for the love of... Brontë

As some of you may have noticed, I bought my first horse!  She is a Percheron/Thoroughbred cross and she came into my life just a month ago.  I have longed for a horse since the day I was born so this is a big moment in my life.  We are just starting to get to know each other and I have fallen in love already.  Brontë is sweet tempered and so pretty.  She is like a fairytale horse which suits me very well.

The big moment job of naming my first horse left her nameless for a couple of weeks.  I did agonize over what to call her but in the end I chose a name that meant something to me and spoke of my heritage and love of 19th century British novels.  Bréagha (Bree-uh) Brontë – Beautiful Brontë.  The Gaelic for my Scottish heritage and of course Brontë for one of my favorite writers, Charlotte Brontë.

I have had very little time to spend with her because at SVB Photo we’ve been swamped with work this last month.  So unfortunately I haven’t been able to photograph her much or ride her either.  But the other day I drove out around dusk and these are the few shots I was able to take.

sunbrella 2015 campaign

We are so proud of this project we shot for Sunbrella!

Client:  Sunbrella

Agency:  Wray Ward

Art Director:  David Adams

Photographer:  Stacey Van Berkel

Stylist:  Susan Johnson Smith

for the love of... beatrix potter

Author & philanthropist, Beatrix Potter, often visited her Uncle Fred and Aunt Harriet’s rambling Welsh estate at Gwaenynog Hall.  I had the privilege of visiting this idyllic property a few years ago on a shoot for Canadian Gardeningmagazine. Gwaenynog Hall is a 2000 acre estate located near Denbigh whose beautiful walled gardens inspired Beatrix to write her charming Flopsy Bunny books.

Janie Smith, Beatrix’s great grand niece, showed around the gardens – she and her daughter Frances have worked tirelessly to restore the gardens back to what they might have looked like when Beatrix visited.  The garden’s were was so lovely even though we visited in the fall – ivy was still crawling on the walls, ruby red apples ripe on the trees, purple thistles blowing in the wind, iron gates opening up to secret gardens and horses peacefully grazed in the fields –  I really could imagine Flopsy & Mopsy, Cottontail & Peter hopping through the flower beds looking for a nibble, can’t you?

On a visit in May 1895, Beatrix Potter wrote in her diary . . .

“The garden is very large, two-thirds surrounded by a red brick wall with many apricots, and an inner circle of old grey apple trees on wooden espaliers.  It is very productive but not tidy, the prettiest kind of garden, where bright old fashioned flowers grow amongst the currant bushes.”

for the love of... fox hunting

I can’t even really describe the feeling that still wells up in me so many years after photographing the Blessing of the Hounds Thanksgiving hunt in Southern Pines, NC.  I still get shivers thinking about the beauty of this spectacle that has it’s roots in mediaeval times.  I can still hear rhythmic beat of horses galloping off in the distance and remember seeing horses & riders emerge from the thick mist.  There were a thousand cinematic moments.  Truth be told, I cried as I ran through the wet fields with photo gear in tow.  The beauty of the moment overwhelmed me. . .

Please understand that I am not a lover of hunting per se – but I am a fan of the equestrian sport where a scent is dragged through the fields for the hounds to follow.  Remember my undergrad degree is in 19th Century British History & literature so it just make sense that I  love the idea of galloping through fields dressed in a tweedy coat & jodpurs.!

As you look at these photos, I hope you can hear the call of the bugle and the pounding of hooves!

cdn home & country | national mag gold award

One of the highlights of my life and career was winning a National Magazine Gold Award for this cabin story!  It was a very special project because not only was it was shot in my beloved Nova Scotia but my whole family was a part of it as well.  My brother David built this cabin when he was a teenager to have a place to hang out with friends.  But, in recent years, it had fallen into decline and one day while walking by, the idea hit me to do a renovation.  David was kind enough to allow us to refurbish it to make a painting retreat for my mother.  I pitched the idea to Canadian Home & Country magazine and they accepted.

I am an extremely sentimental person & each piece placed in this cabin has a memory attached.  The door is from my grandmother’s farmhouse and it is painted my favorite color – turquoise.  Some dishes are from dear family and friends & the pretty little stove is from my cousin Janine’s old farmhouse.  The peonies are from the farmer’s market and the lupins came from my parent’s property. My Dad & I built the little stone path from the shale found on his property and my mom helped me to plant the flower boxes.  It really was a labour of love for my whole family . . .

