We’re excited to share our latest “Try This” column that ran in Richmond’s R. Home magazine. This month we focused on backyard entertaining, offering a variety of practical ideas for outdoor parties, from a simple patio table setting to a relaxed picnic setup.

Shooting seasonal scenes months before publication brings its own set of challenges. For this feature we photographed our not-yet-blooming backyard in March, which meant working with limited greenery. We collaborated with the photographer to position the patio table so the camera would capture as much evergreen in the background as possible. The close-ups that made the magazine looked natural, but a behind-the-scenes view reveals how carefully we staged the scene—legs tucked on uneven ground, and props arranged with purpose to create that effortless summer feel.

To brighten the composition, we swapped our usual black outdoor chairs for white indoor chairs. The lighter look translates well for a warm-weather gathering and gives the table a fresh, inviting appearance. Weather was another constraint: a three-day rainstorm soaked the yard before the shoot, so we had to improvise to keep props and textiles clean. For the picnic scene we laid layers of cardboard beneath the borrowed blanket to protect it from mud while still maintaining a casual, cozy aesthetic for the photos.

If you’ve wondered how our contributing editor columns come together, here’s a straightforward overview of the process. The editor in chief gives us the theme for an upcoming issue—this time it was outdoor parties and gatherings for a May release. We spend a few days brainstorming dozens of ideas, then pitch our top concepts back to the editor. For this column we proposed a detailed patio table arrangement and a relaxed picnic setup, along with several small, practical suggestions to elevate each scene: using a cake stand as a fruit centerpiece, creating cheerful cheese labels for a picnic spread, and filling a metal silverware caddy with ice to serve cold beverages.

Once the editor approves the concept, we source supplies on approval from local stores. “On approval” means vendors let us borrow items for the shoot with the understanding they’ll be returned in excellent condition. Then we schedule the photographer to come to our home and execute the shoot. Typically it’s just the two of us and the photographer—no prop stylist or lighting team—so we often handle minor adjustments ourselves, like holding a sheet to block glare or subtly anchoring a runner. Seeing a casual idea evolve into a printed magazine spread a few months later never gets old.

We always do a practice run of the props and layout before the photographer arrives. A trial setup helps us avoid surprises like a table that looks too crowded or a picnic scene that reads as sparse on camera. For this issue we rehearsed arrangements on the dining room table while it poured outside, fine-tuning colors, textures, and the placement of serving pieces until everything felt balanced.

The finished magazine spread captures the cheerful spirit we aimed for: bright accents, simple DIY touches, and approachable entertaining solutions that readers can reproduce at home. In the final layout, none of the staging tricks—like the cardboard under the blanket—are visible, and all borrowed items were returned promptly after the shoot, though we did miss that striped picnic blanket once it went back to its owner.

This covers how our outdoor entertaining article came together for R. Home. We’ve already completed another column scheduled for July with an especially fun theme, so stay tuned for more seasonal tips and creative ideas for hosting memorable gatherings in your own backyard.