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behind the scenes: the book photo shoot

I am knee deep in flour and sugar and fondant. And some sprinkles. The insanity is a little like this: three days of me, alone in my kitchen, trying to create 50 plus desserts. Here’s a bit of the during and aftermath below. Even the craziness in these shots doesn’t capture the craziness of my kitchen in three days.

Then my super-awesome photographer, Abby Greenawalt, and her super-awesome stylist friend, Lisa Sikorski, came by Monday. We’ll shoot for two days, then we lose Lisa (Nooooo!!!! She knows stuff, like adding an extra fondant pumpkin to fill space!), I take another day for baking, then more shooting. All this is going on in my dining room, at the risk of cat and lighting interference. (So far so good, no burnt cat tails or broken expensive equipment.)

As photography is not my area of expertise–at all–much of this process is left in the more capable hands of Abby and Lisa. It’s mind boggling what goes into just one shot. Each shot can take about an hour, time to set up, fix props, move things, fix more props, take test shots, fix more props, take some real shots, move things around, take more shots, fix more props, change everything, and take more shots. Add a pumpkin or a pile of sugar, and take more shots.

But did I mention how super awesome Abby and Lisa are? With each shot, I’m getting more and more excited about this book. I think their eyes are adding a whole new artistic element to the end product. Can’t wait to see everything put together! OK, back to my madness. I’ll be back with more tutorials soon!!

Feel free to share (nicely)! While my blog's photographs and text are protected by copyright, I do allow (and encourage) you to share ONE photograph with credit to "the decorated cookie" and link to this blog post. PLEASE don't reprint any part of the blog post and PLEASE don't post a photo without credit. Thank you!


29 Comments

  1. Missy
    Posted March 16, 2011 at 6:28 pm | Permalink

    Love to see that fun, creative people are REAL…and use their own spaces to create AMAZING products, and use glasses and rolls of tapes to make something else seem PERFECT! Can't wait to see the finished product!

  2. Chic Cookies
    Posted March 16, 2011 at 7:24 pm | Permalink

    Wow, Missy, you're so dead on! Not the ego part to call myself amazing and perfect, but the real glimpse into using my own space, glasses and rolls of tapes. Lisa was pulling out all kinds of ideas like that to set up each shot. Pretty cool.

  3. Catherine Hansen Peart
    Posted March 16, 2011 at 9:28 pm | Permalink

    I just love seeing what goes on behind the scene. Exciting stuff!! Can't wait to see the book.

  4. lilaloa
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 12:20 am | Permalink

    This is really fun to see! Thanks for taking time out of the chaos to share it with us! (And I'm secretly examining each one of these photos to glean hints about what may or may not be in your next book!)

  5. Kim-A Creative Spirit
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 12:32 am | Permalink

    How exciting is that….. I can't wait to see the finished project.

  6. Katrina
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 12:35 am | Permalink

    That's so cool!!! (Do people still say "cool?" lol Congrats! ♥- Katrina

  7. Haniela
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 12:41 am | Permalink

    Love this post, great to see behind the scenes photo!

  8. Lauren @ Crave. Indulge. Satisfy.
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 1:57 am | Permalink

    Thanks for the sneak peak, I am sure it is absolute madness for you this week, but in the end the reward of the book will be totally worth a messy kitchen and dining room! I love the hint of whats to come with that white cake and multicolored trees…total cuteness! So excited for the final product!

  9. Sheek Shindigs
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 3:15 am | Permalink

    So exciting! Love all of the "craziness" shots ;)

  10. Lorraine
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 3:19 am | Permalink

    Wow – so exciting. Thanks so much for sharing and creating more suspense for what's to come. Even though I can imagine how chaotic it must be it also seems like a lot of fun. The set up looks awesome.

  11. Sue
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 3:22 am | Permalink

    I love the teaser, and seeing all the WORK that goes into each perfect shot. I am LOVIN' what I see, Meaghan! Hang in there:) I'm so looking forward to the finished product!

