liquid & cosmetics photography Apr 2017

A visual artist and image maker, Barry Makariou is full of ideas. Specialising in bringing many elements together to create a truly unique image, his latest work for Pepsi, Nike and Fruit Burst showcases his ability to manipulate liquid.

To fulfil client briefs Barry has added film-making to his many abilities and has a full production team to call upon. Packages include 100 mp stills capture and 6k film specialising in hi-frame rate for super slow motion capture.

His new website is coming soon, meanwhile follow Barry on Instagram.

From his own studios in Hoxton and Shoreditch in central London, Dennis Pedersen uses up-to-the-minute photographic equipment as well as technical prowess and ingenuity to achieve the special effects for which he is renowned.

After many years of darkroom and digital experience Dennis is now known for using on-the-spot post-production simultaneously as the shoot progresses, ensuring the best possible results are achieved.

Shooting in the studio or on location, with a strong full-time team around him, Dennis always knows how to capture the products' essence.

Hiro is an award-winning still life photographer who shoots campaigns for international brands. He spends most of his time in the studio in Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Singapore and delivers stunning photographic visuals on a daily basis.

He started his career in New York City where he learned exceptional lighting skills to draw elegant lines by strobe lights. Hiro now resides in Japan, where he has sharpened his minimalistic approach towards photography.

His rapidly growing list of clients includes Vogue Japan, Estée Lauder, Shiseido, Shu Uemura, LUX, Kosé, Orbis, Folli Follie, Kate Spade New York, United Colors of Benetton, Panasonic, Sony Ericsson, Toyota and many more.

Jean Berard is a French and Canadian photographer specialising in advertising, liquid and still life photography. Continuously investigating new ideas and techniques, his work is based on carefully crafted lighting and organics effects. Jean’s style is visually clean and graphic, resulting in powerful and distinctive imagery. He has been commissioned by clients internationally across the fields of liquors, automotive, fashion, beauty, publishing and advertising.

Some of the latest campaigns include Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, Baileys, Tequila 1800, Danone, Colgate, VW and collaborations with advertising agencies such as Grey, Y&R, JWT, Teran TBWA, Integer, La Doble Vida, BBDO, DDB and Flock.

Jean Berard has received numerous awards over the years: Prix de la Photographie Paris, PDN The Face, International Photo Awards, Photography Masters Cup and Communication Arts Photo Annual.

Based in NY/CT, award-winning photographer, DP and cinematographer Jens Johnson is well known for his work with liquids. With more than 27 years of experience, his love of photography and capturing liquids shines through whether he’s capturing the peak moment of a splash or the full balletic motion of a beverage pour. Each image and video takes on its own personality thanks to Jens’ creative vision and technical abilities.

His state of the art studio provides a comfortable client lounge, a fully stocked prop room, and a top of the line kitchen where Jens has created imagery and campaigns for companies such as Coke, Ocean Spray, Seagram’s, and Lancome.

Although he has worked with some of the top brands in the world, Jens says, “I don’t care if it’s the number one brand of whiskey in the world or a company just breaking into the market - I love to work with creative people!”

Scottish born Jon Paterson’s motivation is the creative challenge and artistic license of his medium. Predominately working with cosmetics and liquids, he thrives when manipulating a product both artistically and technically to draw out the unique aspects of each item and create a cohesive concept.

Recently, Jon was awarded first place in Photo District News' Objects of Desire Still Life Photography Contest for his Marc Jacobs Beauty holiday campaign image titled 'About Last Night'. It evokes the glamorous aftermath of one heck of a fabulous night out. 

His clients include a range of luxury brands and fashion publications such as Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Clinique, L’Oréal, Marc Jacobs Beauty, Abercrombie&Fitch, Hugo Boss, NARS, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, POP Magazine, Vogue and InStyle.

His work ethic is a contrasting balance of meticulous, creative, laid back and approachable. The same cannot be said for his cat.

Visit his website for further information.

Lucian Mitiu photographs and perfects his craft using current technical possibilities in combination with his sophisticated skills in image processing. With his communication and photography studies as well as a background in graphics and state-of-the-art technology, Lucian can offer the complete visual product - from capture to post-production.

Born in Bucharest, Lucian grew up in Munich and has worked successfully as a photographer for commercial clients and agencies since 2008. In 2016 he moved to Stuttgart and has found his new base as an advertising photographer.

Using broad strokes, lip gloss by the gallon and minute lighting, Swedish still life photographer Magnus Cramer makes material come alive. ”It’s funny, really” says Magnus. ”I’ve got a diploma in engineering, but I spend a lot my days spreading thick layers of mascara on a piece of paper in a studio.”

