Behind the Scenes Archives - Dash and Splash

November 23, 2023 — Comments are off for this post.

Magical Spirits and Spooky Colours: Shooting Fall and Halloween Cocktail Specials at Bōkan Bar, Canary Wharf

Cocktail Specials Bokan 37 and Bokan Bar in Novotel Canary Wharf — *A festive photoshoot at Bōkan Bar*

At the top of the Novotel hotel, Bōkan Bar is more than just a place to grab a drink; it's a sanctuary for those who appreciate the art of making cocktails. During my latest photoshoot, I had the chance to explore the captivating mixology of Bōkan, where I focused on their seasonal and Halloween cocktail specials for Halloween and London Cocktail Week, as well as the brand new drinks menu crafted by Bar Manager Generoso D'Avino.

A bar with a view: Bōkan Bar in Canary Wharf

Perched on the 38th floor, Bōkan Bar in Canary Wharf undeniably offers some of the best views in the city. But don't be fooled; the real reason to visit is the innovative cocktail list. While the talented staff can make you any drink you fancy, their cocktail list changes twice per year, and they create cocktail specials for most occasions. As such, every visit is an invitation to find your new favourite cocktail!

Commercial Photographer London Cocktail Specials — *Creative mixology meets breathtaking views*

A creative mixologist's vision

One of the highlights of this photoshoot was delving into the creative process of Bar Manager Generoso D'Avino. His new cocktail menu reflects his passion for making drinks and his commitment to pushing the limits of flavour combinations and presentation. Shooting behind the scenes, I captured him and his team put finishing touches to the beautiful drinks.

Cocktails Specials in London — *Capturing the magic happen: Shooting behind the scenes at the bar*

Commercial Photographer London Cocktails — *Capturing the magic happen: Shooting behind the scenes at the bar*

The new cocktail specials

Bōkan Bar always delivers on its drinks specials. In this photoshoot, I captured the Halloween Special as well as the Gimlet which was on the menu for London Cocktail Week.

Witching hour: The Bōkan Halloween Cocktail special

Bōkan Bar's Halloween special, the Canela Rai, is a balanced mix of calvados, Mozart pumpkin, pumpkin purée, and cinnamon syrup. It is served in a flute covered with cinnamon and topped with a cinnamon stick and an edible flower.

Raising a glass to London Cocktail Week

During London Cocktail Week, Bōkan Bar added a special to their menu. A smokey twist on a Gimlet, it's a mix of Don Ramon Salmiana mezcal, lime juice and HM lime, grapefruit & rosemary cordial.

London Cocktail Week Bokan Bar Cocktail Special — *A smokey gimlet for London Cocktail Week*

Cocktails that look like works of art

Other than the cocktail specials, I photographed the brand new cocktail list. Bōkan Bar shines as a hub of creativity and sophistication for mixology lovers - and that's what makes it one of my favourite bars. It's a place where every drink is a work of art, and every moment is an experience. As a result, Generoso D'Avino's new cocktail list pushes the boundaries of taste and appearance.

I aimed to capture the craftsmanship of his cocktails, highlighting their vibrant colours and intricate details.

Bokan 37 and Bokan Bar in Novotel Canary Wharf — *The stunning cocktails at Bōkan Bar*

Bar snacks in Canary Wharf

Lastly, I ended the shoot with their food menu. Specifically, the Bōkan tiles: a selection of Paxton & Whitfield cheese and Cobble Lane cured butcher’s charcuterie.

Restaurant Videography — *The Bōkan tiles: A selection of British cheese and charcuterie*

Cheese and Charcuterie Board London — *The Bōkan tiles: A selection of British cheese and charcuterie*

The technical details

This was a half day shoot at Bōkan Bar. I shot on a mirrorless Sony a7iii, with a 24-70mm and a 50-mm lens and a Godox softbox strobe light.

Bōkan is located at 40 Marsh Wall, London E14 9TP. The shoot was organised by Roche Communications.

Interested in seeing more?

You can follow me on Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok to see more of my work.

Fancy seeing more cocktail photography? You can check out my previous shoots for Lanique Spirit of Rose and Sabine Rooftop Bar. If you're interested in food and restaurant photography, have a look at previous shoots at TOKii, Taste of London, Benares Mayfair, Bonfire, SlowBurn, Chuku's and The Haberdashery.

If you liked this photos or if you'd like to discuss a shoot, get in touch! I'd love to hear from you.

