Good Housekeeping/ Farm-Fresh Suppers

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

For the latest issue September issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine, Studio Marcus Hay was asked to contribute once again with the team at Good Housekeeping and wonderful Photographer Con Poulos. The Food was styled by the very talented Christine Albano. 

This story is made up of entirely of vegetarian meals, The palette for the story was initially  to be just yellow and gray but as the story progressed, we felt it needed a pop of blue to help lift it and reinforce a Summer vibe. Making a dash to S.M.H prop cupboard helped solve that issue, We never have too less a blue prop at Studio Marcus Hay : )

The first 4 spreads shown here are the story plus two extra shots shown on the last spread that show 2 other pages in the magazine we shot including a beautiful Caramel Apple Skillet pie on a aqua colored platter by my friends at Dinosaur Designs 

Hope you enjoy the last of the Summer vibe as Summer slowly turns to Fall.

Good Housekeeping/ Easy as Pie

Photography: Con Poulos, Prop Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Prop Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Prop Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Prop Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Who doesn't love a pie?! At Studio Marcus Hay we sure do, in fact we all had to have a sample a little of all of these beauties baked and styled by the amazing Christine Albano. I have to say the plum was a personal favorite! 

It was great to be involved in this pie making story for Good Housekeeping Magazine. What was first a smaller story that we had originally shot at the end of another larger story became it's own feature due to the fact that back at The GH office, our pie shots were so well received they wanted us to shoot more shots to extend the story including a new opener and ice-cream companions. 

When producing this story we had a struggle finding 4 identical vintage pie dishes, It was our mission, It is kind of ironic that you can't really see them due to the angle we took but believe you me they are there, Thanks for Christine's patience as we hunted and gathered these. 

Photographer Con Poulos did an wonderful job shooting this feature which can be found in the August issue of Good Housekeeping. 

Good Housekeeping/ Brunch

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

For the U.S edition of Good Housekeeping for the same issue, Studio Marcus Hay also was asked to contribute on a Brunch Story, each type of serving suggestion had 4 different options, Hash Browns, Salad, Scones and Quiche. The approach was to be simple and graphic using slate predominantly as a background, Neutrals with a tiny hit of green. 

This story was photographed once again by Con Poulos and the Food Styling was by Anne Distrude.  

Good Housekeeping/ Sweet Charity bake sale

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling by Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling by Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling by Studio Marcus Hay

For U.S edition of Good Housekeeping this month, Studio Marcus Hay worked on a food feature called Sweet Charity, Inspired by your neighborhood bake sales that occur all over America, These are suggested recipes the reader can create to help out a charity. I have to say after sampling some of these, they are well worth trying out.

Food stylist Anna Disrude did an amazing job of baking all these items for the shoot, the team at Studio Marcus Hay including Sally Morris and Brooke Reid did a great job of crafting up muffin boxes (Sorry to say they did not make the cut) ribbons, tags and stacks of cookies tied with string. 

It was a really cute shoot to work on and we enjoyed the simplicity and sweetness the shoot delivers, thanks to the wonderful Photography of Con Poulos. 

Good Housekeeping Magazine/ Easter

Photography: Raymond Hom, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Raymond Hom, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Raymond Hom, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Raymond Hom, Styling: Studio Marcus Hay

It's Easter time again, For Good Housekeeping Magazine this month, Studio Marcus Hay got to get all pretty. With soft pastel colors in soft blues and greens mainly, We even got crafty with hand made Easter eggs by Brooke Reid, thanks Brooke! Unfortunately most got cut out, but believe you me, they were sensational. The feeling for this shoot was eclectic with a mix of the old with the new. 

Studio Marcus Hay got to work with Photographer Raymond Hom for the first time, I am sure you will agree his shots are beautiful. 

I love Easter and miss the egg hunts of yesteryear, Happy Easter to all the year! 

