Behind the scenes of the September MSL Cover Shoot!

Last April, I posted a blog about choosing a cover for Martha Stewart Living magazine and a bit of what's involved in the process. Readers responded so favorably that I decided to show you a little behind-the-scenes of when we shot the September issue, on newsstands now. September, of course, is the decorating edition, and it's filled with fantastic ideas for making your surroundings more beautiful. Hugh Stewart photographed the actual cover, and we invited Patrick Kolts to shoot the behind-the-scenes.

Inspiration for the cover came from the wonderful story about stenciling in that issue and there were at least two different scenarios photographed. Matthew Axe was the art director for the shoot and he and his team worked for several days preparing the set. The day before the shoot, Hugh Stewart came to set up his lighting and to work out the composition with Matthew.  It's always fun to see how things are actually done, so please have a look and enjoy!

These are artist sketches of a couple of scenarios that were being considered.

These are paints and supplies for stenciling. You can read more about it in the September issue.

Here I am with art director Matthew Axe having a good laugh.

Kevin Sharkey and I are discussing some of the fine points of this set.

Chief creative officer Gael Towey and I are looking intently at the digital images on the computer screen. Obviously, we're happy with what we see.

Here I am posing with gorgeous stenciled pillows. This was one scenario photographed that day. By the way, you can learn how to make these pillows and other fabulous stenciled projects in the magazine.

The actual cover of the September issue. That's my wardrobe stylist, Karena, with her beautiful dark hair –- she's making sure that I look crisp and neatly put together. 

Comments

[michael anthamatten]

I never would have known that the lovely cover was a real set. I assumed it was PC graphics. Thank you for sharing.

[chia berry]

Thanks for giving us a peek behind the scenes -- love it!!

[Bipolar Christy]

Please, please, please start a pet magazine! Your first cover shoot could feature Paw Paw's grandbaby. Oh, and my votes for puppy names are: 1. Moo Goo Gai Pan, 2. General Tso or 3. Chairman Mao. ;)

[Rowaida Flayhan]

Hi Martha!
Always looking great. Thanks for sharing! I love the magazine and always look forward for the next issue. It's so inspiring.
God Bless you.
Rowaida Flayhan

[sharkey]

So cool...love the before and after progression.

[Beth]

Martha,
The man who assists you, Kevin Sharkey....did you name your dog in his honor?

[suemare]

I thought you looked just beautiful on the cover!

[Ann]

Hi Martha
How far in advance do you print your magazine before it arrives at my front door?

I'm so excited about the new season of Martha - can't wait. I hope you don't disappoint all of us and tell us you only picked one pup - I can't wait to see all 3!!!!

[jai carney]

Did you p[ick a puppy? And if you did, you should just call him Gus.

[Pru]

This months issue has still not reached the shelves in the UK but I cannot wait!

Thank you for the insider look.

Pru

[Andrew Ritchie]

It's the perfect cover. And an ingenius idea to use the stencils!

I'm always fascinated to know what goes on behind the scenes.

-Andrew

[Linda]

Hi Martha:
I am in agreement with the first person who posted (Mr. Anthamatten). I thought it was done by graphics too. I never knew it was a real set. It's beautiful.

Linda
Phila., PA

[Betsy Mech]

Hello Martha:
I have your September Magazine on my coffee table. I must say I was surprised the wall was staged. Thanks for sharing your shoot with us. Your life is so interesting, I'd love to hang out with you for a day!

[Arlene]

WOW! I didn't know that much work went into a cover magazine. Your company is so classy and the magazine is so easy to read.

[Sarah]

Martha -
I absolutely love your magazine. Being a graphic designer, I am constantly referring to your publication for inspiration. You have such a great creative team putting it together. I love everything from the fonts to the photos! The September issue is absolutely wonderful and I love how you all decided to push the limit and actually stencil all of the text. Keep doing beautiful work...I know you will. Thank you for the design genius that you constantly display.

[Paula M. :)]

Martha,
I got a survey asking what cover to chose for your Sept. MSL issue and felt "honored" that you included your fans to help pick! I chose the one featured! LOL
Thank you so much for your continued inspiration! Love seeing the process and hard work of chosing a cover. As always, you look elegant on the issue! WTG girl!
Hope your Labor Day weekend was fun and looking forward to Sept. 15th!
Paula :)

[Jon]

Hi, Martha!
Thought you looked exceptionally beautiful on the cover of the September issue of MSL. I am really happy to see you returning more often to the cover of your flagship publication.
Your behind-the-scenes postings are extremely entertaining and fascinating. I always enjoy seeing how you guys do things at MSO.

[Trish]

Hi Martha,

The Decorating issue has always been my favorite for ideas and to just browse. I think September 2000 is my all-time favorite showing the interior of Skylands but I liked seeing Bedford too back when it was decorated in red. Both are so beautiful!

It is quite interesting to learn what goes on with creating a cover and your choices have been perfect so far. BTW, you look great on the September issue! It was the cover that first drew me to your magazine in the checkout line years ago when I became a subscriber and when I looked inside, I was awed at the beautiful photography. Your magazine can't be beat! Trish

[Margie]

I love it. The showing how a cover or story evolves is so much fun. I look at the pillows and wonder if at any time during the session someone got one thrown their way.

Again I loved the blog.

[Sherey]

Gorgeous cover...interesting how it all comes together! Looking sooo forward to the start of another 'Martha' season! Not too many sleeps left until September 15th.

[Lisa]

Hello Martha,

Another crisp, clean, beautiful cover this month... bravo! Your magazines have not only inspired my life but my business as well. I keep them on my shelves (every single one of them) organized by months rather than by the year. Fall/Autumn and Christmas/Winter are probably my favorites, if I had to choose. Especially the early ones.
I love taking the whole pile of those down and going through them for Holiday inspiration and ideas.
I can hardly wait to see what your December issue will have and add it to my 'December' collection of previous issues.

Thanks, Lisa

[Cindy Bricker]

You know, I DID catch a glimpse of the September cover over the weekend while out shopping...I was in such a hurry, I didn't get to flip through the pages. What I DO remember, though, is how g-r-e-a-t you looked!

It IS fun, seeing behind the scenes! You look cute in the pictures - the one where you're laughing, and the one where you're standing with your hands in your pockets, like "doo-de-doo-de-doo" (sung in a musical fashion, of course)... The thing (one of the many) I like about you is, you have "lived it" through your own experiences, and you're not afraid to still "get your hands dirty". You're so hands-on...so much of you goes into your products... and Ilikeit Ilikeit!!

=^..^=

[xoBeau]

Wow! beautiful! it is fun to see all the work that goes into such a fabulous cover!
http://xobeau.blogspot.com/

[Amy in Houston]

I too thought it was a wall in your house and the rest was Photoshop. Very interesting, and Martha, as always, looks great on the cover, where she belongs. I've flipped through it but not finished reading it.

Now, we're planning Thanksgiving soon, so any sneak peeks at that one? Oh, come on, just one, like a fabulous dessert I've just GOTTA make? Hey--that tart on the front cover last year was a lot of work but worth every enjoyable minute of it (not to mention EATING it.) What's next????

Amy

[J.W.]

I enjoyed very much the behind-the-scenes cover shoot. Do you read the livejournal blog of next-big-TV-show-model Elyse Sewall? She's brilliant.
Well, you can't hold a pillow in front of yourself, unless your name is Bristol. Bristol? That's an English slang word for breasts! Crazy. Chelsea? That's a soccer town. We don't name our daughters Chelsea. Americans are so funny!
The start of any decorating job is to color-coordinate your ladder.
What shoes did you end up wearing? Those espadrilles with the high wedge?