Two-day Lifestyle Photography Shoot for Redrow

I recently had the pleasure of working on a dynamic two-day lifestyle photography shoot for Redrow, commissioned by the renowned creative agency DRPG. The project aimed to capture a diverse range of lifestyle, interiors and exterior imagery to celebrate key holidays—Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter—showcasing Redrow’s beautifully designed homes in a festive and inviting light.

A Collaborative Effort

The collaboration was a real highlight of the project. DRPG’s creative team provided exceptional production from Lucie Jolliffe and Sarah Watts, who also provided fantastic art direction throughout the two days, ensuring a cohesive vision across the seasonal themes. Premium styling by Aurelien Farjon elevated each scene, bringing out the character and warmth of the interiors while aligning perfectly with the festive atmospheres we sought to portray. The work of Aurelien Farjon can be seen here: www.aurelienfarjon.com.

Multi-Faceted Photography Challenges

The shoot was multifaceted, involving interior and exterior photography, lifestyle photography, and still-life setups. Each discipline brought its own set of challenges and considerations:

Interior Photography: Capturing the aesthetic appeal of Redrow’s interiors required careful planning. Lighting was critical, as we aimed to balance the natural light streaming through large windows with artificial lighting to create a warm and inviting ambience. Composition also played a key role in showcasing the architectural details, furniture, and décor in the best possible way.

Lifestyle Photography: These shots brought the interiors to life, illustrating how the spaces could be used during festive celebrations. Scenes were staged with props and styled environments that told a story, ensuring the images resonated with Redrow’s audience.

Exterior Architectural Photography: The exterior shots were equally important, highlighting the architectural elegance of the homes. The timing was crucial to capture the best natural light, typically during the golden hour, while also ensuring the houses looked as pristine as they do in person.

The Role of Pre-Production

An essential aspect of this project was meticulous pre-production planning. This included planning shot lists for each seasonal theme, and ensuring the required props and styling elements were ready to go. Coordination between the creative team and stylists ensured that every element aligned with the branding objectives and the festive themes.

DRPG: A Leader in Creative Communication

DRPG is a globally recognised creative communications agency specialising in delivering impactful campaigns, live events, video production, and digital content. Their expertise lies in crafting innovative solutions that engage audiences and align with their clients’ objectives. From strategic branding to immersive experiences, DRPG’s work consistently sets new standards in creativity and execution. Their collaboration on this lifestyle photography project exemplified their commitment to quality and attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect of the imagery aligned with Redrow’s branding and messaging.

Redrow Homes: A Legacy of Excellence

Redrow, established in 1974, is one of the UK’s leading residential property developers. Known for their high-quality builds and thoughtful designs, Redrow combines modern living with traditional craftsmanship. Their developments often focus on creating vibrant, sustainable communities with an emphasis on green spaces and architectural character. With a rich history of delivering exceptional homes, Redrow has become synonymous with quality and innovation in the housing market.

A Productive and Rewarding Experience

The team’s professionalism and enthusiasm made the shoot a great success. The productivity of the two days was a testament to the seamless collaboration between all involved, from the creative direction provided by DRPG to the impeccable styling by Aurelien Farjon. Together, we created imagery that brought Redrow Homes to life in an engaging and visually stunning way, capturing the essence of festive celebrations with premium lifestyle photography within beautifully designed spaces.
This project was a perfect example of how creative collaboration, attention to detail, and adaptability can result in impactful photography that not only showcases a product but also tells a compelling story.

See more of my lifestyle photography here, and get in touch to discuss any forthcoming projects.

OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie

For over 25 years, the OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie has offered a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy memorable food and drink experiences, using only the best of British seasonal produce and serving the finest wines.
Situated on the 8th floor of the iconic OXO Tower on London’s South Bank, the restaurant boasts stunning views of St Paul’s and the river Thames. From birthdays and graduations to a romantic meal out, it’s the perfect setting for any special occasion with the views to match.

A member of staff at the OXO Tower Restaurant Bar and Brasserie in London with a tray of drinks.

Double Commission

I first shot promotional images for the OXO Tower Restaurant last summer and then again a few weeks ago. Both shoots were really enjoyable and generated some great content. The restaurant is a fantastic environment to photograph in. Due to its top-floor location and floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the natural light up there is great with nothing to block the view.
It’s a real gift to be asked to take photographs there and the staff are great to work with too. Typically, a shoot like this would take about 3 to 4 hours starting at around 6pm in the evening. I took a range of different photographic shots including still-life food and drink, documentary lifestyle, the interior space of the restaurant, and the outside terrace area.

Hospitality photography taken for the OXO Tower restaurant Bar and Brasserie in London by Richard Boll.

Food & Drink Photography

The food and drink photography shots were the most formal and composed, similar to taking a still-life photograph. It was an honour to take images of some stunning plates of food that had been specially created and prepared for the shoot by Executive Head Chef Jeremy Bloor.
I combined the approaches of photographing the dishes on a table set up for dinner and incorporating waiting staff holding plates of food. As well as delicious food, the restaurant is well known for its mouth-watering cocktails and I shot several composed images of these throughout the shoot.

Food photography at the OXO Tower restaurant in London by Richard Boll.

Documentary Lifestyle Photography

I always enjoy using a ‘fly-on-the-wall’, documentary photographic style here, as it gives a real flavour of the buzzy but relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant. For example, I photographed lifestyle shots of staff behind the bar making cocktails, kitchen staff preparing dishes and the waiting staff serving food and wine.

It’s always interesting shooting in a live, natural environment where there are customers and staff present. The atmosphere at the OXO Tower is great and really lively. Both of the shoots were dependent on the weather (especially the images taken on the outside terrace) but thankfully, I got lucky on both occasions and had natural sunlight and fantastic sunsets to work with.
I’m pleased to report these promotional images have been used throughout the OXO Tower Restaurant website, on their social media, and some of the images have also been featured on the Time Out website.

Drinks photographed in London by Richard Boll for the OXO Tower Restaurant.

Why not try the best of British menu yourself at the OXO Tower Restaurant and sample one of their famous cocktails? See more images from the promotional shoots.

Richard Boll

Category Archives: Food photography