Schweppes Christmas Campaign

I was delighted to be asked to shoot a Christmas campaign for Schweppes by design agency Epoch. The concept revolved around a Christmas cracker with the strap line of “Open up a cracker this Christmas!” and a secondary piece with “Let it snow, Let it flow, Let it snow.”.

To go about creating the visuals for this, we needed to create a set of images that offered maximum flexibility after the shoot, as we were shooting remotely in the studio, screen sharing as we went for sign off on things. Such is the way of working these days, but this was back in May and the country was still adjusting to the lockdown and the ‘new normal”. This meant that sourcing some of the props and items that we needed for the shoot took a little longer so we needed to be flexible as to when we could actually shoot. Despite a few little challenges with deliveries and stock levels, we got there in the end!

Enjoyed seeing this out and about over the festive period - looking forward to shooting more campaigns throughout 2021!

Some behind the scenes and in situ images below - thanks to those who send me some snaps - I actually didn’t see it anywhere myself!

Drinks photography for Louis Roederer with Philippe Starck.

Back in the autumn last year we were asked to shoot the exclusive UK release of a collaboration between Louis Roederer and French designer Philippe Starck. Brut Nature 2012 was a continuation of a collaboration between the Champagne house and the designer which started some years previous.

The release was exclusive to the Beaufort Bar at The Savoy Hotel, London for a month prior to general sale in the UK, so what better location to shoot it in! I’ve shot in the Beaufort Bar before, its a really stunning venue, But it does provide some challenges to shooting in there as its a contrast of black walls, gold detailing and mirrors.

We spent the day creating key visuals for both the Blanc and Rose variations that set the bottle in the beautiful setting of the bar. Turns out that there 244 year history, Louis Roederer have never used a British photographer either for any of the imagery they have had produced, so that felt quiet special too!

Hope you enjoy the images as much as we did shooting them (and testing the product!).

Festive Drinks Photography

Last summer we built some sets in the studio and shot some festive drinks, perfect for celebrations, and warming moments of reflection. Here is just a few of the images, getting in close too for some great details!

Baileys Cinnamon Spice

For two servings, you will need:

• 50ml Baileys® Original Irish Cream Liqueur

• 40ml Smirnoff® Vanilla Flavoured Vodka

• 240ml Milk

• 2 Cinnamon Sticks

• 1 generous pinch of Cinnamon

Equipment:

• 2x Martini glass

• 1 x Strainer

• 1 x Jigger

• 1 x Cocktail Shaker

Method:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.

2. Add Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur, Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka and milk to the shaker.

3. Shake until cold.

4. Strain into a glass.

5. Garnish with cinnamon powder and a cinnamon stick and serve.

Hot Toddy

For two servings you will need:

• 50ml Whiskey

• 3 tsp of good quality Honey

• 1 Cinnamon Stick, snapped in half

• 1 Lemon, half juiced and half sliced

• A couple of cloves

Equipment:

• 2x heatproof glasses

• Teaspoon for stirring

• Lemon juicer

Method:

1. Stir the whisky and honey together and split between 2 heatproof glasses. Add half of the cinnamon stick to each, then top up with 200ml boiling water.

2. Add a splash of lemon juice to each, then taste and add more to your preference. Finish each with a slice of lemon, studded with a clove, and serve immediately.

Gin Daisy (traditionally a Sea Breeze)

For two servings you will need:

• 75ml Gin

• Juice of half a lemon

• 2 teaspoons of sugar

• A dash of grenadine

Equipment:

• 1x Cocktail Shaker

• 2x Old fashioned, or stemmed cocktail glasses

Method:

1. In a shaker filled halfway with ice cubes combine the gin, lemon juice, sugar and grenadine.

2. Shake well until combined and chilled and serve in your glass of choice.

Old Fashioned

For each serving you will need:

• 50ml Bourbon or Rye Whisky

• 1x brown sugar cube (traditional) or 1 tsp of simple syrup

• 2 or 3 dashes of Angostura bitters

• 1x orange for peel

• Large cube(s) of ice

Equipment:

• Muddler

• Bar Spoon

• Peeler

• Old Fashioned Glass

Method:

1. Place the sugar cube at the bottom of an old-fashioned glass.

2. Saturate the cube with bitters and muddle.

3. Add the whiskey and stir well.

4. Drop in the ice and stir the liquid through well, until the ice starts to give and melt.

5. Take a slice of orange peel for garnish. You can squeeze to release the oils if desired.

Kir Royale

For two servings you will need:

• Creme de Cassis

• Champagne

• Fresh or frozen Blackberries

Equipment:

• Two champagne flutes or saucers

• Martini picks (optional)

Method:

1. Pour roughly 1 tsp of the crème de cassis into the bottom of a champagne flute.

2. Top up with Champagne

3. Add a blackberry as garnish, you can skewer one onto the martini pick too and rest across the glass if desired.

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Looking forward to shooting more like this throughout 2020 - I might even shoot some more myself and put a little book of festive flavours together in time for next Christmas. Maybe…

I’d love to work on loads more drinks based stuff this year, so if you have a project that might suit, give me a shout - I’d love to work together!

