I can identify with that, Annie. I think maybe I'm too close to my own decor -- I see it so often I don't really see it at all, plus I have emotional attachments to things I've done or collected. But looking at someone else's picture is seeing it new for the first time and things jump out at me.

Things also jump out at me to some extent when I take a picture of my own decor... like immediately seeing that artwork is hung too high... or seeing dust and dirt (yikes!) the camera saw but my eye missed. Dang that camera -- it picks up and magnifies every single speck on the carpet, every drop of "goo" a dog shook off his/her muzzle onto a wall, etc. But there's still all that attachment. It's easier to "see" someone else's pics.

Things don't jump out at me so much on my own projects... It's nice to get other opinions.

I have to agree that when I see my pictures I see things that are glaring. For example, in my kitchen at the end of the island I never really noticed the WHITE outlet cover until I saw it in a picture. It has now been changed and it looks so much better! But for other decorating ideas, I ask the wonderfully talented decorators on this board!

Most definately! I didn't realize how helpful it was to see your rooms in a photograph until I started posting them here. Funny how the camera doesn't lie. I guess that's why I hate pictures of myself?

And do you ever argue with the picutre? I just got a chair recovered in my office and rearranged the furniture. I took before and after pics. I've definitely gotten into the habit of doing the picture thing since using the forum and it usually helps a lot. However when I compare in this instance, I'm not crazy about the "after". When I put the camera down and walk into the room, however, I love it. Maybe this room just isn't photogenic?? Go figure.

Sometimes I open a thread and there's some long explanation describing their room and I really wonder how do people help them? I can't picture someone else's home, I need a pic.

Used to work freelance for a mag. It was amazing how different the projects looked when photographing. A photo will allow you to see areas that aren't working, out of place, balance, etc. I recommend taking photos even for a personal visual. They do not have to be professional, just snap a bunch from many angles to get a take on the layout. Even close-up of a small area will give you some additional feel for what has been done.

I was just thinking about this . . . but from a different perspective. We were at the big Southwest Art Show in Albuquerque this past weekend and FINALLY found art work for our huge blank wall in the family room there. I wanted to take pics of it to show you all, but every time I see photos of my family room, it looks like a furniture store with too much in it! IRL it doesn't look or feel like this, so I'm frustrated. Maybe a fisheye lens might help ;~P

This thread reminded me of when I used to do pastel and then charcoal drawings. In order to get another prospective, my own little technic was to hold the drawing in progress up to a mirror. Somehow the mirror always pointed out possibilities (or flaws) that I wouldn't see otherwise. Though not reversed, it sounds like photos on this website basically do the same thing for many of us.

I find this to be true, too...Kind of scary. I also work in the business of styling things and making them camera ready. It is amazing what the camera sees-- but these things are not always real! Angles and lighting change the entire feel of a room. When you dress a set, you are moving something to fit the frame and draw the eye somewhere specific. Very different than your home, where the eye can travel 360. Sometimes the camera doesn't see everything correctly, but it sure is a good tool to help me see what I overlook because I know the "story" behind it in my own home!

they have a saying that if you need to explain you need to redo-- and I'd have to say that's true for me. Now if only I had the time to do all of this. It's a journey, not a race....right?

After I saw this thread last night, I wandered into our guest bath where we have the most hideous light fixture ever seen hanging. I always overlook it, because I know we are redoing the bathroom from scratch. We're just not doing it today! but I'll bet our guests are going, "what?" In fact, a girlfriend just came to visit and she said, "I'm shocked that you haven't changed that out." :-) Me, too...

Decorpas made similar comments to what I was thinking when I read your thread. Sometimes, a room that feels good and plays well in person, can look a little cluttery or stilted in photos. So, when someone posts a photo and we all say, "Move that chair out from the window!" it doesn't always work for them. The perception is different from standing in a room yourself. So, if your rooms don't look as good in your photos, don't fret too much.
But I've absolutely profited by posting a picture. Sometimes it just clarifies your thinking. Sometimes, you find that tennis ball the dog lost. My house has come to look a lot better just from my taking to heart comments that folks have made after online viewing. I love it.

