Still Life Porcelain Shoot
An open brief is something I relish working to, and this shoot gave me the opportunity to use my own creativity.
I was recently approached by a talented ceramicist who provided me with what turned out to be a very unrestrictive brief. Allowing me the latitude to use my own creativity and come up with something special for the client. This included still life shots and interior-styled imagery; each with a unique feel and setting.
This shoot illustrates the various styles that ceramics can be shot in. Although the shoot was carried out remotely, working on this shoot was exciting and the work was fascinating to photograph and style.
Using a pared-back approach to props and styling works well with ceramics, as does using hard materials such as granite, stone and tile. The hardness of these materials providing a natural habitat for the work. Stone or tile is a great choice but is limited in terms of size. For the shoot I painted backgrounds similar in tone and texture to concrete or stone. These work much better than bought-in vinyl backdrops as studio lighting can be tweaked into accentuating real texture.
For the still-life images, I picked wildflowers, which at the right time of year, can be a good alternative to bought-in versions as they have a more raw appearance, adding a dash of unique authenticity.
To further enhance the flat-lays I used a set of stylish geometric cutlery from my prop cupboard. A set that I’d picked up a while ago that had ‘Air France’ stamped on them. I looked them up since buying and they were designed by Raymond Loewy, a French-American industrial designer. The cutlery’s shapes and style complement the dinner plates, and whilst they’re included to give the viewer a sense of purpose and eagerness to use them, their main purpose is style.
“I was absolutely blown away by the photos taken by Richard! The composition was incredible - it was exactly how I wanted my ceramic homeware and art pieces to be displayed. He captured the mood perfectly, and I felt as though he represented my style and brand in every shot. Richard also wrapped each piece thoroughly for the transition back to the studio, they all arrived in immaculate condition.” Deborah Buckley
Deborah was featured in both British GQ Magazine, and Wired Magazine both used this image from the shoot…
Behind Febbie Day Ceramics is Deborah Buckley, a designer-maker who has gained a glowing reputation for her work in porcelain clay. Working from the historic city of Beverley, she features regularly in World of Interiors and you can see more of Deborah’s ceramics here.