  12. Glory/ Glorious Treats
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 6:02 pm | Permalink

    I'm so excited for you Meaghan!! I love this peek behind the scenes! And I already love that pastel snowman cake we got a peek of!!
    You can do it, you're almost there!! You can rest when you're dead, right?
    Hugs!!

  13. Rowaida
    Posted March 17, 2011 at 8:27 pm | Permalink

    loving the behind the scene action. Can't wait to see your new book. Best of luck Meaghan.

  14. Cupcake Queen Bee
    Posted March 18, 2011 at 3:31 am | Permalink

    This was fun to see!! I am SOOO excited to add to my collection of your cookbooks!! HA!!! Can't wait – you are an inspiration!

  15. Chic Cookies
    Posted March 18, 2011 at 3:46 am | Permalink

    You're all the bestest! At the rate we're going, Glory, that sounds about when I'll rest :)

  16. Cakebrain
    Posted March 18, 2011 at 4:04 pm | Permalink

    It's always neat to look behind the scenes! Can't wait to see how it all turns out!

  17. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage.com
    Posted March 18, 2011 at 10:16 pm | Permalink

    I love what I see so far! I'm sure the book will be amazing.

  18. Kate & Rachel
    Posted March 20, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Permalink

    Hi!

    We just stumbled upon your blog and love, love, love it! Thanks for letting us see the 'behind the scenes' action – looks like you all had a blast! Keep up the great work!

    Kate and Rachel

  19. Kate & Rachel
    Posted March 20, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Permalink

    Hi!

    We just stumbled upon your blog and love, love, love it! Thanks for letting us see the 'behind the scenes' action – looks like you all had a blast! Keep up the great work!

    Kate and Rachel

  20. Kate & Rachel
    Posted March 20, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Permalink

    Hi!

    We just stumbled upon your blog and love, love, love it! Thanks for letting us see the 'behind the scenes' action – looks like you all had a blast! Keep up the great work!

    Kate and Rachel

  21. Kate & Rachel
    Posted March 20, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Permalink

    Hi!

    We just stumbled upon your blog and love, love, love it! Thanks for letting us see the 'behind the scenes' action – looks like you all had a blast! Keep up the great work!

    Kate and Rachel

  22. Amy
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 7:35 pm | Permalink

    So cool to see what goes on behind the scenes. Exciting!

  23. bridget {bake at 350}
    Posted March 21, 2011 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

    Would it be weird if I stood up and cheered in Starbucks? I think….yes. But, I am cheering on the INSIDE! I'm SO excited for your book and it's just SO, so cool to see the behind the scenes! If just I lived close by…I'd be your coffee-getter/brow-wiper/taste-tester!

  24. Linda V @ Bubble and Sweet
    Posted March 23, 2011 at 12:48 am | Permalink

    Thanks for the sneak peak of your book photo shoot, I love when I have professional photographers and stylists doing their magic on my treats, wish I could have it all the time.

  25. cookies and cups
    Posted March 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Permalink

    This is the kind of chaos I would LOVE!

  26. Kara
    Posted April 3, 2011 at 1:41 am | Permalink

    This is such a great post! :) I absolutely love your kitchen and peeking into your life… because I can relate completely. :) Thank you, thank you, for being YOU!!

  27. Jennifer (Savor)
    Posted April 5, 2011 at 2:37 am | Permalink

    OH HONEY!!! we have to talk. you are going to have a book. HAPPY HAPPY!

  28. Trish - Sweetology101
    Posted October 5, 2011 at 3:12 am | Permalink

    ooh ya oooh ya I got me some books pre-ordered….oooh ya ooooh yaaa….this is where my INSOMNIA PAYS OFF BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Doing the happy dance, shaking my booty around the kitchen…

  29. canvas picture
    Posted November 21, 2011 at 5:25 pm | Permalink

    Wonderful post, love your set up!!

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