2019; A Festive Year.

2019 has been a great year, and, throughout the year, right up until late October Christmas shoots have been coming in! Those of you who follow me on Instagram will have seen my Christmas Advent, head on over to see a few more images there than the few selected here. (it was at the top of my feed throughout December)

It’s time to sit back and enjoy Christmas itself, but here are a few of my favourite Christmas images from this year, for a variety of clients. There was plenty of variety with the subject matter too, food, drinks and some proper still life stuff with perfume and ice skates for a couple of other campaigns. I hope you enjoy looking through them as much as I did making them.

Cheers from myself and the crew. Here’s to 2020! (we’re looking forward to getting started on shooting Christmas imagery throughout the year for next Christmas! Sorry for wishing the year away!)

Christmas Campaign for Cribbs Causeway

Christmas Campaign for Cribbs Causeway

Christmas Campaign for Cribbs Causeway

Christmas at The Savoy

Christmas at The Savoy

Christmas at The Savoy

The Perfume Shop gifting guide

The Perfume Shop gifting guide

Sofitel St James

Sofitel St James

Shloer

Shloer

Shloer

And of course, some personal work, all based around the Christmas period…

Beyond The Bean; Summer Drinks Photography

Back at the start of the year we were asked to shoot a range of lovely drinks for Beyond the Bean and the summer drinks range they have been perfecting. 3 days, lot’s of studio based sun and some vibrant colours make some a super summery brochure! We even made a few little things move whilst we were at it!

Lots of drinks perfect for those summer days!

Looking forward to hopefully shooting a moodier winter edition sometime this summer!

Drinks Photography for the Beaufort Bar at The Savoy

I recently shot a selection of drinks for the Beaufort Bar at The Savoy in London. Such an elegant location, and amazing looking drinks made for a beautiful set of images. My personal favourite was the cocktail specially crafter for the BAFTAs, elegant coupe glass decorated with a blue glaze and a shard of glass like ice placed in the top. Beautiful.

Looking forward to the next time I’m in London shooting cocktails!

The Perfume Shop, Eid Collection

I was recently commissioned to shoot a collection of images for The Perfume Shop aimed specifically for the Muslim calendar Eid celebrations which are just around the corner at the start of June.

Had a great time shooting some equally lovely products, lots of gold and rich colours in the sets too!

Styling: Olivia Clifford

Art Direction: Clemmie Rubens

RHS Chelsea Flower show afternoon Tea, The Savoy, London

I was honoured to be asked to photograph the special afternoon tea inspired by the Chelsea for luxury hotel The Savoy.

I’m sure that you’ll agree that Dan the pastry chef and his team have made an amazing job.

Knights Bar Autumn Allotment Cocktails

The Savoy asked me to shoot a range of the seasonal cocktails served up in the Knights Bar which is a part of the Simpsons 1828 Restaurant at The Savoy. Located on the Strand in central London, the Knights Bar is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the street below, offering a relaxing environment to indulge in a cocktail or two prior to a luxurious meal, or they’re happy to just serve drinks. The greatest shame is that I’ve always got to drive after photographing them!

These cocktails were inspired by English allotment flavours and they looked great with such vibrant colours.

Remembering Summer

Winter can be all a little bit gloomy, especially once the Christmas and New Year festivities have been and gone. Going to work in the dark, going home in the dark. Especially after the great summer we had in 2018. Football, beer and lots of BBQ’s. Well, not all beer - so I shot a few of my favourite summer drinks to get us looking forward to the longer warmer days again.

Aperol Spritz. A summer classic.

Ophir Gin, tonic with lime and ginger.

Gin and tonic, with Elderflower and cucumber.

Wolfburn Whisky

I was recently commissioned by Wolfburn Distillery to photograph the range of Scottish Whiskys they produce. Simple and effective product photography is a great investment. With the assests that I shot for them they can now provide suppliers and distributors with great imagery too which will make the products stand out in a market busy with competitors.

I’m glad to say that they’re really happy with the results from the shoot, I’m looking forward to working with them again in the not to distant future on some more great projects! Hopefully we can get up to the distillery and do some stuff on location!!

Brandy Snaps

As things wound down for Christmas and seeing in the new year, I found some time to mess around with some Brandy. Fitting for the season! Enjoy!

Pour us A Double

Here are a couple of test images from over the summer months when I decided to shoot some Whisky. Both based around a pour, one a more clean cut studio image, and then the other a more lifestyle based image.

Both came with some challenges, the pour into the glass being the most difficult. Getting the pour to meet the glass in the exact spot I wanted proved testing, but with some patience and persistence we got there in the end. Thats what still life imagery is all about!!