Brand Photoshoot: The Birdhouse Inn
Emily and Ana Maria own The Birdhouse Inn, a beautifully quirky bed and breakfast perched on top of a bluff near Spring Green, Wisconsin. But the stunning treetop vista of the Wisconsin River valley is only one part of what makes The Birdhouse Inn special.
As you walk in the front door, the house grabs your attention. From the two-story stone fireplace to the spiral staircase leading up to a landing filled with bookshelves, the main living room showcases the funky and inviting personality shown throughout the inn. There’s also a sunny, plant-filled solarium for guests to relax, have a cup of tea, and enjoy the made-from-scratch breakfasts that Ana Maria creates.
In addition to the inn, Emily and Ana Maria care for a lot of animals as well. They raise a flock of chickens in a renovated vintage camper and collect eggs every morning to serve for breakfast. They also raise free-range heritage pigs on their land. But their two biggest animal loves belong to their enormous dog, Bogey, and their curious, fun-loving cat, Rita.
The branding photoshoot at their stunning bed and breakfast was part of a series with Compeer Financial featuring small agricultural businesses in its Emerging Markets program. Our goal for the photoshoot was to capture how The Birdhouse Inn mixes agriculture with tourism to create a unique, one-of-a-kind experience.
During our planning and styling call a few weeks before the photoshoot, we talked about our vision for the shoot and how Emily and Ana Maria wanted to be photographed. We also created a detailed photoshoot plan, including a list of the inn’s features they wanted to showcase and props to include in each location.
Our goal for their branding photography session was to create stunning, authentic images that felt warm, inviting, friendly, peaceful, and unique. We also wanted to showcase all the unique agricultural aspects of their business.
On the day of the photoshoot, Emily covered the agricultural portion – from the chickens in their camper to the Japanese mushroom garden made of logs to the free-range hogs on pasture. While inside the inn, Ana Maria baked a delicious made-from-scratch Dutch pancake served with her signature homemade caramel sauce and made a pot of tea using a tea set from Emily’s grandmother.
Working with Emily and Ana Maria on this photoshoot was such a wonderful experience. They truly love what they do, and it shows!
(And I am now hooked on their homemade caramel sauce!)
