Journal.

Bar Duoro are a Portuguese restaurant with two branches; one in Liverpool St/City, and another in the London Bridge neighbourhood of South East London.

The restaurant was founded by Max Graham of Churchill’s Vineyards. With two centuries of growing and producing wine in the Douro Valley of Portugal, Max came to London initially to do a Port Popup on Greek Street in 2014 and was amazed at how there wasn’t any representation for Portuguese cuisine at the same level at Barrafina does to Spanish cuisine.

Working as a food photographer on some amazing food photography and restaurant photography client projects, you always get lots of creative ideas that you want to try out but might not have had an opportunity to fit into a client shoot.

Having teamed up with talented food stylist Mandy Thompson who I’ve worked with on a load of client food photography bookings.

ManiLife are a popular and well-loved brand who produce peanut butter using single-estate peanuts from a family farm in Argentina. They have also been awarded B Corporation status for reaching and maintaining high standards of transparency within their business.

Wanting to boost their visual presence on their Amazon A+ Listing and in-turn raise sales across each product listing - the marketing team reached out to me about producing and shooting content of their core product range.

Client Lee Kum Kee are a popular world-wide brand, also known as the original creators of Oyster sauce. Operating for 130-years, and based in Hong Kong, their range of worldwide and regional products can be found across Asia, Europe, the UK and the US.

Their sauces are popular with home cooks and famous Michelin chefs such as Andrew Wong, of A.Wong.

Happy Jo’s are a newly launched keo ice cream brand based.

Created by the founder after discovering the benefits of a keto lifestyle, they saw a gap in the market for low-carb ice creams that were not just healthy but delicious. Developed and now produced in their North West London kitchen, they created four classic core flavours; vanilla, strawberry, mint choc chip, and coffee chip (my favourite).

H!P Chocolate are a popular London-based brand that was launched in 2021. They create and produce creamy oat milk chocolate bars using ethically sourced cocoa from Colombia and have attained B-Corp status.

They are best known for creative flavour combinations and brand collaborations, including a personal favourite of mine, Salty Pretzel Flavour.

Based in my hometown of Lewes, East Sussex and within a local area that has a creative and vibrant scene, with many independent businesses - the town is a hotspot of visitors all year round.

Fork Lewes is a neighbourhood restaurant that originally opened in 2021, with the business creating a place for itself in the town and as the place to go for contemporary spins on British classics. They’re also big on using local produce from the rich selection of producers and suppliers in the county.

One of my go-to comfort meals is a juicy burger! Being in London, we’re totally spoiled for places to go to grab one, or to have one delivered right to our door. My favorite, however, is a homemade cheeseburger or chicken burger - usually made in the Summer when we have family coming to stay as it’s a real favorite of theirs.

Inspired by all of the amazing burger imagery I always come across and at the time with a smaller amount of strong burger food photography in my portfolio - I decided to produce and shoot a short-form food photography project.

Previous long-term client Lee Kum Kee is are a household brand that have been operating for over 130-years and are well known as the creators of Oyster Sauce amongst many other firm favourites. Sold from Hong Kong to the UK and US - they have a far-reaching product range that is loved by many - from home cooks like me, to Michelin-starred chefs like Andrew Wong.

With the release of the fourth installment of the popular animated franchise, Kung Fu Panda -the Lee Kum Kee Europe marketing team had just partnered with Universal as an official partner to the newest film.

Based in London, ManiLife are popular brand - known for their range of peanut butters that are made of single estate peanuts from Argentina.

With their popular snacking peanuts launched earlier in the year - the brand team decided to redesign the packaging to stand out on the competitive shelves of supermarkets and stores…

Lee Kum Kee are a 130-year old company and that are known to be the original creators of Oyster Sauce. The sauce packs an umami punch - being found in domestic and commercial kitchens the world over; used in dishes from egg fried rice, to meatballs and beyond.

Wanting to celebrate and communicate the many uses of Oyster Sauce in Western and non-western cooking - they reached out to previous collaborator and production company HeeHaw to produce taste test content for four key regions; UK, DE, and NL.

With their core range of single-estate peanuts being used for their popular peanut butters, ManiLife responded to popular demands by their own Almond Butter, using carefully sourced Almonds from Portugal.a

Looking to the UK launch in a couple of months, the marketing team reached out to me. The brief was to capture product photography packshots, and food photography pairings of the product with a dish - along with a collection of kitchen style packshots. The product would launch as a smooth and crunchy variety, coming in glass jars and larger serving-size tubs for use in cooking.

As a food photographer, I have a love for all things food and content - giving me lots of great opportunities to creatively brainstorm on clients’ food photography briefs, and of course, shoot them too.

A big part of applying a creative treatment to a food photography brief, is in immersing yourself in content, both digitally, and online - as well as knowing the best time to set aside an idea, that may be visually strong - but not the right fit for their specific brief.