Hope you enjoy story!  I have included a couple of before photos at the end so you can see where we started!

Photographer:  Stacey Van Berkel
Art Director: Josephine Woertman
Stylist: Ann Marie Favot
Styling Assistant:  Leigh Elliott

BEFORE:

Even before this “before” photo, my brother David and my parents had to first rip out all the yucky paneling and insulation to strip the cabin down to the bare bones.  Many mice and squirrels had been enjoying the cabin but we needed to clean it up to start the transformation!

My Dad and I put in another window at the back to let more light in and then we had the whole cabin sprayed with paint – it was a whole new place with light and a blank canvas to create on. . .

garden & gun | asheville on tap

I am very lucky to live pretty close to Asheville, North Carolina – the rising beer capital of America . . .   We loved getting this assignment from Garden & Gun magazine.  I mean who doesn’t love touring breweries & restaurants and staying in nice hotels?  I was really impressed with the young brewmasters and their enthusiasm for their craft.  And even though I am gluten-intolerant, I admit I had a few sips of some beers they worked so hard on!

We’ve included photos from the Wicked Weed, the Wedge, and Highland Breweries but these are only a few of the 40 + craft breweries located in Asheville!

We stayed at the Grand Bohemian, a beautiful hotel with the rustic feeling of a European hunting lodge mixed with old world elegance.  The have an excellent restaurant, a gallery & spa and have been named one of the best hotels by Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler!

for the love of . . . emily

Occasionally I do portrait commissions for special clients and friends.  I really enjoy this change of pace from my commercial work.  So one overcast day in October we made our way to this stunning flax colored field I had my eye on.  Melissa Peacock-Rohme did Emily’s hair and makeup and I think Emily looked gorgeous – her hair the same color as the field. . .

And then we decided to do a Kentucky Derby themed shoot when all the blossoms were on the trees.  Big beautiful hats, flowers & tea – so feminine and pretty!

Emily has been working with us for over a year now & we only have a couple of months left before she heads off to East Carolina University to study interior design.  We will miss her very much but wish her the best of all things with her new adventure!

Here are a few of our favorites of lovely Emily . . .

canadian living | modern homesteading

Do you ever have that feeling that you will like someone before even meeting them?  When I got the assignment to shoot Lola Augustine Brown and her modern homesteading family in rural Nova Scotia for Canadian Living, I just knew we’d be kindred spirits!  A Brit moves to small town Nova Scotia with her new husband to start a simpler life.  There are clucking chickens, sweet children, beautiful knitted goods, homemade preserves and two very interesting adults. Lola is a very talented writer and can throw together an al fresco meal in a flash.

I really admire what they are doing.  I know some days are not easy but there is something wonderful living close to the land and having so much space for your kids to romp around in.

I have to admit I was having so much fun at this shoot that it was hard to tear myself away.  But alas, I had to drive back to my parent’s house in Antigonish.  I left with a jar of Lola’s homemade rosehip crab apple jelly and it was an au revoir not goodbye because I have an intuition that we’ll meet again. . .

homesense 2015 | spring lookbook

When Tamara Robbins Griffith called me to come to Toronto to shoot for HomeSense – I was so thrilled!  I love shooting in Toronto and it was like a reunion to shoot with Tamara and Christine Hanlon, both of whom I knew from Style at Home.  The HomeSense team was wonderful and we really had fun shooting all of these little vignettes . . . there are definitely some pretty things I would like to get my hands on.  HomeSense is a part of the TJ Maxx corporation.

our state | april cover

“The earth laughs in flowers.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was so lovely to have the April cover of Our State Magazine!  One can never have enough peonies in my opinion.  They are lacy and feminine and have a delicious perfume.  I want oodles and oodles of them in my yard (doesn’t everyone??).

I moved last July to a house that unfortunately didn’t have much landscaping done.  With hopes of what my yard could be, I planted 2 peony bushes in last summer and 2 this spring.  They probably won’t bloom this year so I will have to vicariously enjoy all the lovely flowers in my neighbourhood until next year.