Published by Naf Castanas in Behind the Scenes, Food and Drinks, London Bar Photography, Restaurant & Brand Photography

Tags: Bar Photography, Behind the Scenes, Cocktail Photography, Drinks Photography, East London, London Bar Photography, London Hotel

October 26, 2023 — Comments are off for this post.

Capturing the Art of Sushi Photography – TOKii at The Prince Akatoki

Sushi Photography Marylebone — *Capturing the art of sushi*

Nestled in the heart of London, where tradition meets innovation, TOKii at The Prince Akatoki beckons all food lovers. Join me on a captivating visual journey through their world of Japanese gastronomy, as I unveil the artistry behind their sushi making, their exquisite Wagyu beef, the vibrant bento boxes, and the behind-the-scenes magic that makes this restaurant a true gem.

TOKii at The Prince Akatoki

In the heart of London, tucked away within the luxurious confines of The Prince Akatoki, lies a restaurant that promises an unforgettable dining experience. Located in Marylebone, TOKii is a haven for those who appreciate the art of Japanese cuisine.

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of joining their team to shoot different elements of their menu: behind the scenes at their sushi bar, their sashimi and nigiri selection alongside other cold starters, their new bento boxes and their wagyu beef. And if you know me, you know I love sushi photography!

Sushi perfection: Shooting behind the scenes at the sushi bar and sushi menu

Firstly, the photoshoot began with the star of the show: sushi. I was granted access to the heart of the kitchen, where the sushi chefs showcased their craft and the precision required to create the beautiful sushi platters.

Each piece of sushi was a work of art in itself, the epitome of precision and presentation. As a result, TOKii's sushi menu is a testament to the skill and dedication of their chefs. From the beautifully cut sashimi, the expertly created nigiri, and the crunchy rolls, all the way to the yellowtail carpaccio, and tuna tartare - this was a true joy to photograph.

Kitchen Behind the Scenes Photographer — *A true masterpiece: sushi photography at TOKii*

Wagyu beef: A culinary jewel

The Japanese Wagyu grade A5 served at TOKii is nothing short of a foodie's dream come true. The beautiful marbling is a joy to shoot, while the preparation and final dishes are simply stunning.

The shot list included two dishes:

The Hot Stone Wagyu Beef
The Shabu Shabu Wagyu Beef

The photos showcase the intricate details of each dish. From the sizzle to the first bite, the visual journey captured the anticipation and satisfaction of indulging in this culinary jewel.

Japanese Food Wagyu Beef Photography — *Hot stone and shabu shabu wagyu beef*

Bento boxes: A new addition to the menu

Lastly, I moved on to the bento boxes, which were only added to the menu last month. Available for lunch, each bite will transport you to Japan. I shot the tonkatsu, tempura and karaage bento - with a side of matcha and Genmaicha tea.

Best Food Photographer near me — *New lunch menu: Bento boxes at TOKii*

Commercial Photography in West London — *New lunch menu: Bento boxes at TOKii*

The technical details

This was a full day shoot at The Prince Akatoki. I shot on a mirrorless Sony a7iii, with a 24-70mm and a 50-mm lens and a Godox softbox strobe light. I also shot short videos to create Instagram Reels, which you can see on TOKii's Instagram account.

The Prince Akatoki is located at 50 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, W1H 7FD. The shoot was organised by Feed Social.

Interested in additional content and a look behind the scenes?

You can explore more of my portfolio on Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok.

If you'd like to see more of my food photography, have a look at previous shoots at Taste of London, Benares Mayfair, Bonfire, SlowBurn, Chuku's and The Haberdashery. For drinks and bar photography, you can see the photoshoot of Lanique Spirit of Rose and Sabine Rooftop Bar

If you enjoyed this post, don't hesitate to reach out; I'd be thrilled to hear from you!

Published by Naf Castanas in Behind the Scenes, Food and Drinks, Food Photography, London Restaurant Photography, Restaurant & Brand Photography

Tags: Behind the Scenes, Fine Dining Food Photography, Food Photography, London Food Photography, London Hotel, London Restaurant Photography, Michelin-starred Food Photography

July 29, 2021 — Comments are off for this post.

