Let it grow

So spring is here and it's fine time for the studio and myself to get our green fingers on and sort out the balconies outside our top floor studio.

So i looked up yellow pages and have found a great little company to come and do it all for me so no need to get my fingers green after all.

www.cutting-hedge.com will be giving the balconies and general clean, replanting some beautiful herbs for you to use in the kitchen and making a great space to sit have lunch on sunny days!

This is a great added bonus to the studio when you rent the top floor and perfect if you are shooting and require outside space for those summer BBQ shots.

Come on people let's go al fresco.

Kitchenaid

So the guys at KitchenAid have been so kind as to give us 2 brand spanking new KitchenAid mixers and 2 beautiful new espresso machines for the studios.

I think these will fit in and become a great feature in the kitchen not only to use but also to shoot for certain campaigns and books.

Not only do they look fantastic but these products WORK! They are a bonus to any kitchen and we are very privileged to have been sent them.

Thanks KitchenAid!

p.s if you want to send any to my home address please feel free.

Lucid - Anders Schonnemann

I work with a few London based agencies that manage some of the top photographers in London and Lucid is one of the best and have become an important part of the Factory Studio team. Knowing the staff well makes such a difference as it allows you to get things done fast and efficiently which is crucial in this industry - so a massive thanks to all the guys at Lucid.

One photographer that they represent has become a regular in our top floor studio and that's Anders Schonnemann. I believe the studio really works well with his nordic style.

With our white washed floors and high ceilings it's perfect for Anders fresh, clean approach to photography. He not only shoots food beautifully but also interior, lifestyle and travel so please take time to look at his stunning work by following the link on his name and we hope to see him back here very soon!

G

Great British Bake Off

I think Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood got it bang on the money when they crowned Jo Wheatley the winner of the Great British Bake Off.  What's even better is we're shooting Jo's book here in our studio so I was rather excited to meet her and see what she was really like.  Well what you see on TV with Jo is what you get in real life, which is not always the case so it's a nice surprise.  Meeting Jo she is softly spoken but can tell she has a slight mischievous side to her and will be up for a giggle so that puts everyone at ease and I know the shoot will be fun to co-ordinate.  Cakes have been baked and the set assembled and the studio looks fantastic and we begin to shoot with one of our regular photographers Martin Poole.  Martin always put's so much time and effort into every shot he takes so i know the book is going to look beautiful.  With Wei Tang prop Styling and Annie Rigg creating some of the beautiful cakes it's bound to be a winner just like Jo. 

We wish you all the success in the future Jo! G

Nice and Spice

A rather sad day today as it's the last day of shooting with the funnies most kindest Chef I have had the opportunity to meet.  Reza Muhammad has been occupying the studio with his infectious laugh and hilarious stories for over the last few months.  Everyday begins with a massive hug from him and a hilarious story of something that has either happened to him last night or over the weekend.  The studio has been filled with amazing smells from his Indain cooking which we have had the pleasure of being allowed to try. (AMAZING!!)  Martin Poole is the lucky photographer that get's to shoot the beautiful food for Reza's new book and get's to listen to Reza sing all day. lol

If you have the pleasure of going to Reza's restaurant on Old Brompton Road by all means GO! 

The star of india.

Reza you will be missed and long live "Pierre et Gilles" x