Location, location

Before I went off on my holidays I spent a couple days in Notting Hill shooting this year's range of  Christmas Hampers for Selfridges. Stuffed full of indulgent treats, I had to be on my best behaviour not to give in to temptation and crack open the champagne and choccies.

When all the hard work was done, goodies and props packed away, I snuck upstairs to grab a few pics of the fire damaged attic. Bone-like branches and a collage of white photos and frames greeted me at the top of the stairs. In the other two rooms, the owner had given the walls a whitewash in parts and left them charred and crumbling in others. Very effective don't cha think? Of course, a nice chair never goes amiss!       

A little bird..

A lonely old beaten-up chair, found abandoned and unloved in an empty echoey location house. But on closer inspection a beautiful bird rests softly on his arm, a charming companion in a draughty old space.

The Dormy House Shoot

A few weeks ago I was invited along to help out on a shoot for The Dormy House with Katie Sellers (check out her website for some truly inspiring images) The shoot was at a location house in New Cross, which has fabulously high ceilings, sash windows, old radiators and a great staircase all of which make for very photogenic backdrops to any product or editorial shoot.

On this occasion we were going to be working on catalogue shots for The Dormy House, a furniture company run by the lovely Anna Trinder and family. They were looking to update the catalogue, and to get some festive cover shots for the autumn/winter launch.

The floors and walls can be a bit wonky in some of these old location houses but I think it was I who was a tad skewiff in this one! Lovely lamps though.

Pretty little dressing tables. I L.O.V.E the platinum crushed velvet stool, after all velvet is the touchy feely fabric de jour don't you know?! There is something so pretty about these soft greys, silvers and winter whites, they gave the finished shot the feel of a crisp winters morning.

A luscious Christmassy cushiony bundle and below, serious bag envy! I want that satchel.

Deliberating over how best to shoot the study desk and chair combo. You would not believe the infinite number of variations we tried for this shot, but we got there in the end!

Many of The Dormy House products are available in different colours and paint finishes. I'm loving the new French Grey and Katie's printed luggage tags.

Katie admitted to having a bit of a thing for birds, and claimed to have them all over her home in different forms. I fell for this sweet bird print by Karin Akesson available from www.alittlebitofart.co.uk

The final shots on the last day, and photographer Darren Chung moves lighting into place, while Katie makes the final tweaks to the Dining table.

All packed up and ready to go. Thanks Katie and The Dormy House peeps for a great few days.

Sumptuous Silk

This week I have been working on a shoot with Catherine Huckerby doing some PR shots for Gingerlily purveyors of beautiful silk bedlinen. We shot in a converted old Victorian school.

Talk about tall ceilings, these were completely ma-hoo-sive.

As you can see from the pics below its a great location with floor to ceiling windows, interesting features like wood panelling, and ornate fireplaces.

There are more modern touches too like this light brick fireplace (bit of a wonky shot!), and clean white walls and floorboards. I love the way the owner has displayed treasured family photos in a simple arrangement on an otherwise bare stairwell.

We set up the first bed shot. Softest dove grey silk sheets and sexy black velvet, silk and beaded bedspreads and throw cushions create a smart and sumptuous setting.

Set Builder Stevie in motion, taking a wall painted in Sanderson's "Starling" back to white. And taking a well deserved break. Check out that fireplace too. Mmmm.

Our beautiful and talented Photographer Rachel Whiting, and her able assistant Corin fire off some shots on plain white backgrounds known as cut outs. These will are the type of shots used for magazine shopping pages. Having some good cut outs definitely helps to get the products picked up and featured by key magazines.

At the end of day Cat, takes a moment while chasing couriers and location staff. Is the work of a stylist never done? A great couple of days.