Welcome to the brand-spankin’-new lokitimestwo.com!
Before my recent website redesign and relaunch, the contact page of my website featured a birds-eye view photograph of my desk and when you hovered over the phone, you’d see my phone number, the computer, my email address, etc. It wasn’t a fantastic photograph (I’d taken it myself), but I was in love with the concept of the viewer having this glimpse into my workspace. As I contemplated the redesign, I had several ideas, but with each of them, I’d get to the contact page and realize the photo wouldn’t work and how much I’d miss having it as part of my site. Well, you’re here, so you know where this is going: as the words were coming out of my mouth (my husband acts as the very patient sounding board in my creative process), it dawned on me—why not have the photograph of my desk be the site?!
Creating this photograph that would end up being my website was a truly delightful process and even the set-backs (the last Hermès Chaîne d’Ancre platinum teacup and saucer in the United States that I just had to have for the shoot arrived in pieces) ended up working in my favor (isn’t this Mosaique au 24 perfect?). It didn’t hurt that I had a dream team with whom to work… With Evi Abeler of Evi Abeler Photography behind the lens and Vanessa Boer, prop stylist extraordinaire, styling, how could things be any less than divine?
Vanessa is based out of Portland, OR, so we had to get a bit creative with the styling/consulting process. After explaining my vision, I snapped some photos of the odds-and-ands, knicks-and-knacks, desk-and-decorative types of accessories I had around the house and sent them to Vanessa to get her input on what might work. Then I created a couple of Pinterest boards, one to keep track of the props we wanted to use, the other of enviable desktops to provide us with inspiration. Once I had all of the items, I laid them out and photographed them, sent the shots to Vanessa, and she styled my “desk” via Photoshop. So cool.
The day of the shoot, my props, Vanessa (via Portland via Skype via my iPad), and I headed up to Evi’s studio in Harlem and magic was made. The final result is all around you!
Check out the process—1) my Pinterest boards, Vanessa’s 2) first and 3) second mockups, 4) the final layout shot on my iPhone, the 5) shoot day at Evi’s with Vanessa via Portland via Skype via iPhone, and 6) the final shot by Evi Abeler Photography:
