Today, our art director Paul Kittmer and I are at a photo shoot for our upcoming issue of Essential Toronto, a perfect-bound glossy annual publication that is in select hotel rooms and which accompanies our monthly Where Toronto publication.

We’re working with Toronto-based photographer Luis Albuquerque and stylist Daniel Onori of the Plutino Group, both of whom we’ve worked with before on several occasions. (You can see some of their handiwork from our last photo shoot, a spring/summer shopping guide for our April and May issues here: First Class, Business Class and Coach.)

Whenever I tell people that I’m going to be at a photo shoot, the first reaction is always one of awe. People think it must be very glamorous to be on set at a photo shoot. But the truth is, it’s not as exciting as it seems—sorry to burst any bubbles. The day can actually be long and even a bit boring as there is a lot of waiting around—for Paul and I at least. The really hard work is being done by Daniel whose very big task it is to pull the assorted items together into a coherent vignette. Often, what Daniel starts out with isn’t the final image. There is a lot of “tweaking” going on: a sweater comes out and a button-up shirt replaces it, a belt that was previously rolled up is now uncurled, or a shoe is moved from one corner of the page to another.

Periodically Luis takes test shots so that all of us can see what it might look like on the page. We each offer our two cents, fancying ourselves stylists, too. “Can we move that watch? It’s lost there” or “Can we take those sunglasses out? It’s too busy in that corner.” When we look at these test shots, we also talk about where text might be placed and we think about little details like should the suitcases both open on the same side or should they open on opposite sides? Which image do we want to start the story with?

My favourite part of the day? Playing with the various goodies that have been loaned out to us. (It’s probably as close as I’ll ever get to some of these very expensive items.) And since I’m not above dropping names: Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Paul Smith, Tori Burch, Christian Louboutin, Hugo Boss, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel are just among some of the designer items we have in our posssession.

I can’t show you what the final photos look like—for that you’ll have to return in September to find out! But our photo gallery has a peek at the photo shoot in progress.

Photos by Linda Luong, except where indicated.