Behind the Seams: How We Create Our Vintage-Inspired Photo Shoots on a Shoestring Budget
This week on Behind the Seams, I’m sharing how we created our latest photo shoot—from upcycled props and DIY drapes to a pink set built from scratch. It's boudoir magic on a budget, and perfect inspo.
Today on Substack, I’m taking you Behind the Seams—quite literally! While most fashion brands outsource photoshoots to agencies and hire studios by the hour, we do things very differently at What Katie Did. Apart from manufacturing, everything happens right here at our HQ in Pangbourne, Berkshire, UK—from designing and sampling to picking and packing your orders. And tucked away at the top of our three-story building is a little creative sanctuary: our in-house photographic studio.
Having our own studio (complete with photographer—my husband Richard!) means we’re able to punch well above our weight when it comes to imagery. It gives us the freedom to shoot whenever inspiration strikes, without worrying about rental fees, scheduling, or hauling wardrobes across town. It also means we can create fresh content far more regularly than most brands our size.
Our customers often ask how we create such elaborate sets on a seemingly endless rotation, and the answer is simple: thriftiness, creativity, and a lot of make-do-and-mend! Like many of you—whether you’re a performer, vintage model, or simply someone with a passion for glamour on a budget—we know how to stretch a pound and repurpose what we have.
Richard and I have been collecting antiques and oddities for years, which means we have a whole stash of props and accessories to draw from without spending a fortune. For our recent shoot, the only real expense was the fabric for the set—everything else came from what we already had, including the vintage trim I’d stashed away and reused from previous projects.
We shoot almost everything on the same set: two freestanding walls built into a corner, which we repaint or wallpaper as needed. There’s also a pole for hanging seamless paper backgrounds, and sometimes we tack on a bit of skirting board to make the paper look like a proper solid wall. If you’ve been following us for a while, you may have noticed our houseplants playing supporting roles—if you look closely across the years, you can even see them grow!
This particular shoot was inspired by the colour pink and that dreamy, mid-20th-century Hollywood boudoir look. We initially searched for wallpaper that would bring that vision to life but couldn’t quite find the right thing. That’s when I suggested draping the walls instead. We found a soft suedette fabric that looked luxurious, was crease-resistant, and—most importantly—affordable.
The transformation began with a bit of recycling: we stripped the wallpaper from the circus prop stool used in our last shoot and reupholstered it with the pink suedette and vintage trim. That little makeover gave me the confidence to tackle the walls.
Now, I’ll admit, I underestimated how big a job the wall draping would be! To get that luscious ruched effect, I needed around six metres of fabric at four metres in length. I sewed channels—or hems—into the centre and ends of each 1.5-metre-wide panel, then threaded string through to create the gathered look. I was nervous it wouldn’t hold its shape when hung, but to my relief, the ruching stayed beautifully in place.
For the floor, we originally considered a mirrored surface to reflect light and add a glamorous edge, but in the end, we decided it would interfere with the clarity of our lingerie. Instead, we used the same pink suedette fabric. To keep it flat and prevent wrinkles or bounce, Richard built a wooden frame, stapled the fabric to it, then flipped it over so the smooth surface was on top.
Nothing goes to waste here. The wooden frame will soon be repurposed for my vegetable garden (a true ‘behind the seams’ project if ever there was one!), and the pink drapes will likely be used again—possibly even for our Goodwood Revival pop-up shop in September.
Of course, not everything goes perfectly the first time, and I’m happy to share a few lessons learned:
Drapes: In hindsight, it would’ve been much easier to sew the ruching channels before joining the fabric panels together. Trying to thread string through a six-metre-wide piece of fabric was definitely a challenge!
Stool: I slightly miscalculated how much trim I needed and came up short at the back. Luckily, it wasn’t visible in the final photos—one of the many small mercies of working behind the lens.
Ultimately, creating beautiful vintage-inspired photo shoots doesn’t require a huge budget—just a bit of imagination, a lot of resourcefulness, and a love for the craft. Whether you’re working from a tiny flat or a home studio, I hope this peek behind the scenes gives you a few ideas for your own creative projects.
Coming Next Saturday…
In next week’s Substack, I’ll be revealing the design story behind the lingerie featured in this shoot— brand new pieces you haven’t seen yet! From initial ideas to fabric choices and the final shoot, I’ll take you through the full creative process behind one of our most exciting upcoming pieces. Stay tuned for an exclusive first look!
Katie Thomas is the founder of What Katie Did, a vintage-inspired lingerie and fashion brand that brings mid-century glamour to modern wardrobes. When not designing new collections, she can be found hunting for vintage treasures across Somerset and beyond.
Curious to explore more vintage-inspired treasures? Our lovingly crafted lingerie and fashion collections at What Katie Did bring the elegance of yesteryear into your modern wardrobe, from perfectly structured corsets to the most delicate of intimates. Each piece tells its own story of timeless glamour.