80s-Inspired Wheel of Fortune Photoshoot with a DIY Twist

I’ve finally found my little corner of the internet that I share with a group of photographers located all over the world. We motivate + support each other with prompts and photography challenges that have made me into a better artist than I could have ever imagined! Being surrounded by such a diverse group of like-minded creatives has me completing more projects and pushing the walls of my creativity while creating sets I used to dream of shooting. I’ve truly found my people, even if they are scattered all across the world!

We recently decided to do a challenge series representing different decades. We decided to start at the 1970s and are working our way through. November was set for the 1980s. While the 1980s are known as a very vibrant and transformative decade characterized by bold aesthetics, innovative technologies, and materialism. While music and the rise of MTV mark a major mark of this decade, I wanted to do something a little more challenging, though, I definitely need a walkmen-based shoot in my life with colorful windbreakers lol.

I decided to stray away from a music-themed set and started to brainstorm.

During the chaos of getting a brand new roof (twice…lol), our oven decided to go out…talk about an expensive week! No doubt, Ben was very frustrated with me over the oven because I really had no opinion about appliances. It was frustrating looking for one that didn’t have WiFi or a lackluster seal on the oven door. Every appliance had the worst reviews…nobody goes back to a box store’s website months later to say “I love this oven!”

I begged and pleaded with Ben to let me keep the box. I knew I wanted to use it for the presidential photoshoot that I wanted to complete for Election Day, but it’s main purpose was to make a podium. And then the idea hit me that it could be used for more...

Sometimes I’m convinced that we have all lived the same life, just in different households. Somehow we have all watched Wheel of Fortune with our grandparents at some point. The familiar sound of Pat Sajak's voice, the clack of the spinning wheel, the little thrill when Vanna lit up those all-knowing letters on the puzzle—it’s a memory that feels like it belongs to all of us. What I wouldn’t give to watch one more episode with Poppy! 💔

I knew I wanted to do a Wheel of Fortune photoshoot, but it was a HUGE undertaking if I was going to do it right. WOF is characterized by the show’s dazzling set, complete with a spinning wheel, bright lights, and Vanna White’s iconic sequined gowns which embodied the exuberance of the decade. Contestants and viewers alike were drawn to the thrilling mix of luck and skill, guessing phrases while hoping for big payouts.

That’s a tall order for a photoshoot starting with a cardboard box!

As you can tell, I struggled to make a perfect circle. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make the game pieces, but knew I had to start with a perfect circle. After several attempts, I decided to make the walk of shame to my husband and ask if he can help me! I’m not really a measuring type, so there was no way I was going to get this off the ground without him.

After he very easily created the circle of my dreams, I decided to paint instead of gluing colored paper. Painting was definitely a challenge as it sometimes felt like I was a professional pinstriper like people freehand on cars, though I was more like a blind amateur.

I did my best to pick out wheel colors that were similiar to what they used in the 1980s before the “wheel” got a big facelilft. I used my old school, first gen cricut to cut out each letter, and let me tell you, it was done one by one and took a long time! One of these days, I’ll get a new machine, but mine is going strong at almost 20 years old!

Waylin spent many nights with me crafting in the same space and even created her own wheel which she actually did a really good job on! I added a raised middle circle to the wheel to give it some interest and dimension since everything was seemingly flat. I also added those little “pings” LOL…I don’t know what to call them, but they gave it the real authentic look of a wheel of fortune spinner!

The game show board was super tricky in terms of spacing. I ended up running to Hobby Lobby to find a way to create something that could easily be hung, but still give that “WOF” essence of knowing what it is. I ended up using teacher’s bulletin board paper which I jumped for joy when seeing they had a hunter green roll and near it was the gold border pieces which is a nod to the big flashy gold surrounding of the game board in real life.

I knew I wanted to utilize a phrase from the show that meant something, but I also needed to be conscious of the spacing constraints I had of the backdrop area, as well as sizing congruency. Wow, that sounded so professional of me! Hah! It’s a HUGE BUZZKILL to a photoshoot, in my opinion, when the sizing of your scene/set is not realistic nor in line with each other.

BACK TO THE PHRASE I USED: “Heart of Gold” is probably the most synonymous phrase I have used my entire life to describe my grandpa. He truly was a man with a heart made of gold. Someone from another country asked me what that meant and I described it as something valued for its rare goodness. Poppy was the kindest soul I’ve ever met and set a standard so high that no one has ever been able to come close. He loved me well, too well…to where I continue to struggle without him.

The night before the shoot, I tied up all my loose ends and decided to make a couple extra pieces to include like the RSTLNE sign, the million dollar puzzle piece, and the contestant podium which was also made out of the same oven box as the wheel! Note: the $1,980 to give another nod to the decades project!

That was my final prop count in its final state! I was VERY happy with how it all turned out. Who knew this could all be used from an oven box! I felt like my grandpa would have loved this photoshoot and I hope you do too!