Are you resilient enough to be an interior stylist?

A Test I Didn’t See Coming 

Five days. Twenty-two teenagers. Rock climbing, caving, hiking – and me, the token female leader on an Explorer Scout camp.

Before we left, I’ll admit I was nervous. I’ve been training for months at the gym so I could be strong enough to keep up with the other leaders and the teenagers (who, frankly, have the stamina of mountain goats). I wasn’t sure how I’d fit in, and I expected this trip to be a test of physical perseverance.

It was – but not quite in the way I imagined.

On the very first evening, a vicious tummy bug hit. My real challenge wasn’t keeping pace up a cliff, it was making it up the hill from the loo block to the mess tent without collapsing. I’ll spare you the worst of the details, but it involved five days of being sick, chronic diarrhoea, and losing five pounds without trying- in five days!.

And yet… I didn’t come home.

Kindness in Unexpected Places

Every single Scout asked how I was. The leaders stepped in without making me feel guilty for being zero help. The reason I was there – to support the growing number of girls in the unit – still mattered, even if my role looked nothing like I expected.

Instead of a test of speed or strength, it became a lesson in kindness, teamwork, and the quiet resilience that comes from just staying put.

Slowing Down, Seeing More

I wasn’t at full strength when out climbing or caving, but I still found joy in the little things:

• The view from the top of High Tor
• Watching Scouts push past their fears on a sheer rock face
• The slow, steady trudge up a hill – miles behind everyone else – with the evening light spilling across the valley
• The “interesting” music I heard! Just imagine my face blushing!

Sometimes, slowing down means you notice details you’d have missed if you were rushing.

Resilience on a Shoot

That mindset – stay, adapt, make it work – is one I’ve used on countless interior photo shoots as an interior stylist.

Because no matter how well you plan, things will inevitably go wrong:

• The hero product turns up in the wrong colour
• The weather changes without warning – when shooting outside
• A location double-books you – or the owner completely forgets you’re coming and hasn’t tidied up (twice that’s happened!)
• Key props break in transit, making interior styling even more challenging

You can’t just pack up and go home. You stay. You adapt. You find another way. That’s what keeps the client happy and the shoot on track.

The Magic in Imperfection

In 25 years of styling, I’ve never had to abandon a shoot entirely, and I’ve never been completely rained off an outdoor one (though I’ve come close – very close). That’s partly luck, but it’s also the refusal to quit unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Resilience in styling isn’t about ignoring limits or pushing yourself to breaking point. It’s about accepting that perfection is rare – but beautiful, memorable work can still come from imperfect conditions.

Looking Ahead

I’m gutted my first camp turned out the way it did – but I’m ready for next time. I’m back in the gym, building strength, and determined to actually climb that mountain in 2026- without getting too out of breath.

And at home? I still sleep with the loft doors open so I can smell the fresh air. Some lessons stay with you.

What about you?
What’s the toughest challenge you’ve faced on a shoot – and how did you work around it? Share in the comments – your story might just inspire another stylist to keep going.