Red

For my first meeting with the KD where I was ordering cabinets for the cottage we were building, I snapped a few pictures of the kitchen in my house, which I really like. I thought it would be a timesaver - being able to show her an example of my style, rather than try to explain it.

When I looked at the pictures, a couple things jumped out that had been invisible to me in day-to-day living in the space.

I keep my counters pretty clutter free, but there still seemed to be too many appliances on board.

The other thing - Baskets of (real) plants I had on top of my pantry, over the fridge, and in the corner near the window. Even though they were healthy and well tended, it looked like there was too much going on up there.

I removed Foreman grill, the toaster, and the plants and took new pictures -Ahhhhhh...just right!

I'm glad others have the same feeling that I do: that the feeling of a room doesn't always come across in photos. Colors don't translate well either. When I take photos of our things, I'm always amazed (and disappointed) that the colors are so off in the photos. But given the choice, I'd rather it look right IRL than in photos. Too bad I can't achieve both.

I'd like to chime in here with a different perspective....

I've also noticed that my rooms don't always present the same in photos as IRL. For example, I notice that, often, artwork and/or groupings seem less substantial in photos. Something that feels good to me IRL might seem a bit anemic in the photo.

Now the question: What's more important, how it feels IRL or how it photographs? My vote is how it feels IRL. Just as the camera "adds 10 pounds" to a person -- that doesn't mean that person should lose 10. That's how supermodels end up so ghastly skinny.

Just food for thought... throw tomatoes if you want. ;)

Absolutely!

Photos are just another tool that may show things that could use work.

One difference when looking at a photo vs. how it feels in real life is that with the photo everything is compressed and you're able to see it all at once. IRL there's a time element. Things are viewed as you (or your eyes) move through the space.

Things also do not translate the same from, eg, from a small form to a large form.

Lots of things don't look as good in photos, and others are amazingly more beautiful (like Europe! : )

That's amazingly more beautiful irl!

Photos can have the opposite effect as well.

When I view the exterior of my home, I see the crumbling sidewalk, the lack of a porch, the too-small and too-brassy sidelights, and the bare spot where I think a hydrangea should be. When I see a photo, I'm always surprised to see a well-kept colonial surrounded by neat flowerbeds. Friends compliment my living room, but I see a popcorn ceiling, dated fireplace screen and bare windows. When I see a photo, I almost don't recognize the cozy, family-friendly den.

Maybe other aren't like me, but sometimes I'm so busy worrying about the things that aren't done that I forget to enjoy the things that are done.

Nin

Kats -
I can relate to your experiences of looking at your illustrations in a mirror.

I have a giant floor to ceiling-to-floor mirror leaning against a wall in my main living area. Whenever I look in the mirror from different angles, I see my room in reverse. It's like seeing my decor for the first time - with fresh eyes and it provides a great perspective for "tweaking"

I think it's important that the room feels right IRL. The advantage of the photo's is that you get a different perspective and an opportunity to see it the way it really is. For instance, my kitchen "felt" just fine to me. I took some pictures for an e-mail to my sister and "something" looked wrong to me. It was the toe kicks under the cabinet base (which are really more base boards, but you can't tell and they look like they should be part of the base cabinets).
I painted all the toe kicks black and it's just what was needed to kind of anchor the room. The cabinets looked like they were floating before.
And after seeing my telephone on another thread -- I'm definitely going to do something different with that area!

I always see the very worst when I post a picture -- so I rarely do -- I'm always thinking that I'll take another photo when the room looks "just right"

So -- I re-thought this process -- and just posted a couple of photos in my answers to a couple of questions on the forum. Honestly -- my palms were sweating when I pressed the Post Message button!

Jan

teacats: Sooo? How did it go? Which questions did you post to? Have your nerves calmed? I'm teasing because I know what it's like to see your "not-as-I-thought-it-was room" captured in a photo!
The major advantage, I think, is not to get your room looking magazine-quality photogenic before you post a picture, but rather to show yourself and others what your room is really like and maybe obtain some insight into making small, subtle changes to improve your room's overall image.
Thank you for your contribution to the forum!