Lee Kum Kee (LKK) are a Hong Kong based food brand that specialise in producing their range of iconic Chinese & Asian sauces.

Established over 130 years ago, LKK are the original inventors of Oyster Sauce, created by Mr. Lee Kum. In 2023 - their UK range now broadened to over 60 sauces, and worldwide, they have over 1,000 lines.

As I’m sure it is no surprise to anyone, but for me as a food photographer, a big part of my work is my passion for food, food photography and moreso, cooking.

Continuing from the many supper clubs my partner and I have hosted from our home, and our joint love for cooking - we decided to start capturing a slow content series of food recipe videos and food photography.

Existing client, ManiLife are a well-known B Corp brand that produces amazing peanut butter using single-estate peanuts from a family farm in Argentina. Collaborative at-heart and looking to expand their offering, they teamed up with the equally well known popcorn brand, Joe & Seph’s.

The brand collaboration saw two new products shortly being released; a Salted Caramel peanut butter using Joe & Seph’s Salted Caramel Sauce, and Joe & Seph’s Popcorn, using ManiLife’s Deep Roast peanut butter.

TRIBE are an independent performance nutrition brand. They specialise in creating a range of high-quality vegan and natural snacks for athletes and people on the go.

Building on the success of previous food photography shoots over the past 6 years, the team reached out to me to capture fun and vibrant food photography content of their soon-to-be-released, limited edition Choc Orange Flapjack, in partnership with National Parks UK.

As a product photographer, I have a real passion for great products - both new and more traditional.

For me, other than all of the delicious food, a traditional part of Christmas in our home is board games and setting around playing.⁠

After a big Christmas dinner, and with the burden of my indulgent decisions setting in, there is something nostalgic about dusting off the board game boxes, and diving into a board game.⁠

ManiLife are a London-based brand that produce peanut butter and snacking peanuts using single-estate peanuts from an Argentinan plantation.

Being ever-popular, and with their range recently all moving to glass jars - I was reached out to by Amazon UKs marketing agency Hunt & Gather for the launch of a new Amazon Fresh, exclusive product… ‘Mince Pienut Butter’.

Lee Kum Kee are a long-term client of mine, having worked on lots of food photography shoots and video productions with agencies over the years. The brand is a popular household name, best known for being the creator of Oyster Sauce, and their wide range of sauces; from soy to XO Sauce, glazes and more.

Their brand team reached out to me as they wanted a complete refresh of their in-house content library - ranging from food photography to recipe and product recipe pairings.

Based in London, ManiLife are a popular peanut butter producer, that was started by founder Stu - with his love for Argentina, and all of the ways that PB can be used in cooking.

Moving on from 2014 and Stu moving to Argentina, and shipping a ton of peanuts back to the UK and his bedroom - the brand has grown from strength to strength - first being taken on by Gusto in 2017 boxes, needing 9,000 mini pots, to Waitrose taking them on in 2020.

Stocked in pantries and holding their place on dining tables worldwide, Lee Kum Kee (LKK) are a Hong Kong based food brand that specialise in producing their range of iconic Chinese & Asian sauces.

With a 130-year strong standing, LKK are the original creators of the umami-rich Oyster Sauce, created by Mr. Lee Kum; with their range now broadened to over a range of over 60 sauces.

I was approached by my client, VITHIT - a Dublin-based health focussed brand.

Building on the success of our previous product photography drink range shoots in 2020, and 2021 - the brand briefed me in to produce creative campaign content for the launch of their new Effervescent range that was due to launch in the UK market in February 2023.

Based in Borough, TRIBE are a performance nutrition brand that produce products that use high-quality natural ingredients. After a massive crowdfunding campaign, and backed by their active community of dedicated followers, TRIBE have rapidly expanded their range - additionally offering new ranges of indulgent protein bars and muesli blends that are 100% vegan.

I was approached by my the team at VITHIT - a Dublin-based health focussed brand, spanning drinks and supplements..

Building on the success of our previous product photography shoots in over the past three years - the team reached back out to me to produce then capture seasonal content of their entire range, to use used over the next 12-months of social marketing to their global market.

I was approached by the owner and co-founder of soon to be opened restaurant, Fork.

Based in the centre of the historic county town of Lewes, East Sussex - the local area has a vibrant creative scene and many great food producers in the surrounding countryside. With surprisingly short-few amazing places to dine in the area - most of which being chains, the restaurant team saw a gap in the market that needed filling.⁠

Doisy & Dam is a London-based brand that produces delicious chocolate that is both fun and ethical.

Their brand is built on making a difference by creating chocolate that is free of e-numbers, completely vegan, and palm-oil free; actively pushing back on unsustainable farming practices and leading causes of deforestation. They are also one of a few companies to be B-Corp for their efforts in being a company that actively balances efficacy with profits.

