Hackney Archives - Dash and Splash

Restaurant Photography Pastore Pizza — *Photographing the pop-up menu at Pastore in Hackney*

Jake and Oli have worked in professional kitchens for years. In 2020, during lockdown, they decided to bite the bullet and open their own restaurant. Thus was born Pastore. In early 2021, as restaurants were only allowed takeaway and deliveries, they embarked on a series of fortnightly pop-up menus. I joined them in Hackney to photograph their Indonesian pop-up, in collaboration with Rempapa.

Restaurant photography in Hackney: The Pastore brief

British produce has been at the heart of every iteration of the menu at Pastore. Whether they're making pizzas, pasta, or rendang curry, they champion British ingredients. This is evident in most of their dishes. As a result, I focused on bright, saturated shots that highlighted how vibrant and fresh the flavours are.

The photography brief consisted of shooting:

All the dishes in the menu on their own, to be used on the site's ordering system
Group shots of different dishes
A tablescape including the entire menu
Shots with human elements

Food Photographer and Stylist Hackney — *Restaurant Photography Hackney: Lontong rice cakes*

The single dish shots

First up, I captured the single dishes. Shooting them one by one, and from different perspectives, I worked my way through the entire pop-up menu.

The group shots

Next up, I photographed the group shots. These included single dishes on a busy table, as well as groupings of different dishes.

The tablescapes

Jake and Oli also wanted photos of a table with all the dishes from their Indonesian pop-up menu. These were shot in both landscape and portrait orientations.

The action shots

Last but not least came the action shots. In fact, if you know anything about my work, you know that shooting people interacting with food is what I love the most. Nothing brings food to life like people serving it, enjoying it, or playing with it. Jake and Oli helped out, and let me photograph them!

The restaurant shoot details

Pastore is located at Hackney Downs Studios, and we shot on location. In order to shoot using natural light and with visual interest, I borrowed a table from the neighbouring bar and moved it close to the window. We used their cutlery and plates, as well as linen napkins that I provided. Jake and Oli took turns assisting with the photography and making sure we kept to our agreed shot list. The shoot lasted half a day.

You can stay in touch with what the guys at Pastore are doing through their Instagram.

Let's be social

If you liked this post, please let me know!

You can also see more of my restaurant photography. Specifically, my shoots for Chuku’s Nigerian Tapas, The Haberdashery and SlowBurn London. If you're unsure how to pick the right photographer for your business, you can check out my tips.

And if it's day-to-day content you're after, have a look at my Instagram and Pinterest.

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

Tags: Food Photography, Hackney, London Food Photography, London Restaurant Photography

*Restaurant Photographer London. Shot by A Dash & A Splash at The Haberdashery in Stoke Newington*

Massimo was born to host. Even as a child, he would be busy in the kitchen, making - often inedible - cakes with the ingredients he saw his mom and grandmother use. In 2009, he decided to take the plunge and leave his catering consultant job to open the first branch of The Haberdashery with his partner Greg. Four years later, they opened the now famous Stoke Newington branch. I recently joined him and his team for a fun restaurant food photography shoot at The Haberdashery.

A neighbourhood fixture

In the years since it opened in Stoke Newington, The Haberdashery has become a neighbourhood fixture. Indeed, the team has gained recognition and awards from Grazia Magazine, Time Out, Evening Standard and The Independent.

More importantly, they know a large number of their customers by name, and also know their orders! Aside from lunch and brunch, Massimo hosts a series of events. In the past, these have included opera nights, cinema nights, supper clubs, music nights, and vintage markets. At the moment, three more supper clubs are in the books: two for June 2021 and one for July 2021.

Lastly, the art on display is for sale. Massimo finds local artists who are keen to exhibit their work. At the moment, you will find prints by Richard Greenan, while there are five more exhibitions in the pipeline.

Restaurant Photography London. Shot by A Dash & A Splash at The Haberdashery in Stoke Newington

The Haberdashery restaurant food photography brief

Massimo had three objectives when it came to this shoot. Firstly, he wanted shots of his staff. Secondly, he wanted me to shoot the best selling dishes. Lastly, he wanted photos of a selection of Bloody Marys. As The Haberdashery has a memorable interior, the idea was to use it as much as possible in the shoot. The images will mostly be used on social media, so I prioritised shooting in portrait orientation.

The staff portraits

The Haberdashery has distinctive tiled walls. We therefore wanted to use them as a backdrop for the staff portraits. In order to keep everyone relaxed, the portraits were shot handheld while having a conversation.

The food photography

The Haberdashery is an amazing brunch spot. When deciding on the brief, Massimo therefore chose the Full English and the Vegetarian Breakfasts from the brunch menu. He then added some popular dishes from the rest of the menu: the Vegan Blueberry Pancakes, the Scandinavian Meatballs, and the Vegetarian Poke Bowl.

All the food was shot on the Italian marble tables. Wherever possible, I also included the walls.

Food Photography London — Restaurant Photographer London. Shot by A Dash & A Splash at The Haberdashery in Stoke Newington

Restaurant Food Photography The Haberdashery — Restaurant Photographer London. Shot by A Dash & A Splash at The Haberdashery in Stoke Newington

The cocktail photography

The Bloody Mary menu at The Haberdashery alone is a reason to visit! In fact, the cocktails are a great hit with their customers. Accordingly, I shot a selection of the Bloody Marys.

Cocktail Photography London — Cocktail Photography. Shot by A Dash & A Splash at The Haberdashery in Stoke Newington

A dreamy brunch

At the end of the shoot, I combined the brunch dishes with the Bloody Marys. As a result, these shots depict the dreamy brunch that you can get at The Haberdashery.

The nitty gritty

To accommodate the team, I mostly worked outside of The Haberdashery's opening hours. The shoot was spread between two days, starting at 8am. On the first day, I shot the staff portraits; on the second day, I shot the best selling dishes and cocktails.

In May 2021, ahead of the reopening for indoor dining, Massimo and his team undertook a renovation of The Haberdashery. If you'd like to see the new look, check out their Instagram.

If you want to see more of my work, have a look at my portfolio or my shoot at SlowBurn London.

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

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

Tags: Brunch Photography, Cocktail Photography, Drinks Photography, Food Photography, Hackney, London Food Photography, London Restaurant Photography

Restaurant Photography in Hackney – Pastore’s Indonesian Pop-Up