Interview With Nina Callow: 3B&Me Photography
When it comes to creating a picture-perfect interior, the devil is in the details. Instagram has changed the way we design our interiors, ensuring the space looks not only great in real life but looks beautiful on the feed too!
Instagrammable interiors are frequently sought-after, and this isn’t just in commercial interiors but also the home. We had the opportunity to interview
Nina Callow from 3B&Me Photography, who has extensive experience photographing some of the best Instaworthy interiors, including both homes and commercial spaces.
Nina and her interior designer,
Annika Nott from ig. design & interiors, chose our lights to complement Nina’s interior, and Nina’s clients have even asked to be photographed in her incredible home. You may recognise some of Nina’s images in this blog, as we’ve featured her beautiful home across our social channels before, including on our
Instagram and
Pinterest pages!
If you’re looking for some tips on how to create Instagram worthy interiors and how to take the best photos of your own interior, read on for Nina’s tips and tricks.
Hi Nina, tell us a little about you and how you started in photography.
I’ve always loved photography; my love for photography goes back many years – starting out using compact brands such as Lumix and taking so many photographs that I used to wear them out! After winning my very first DSLR in a John Lewis photography competition, I was able to start to take my photography to the next level.
New camera in hand, and a weekend attending a beginners DSLR course in the West End, I was able to start taking the next steps in my journey. Coinciding with the summer holidays, I was able to spend the summer outdoors taking thousands of pictures of all our children.
A lot of my inspiration came from the US, many American photographers were shooting in a style I’d yet to come across. Documenting their children’s’ everyday lives and turning very ordinary tasks into the most beautiful imagery, capturing such emotion and telling stories through their images.
Around seven years ago, I decided to change my amateur camera to a professional one, the move to a pro kit gave me the opportunity to take a giant leap, and around five years ago I set up my photography business and haven’t looked back since!
How did you decorate your interior to be picture perfect?
I am fortunate enough to photograph in some amazing spaces and had previously shot in a home in South London where the style really stuck with me. I took inspiration from this as well as took
inspiration from Pinterest, in general; I am not a fan of clutter and wanted an interior that would allow me to have a place for everything that would be clean and clear.
I worked very closely with my designer
Annika Nott from ig. design and interiors. Although I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to achieve, I needed help in pulling it all together. Together, we have created an extremely photogenic interior that has provided a fantastic backdrop for my photos and holds its own with my boisterous boys!
Brooklyn Dome Pendant - 13 Inch – Copper, & The Globe Collection Pendant – Pewter, by Industville (Image supplied by @callown Nina Callow - 3B&ME Photography)
You have chosen our lighting to decorate your picture-perfect house, is there a reason behind this? In your expert opinion, how did our lights complement your style?
I have used your lights before in my son’s bedroom. So, when Industville was suggested for the accent lights, echoing the industrial feel of the critical style bi-folding doors, Annika and I were definitely on the same page. Not only are your fittings a great quality, but I also love the bespoke element that you offer.
We know you're an active Instagram user and you are featured on our Instagram page as well. Do you have any tips for photographers to help create Instagram worthy images?
The first rule I would say is to be clutter-free; you have to prepare the space before taking a picture. The image has to draw your eye to what you want to show, so you shouldn’t have any visual clutter, but rather keep only the elements you want to show.
When looking at how to decorate interiors or exteriors what tips would you give our readers in finding the perfect decorative touches?
Annika advises that decorative touches must add something to the image, be part of the story you are telling. If you want a backdrop that suits any style, then keeping your interior neutral and clear would be advisable.
How did you discover our lights?
Around six years ago, I discovered your lighting when I was searching for an industrial-style light for my son’s bedroom. I wanted something authentic and high quality, I searched for a long time and then when I found your website, I knew I’d found what I was looking for.
How important is lighting in photography?
Light is everything in photography; how you manage light is what makes the perfect photograph. My favourite way to use light is shooting directly into the sun; this can only be achieved at certain points of the day as the sun is low enough. It’s the mesmerising light that takes your break away!
Image supplied by @callown Nina Callow - 3B&ME Photography
What lighting have you chosen from Industville and why the specific ones?