Good Housekeeping/ Slow Cooker Suppers, 2013

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling by Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling by Studio Marcus Hay

Photography: Con Poulos, Styling by Studio Marcus Hay

Cover Photography: Con Poulos, Styling by Studio Marcus Hay

Slow Cooker Suppers seems so appropriate right now in the U.S where it has been freezing this time of year. Warming Meals, Comfort Food, Call it what you will, There's nothing better than a hearty meal. For this feature for Good Housekeeping Magazine shot with Photographer Con Poulos we focused on meals you can prepare ahead of time with Slow Cooking. 

Using Zinc and Warm Wood Tones I created a world that feels warm and inviting for the season, I wanted to reinforce a more rustic feel by including French Linens and Fabrics with Texture. The palette was rich reds, olive green with a splash of warm yellow. 

Good Housekeeping/ Salads

Photography: Anna Williams

Photography: Anna Williams

Photography: Anna Williams

Photography: Anna Williams

Photography: Anna Williams

Photography: Anna Williams

For The latest June issue of US Good Housekeeping, Studio Marcus Hay got the opportunity to work again with the lovely Anna Williams. The story was on Salads and we were working to the theme of the Salads being inspired by different parts of the world. In the U.S one thing I have learnt from living here is that Salads are big as meals so these are all Salad recipes you can make for meals rather than just sides.

Summer is on it's way and finally all my Summer stories are hitting the newsstands.  

Good Housekeeping/ Pasta Meals

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Taking a different approach this month for Good Housekeeping, The brief for this story on Pasta was to simplify on the propping and keep the palette neutral. As magazines ever evolve with their approach and layout, this story is a result of re-looking at the regular format and changing it up. I have been styling stories for the magazine for a few years now, it's always nice to be able to reinvent a regular section and re invigorate it. Usually the stories in the past were a bit more themed, layered with a more distinct color palette.

Usually some magazines can shy away from too many over the head shots, perhaps it's seen as too graphic, Personally I always like them. This time we were also able to incorporate a lot more of these airiel views of the food. 

The propping was a lot more simple and I was able to use some really lovely textured linens and hand spun ceramics.

The story was shot with the ever talented Kate Mathis, Hope you enjoy!..Carb up! 

Good Housekeeping/ Bobby Flay Feature

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Ok, If it would just stop raining we might start to feel Summer! A couple months ago when shooting this story with the wonderful Photographer Kate Mathis, squint and you swear it was Summer in the studio. We were matching shots of Bobby Flay's previously shot on location in his kitchen (These images not shown) A feature on a Summer menu recommended by him. 

Michael Pederson was the Food Stylist and he did a great job bringing Bobby's classic recipes to life. Grilled Corn on the cob, Pork sliders, Watermelon with Lime/Honey Syrup, Skirt Steak, You can just smell it, right!? 


I was also delegated to being Bobby's body double in parts, wearing the same shirt as his cover, but unfortunately you won't be seeing these shots here either! : ) 

Good Housekeeping/ Budget Meals

Photography: Con Poulos

Photography: Con Poulos

Photography: Con Poulos

Photography: Con Poulos

For the June issue out on the news stands now, We shot the current food story for Good Housekeeping. The theme was Budget Meals (A common theme it seems these days ; ) It was shot with a regular Co-Contributor Photographer Con Poulos. The colors for the story were pre determined somewhat by the team at the magazine, They were to be Yellow, Orange and Blue/ Green. The article is in a Summer issue, so the photography and styling was to feel summery, light and inviting. I wove in some stripes and a slight Ethnic feel with prints on napkins and backgrounds. It's always so refreshing to embrace a summer story after such a long Winter in NYC.

One of my favorite Editors I have the pleasure to work with each time I contribute to Good Housekeeping is Susan Westmoreland, The magazines Food Director, Susan is is responsible for planning and producing the food features, She also appears in monthly television pieces for Good Housekeeping Reports, a syndicated news service featuring tests and consumer news from the Good Housekeeping Institute, She is a very busy woman but always gracious, generous and at ease. 

