Client Spotlight: Backcountry Mercantile

House of Custom Tableware, Vintage Treasures & Nantucket-Inspired EntertainingColour North Stamford

The Challenge

Backcountry Mercantile came to me as a brand rooted in the art of setting a beautiful table. Founded by Amanda, the business blends vintage treasures with new, carefully curated pieces — including custom maiolica from Deruta, Italy and bespoke porcelain from Limoges, France — to create tablescapes that feel elegant, personal, and full of story.

With a background in hospitality, a love of antiquing from Greenwich to Palm Beach to Paris, and a deep appreciation for heirloom pieces, Amanda has built a brand around celebrating Les Arts de la Table. Her work is classic, chic, sophisticated, and unpretentious — designed for clients who love entertaining at home and appreciate tableware that feels collected, meaningful, and one of a kind.

The Result

For this brand session, Amanda wanted images that would highlight both her product and the feeling behind the brand. The focus was on her custom ceramic wares, vintage glassware, layered tabletop scenes, and the special details that make each tablescape feel personal. Because she was also preparing for a summer Nantucket pop-up with Centre Pointe, we created images of her blue and white Nantucket-inspired collection, including custom plates, an ACK mug, and coastal pieces designed for summer entertaining.

Just as important, Amanda wanted to feel natural and at ease in front of the camera. Like many business owners, she was more comfortable talking about her products than being photographed herself. Through planning, gentle direction, and an intentional approach to styling, we created images that allowed her product to remain the focus while still giving her brand a personal presence.

The Best Part

After the session, Amanda had a gallery of images she could use for product promotion, social media, website content, launch teasers, and future marketing. The photos helped tell the story of Backcountry Mercantile visually — not just what Amanda sells, but the experience she creates: a beautiful, layered, memorable table that feels both refined and deeply personal.

“Melissa helped me feel natural and at ease in front of the camera. I was so pleased with the outcome of the photo shoot — not only did she make me feel comfortable during the session, but the results were glorious. Never did I dream that I would feel comfortable sharing images of myself.”

— Amanda | Backcountry Mercantile