GET OUT!

No, really, I mean, get out!

Not as in get out because I don’t like you but more like let’s go outside.

So, last year we bought a little house. An adorable, well-loved house. And in the past 9 months we’ve turned the house into a home, complete with a brand new interior and a color treatment that makes me weep tears of joy. I mean that literally. Take a quick look.

It’s not my intention to keep any of this a secret because a) I’m a blabbermouth and b) I love our home and its interior design thanks to the amazing Christian May.  But acknowledging how we all like to look at interiors these days (“Before/After”, “The Big Reveal”, “Move! That! Bus!”), I’m choosing to hold off just a bit before sharing it with the world. If you’ve been over then you’ve seen it taking shape, slowly but surely. And if you haven’t, well, check back shortly because we’ll be ready to share it with the world soon enough. Maybe here, maybe somewhere else. Who knows

Oh, but back to that Get Outside bit.

Ever since moving to California 17 years ago, I realized one thing: I am happiest outside. Bright sun, cool air (and sometimes not-so-cool and yes, smoggy) and views of the Pacific on one side and mountains on the other have fueled me and made me a very happy man. And I made a promise to myself when I first got to this Golden State: set up shop, make a home, and entertain with abandon. While a few of those things have come true over the years, we’re only now realizing that last part with the actual dream of being homeowners who just happen to want to throw a party in the backyard every now and then.  And a few months ago we began the process of turning our yard into something magical, a place where friends can stop by for beer and cocktails, enjoy a bbq or a pizza from the wood-fired oven, take a quick dip in a little pool and sit around next to a fire, wrapped in a blanket under the stars and talk about things until wee hours of the morning. Or until Adam tells me to get to bed and makes everyone leave. Or stay. Whatever.

In a nutshell, I’ve dreamed of turning this…

Into this.

And while the firepit with its seating is complete, there’s still quite a bit of construction left to be done. In the next few weeks I’ll be documenting the process, sharing images and progress, and eventually uploading the quicktime movie I’ve made of the entire project (from demolition to completion because yes, the camera tech geek in me couldn’t resist).

I also must perfect pizza doughs and learn to cook in a wood-fired oven and I’m sure there will be plenty of mistakes. Maybe I’ll document those too (if I don’t eat them first!)

But lastly, I want to say one thing.  A huge part of me never wanted to take this leap of faith (and part with the hard earned cash) to make something like this come true. In a way I never thought it was possible or that I should do it, for whatever messed up reason. Deep down inside I still feel like a modest kind of guy. But in light of realizing that so much in this world can disappear in an instant and that life is meant to be lived and shared with others, well, I’m just going to stop analyzing it all and just be. And I hope you’ll be there with me to come over and eat.

So let’s get out, shall we?

Happy Spring, everyone! Here’s a quick image we did for Target last year, currently up in store. Bring on the Easter egg hunt! Thanks to the entire Target team, food stylist Adam C. Pearson and prop stylist David Frid!

We recently finished a wonderful project with our friends at Food Network. Titled One Pot Wonders, it’s being billed as part of a series of little cookbooks with big ideas, all focused on that tasty main dish made in a wok, a slow cooker or a dutch oven. And yes, these recipes are so hearty and filling that you won’t need to think of side dishes…trust me on this. And in usual Food Network fashion, the recipes run the gamut from hearty to quick, traditional to creative, with just about something for everyone in between on the digital pages.

So, what does shooting an app like this involve? Planning. Lots and lots of planning. It’s a well-choreographed affair between the test kitchen, the designers and interface experts and the team that photographs the food (which is us). It’s exact, specific, and immediate, which is something we don’t always get to see. Hundreds of images may be snapped, pages fly around with the glide of a finger, typography is tweaked, resulting in a beautiful digital cookbook. I must say having the entire series at my fingertips is one of the advantages of digital publishing.

There’s lots of laughter and fun on the shoot, especially when you mix the colorful variety of personalities together. And don’t even get me started on the inside jokes. But we take it seriously, and while it’s not easy work it’s certainly gratifying when you sit back and enjoy the app. It’s even better when you take it into the kitchen with you to cook!

Big giant hugs n kisses to the entire FN team and to Adam, Alexis, Hristina, Eddie, Armando, and Dani. So awesome you are.

This past summer I photographed some delicious holiday items for Target. As in that Target. As in one of my favorite retailers. And can I tell you something? Working with them was every bit as fun and exciting as I thought it would be. Such wonderful people. The signs are up now, if you’re in your local Target you might see them. And if you see the pie shot in store, please know that I ate an entire pie all by myself.

Happy holidays!

Food Styling: Susan Sugarman Prop Styling: Kate Martindale

Before you settle into this post and video, please:

1) Forgive my spastic, forever gesticulating body language. I swear I can be calm. Sometimes.

2) What really looks like Jazz Hands was only me talking about a large plate with tiny food (my pet peeve).