Steak and Fries Food Styling – The HelloFresh Australia and New Zealand TV ad

HelloFresh Recipes — *Behind the scenes: Food Styling for the latest HelloFresh ad*

Whether you've tried it or not, you've certainly heard of HelloFresh. This meal-kit company has taken the world by storm. Founded in Germany ten years ago, HelloFresh now boasts operations across the world - from the United Stated to Australia. I was recently hired by Pink Banana Studios as a food stylist for the latest TV ad. If you've ever wanted to look behind the scenes at a commercial, this is your chance!

Food styling for the latest HelloFresh ad: The creative brief

The brief was to shoot a 30 second spot, highlighting the ease of using HelloFresh. In particular, the spot shows the entire process: from placing your order to serving the meal.

As a result, there were four set ups:

The living room
The pack shot area
The kitchen
The dining table

Food Styling HelloFresh — *From left to right: The living room, the pack shot area, and the kitchen*

The food styling brief

Since HelloFresh targets people with no professional cooking experience, the styling on their recipe cards is minimal. It should look like what anyone can achieve in their kitchen!

In the same way, the styling brief was to match the recipe card as closely as possible. The recipe I was recreating was the Fillet Steak & Fries with Lemony Greens & Béarnaise Sauce.

On the recipe card, the dish was clearly split between three equal parts:

The sliced fillet steak with the béarnaise sauce
The fries
The lemony greens

I therefore kept the styling minimal and maintained the same structure to the plate.

Little touches everywhere

Equally important was to convey the idea of freshness with the styling for this shoot. We therefore added fresh fruit and veggies that matched the brand colours, as well as drinks and a salad on the table.

In order to make sure they looked fresh, I sprayed them with a mixture of water and glycerine.

Food Stylist HelloFresh — *So fresh and inviting. Can you spot the use of the brand colours?*

Shooting a food commercial

Have you ever wondered if there's a kitchen in studios? The answer is often no! For this reason, I created a makeshift kitchen area on set in order to cook the food. I brought an air fryer and a portable induction plate, as well as all my kitchen essentials. And then I cooked the same dish again and again for different takes!

The HelloFresh Explainer ad

You've read about it, you've peeked behind the scenes. You can now watch the ad below!

The nitty gritty

The shoot took place in a London studio over a day. The ad has been released in Australia and New Zealand.

Director: Ben Spilling

Production Manger: Cait Lyn Adamson

Account Director: Emma Masding

Food Stylist: Naf Castanas

Production Assistant/ Art Director: Verity Kett

DOP: Anthony Lucas

Gaffer: Jasper Clarkson

Spark: Jon Prentice

Camera Assistant: Nicolas Stylianou

Sound Recordist: Andrei Leskovski

Cast : Jeffin Kunjumon

Production Agency: Pink Banana Studios

Stay in touch

I hope you've enjoyed this behind the scenes look. I'd love to know whatell me what you think below!

If you want to see more of my recent food styling work, check out my shoot with Kimberly Espinel of The Little Plantation. You can also read at my post about sourcing food styling props on a budget - it's really useful if you're just starting out.

For more of my work, have a look at my portfolio or my previous shoots at Chuku's in Tottenham, SlowBurn London, or at The Haberdashery in Stoke Newington.

Lastly, don’t forget! You can always connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest.

Published by Naf Castanas in Behind the Scenes, Food Photography, Food Styling, London Brand Photography

Tags: Behind the Scenes, Food Photography, Food Styling, London Food Photography, London Meal Kit

June 11, 2021 — Comments are off for this post.

Food Styling with The Little Plantation – A Whole Lot of Tofu

Styling with The Little Plantation April London Blog-8 — *Food styling with Kimberly of The Little Plantation & Leili of The Secret Flavours*

Kimberly Espinel of The Little Plantation needs no introduction. She's an incredible food photographer, food stylist and educator who has elevated plant based food through her singular, moody aesthetic. I joined her and Leiliane Valadares of The Secret Flavours on a recent shoot for Tofuture to assist with food styling.

The Food Photography & Styling Brief

As a brand, Tofuture is best known for its unique tofu press. On the website, you'll also find a wide array of tofu-based recipes. Kimberly's brief included styling and photography for seven recipes in her signature style. Moreover, all images had to be shot in both landscape and portrait orientation. As an assistant stylist, I helped Leili prepare different recipes, prepare garnishes and also assist Kimberly in getting the shots she needed.

