Contemporary Porcelain
December 2023
I was recently approached by a talented ceramicist who provided me with what turned out to be a very un-restrictive 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.
Wildflowers were incorporated, which at the right time of year, can be a good alternative to bought-in versions offering a more raw appearance and adding a dash of unique authenticity. Deborah was featured in both British GQ Magazine, and Wired Magazine both using an image from this shoot.
Here’s to a Single Malt
Helping to communicate the ethos of this brand through photography.
Project for one of the Yorkshire Coast’s most interesting and innovative brands; the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery.
Glass can be difficult to photograph. It’s a bit of a ‘catch-22’, removing distracting reflections from the glass surface whilst maintaining some reflectivity to depict the product correctly. I use diffusion in nearly all shoots that involve glass as it allows unsightly specular highlights to be removed that would otherwise detract from the final image.
For styled shots, it was important to communicate the ethos and region where the product hails from. I combined pebbles from a local beach placed atop a vintage table which had just the right look and patina. Barley grains from the client’s farm were an important element to incorporate, paired with a textured background to further enhance the organic feel.
Simple Gin Imagery
A project to create packshots and closeups of this gin brand’s entire range. One of the most unique elements of the bottle as captured in this close-up shot, is the shaping of the base to replicate an ammonite. Whitby is situated on an area of the Yorkshire coast renowned for fossils. The rest of the textured bottle providing a nod to the sea.
It’s a time-consuming project when capturing lots of packshots, getting the lighting and positioning just right. Setting up each light individually until the desired results are achieved. With much of the time spent on the initial setup, then going through replicating the shots. Each bottle sat atop a piece of white perspex to include a reflection to the base.
It’s a Chocolate Affair
A resurgence in the story of York’s chocolate industry.
Scrumptious flavoured chocolates from York’s Chocolate Affair styled and photographed.
Living only 40 miles from York, the story of York chocolate making is very familiar to me, with household names such as Terry’s and Rowntree’s with their ghost signs still emblazoned on many street corners.
For some food shots, I find it almost obligatory to echo the ingredients within to complete the story, which tend to be photographed in a brighter more playful style. Whereas other shots are more pared back focussing upon selective lighting to tell a more mysterious and luxurious tale.