Food has always been a part of Westmoreland's life, before entering the publishing profession 25 years ago; she was a chef in Long Island, Massachusetts, and Greece. She remains an active member of the food community and has served on the Board of Directors of Les Dames d'Escoffier and the New York Women's Culinary Alliance. Her knowledge of Food is inspiring and it's so great to work with someone who really loves what they do and it shows on every shoot we do together.

The food was styled by the amazing Anne Disrude. 

Good Housekeeping/ Dark Victory

Photography: Con Poulos

Photography: Con Poulos

Photography: Con Poulos

I have a childhood friend who was allergic to chocolate, I always felt so bad for her, Imagine a life without it? Easter time would come around and we would watch with chocolate smeared faces as she would have to eat the half eaten carrots left out for Easter Bunny! 


When I was asked to do this Chocolate Story for Good Housekeeping I had visions of some fantastic world coming to life like Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and when I turned up at the studio I was not disappointed, It was like a bunch of Oomp loompas in the kitchen, working on endless chocolate creation after creation, It would be mean to say they looked like them because they didn't but Food Stylist extraordinaire Stephana Bottom  had prepared herself with a team of talented assistants to help her farm out the chocolate menu which included chocolate cream pie, brownies, truffles, pave, tart and whoopee pies to mention just a few.


The color palette for the story was rich like the menu with guess what chocolate brown mixed with tan, purple, pink and orange, It was nice to work on such a deep palette after months of doing red white and blue beer heavy BBQ stories, It;s not often when you get to work on a whole story on desert. Needless to say I picked a bad time to start dieting,  I only had a slither of each, I promise! 


The story was shot by the amazing fellow Australian Photographer Con Poulos  

Good Housekeeping/ Slow Cookers

Photography: Anna Williams

Photography: Anna Williams

Photography: Anna Williams

The weather gets a little cooler and all of a sudden people turn to comfort food, slow cooking comfort food. To be honest I never really had heard of a slow cooker before I moved to the USA, but this is definitely not the first time I have shot one of these type of stories since landing on these shores many Fall's ago! 


Now most people would not know that shooting a slow cooker shoot can be a challenge if the slow cooker appliance actually needs to be in the shoot, If you shoot it from above it can resemble a porcelain toilet bowl, not a pretty thought, sorry but it's true! Often we crop into it to avoid it looking that obvious! : ) Luckily for me this time in this shoot for Good Housekeeping we did not need to even show one! 


The Food Styling on this shoot was done by the very talented Maggie Ruggiero  www.maggieruggiero.com who has done amazing work on the late and very missed Gourmet Magazine. Anna Williams, annawilliams.com one of my favorite Photographers to work with shot the story. The story as you can see has quite a rustic feel, always a favorite to reflect the season, I used lot's of woods, vintage bowls, flatware and earthy colors.


So maybe it's time to embrace the season..maybe even time to get a slow cooker? (If I can work out how to turn it on?) : ) 

Good Housekeeping/ Grilling

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

Photography: Kate Mathis

It's Summer, It's time to throw one on the BBQ, A steak that is! Summer has certainly hit NYC, with the Air Conditioner going round the clock already, The city always comes alive over Summer, I always feel like having fun but fainting at the same time! For a Stylist beating the pavement for Props is a hazardous activity, fluids is the key, iced lattes all round! 


For the Jun issue of Good Housekeeping we shot a Grilling Story, I got to work with a very swollen Kate Mathis, Congrats on baby Scarlet who entered the world just a couple of weeks ago! Kate being the trouper she is was working right up until Scarlet's birth just about and low and behold is shooing another GH story with me tomorrow! 


The mood for the story was determined to feel outdoors of course, a little hard to do in end of winter, beginning of Spring when we shot the story, but by using dappled light through glass and plenty of foliage in hand to help create the illusion. We wanted to give the story and everyday casual feel, a sweet nod to some Americana, something I always love to do since my BBQ experience as a child consisted only of Fosters and Shrimps on the Barbie!, I say this tongue in cheek of course! ; )