Every photoshoot tells a story—not just of the home itself, but of the creative process behind capturing it. From working with shifting natural light to styling the perfect vignette, each space presents its own unique challenges and rewards. Photographer, Abigail Jackson, shares her behind-the-scenes experience in crafting each shot of this North Carolina home, designed by Kate Haynes of Noble Studio Interiors. Through Abigail’s lens, the warmth and elegance of this contemporary space come to life, highlighting the thoughtful details that make it truly special.

From the photographer… This was one of the first shoots where Kate and I had a chance to work together – it was really neat seeing how she worked through the shots making adjustments. I love seeing designers really dive into their work as we are photographing – they begin to analyze “Is this how I want my work portrayed in this scene?” and “What adjustments do I want to make to styling?” One of my goals when photographing projects is to make sure I have enough “connectors” and I think this gallery links each space well and shows how cohesive Kate’s design is.

The kitchen was one of the most fascinating spaces to photograph. What you don’t see in the final image is the wall of towering two-story windows behind the camera, flooding the space with natural light that I couldn’t fully control. We adjusted angles, moved furniture—whatever it took to get the perfect shot. The hidden pantry was also a challenge because of the mirrored backsplash, narrow room width – that photograph also required a lot of photoshop work. The real showstopper, though, was the cabinetry. The rich wood grain, accented by brass details, felt both grand and warm, and I loved how the deep tones played against the vibrant rhubarb on the counter. There was something about the way the veining in the rhubarb subtly echoed the natural wood grain that made the image come to life. 

The way a designer’s face lights up when they see their work appear through my lens never gets old. It’s magical!

– Abigail Jackson

Photoshoots always have challenges and I think that’s what makes them so fun! Bedrooms can be deceptively tricky to photograph, and this one was no exception. The sun was setting and I had to hustle. These images involved a lot of strobe light to make sure the paint color was clean, beautifully lit but still felt natural and soft

The primary bathroom was another space that required careful consideration. I wanted to capture the view as you step out of the shower, with the charming vanity perfectly framed. Shower glass always adds an extra layer of difficulty—one wrong move with the gear and you risk unwanted reflections (or worse, a shattered panel!). But the shot was worth the effort, bringing the room’s elegant details into focus.

One of my favorite moments from this photoshoot was when I quickly snapped the laundry room photograph of Kate snagging the bedsheets from the dryer! I used the image of Kate to brush into the main laundry image once I had all the other editing adjustments done. Technically, the laundry room was also one of the more complex shots. The strong window light required layering multiple exposures with light-filtering techniques, a full-power strobe, and a lens polarizer to create a soft, balanced effect. Sometimes you create a photograph in one single shot – sometimes its layers and editing.

Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Photography: Abigail Jackson · Interior Design: Kate Haynes, Noble Studio Interiors · Builder: Kennon Construction