I often share behind-the-scenes snapshots on Instagram and Snapchat, but I wanted to bring a fuller look here at Studio DIY HQ and describe what a typical week actually feels like. Our days are a mix of crafting, eating (donuts are a must), photo editing, running errands in the piñata district and juggling deadlines. No two days are identical, so “normal” is flexible. Usually we craft and shoot at the studio, then edit and write posts at home because that’s where our desktop lives. When Intel asked us to test their All‑In‑One computer, we were excited—suddenly we could research, create, edit and upload everything in one place. Here’s how a week shaped up and what it takes to take a post from idea to published.
Here’s a snapshot of what we tackled that week:
- Research and buy donuts for our LA Donut Guide
- Shoot a mani tutorial
- Pick up a piñata for a shoot
- Prepare and execute a large team shoot
- Shoot and draft a friendship necklaces post
- Answer a hundred (or so) emails
- And yes—several dance breaks
The donut guide had been in the works for months. We tracked donut shops and styles, then the day before the shoot we mapped the places we wanted to visit and divided them among the team. The Dell XPS 27 All‑in‑One we used is touchscreen and can lay flat, which made it an ideal virtual map—perfect for dropping pins, planning routes and sharing with collaborators. We even sent the map to an artist we work with, Kate, who made an illustrated version for the post. The next morning we hit the road at dawn and collected donuts from across the city. It was a delicious early start.
We cataloged every donut and noted which shop each came from so we could keep track.
Seeing the All‑in‑One in the studio let us shoot tethered for the first time, meaning photos appeared instantly on the large screen so we could tweak styling and reshoot on the spot. That made a huge difference—relying on a tiny camera preview has led to many near-misses in the past. Jeff edited the chosen shots while we boxed up the extras for friends and neighboring studios. Sharing the leftovers is part of the fun (and a good way to keep morale high).
Another day we walked down to the piñata district to pick props. If you haven’t visited, it’s worth a stop—the streets are filled with colorful displays that make shopping fun and inspiring.
We had another full shoot day that included dramatic hair and makeup. I liked my yellow wig so much I kept it on for lunch—luckily the team tolerated it and kept eating with me.
We finished the week with a manicure shoot, which are always some of my favorites. Alex came in to work her magic and we even styled a shot with ice cream in my hand—cold enough to make me shriek, but totally worth it for the photo.
By Friday afternoon it was time for a dance break to celebrate finishing the week. We tested the All‑in‑One’s speakers while we danced—yes, they passed with flying colors.
And that’s a wrap: a busy, food-filled week at HQ with shoots, sourcing, editing and a lot of teamwork. It’s messy, loud and a blast—doesn’t your work week look a little like this too?
This post was created in partnership with Intel. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep the Studio DIY party going.