with it this year.  I’ve had enough and I’m ready for spring.  I’m sure I’m not alone in that sentiment.  We had another snow day today and more ice and snow in the forecast!  All was going pretty well today until I had a Skype call with my retailers who were in a training class in Las Vegas.  My boys decided that was the perfect time to play tug-of-war with a broom.  I got the giggles over the awkwardness of wrestling a broom away from them on camera, so it was tough to give them a “mommy’s serious” face to make them behave.  I confiscated the broom and as I was putting it in the other room, my boys entertained the retailers with potty humor.  Yeah, that was awesome.  Very professional.  Welcome to my world. Between the Hess truck battles and

Read More
Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

first tethered photo shoot

Oh, it’s wonderful…  I finally have my real computer back.  I have the software all set up to work with my new camera, so I was very inspired to have a photo shoot this morning.  When I got my camera a few days ago, I was so excited about taking pictures, but I was editing them on a super cheap laptop and I really missed my bright & big laptop screen.  I felt like I couldn’t really see the sharpness of the pictures to edit them well.  And the workflow was ridiculous.  Lightroom 3, which I’ve been using for a few years, couldn’t open my RAW Nikon D800 photos, so I had to use a DNG converter.  So, the workflow was something like – copy pictures from camera to computer, convert in DNG converter to a DNG file, upload to Lightroom 3 and edit, export to Windows Live Photo Gallery to

Read More
Photography

three elements of shooting in manual mode

Well, everyone liked the photography posts, so I’m going to throw in another one for those who are scared to start shooting in manual mode.  I want to explain what you gain when you do that and what you’re adjusting when you turn those dial.  Let me preface this (and all of my photography posts) with the disclaimer that I am not a super-duper-awesome-know-everything-professional-photographer.  I do get paid to take photographs, so I am “professional” in that sense, but it’s more by default.  I want to share my home, decorating, tutorials and ideas and the best way for me to do that is through pictures.  I’m sharing these things in the way I learned and understand them.  I’m sure pros would have a lot to add (and they are certainly welcome to in the comments), but I’m trying to explain it in non-technical terms.  You also have to remember that photography

Read More
My House

officegallery

Now that I’ve had a few days to play with my new camera (the Nikon d800 for those who missed it), I’ve been playing around with my existing lenses to see what new lenses I want to purchase.  I currently have five lenses – a Nikon 35mm f/2D, 50mm f/1.8, 60mm f/2.8 micro, 18-200mm and a Sigma 10-20mm wide angle zoom.  All of these lenses have served me very well and I will continue to use them, but there’s one problem – only one of them, the 60mm micro, is an FX lens. My previous camera, the d7000, is a DX camera, so I bought DX lenses.  My new camera is an FX (full format) camera.  What all of these letters mean is that all but one of my current lenses will not take advantage of my new FX camera body.  (Here’s a clear explanation of FX vs. DX from someone who really knows

Read More
My House

60mm lens & Cleaning my office

Now that I’ve had a few days to play with my new camera (the Nikon d800 for those who missed it), I’ve been playing around with my existing lenses to see what new lenses I want to purchase.  I currently have five lenses – a Nikon 35mm f/2D, 50mm f/1.8, 60mm f/2.8 micro, 18-200mm and a Sigma 10-20mm wide angle zoom.  All of these lenses have served me very well and I will continue to use them, but there’s one problem – only one of them, the 60mm micro, is an FX lens. My previous camera, the d7000, is a DX camera, so I bought DX lenses.  My new camera is an FX (full format) camera.  What all of these letters mean is that all but one of my current lenses will not take advantage of my new FX camera body.  (Here’s a clear explanation of FX vs. DX from someone who really knows

Read More

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest