for the love of . . . emily

Occasionally I do portrait commissions for special clients and friends.  I really enjoy this change of pace from my commercial work.  So one overcast day in October we made our way to this stunning flax colored field I had my eye on.  Melissa Peacock-Rohme did Emily’s hair and makeup and I think Emily looked gorgeous – her hair the same color as the field. . .

And then we decided to do a Kentucky Derby themed shoot when all the blossoms were on the trees.  Big beautiful hats, flowers & tea – so feminine and pretty!

Emily has been working with us for over a year now & we only have a couple of months left before she heads off to East Carolina University to study interior design.  We will miss her very much but wish her the best of all things with her new adventure!

Here are a few of our favorites of lovely Emily . . .

canadian living | modern homesteading

Do you ever have that feeling that you will like someone before even meeting them?  When I got the assignment to shoot Lola Augustine Brown and her modern homesteading family in rural Nova Scotia for Canadian Living, I just knew we’d be kindred spirits!  A Brit moves to small town Nova Scotia with her new husband to start a simpler life.  There are clucking chickens, sweet children, beautiful knitted goods, homemade preserves and two very interesting adults. Lola is a very talented writer and can throw together an al fresco meal in a flash.

I really admire what they are doing.  I know some days are not easy but there is something wonderful living close to the land and having so much space for your kids to romp around in.

I have to admit I was having so much fun at this shoot that it was hard to tear myself away.  But alas, I had to drive back to my parent’s house in Antigonish.  I left with a jar of Lola’s homemade rosehip crab apple jelly and it was an au revoir not goodbye because I have an intuition that we’ll meet again. . .

homesense 2015 | spring lookbook

When Tamara Robbins Griffith called me to come to Toronto to shoot for HomeSense – I was so thrilled!  I love shooting in Toronto and it was like a reunion to shoot with Tamara and Christine Hanlon, both of whom I knew from Style at Home.  The HomeSense team was wonderful and we really had fun shooting all of these little vignettes . . . there are definitely some pretty things I would like to get my hands on.  HomeSense is a part of the TJ Maxx corporation.

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!

a few of my favorite things

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Stacey Van Berkel Photography! Explore the joy of simple pleasures in Stacey’s KIDS gallery.

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

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

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 family portraits

Well, you can’t go wrong with a golden wheat field and such a cute family!  At the end of our shoot for Garden & Gun’s August issuewe did some fun family portraits of Vivian & Ben and the kids.  See the interior of their fabulous house here and stay tuned for photos of the impromptu dinner party!

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.

Photography : Stacey Van Berkel

Styling : Susan Johnson Smith

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

lcbo 2013 | fav ontario wines

Excited to have some vineyard images published in a cheery summer online magazine for the LCBO!

sunbrella 2013 | right at home

We recently enjoyed working with the fantastic team from Wray Ward & Gina Wicker from Glen Raven to create some beautiful images for Sunbrella.  Here are some of the recent ads that appeared in several magazines including the current issue of Garden & Gun magazine.  Check out the pretty video by Peyton Lea Productions here as well!

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

red egg 2013 | color

We recently did a shoot for Red Egg, one of our favorite clients and fellow Withit member!    The unlimited colors they offer for all their pieces makes me a little giddy!  Here is a little taste of the possibilities . . .

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 . . .