While that might be something of a simplification, there is no denying his creativity and meticulous nature has allowed Magnus to carve out his own special niche in the world of cosmetics. But he uses anything but delicacy when he designs his set ups. ”In the end, it is all in the lighting. I guess that may be the engineer in me speaking. I simply won’t give up on an image until I am satisfied.”

Clients include Douglas, Electrolux, H&M, ICA, L.O.V Cosmetics, Olympus, Oprah, Oriflame, Piz Buin, Reebok, Samsung, Swarovski, Volvo and Tush Magazine.

Mark is a London-based photographer and has been shooting for 30 years. His career has evolved through different genres of photography giving him vast knowledge and experience.

Mark now specialises in shooting liquids and his colourful series titled ‘Aqueous’ has become very well known.

Mikkel Jul Hvilshøj is a Danish still life photographer who has worked in advertising and editorial photography for the past 13 years.

Mikkel is always a consummate professional. He uses his adept technical skills and a strong sense for composition to create beautiful images, often characterised by their minimalism and serenity. He has an excellent eye for detail and uses his extensive knowledge and personal expertise of post-production to create the best possible image.

Whether the assignments are in his own studio in Copenhagen or on location, Mikkel works with an innate confidence, and always brings his calm personality and positive attitude to create a great mood on the set.

Mikkel in currently featured in Lürzer’s Archive’s 200 Best Advertising Photographers Worldwide 2016-17.

You can contact Mikkel directly by email and always count on a quick and personal reply.

Nick Rees is a still life photographer specialising in liquids and drinks, from beautiful crystal perfume bottles to tiny bubbles and drops of milk. His strong graphic style freezes everything in its own crisp reality, giving his subjects their own identity.

"Featured in this Spotlight is a selection of some of my recent abstract work with liquids, along with new perfume shots. To see more take a flick through my online folio."

From a creative and engineering background, with experience spanning over 30 years, Ray Massey is confident producing and crafting images to satisfy a whole range of styles and complexity to satisfy the most discerning eye.

“I consider myself privileged to have mastered organic disciplines - getting it right in camera, before embracing digital photography and Photoshop as a complement rather than a remedy. You don’t capture a photograph, you make it!"

Working from a well equipped studio in Camden, London, Ray specialises in still life, liquids, drinks, SFX, portraits and physical artistry.

“I enjoy working with UK and international clients and appreciate how crossing cultural boundaries enriches knowledge and style of photography. In this age of information and communication revolution, language is being devalued as images become increasingly important to communicate across boundaries.”

Rich Begany is a photographer based in New York’s Flatiron District. With a concentration on cosmetic product photography, he has created captivating images for some of the most dominant names in the beauty industry. Rich has a deep understanding of the seductive powers of colour and texture and with that has developed an impressive portfolio of effective images used in advertising, editorials and other commercial outlets.

Recent projects include new work for Essie, MAC Cosmetics and Tarte. To discuss an upcoming project or to request a portfolio, contact WiB Agency.

"Hello! I’m based in Shoreditch, London and I specialise in graphic still life photography. I’m at my happiest when faced with a new object to photograph and the challenge that lies in transforming it into something  highly desirable; the process of tweaking the lighting set-up to reveal the texture and shape of the object, enhancing its unique and visually interesting features in order to create inspired, luxurious imagery.

I offer an in-house retouching service and also work with a talented network of freelancers so am able to deliver any brief on time and in a cost-effective manner. My clients include Calvin Klein, Clinique, Prada, Lancome, L‘Oréal, Laurent Perrier, Graff Diamonds, Marks & Spencer, Oral B and Amazon.

If I can be of any help realising your next project, please do get in touch and I will be more than happy to discuss any brief in detail."

At Yechiel Orgel Photography, inanimate objects come to life in the presence of lighting, technique and angles. Where others may view a pair of shades as just a product, Yechiel chooses to find its subliminal value through his work.

Ever the self critic, he demands only the best when it comes to his deliverable talent, contributing his timeless imagery to a lifelong passion. He sees life even in the simplest of objects, expressing strong opinions about his insentient subjects. While Yechiel predominantly shoots at his Brooklyn studio, he often collaborates with trending stylists and goes to great lengths to perfect the lighting and background details, even for transient photo shoots and single products.

With clients such as Colangelo, Flexon Eyewear and Kung Fu Tea, Yechiel appreciates the challenge and diversified product range to which he’s exposed. More so, he makes quick friends with the unique products that enter his studio. They enter, confined in a box; yet they leave, photographed superstars.

In his own perspective: “Life is all around you. Family portraiture captures it via movement and interaction. Yet, still life photography possesses a unique form of artistry. One must be willing to experiment, perfect and have total conversations with a 4% alcohol flavored beer until the pixelated results make you taste the fizz on your tongue."

Still life photographer. Commercial photographer. Product whisperer!