The Fine Line Between Styling and Authenticity: Capturing Beauty in Reality
If you’re a stylist or designer, you're probably no stranger to creating beautiful, styled spaces. Whether it’s for a client’s home, a commercial project, or your own portfolio, your goal is to showcase your design skills in a way that’s both visually appealing and true to the spirit of the space. However, when it comes time to photograph your work, you might find yourself facing a dilemma: how do you balance the perfectly curated look of your interior with the need for authenticity in your photography?
The challenge of capturing authenticity in styled interiors is one that many designers face, especially when they’ve spent hours, or even days, creating a space that feels just right. Photographs are often expected to reflect not only the beauty of the design but also a sense of warmth, personality, and ‘realness.’ But how do you make a room, carefully staged and styled, feel lived-in and authentic without compromising its intentional design?
The Balance Between Perfection and Personality
The key to capturing authenticity in styled spaces is finding a balance between perfection and personality. While your space may be carefully curated, there are several ways to give your images a more natural, lived-in feel.
Embrace Imperfections: Some of the most authentic interior photographs have elements that are not perfectly aligned. Maybe a pillow is slightly askew, or a stack of books is a little uneven. These small imperfections help create a sense of realism in your photos.
Capture Moments of Movement: One effective way to add authenticity to your images is by capturing moments of life in the space. This could mean photographing an empty cup left on the kitchen counter or the sunlight streaming through a window and illuminating the room in a way that shows time passing. Including elements like this helps tell the story of how a space is used, adding to the feeling that it’s not just for show, but a space for real life.
Include Personal Details: In many cases, authenticity comes from details that reflect a personal touch. Whether it’s a special heirloom or a much-loved book on the coffee table, these small objects can convey a sense of life and comfort within a space. Including these personal details can humanise the design and make the space feel lived-in, even if it’s been professionally styled.
Tell a Story with Composition: Composition is everything when it comes to capturing authenticity. If your room feels overly staged, try shooting from different angles or including more of the surrounding environment to bring a sense of context into the shot. Show how the space interacts with the outside world, or include reflections in mirrors or windows. These elements tell a deeper story about the space, and their inclusion often helps the image feel more authentic.
Capturing authenticity doesn’t mean you have to forgo styling — it’s about understanding how your designed space can tell a story, and capturing that story in a way that feels genuine and approachable.
Photographs that are beautiful AND authentic reflect the heart of the space and your design vision, yet still capture the warmth and personality that make it feel like a home.