Marinated Tofu cooked in London — *Behind the scenes: A tofu-based mess*

Food Styling with The Little Plantation and The Secret Flavours

Leili and I studied the recipes then discussed with Kimberly to decide on the order in which we would tackle the recipes. We then split the recipes to make sure Kimberly had a steady flow of dishes to shoot before we lost the light at 4pm. The recipes we had to tackle were:

Tofu Chocolate Mousse
Caramelised Onion Quiche
Tofu Mushroom Paté
Vegan Cornish Pasties
Smoky Sweet Marinade, which we used on tofu BBQ "kebabs"
Crispy Tofu Nuggets, which we used on a tofu burrito
Teriyaki Marinade, which we used in a tofu noodle bowl

Kimberly shared her mood board and vision, and also answered any questions we had about the styling of specific dishes. The three of us worked together to meet the brief.

Styling Vegan Food with The Little Plantation — *In the studio: Styled tofu recipes*

As the day progressed, I also assisted in the studio placing garnishes where Kimberly needed them, as well as lending my hands for some of the shots. You might know my love of photos with hands in them; that's a love that Kimberly shares!

*Gorgeous photography by Kimberly Espinel of The Little Plantation for Tofuture: My hands in action!*

You can find the recipes and Kimberly's stunning shots here: mousse, tofu nuggets, Cornish pasties, paté, quiche, smoky marinade.

The nitty gritty

This shoot lasted seven hours, with a lunch break. We styled seven dishes, including one dessert. The shoot took place at Kimberly's studio in South London.

If you want to get into food styling but are not sure how to start your prop collection, have a look at my previous post about sourcing food styling props on a budget.

If you want to see more of my work, have a look at my portfolio or my previous shoots at SlowBurn London, The Haberdashery in Stoke Newington and for London Honey Company.

Lastly, don't forget! You can always connect with me on Instagram.

Published by Naf Castanas in Behind the Scenes, Food and Drinks, Food Photography, Food Styling

Tags: Behind the Scenes, Food Photography, Food Styling, London Food Photography

May 5, 2021 — Comments are off for this post.

Restaurant Photography – SlowBurn London

Chef Portait Photography London - Chavdar Todorov, Head Chef SlowBurn

Head Chef Chavdar Todorov has been working in professional kitchens for over 15 years. His ample knowledge of ingredients and fusing of different cuisines characterise his latest venture. SlowBurn opened its door in November 2020, during the national lockdown, and promised one thing: healthy, vegan-friendly food for the local community of Walthamstow. We joined forces to create stunning restaurant photography of his London kitchen.

The SlowBurn London restaurant photography brief

Chef Chavdar had a very clear vision for this shoot. As a backdrop, we used the same large wooden table. Similarly, the mood for this shoot was warm and inviting. Lastly, we discussed a few types of shots that I needed to take.

As a first step. he wanted single dish shots from above of all the dishes. In order get interesting yet coherent shots, I styled each each dish in a similar setting, to ensure continuity throughout.

He also wanted shots of tables set for one person, two people or a group. The reason for these table shots was to give customers an idea of what their meal could look like. These are some of my favourite images to shoot. I also had to use of all the props I had hired for this occasion. I made sure to use different chairs

Lastly, SlowBurn is located inside Blackhorse Lane Ateliers, London's only craft jeans factory. We therefore took some shots with the iconic denim apron, while highlighting the fresh produce used in some of the dishes.

Blackhorse Lane Ateliers Apron & Fresh Produce

A smokehouse with a twist

SlowBurn is now famous for its smoked chicken. The reason is simple! The chicken is brined overnight, then rubbed with the special house rub and Gochujang, and finally smoked with apple wood. And while this dish is a customer favourite, SlowBurn's philosophy remains one of eating less meat. Vegetarian and vegan dishes take centre stage and make up the majority of the menu. From whole cauliflower to Jerusalem artichokes and celeriac, vegetables rein supreme.

The nitty gritty

This shoot lasted two days. I shot the entire menu, as well as a chef portrait of Head Chef Chavdar. Following the shoot, I also took over all of the SlowBurn social media channels.

If you want to see more of my work, have a look at my portfolio or my shoot at The Haberdashery in Stoke Newington.

Lastly, don't forget! You can always connect with me on Instagram.

Published by Naf Castanas in Food and Drinks, Food Photography, London Restaurant Photography, Restaurant & Brand Photography

Tags: Behind the Scenes, Food Photography, London Food Photography, London Restaurant Photography, Plant Based Food Photography