I wanted a flexible dining area whereby we could extend the table; however, the direction I wanted the table to sit on a day to day basis wasn’t wide enough for us to comfortably sit when extended. We agreed on the solution of creating a lighting scheme that would enable us to swing the table round by 90 degrees. This dictated that we would have to use a
single pendant or cluster lighting of the same rose.
I loved your
globe clusters, and we both agreed that it would be perfect for drawing attention to the table and creating the atmosphere that I wanted.
Given the design of the room and the fact that it was to sit over an industrial wooden table, we concluded that pewter was the perfect finish. Spotlights were then placed either side to provide gentle light to the end of the table, no matter the position.
Annika strongly recommended that for the kitchen island, we ought to use a different finish, I wasn’t 100% sure about this at first. However, it looks amazing with the three Copper Brooklyn Dome Pendants sitting above the light work surface, with a backdrop of mid-grey units. They make the space pop!
Brooklyn Dome Pendant - 13 Inch – Copper, by Industville (Image supplied by @callown Nina Callow - 3B&ME Photography)
You have numerous images of your children and clients’ children in your interior that we adore! What tips and tricks do you have to take perfect pictures with children? What is the process of taking a picture-perfect image?
The best thing to do when working with children is instead of making them pose, encouraging them to play in the space you want to photograph them in. Just let them be natural; those are the best images you will take.
I photographed two girls in my kitchen, and at the beginning, we were trying to cook together to capture a natural shot, but that didn’t go as planned, so what I learned is give them the ingredients to play with, let them have fun with it, and that will come out in your images.
Brooklyn Dome Pendant - 13 Inch – Copper, by Industville (Image supplied by @callown Nina Callow - 3B&ME Photography)
How does photographing a commercial interior differ to photographing a home?
There is not much difference in all honestly; the only thing I would advise is clear the space and make sure everything in the shot should be there. This can be more challenging with a commercial interior since it is a place of business. You should also focus on textures and show how all the different textures really bring an interior together to create a great image.
Tell us a bit about your business and how your shoots work.
I love capturing the connection and see the
beauty in ordinary everyday life that sometimes gets overlooked. I often photograph families year after year; it’s so important to document your children growing up, as they change so fast. My full sessions last two hours, starting in the family home before heading outdoors.
I am often booked for extended family shoots; these will include grandparents and siblings with their children. Having shots with grandparents is such a precious thing to photograph, and there is nothing I love more than capturing that special grandparent/grandchild relationship.
I also run mini sessions, these are taster sessions, on set dates/times and in set venues and are often booked to see if the family would like a full session. The most popular of these would be lavender shoots, shot at Castle Farm in Shoreham, in Kent.
The Globe Collection Pendant – Pewter, by Industville (Image supplied by @callown Nina Callow - 3B&ME Photography)
You have been featured in numerous publications such as The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail and Vogue Italia; please tell us about your experience!
Instagram used to be my main source of publication request in the early days. I’ve been featured in The Daily Mail as one of the top ten mummy Instagram accounts every parent should be following, as well as in The Daily Telegraph for parents ‘achingly cool’ photos! Both of these articles gave me exposure and helped to build my Instagram following.
If someone would be interested in booking a photography session with you, what steps would they need to take?
In addition to family photoshoots, I shoot for a number of
commercial clients and often I’m booked to photography interiors, commercial branding, product shoots and cover London corporate events.
I would encourage people to check if my style suits what they are looking for; it’s very important to me that I am the right fit for my client. If they want spontaneous and natural shots, with limited direction, then that would be what I do!
To see if my style is a good fit for you, you can browse the projects which I’ve undertaken on my
website!
Brooklyn Dome Pendant - 13 Inch – Copper, by Industville (Image supplied by @callown Nina Callow - 3B&ME Photography)
It was great to catch up with Nina and get her expert advice on how to create
Instagrammable interiors! For further inspiration, why not check out Nina’s
Instagram page? Additionally, why not follow our
Instagram page, for a daily dose of inspiration!
Whatever the interior, no matter the style or size, our range of industrial lights are perfect for you. Whether it’s a
wall light,
flush mount,
kitchen pendant heat lamp or
outdoor lighting, browse our
extensive range to find your interior’s best match, and you too can create an Instagram worthy interior!