Based in Dublin, Ireland - VITHIT is a health-focused drinks company, with each bottle or can containing 100% of your RDA of 8 vitamins, plus a blend of health-giving teas and herbs for an overall wellbeing boost. Having seen a massive uptick since launching and continued rise in popularity in 2020, their drinks are now available in 14 counties and counting.

Based in Belgravia, London - Kalmar is a lifestyle brand that creates indulgent self-care products. Set up by founder Karen Ruimy, a writer, dancer, and spiritual healer - Kalmar’s range of products are spread across their four Soul States - Joy, Calm, Peace, and Love; each with it’s own unique collection of self-care products.

With the brand ever-growing in popularity and the completion of the soon-to-be-opened Treatment Rooms, the brand was set to re-focus into its core USP of wellbeing, self-care, and spirituality.

Continuing from my first personal restaurant photography project shoot for Our Table with Dean Parker at Darby’s - this shoot is further afield than the usual reaches of the project, but keeps to the essence of it; capturing places that I’ve loved eating at, and for the passion that goes into the process.

Just as I was finishing up the brief for my ‘Our Table’ project at the end of May, I booked a last-min staycation to the East Coast town of Westgate-on-Sea for a bit of seaside R&R with my partner. We found a really lovely Airbnb called Hot Wood House that was both right next to the sea, and also had an unbelievable attention to detail put into the interior design.

I originally met Evie a couple of years ago when capturing a food photography commission with Sam of Ki Kefir, and creatively hitting it off about our love for all things food. Evie works as a talented chef, food stylist, recipe developer and home economist - spanning film and stills for advertising and publications.

As a food photographer, and Evie a food stylist, we really enjoyed our first experience working together so decided to meet up a couple of times a year (schedules permitting) to try out new ideas and test some creative food photography concepts that we don’t always get to explore when on the job.

With an ever-popular range of protein-rich, vegan bars and their newly developed muesli range with one Great Taste Star - TRIBE were in the process of re-designing their muesli packaging for better shelf impact in stores.

Having been happy with our previous shoots over nearly 6-years, the co-founder reached out to me to develop and capture a fresh series fun and vibrant product photography - that builds on top of our already laid content foundations.

Langham Foods are a West London-based bakery that specalises in producing artisan sausage and vegan sausage rolls to wholesale customers across 200 cafes and coffee shops.

As a long-established business run with a fresh team from 2020, the two owners reached out to me wanting food photography of their product range, which would really showcase their love for their brand, and why they do it.

Located in the East Sussex county town of Lewes, Thackerys are a cookery school based in an open-plan converted 350-year-old home. With a rich background as a classically trained chef, owner Graham has a hands-on approach to teaching groups of up to four; with the students having a bespoke menu created around their own tastes and what they’d like to technically learn.

Originally from Morrocco and based in North-West London, company owner Zineb of Raphia is a chocolatier who produces some of the best hand-crafted patisserie and truffles, that are inspired by experiences from her homeland.

Hiring a food photographer can make all the difference in your restaurant’s marketing. Here are four essential questions to ask before hiring a professional food photographer.

In the world of restaurant marketing, and it is all about having content that showcases your menu, whilst consistently telling your unique brand story. That's why hiring a skilled food photographer can be a game-changer for your business. I’ve written a guide to help you through this process in finding the right professional food photographer to capture your menu; make sure to ask these key questions to ensure you're getting the best possible results.

Any of my food photography clients who have spent at least 5 minutes shooting with me, could tell you that I’m a lover of the Greek Isles, and all things Greek food.

Elia Greek Street Food was founded in 2018 and is run by two best friends - Vasilis and Dimitris, who originally come from the mainland city of Larissa. Wanting to share their passion for Greek food, they specialise in the ever-popular gyros and Greek street food, with a range of over 35 different menu options.

Natasha Durley is an illustrator that is based on the South Coast of the UK. Her work is always vibrant, includes a lot of textures, and playfully focuses on her love of the natural world.

Since first teaming up together over 7 years ago, Natasha has been commissioned for a wide range of applications; murals, homeware, stationery, apparel, toys, and apps. More recently, a reboot of the childhood classic, What to look For…series by Ladybird books, as well as puzzles, and a biodegradable seed calendar for 2022.

From lighting to props, these five essential tools will help any food photographer capture eye-catching content that will make your audience's mouths water.

If you're a food photographer, you know that capturing the perfect shot takes more than just a good camera. From lighting to props, there are a few essential tools that can help you create content to draw your audience in. Here are five must-have tools for any food photographer.

Your food photography portfolio is your chance to showcase your skills and attract new clients. Learn how to create a portfolio that stands out from the crowd.

As a food photographer, your portfolio is your calling card. It's the first thing potential clients will see, and it needs to showcase your skills and style in a way that sets you apart from the competition. In this article, we'll explore some tips and tricks for creating a food photography portfolio that will help you attract new clients and grow your business.