3) No insects were killed in the making of this video.

4) I’m fully aware that I sound like Minnie Mouse when I speak.

I do want to thank the lovely folks at Jordan Winery for the opportunity to join them on their Estate Tales magazine photo shoot for the 3rd year in a row. It’s such a joy to spend time with them and see all the new things they do for their customers. As a business owner myself I’m touched that they place such an emphasis not only their product but on their customers, too. I can’t wait to return and see what’s in store!

Thanks to the entire Jordan team, and also to my beautiful assistant who provided the necessary support to pull off all this hard work in such a grueling environment. Tee hee.

Wow, it’s hard to believe it was 4 years ago that a certain someone was on Martha’s old show as it seems like yesterday. But this weekend we see the premiere of Martha’s new series on PBS titled Martha Stewart’s Cooking School. I’ve screened 3 episodes already before the debut and while it’s definitely not breaking any new tv ground, it’s nice to just sit back and see what Martha does best: teach. And if you’re like me, a refresher is always appreciated.

Stylistically, it’s almost a hybrid of her last show (without the guests) and her previous Living program that ran from 1993 to the early 2000′s.

Check your local PBS listings to find airing times. No Big Bird political jokes

Well hello there.

And how are you? That’s me in a photo taken by the lovely Erin Malone last week at Jordan Winery. I was in San Francisco shooting a few projects which I’ll share with you shortly, but in the meantime it’s back to the grind this week at the studio doing what I love. I’m wrapping up an amazing book for Joe Yonan (oh just you wait! the recipes!), and starting another tomorrow that is nothing but mac and cheese. Heaven help me. Someone’s gonna have to roll me out of the studio garage door, I swear.

In other news, my 2nd book came out last week and I wanted to let you know about it! Titled Focus On Food Photography for Bloggers, it’s jam packed with tips that I’m hoping might help you when it comes to food photography. But only if you need it.

And also, you know what would make me super duper smiley and happy? If you have purchased it I’d love to know what you think about it on Amazon. It’s valuable feedback for authors and potential buyers as they shop. But please be honest. Loved it? Hated it? Thought I was too silly? Not silly enough? Share your thoughts!

Also, just a quick shout out to the people I’m thankful for: Toni from Ten Speed, Lisa at Jordan, Lisa Schiffman (A-D-O-R-E-Y-O-U-!), Linsey G, Lori at Jordan, Carol, Nicole, Erin M, Kristina, Gaby, and our studio staff for keeping things together and putting up with my non-stop babbling about random facts and Paris Is Burning quotes. This world is made better by all these loving, wonderful people.

From Martha to Rachael, Sunset to Cooking Light, these modern faces are showing up in food magazines from coast to coast. All part of the Modern type of classification, they’re actually quite old styles from centuries past but so named as they took advantage of new ways of creating type that left old world and old English styles behind. Characterized by strong contrasts between their thick and thin strokes, this family of type has always been a favorite of mine. Let me set anything in Bodoni or Didot and I am a happy man. Interestingly enough, these types of typefaces have always been at home in fashion magazines!

Ok, the old graphic designer in me will now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Psst. Go buy the latest issue of Country Living magazine, will you? October 2012, to be exact! We wrote, styled, and photographed a feature on indulgent upgrades for candy apples, and yes, it features our spooky apples from a few years back! It was fun to recreate them, but if you want to know my favorite it’s those Triple Dipped S’More Apples. MY NEW FAVE. Buy the magazine for the recipe, it’s on newsstands now and also available for ipads!

Put a group of food bloggers together and eventually the conversation turns to the plates, surfaces, napkins, glasses, flatware, serving forks, pots, pans, and all the other tools of our trade that we call props.

It’s inevitable.

The real prop geek in me is only happy to chat about it. Luckily I get to work with prop stylists on shoots as well as style some of my own work which means I have an excuse to surround myself with beautiful tableware. And that makes me so very happy, ladies and gentleman.

One doesn’t need to have a giant prop library to photograph food, and in my upcoming book I give a few tips and tricks about the things we use when we shoot food. It can be plain and basic, it can be elaborate and expensive, it can be anything, really, just as long as it helps communicate the message within the frame.

As I was putting some stuff away at the studio I thought I’d do a really quick lil tour of our prop room. Since so many people ask where we get stuff (from all over!) and where we find stuff (I make it!)I thought I’d guide you around which will help me a) procrastinate and b) put off the 80 yards of fabric that need re-folding and color categorizing.

Let’s do this!

The key to finding stuff is keeping it well organized. Martha I’m not (and trust me, I’ve seen her prop room), but keeping napkins folded and coordinated by color helps us find what we’re looking for. We rotate the collection out pretty regularly otherwise images would all look the same. Same for larger pieces of fabric that act as tablecloths and backdrops.

Forks, knives, serving utensils, they all live in here! The cart rolls around which makes it much easier at the studio.

