our state | april cover

“The earth laughs in flowers.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was so lovely to have the April cover of Our State Magazine!  One can never have enough peonies in my opinion.  They are lacy and feminine and have a delicious perfume.  I want oodles and oodles of them in my yard (doesn’t everyone??).

I moved last July to a house that unfortunately didn’t have much landscaping done.  With hopes of what my yard could be, I planted 2 peony bushes in last summer and 2 this spring.  They probably won’t bloom this year so I will have to vicariously enjoy all the lovely flowers in my neighbourhood until next year.

Two peonies were transplanted from my old yard – I really didn’t think they’d make it since they were moved in the oppressive heat of July in NC.  I think I almost cried when I saw them coming up this year!  The other two peonies are from the farmer’s market – divided from some old southern peonies.  I don’t even know what color they are but that will be the wonderful surprise of next spring!

bernhardt 2014 | villa medici

Our second catalogue for Bernhardt this fall season. Villa Medici – enjoy!

Creative Director : Ron Fiore, Marketing Director:  Heather Eidenmiller, Styling/Art Direction:  Susan Johnson Smith, Photography: Stacey Van Berkel

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bernhardt 2014 | jetset

Fall High Point Furniture Market is almost over and we realized we didn’t even share our new Bernhardt catalogues!  Here is the first of three – Jetset – a chic and glamorous collection.  More of our favorite images to come next week so check back!

A huge thank you to our amazing team for making this a beautiful project!

Ron Fiore : Creative Director

Heather Eidenmiller : Marketing Director

Susan Johnson Smith : Stylist/Art Direction

Carmela Tomlinson/Paragon : Design

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home & interiors scotland | jennifer mehditash

Wishing Jennifer Mehditash of Mehditash Design and Dec-a-Porter a big congratulations on her feature in Homes & Interiors : Scotland!  We had the pleasure of shooting this beautiful Soho interior with help from amazing stylist Raina Kattleson.  Jennifer is delightful and talented so she made our job very easy.  Her strong background in art, life abroad in Portugal and a fabulous sense of style are all reflected in this gorgeous interior.  I’ve included a few details that didn’t make the article – hope you enjoy!

garden & gun | vivian howard’s modern farmhouse

Have you watched the delightful PBS show A Chef’s Life?  Chef Vivian Howard and her husband Ben Knight move from New York City to the small town of Kinston, North Carolina to open a restaurant and make their lives. The show documents their adventures in running a restaurant and raising twins in a small town.  I especially love the segments that show the colorful people of the community.  A Chef’s Life is sweet but real and wonderful watch.  So imagine how excited we were when Garden & Gun Magazine called for me to do a shoot a Vivian & Ben’s new house!

As we drove from Greensboro to the flatter lands of eastern North Carolina, we were struck by the beautiful fields and traditional farms along the way.  And there in the middle of a golden wheat field was Vivian & Ben’s modern house!   We fell in love with Vivian & Ben and their family and we had a great time photographing such a warm and inviting house.   The modern minimal architecture is complemented by all the personal antiques and art.  Hope you enjoy the photos and please stay tuned for some more images from our day.

Architect:  Ann Clark

canadian living | paint the town fred

It is such a privilege to see inside the lives of the people I get to photograph.  The August issue of Canadian Living (get your copy now!) features one of our favorites – a day in the life of Fred Connors in his beloved city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Fred is a mover and a shaker – an inspiring whirlwind of style & activism, great food and a model for how to give back to your community.  We followed him and his partner Joel Flewelling on a typical day of dog walking, volunteering, gardening, feeding chickens, working at the salon and more.  This first installment is about the house Fred & Joel took from abandoned to urban chic.  I hope you enjoy a peek at the Canadian Living article and then some photos of their house in the north end of Halifax!

for the love of... italia

I joked on Facebook that I have almost run out of the best aged balsamic vinegar and so I decided to go to Italy tomorrow.  Some thought I was joking but I really am headed out tomorrow for a dream come true shoot at Il Borro, a luxury Relais & Chateaux property in the hills of Tuscany!  My dear friend Krista is coming from Scotland to assist for the shoot and then we are actually going to have a real holiday.  It has been so long since I have had true rest.  I can’t wait to taste the organic olive oil on the farm we are staying and enjoy all the amenities at Il Borro too.  I will be in Firenze for Easter and for a couple of days afterwards – it will be a time for soaking up art and amazing architecture, taking walks down long country roads and drinking wine & eating local food.  Here is a photo from my last trip to Italy.  Arrivederci!