Two peonies were transplanted from my old yard – I really didn’t think they’d make it since they were moved in the oppressive heat of July in NC.  I think I almost cried when I saw them coming up this year!  The other two peonies are from the farmer’s market – divided from some old southern peonies.  I don’t even know what color they are but that will be the wonderful surprise of next spring!

a few of my favorite things

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Stacey Van Berkel Photography! Explore the joy of simple pleasures in Stacey’s KIDS gallery.

bernhardt 2014 | villa medici

Our second catalogue for Bernhardt this fall season. Villa Medici – enjoy!

Creative Director : Ron Fiore, Marketing Director:  Heather Eidenmiller, Styling/Art Direction:  Susan Johnson Smith, Photography: Stacey Van Berkel

bernhardt 2014 | jetset

Fall High Point Furniture Market is almost over and we realized we didn’t even share our new Bernhardt catalogues!  Here is the first of three – Jetset – a chic and glamorous collection.  More of our favorite images to come next week so check back!

A huge thank you to our amazing team for making this a beautiful project!

Ron Fiore : Creative Director

Heather Eidenmiller : Marketing Director

Susan Johnson Smith : Stylist/Art Direction

Carmela Tomlinson/Paragon : Design

home & interiors scotland | jennifer mehditash

Wishing Jennifer Mehditash of Mehditash Design and Dec-a-Porter a big congratulations on her feature in Homes & Interiors : Scotland!  We had the pleasure of shooting this beautiful Soho interior with help from amazing stylist Raina Kattleson.  Jennifer is delightful and talented so she made our job very easy.  Her strong background in art, life abroad in Portugal and a fabulous sense of style are all reflected in this gorgeous interior.  I’ve included a few details that didn’t make the article – hope you enjoy!

garden & gun | vivian howard family portraits

Well, you can’t go wrong with a golden wheat field and such a cute family!  At the end of our shoot for Garden & Gun’s August issuewe did some fun family portraits of Vivian & Ben and the kids.  See the interior of their fabulous house here and stay tuned for photos of the impromptu dinner party!

garden & gun | vivian howard’s modern farmhouse

Have you watched the delightful PBS show A Chef’s Life?  Chef Vivian Howard and her husband Ben Knight move from New York City to the small town of Kinston, North Carolina to open a restaurant and make their lives. The show documents their adventures in running a restaurant and raising twins in a small town.  I especially love the segments that show the colorful people of the community.  A Chef’s Life is sweet but real and wonderful watch.  So imagine how excited we were when Garden & Gun Magazine called for me to do a shoot a Vivian & Ben’s new house!

As we drove from Greensboro to the flatter lands of eastern North Carolina, we were struck by the beautiful fields and traditional farms along the way.  And there in the middle of a golden wheat field was Vivian & Ben’s modern house!   We fell in love with Vivian & Ben and their family and we had a great time photographing such a warm and inviting house.   The modern minimal architecture is complemented by all the personal antiques and art.  Hope you enjoy the photos and please stay tuned for some more images from our day.

Architect:  Ann Clark

canadian living | paint the town fred

It is such a privilege to see inside the lives of the people I get to photograph.  The August issue of Canadian Living (get your copy now!) features one of our favorites – a day in the life of Fred Connors in his beloved city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Fred is a mover and a shaker – an inspiring whirlwind of style & activism, great food and a model for how to give back to your community.  We followed him and his partner Joel Flewelling on a typical day of dog walking, volunteering, gardening, feeding chickens, working at the salon and more.  This first installment is about the house Fred & Joel took from abandoned to urban chic.  I hope you enjoy a peek at the Canadian Living article and then some photos of their house in the north end of Halifax!

for the love of... italia

I joked on Facebook that I have almost run out of the best aged balsamic vinegar and so I decided to go to Italy tomorrow.  Some thought I was joking but I really am headed out tomorrow for a dream come true shoot at Il Borro, a luxury Relais & Chateaux property in the hills of Tuscany!  My dear friend Krista is coming from Scotland to assist for the shoot and then we are actually going to have a real holiday.  It has been so long since I have had true rest.  I can’t wait to taste the organic olive oil on the farm we are staying and enjoy all the amenities at Il Borro too.  I will be in Firenze for Easter and for a couple of days afterwards – it will be a time for soaking up art and amazing architecture, taking walks down long country roads and drinking wine & eating local food.  Here is a photo from my last trip to Italy.  Arrivederci!