We have many complete sets of cutlery which is organized in these dividers. It makes it very easy to find what you’re looking for and also protects them as many of them are super duper expensive.

We bought these at a flea market outside of Paris a few years ago and they disturb me just as much today as they did back then. We have yet to use them in a photo, maybe something Halloweenish. But they still creep me out.

You might remember that I wrote a book about foods on a stick, so naturally there are tons of options at the studio. However, these are from a very special upcoming story in a lovely magazine, I’ll let you know about it when it hits the newsstands.

We recently expanded our studio, and for good reason. We’ve started collecting tables and they tend to take up a lot of space. Adam built the big giant skateboard that allows the tables to be rolled around with ease.

Oh, Mud Australia! How we love you so! This cabinet holds a lot of our smaller colorful ceramic pieces from Mud along with a few other artists like Rina Menardi down below.

Stacks of old books! I love them!

Lots of colorful glasses, some vintage and some new. While most of the stuff we have is clear, it’s always good to add a pop of color to a scene with these glasses. Many of these came from ebay, thrift and consignment stores in the midwest, and etsy.

More ceramics! This is the very special area that contains the more expensive and commissioned pieces we have. Jan Burtz, Monika Dalkin, Suite One Studio, Caroline Swift, Christiane Perrochon, Elephant Ceramics, and several other ceramicists all live here. It’s my pride and joy.

Vintage baking sheets, pans, and tins from all over the place.

Lots of old wireware, a few pieces are over 100 years old.

I bought a big set of pewter serving pieces because I fell in love with the patina. I haven’t really used them for much but I love looking at them. They live in a very old clamming basket I found online.

Need a produce basket? We got ‘em! Since I shoot so many fruits and vegetables it’s always good to have these on hand. The upside down stack came from a farmer in the middle of Iowa; I bought every last old basket he had!

Lots of round cutting boards and things. I need to reorganize!

Plates arranged by color and shape

More pieces from the brown and grey section. We also use a lot of Heath Ceramics, you can see them on the bottom shelf there.

Color dishes and plates, including the set of handmade bright green ceramic plates Adam had made. Such a great green!

You can’t go wrong with all things white. The food stands out, it’s timeless, and always appropriate.

More plates and ceramic vessels. I’ve always loved the irregular edges of Sophie Conran’s sets. More Mud Australia above!

I’m guessing these rusty wire boxes are planters but I’m not quite sure. At $5 each I had to have them, maybe I’ll find a use for them one day!

We’ve amassed quite a cutting board collection as they were one of the few things we began collecting back in the day. Each one tells a story and to me their like fingerprints… no two alike. The ultra modern boards on top came from my recent trip to Australia from an amazing store called Jam Factory.

You never know when you’ll need salt and pepper!

This really old pie cabinet houses more one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces. I removed the bottom doors for easy access and now the doors have become surfaces to shoot on!

More plates and small pinchbowls. Lots of Suite One Studio pieces in here!

The Juliska shelf!

Various ceramic pitchers that I keep near to remind me of drinking rosé in Southern France with David and Adan. I need a repeat, Mr. L!

We keep a variety of chairs around the studio as well. I pulled this out in case Clint Eastwood needed it for something.

Never know when you’ll need to recreate a diner.

Old baskets, including two really old picnic baskets from Iowa. They have all their original pieces inside, too! They are gorgeous.

Coffee mugs, random jars, odds and ends.

Small white things? We got ‘em.

I’m not even showing you the dozens of drawers filled with fabric and linens. There are too many! But here’s a quick snap of runners and textured mats from our travels to Korea and France and a few other places, too.

Adam found this old scale and I love it!

Tons of empty bottles in every shape and size just waiting to be used in a scene.

Pitchers, goblets, mugs.

Here’s another glimpse of our cutting boards.

Colorful skillets and pans. One of my favorite pieces is that mint green skillet from Wisconsin.

The Kobenstyle shelf!

Really gorgeous wooden cake stands from Herriot Grace and a few more pieces from Jam Factory in Australia.

Beautiful old roasting pans full of character. Most likely from the midwest.

Let’s make some muffins!

This is a rather large table I purchased from the Long Beach Antique Market. Although a great table, it was the top I was after which is why I removed the legs. And not to worry, the legs became a surface that I shoot on now!

Here’s the table as a wall. Look at that texture! LOVE.

Various benches, stools, and lil tables.

My surface library is completely out of order and in disarray, I apologize. I usually keep it in order according to size and color. But here’s where they live.

I dismantled a very old produce box and nailed it to a board so that I could use it as a shooting surface. Here I am repairing it after a small piece came off.

And lastly, here’s one of my favorite pieces, a small porcelain bowl from Caroline Swift. It’s as thin and light as an eggshell and it’s gorgeous. And yes, it’s insured. Everything is

I hope you enjoyed the studio tour! Now come over and play!