Cutler & Co food and interiors

Sometimes when you go somewhere really good to eat, you get something a bit more for your money than just a full tummy – you get an experience. This is usually when all of the little details that go into a restaurant have been thought about – the cutlery, the table cloth, the decor, the fact that the sommelier knows each and every wine on the menu inside out... So when you go to a place like Cutler and Co (another one of Andrew McConnell's restaurants), that's what you notice. The team is like a well-oiled machine, and while I was here shooting some of their food and interiors, I overheard one of their team gatherings, just before service. The preparation that goes into making sure each detail is perfect is amazing, and is really inspiring to see them at work.

They've won heaps of awards and have just won three stars from the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, making it one of Australia's very best restaurants. The food there is absolutely insane, so it's well deserved. The thing that blows you away at Cutler and Co is the styling of the food, which is like art work and makes my life as a food photographer so much easier.

Thanks to the team at Cutler and Co for making it a brilliant day of shooting.

Click on the image below to take you to a galley of some of the shots from the day.

Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited
Cutler & Co - Photographer must be credited

Robert Burns Hotel – food from the new spring/summer menu

The Robert Burns Hotel is just down the road from where I live and it's one of those places that's perfect to drop into for a cold Spanish beer and a quick bowl of tapas. It's also got tables out on the street, which means it's a good spot for people watching on Smith Street. I've done a blog post about a shoot I did with the Robert Burns chefs some time ago, and thought at the time that it would have been awesome to shoot their food – so I was excited when they got in touch to ask me to take some shots for their new spring/summer menu, which they're using on their website.

I had a great day shooting with the guys, who let me try some of the food while I was there (one of the better perks of the job!) and it was really good –  I loved the Empanada de verduras, which was yummy filo pastry filled with vegies, and I reckon the chef, Ivan Saiz, has done a great job with the menu.

Thanks to Sorell Wilson, who did a brilliant job with assisting me on this job.

Food photography workshop at Penrith Gallery

Over the years of being a food photographer, I've worked with some really awesome home economists and food stylists. Not everyone knows how much effort and preparation  goes into getting an image of food looking 'just right'. Photography is just one aspect of it – there's all kinds of testing, tasting, trying out different props and making tiny adjustments to the food with tweezers, keeping food looking like it's just been plated, even when it's been sitting under the studio lights for an hour – not to mention making all of this look achievable to the average home cook. Regina Walter – a home economist/food stylist/artist, and a good friend of mine – approached me a while back about doing a Food Photography workshop for Penrith City Council at the Penrith Regional Gallery. The idea was to run workshop that would introduce students to all the elements that go into getting the perfect food shot, and teach them some industry tricks!

Well it's happening and here is the proof. The talented Regina Walter will be teaching the styling, including food prep, plating techniques and set composition skills, and I will be teaching lighting techniques, advice on angles, as well as guiding them through the best way to work with their camera.

I am really looking forward to it, as it will be a good chance to impart some of the knowledge I have, and am sure it will be a fun day seeing the students have a go themselves! It's set for October 18th at the Penrith Regional Gallery, and is open to year 10 & 11 students. Anyone who's interested can call 02 4735 1100 to book.

Will keep you posted on how it goes!

A new start with a new website and a new home

My new website is finally launched thanks to Andrew Cornale – my web designer whom has been patient, professional and a really easy person to deal with. Also an even bigger change is that I am now residing in Collingwood, Melbourne. I am still shooting in Sydney for Pacific Magazines and all of my Sydney clients but now looking for new work in amazing Melbourne.

A huge thanks to my beautiful wife Becky for getting a job transfer to Edge, Melbourne looking forward to our new life and new work.