Behind the Scenes of an Inside Crochet Photoshoot

There’s something quite special about seeing your work in print… but recently, I had the chance to experience a completely different side of that process.

I was invited by Claire Montgomerie, the stylist for Inside Crochet, to come along and lend a hand on a photoshoot for the recent Whimsy issue (#188).

It’s not something I’d ever done before, so I went along feeling curious (and a little bit unsure of what to expect)!

What I found was a day full of quiet creativity, thoughtful decisions, and a real appreciation for the details.

From the outside, a magazine photoshoot might look effortless - beautifully styled pieces, soft lighting, everything just working.

But behind the scenes, there’s so much care that goes into each image.

Small adjustments to positioning, subtle changes in light, the way colours sit together… it’s all considered.

These women are fantastic at what they do and it was brilliant to have the opportunity to learn from them for the day.

I found myself noticing things I’d never paid much attention to before - like how the direction of light changes the feel of a piece, or how texture shows up differently depending on the angle of the shot, and how styling can completely transform how a design is perceived.

It's made me reflect on my own work, too.

As someone who designs and teaches crochet, I spend a lot of time thinking about stitches, structure, and how something feels to make.

But this experience reminded me that there’s another layer - how our work is seen, and how we can tell a story through it.

And, as with so much of what I talk about in my teaching, it was also a reminder of the value of stepping outside your comfort zone.

I went along simply to help… but I came away having learnt so much.

I’m really grateful to Claire (and the rest of the team) for the opportunity to be part of the day, and for the insight into the creative process behind the pages of a magazine I’ve long admired.

It’s given me a new perspective - not just on photography, but on how I present and share my work going forward.

And of course, it makes seeing my own design in this issue feel even more special.

You can find all of these beautiful designs in the Whimsy issue (#188) of Inside Crochet.