Book now: December 2025 dates for STYLING FOR PHOTOSHOOTS WORKSHOPS with BIID

I’ve two new dates coming up for my popular STYLING FOR PHOTOSHOOTS online workshops with BIID - choose between 10 December 3pm - 4.30pm or 11 December 10.30am - 12pm. Join me for an inspirational look at how to analyse styling in a photograph, ways to style your newly completed projects to give essential elegant ambience, and a run-through of appropriate props to bring along on the day of the shoot. Head to the Talks section of my website for booking details - and see you in December!

Photo from BEAUTIFULLY CASUAL HOME (Ryland Peters & Small) photographed by Polly Wreford

BEAUTIFULLY CASUAL HOME new edition (Ryland, Peters & Small)

It has been such a joy to see BEAUTIFULLY CASUAL HOME (Ryland, Peters & Small) back out in the world with a brand new jacket and an updated Source List. Casual style - the art of living with gently curated accessories, a ruffle here, a relaxed sofa there - is the best way to live! And the book’s photographs by the talented photographer Polly Wreford capture, I hope, the joy of unencumbered living with a dash of verve, so beautifully on display here in real homes, generously opened up to us by their owners. I have always been an advocate of the well-edited home, and I hope in BEAUTIFULLY CASUAL HOME you’ll find plenty of examples of how to move through life with ease.

Image from BEAUTIFULLY CASUAL HOME photographs by Polly Wreford

Image from BEAUTIFULLY CASUAL HOME photographs by Polly Wreford

Inspirational Lecture/KLC School of Design

This morning I had a great time lecturing to the Part Time Certificate Students at the KLC School of Design.  It was their last day after almost a year's hard graft, so hopefully discussing and learning about Styling in all its guises was light relief after the pressures of presenting their final work!   Ally Coakes, their course tutor, was very welcoming.

The Part Time Certificate students after the talk ...

Today I touched on working as an editorial stylist, how to look critically at an image when styling, approaching magazines to place a project and how to start thinking as a stylist.  So, thanks to KLC School of Design for inviting me, and to the students for listening so attentively this morning - good luck as you begin your new careers as interior designers ... or stylists, for that matter ...

'Interior Styling for Beginners'/KLC School of Design Short Course

Last week I led a one-day short course for KLC School of Design on 'Interior Styling for Beginners'. We had a full complement of 19 attendees, and over the day we covered a variety of topics: the role of the stylist, determining a brief, how to create mood, display and the low-down on great props to use.  We finished off with a whistle-top look at being on location for a shoot.  

A few fail-safe props that are always a good choice ...

What I love about teaching such courses is the generous inter-action with attendees - we had the chance to look at some of their own styling worries at home, and hopefully we collectively came up with some helpful solutions.  My own secret weapon when it comes to styling?  A great selection of black and white photos - they have myriad uses - and a vast library of vases!

And don't forget - a library of different vase shapes is essential, too

Styling Interiors for Photoshoots/BIID/May 2017

It's always a pleasure to deliver the Styling Interiors for Photoshoots workshops for the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID).  This Wednesday I did two sessions.  We started with coffee/tea and a catch-up so I could get to know the designers attending.  With the workshop divided into three parts, the initial focus was on why doing professional shots is essential, a look at the stylist/designer-photographer relationship and the practicalities of a shoot:

Image from Think Home (Ryland Peters & Small) Photography Polly Wreford

We moved swiftly on to looking at 'thinking like a stylist.' I'm always keen to get designers to tap into styling as a skill very different to interior design: we focussed on examples of what works, and what doesn't, before moving on to perfect accessorising and room-by-room tips:

Image from Casual Living (Ryland Peters & Small) Photography Polly Wreford

Then it was time for another coffee/tea break!  And only BIID would display it in such a tempting manner:

For the final part of the workshop, we discussed how to approach a magazine with a potential project, and what publications are looking for.  This week's sessions were great fun, and hopefully everyone learned some useful tips.  I particularly love to hear back from designers after they've attended.  Kate Morris, of 102 Interiors, wrote:  'Thank you for yesterday's course.  It was thought provoking and I thoroughly enjoyed the event itself.  I've been messing about with my house since I got home yesterday, moving things and squinting at vistas!'  

And after all, having a sense of fun and experimentation, is what photographic styling is all about!

Image from Think Home (Ryland Peters & Small) Photography Polly Wreford