garden & gun | katie button's cúrate

I love my job everyday but I especially love it when it allows me to meet inspiring people!  I photographed Chef Katie Button at her fantastic restaurant Cúrate in Asheville for Garden & Gun magazine earlier this year (see more of the story here).  I found Chef Button’s enthusiasm for food catchy and the food at Cúrate delicious!  We always suggest people stop by Cúrate if they are going to Asheville.  And yesterday we were excited to read that Button will now be doing a cookbook and we wanted to say a big congratulations from all of us at Stacey Van Berkel Photo!

style at home | magically muted christmas

Thrilled to have to the November cover of Style at Home magazine.  Thank you to Christine Hanlon and your wonderful styling – we had such fun working with you as always.  I really love the understated approach to the holidays – it is peaceful and calm and just so pretty.

bernhardt 2013 | architectural digest

Please take a look at our ad in the latest issue of Architectural Digest for Bernhardt Furniture!  This ad ran last month in Veranda & Traditional Home as well.  And to see a little more about the project see our blog post on the beautiful Salon Collection.

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Photography : Stacey Van Berkel

Styling : Susan Johnson Smith

Art Direction : Ron Fiore, Susan Johnson Smith & Stacey Van Berkel

for the love of | laughter

We loved photographing the effervescent Katy from Marilyn’s Agency a few months ago.  She is lots of fun and such a beautiful young lady!  We wish her all the best . . .

Katy Fields : Marilyn’s Agency / Allison Easley :  Makeup & Hair / Maria Arce : Assistant

bernhardt 2013 | salon

Our Bernhardt Salon Collection catalogue had hit the Spring Furniture Market!  We love this elegant and glamourous furniture collection!  See the e-catalogue here.  Once again our hardworking & fun team went above and beyond to make this project special:  Heather Eidenmiller, Ron Fiore & Chip Poe (Bernhardt), Susan Johnson Smith/stylist (Studio Xing); Anna Marie Bradfield/model (Directions USA);  Allison Easley/hair & makeup; Maria Arce & David Hillerby/photo assistants; Bianca Pagliai & Joyce Crumpacker/styling assistants; Jon Carter & Spencer Pickle/grips. 

Here are a few of of favorite images plus a few behind the scenes . . .

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bernhardt 2013 | huntington

We are very proud to show a few favorite images from our the Bernhardt Huntington Collection catalogue which will debut at this Spring Furniture Market!  And a few behind the scenes photos as well.  Hope you enjoy!

 Thank you to our fabulous team who worked so hard to make this project special:  Heather Eidenmiller, Ron Fiore & Chip Poe (Bernhardt), Susan Johnson Smith/stylist (Studio Xing); Anna Marie Bradfield/model (Directions USA);  Allison Easley/hair & makeup; Maria Arce & Alicia Irvin/photo assistants; Bianca Pagliai & Joyce Crumpacker/styling assistants; Jon Carter & Spencer Pickle/grips.  And a very special thank you to Sue Haag for bringing the herd from  Oak Grove Welsh Corgis :  Sophie, Comet, Verna, Ivy, and Mabel were a hit with everyone!  Now our whole team would like a corgi puppy . . .

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I think it is always fun to see a little of what goes on behind the scenes on a shoot . . . .

My hard working little bees, Susan, Joyce and our intern Alicia Irvin who will be graduating from RCC Photography program this August!

My hard working little bees, Susan, Joyce and our intern Alicia Irvin who will be graduating from RCC Photography program this August!

 Jon & Spencer looking so serious – but they are the best guys to work with on a shoot!  We are looking forward to all of our upcoming projects with them.

 Jon & Spencer looking so serious – but they are the best guys to work with on a shoot!  We are looking forward to all of our upcoming projects with them.

 Best photo assistants Alicia & Maria even run to get things done on time.

 Best photo assistants Alicia & Maria even run to get things done on time.

 A little dog wrangling and a little playing too.

 A little dog wrangling and a little playing too.

 Susan, our resident fairy godmother /stylist working her magic!

 Susan, our resident fairy godmother /stylist working her magic!

 And Bianca had the very best job of all, don’t you think?

 And Bianca had the very best job of all, don’t you think?

benjamin moore 2012 | colorlife app

My first national magazine job was to shoot my own house for Canadian Home & Country magazine (which was so exciting!) & interestingly that story is reappearing in the Benjamin Moore Colorlife App available on iTunes!  Here are a some sneak peeks –  to read my story and really enjoy the whole e-mag you’ll have to get the app. . . I will upload some real photos when we get back from Toronto.

And two other photos of mine appeared as well.  This one is from the Style at Home story – see more photos here:  Kennebunk