NEFF of Chicago

I was recently talking with an interior designer who was remodeling a kitchen for a client, and she said to me ‘do you remember NEFF of Chicago, now they were good’.  

I do remember NEFF of Chicago, quiet fondly as one of my favorite clients.  Saying they were ‘good’, is very much an understatement.  Nancy Olive was my contact and she was amazing to work with.  I recall the photo shoots always being on time, staged and ready when I arrived. Nancy was very decisive and knew exactly what she needed for compositions, as she headed up the marketing for NEFF of Chicago.  The shot below, was from my first photoshoot for NEFF of Chicago and is still one of my favorites.

Andy Yates Interior Design

I wanted to share a few photos from a project we shot a couple of years ago designed by Andy Yates. One of the things that sets Andy apart is his unique ability to create color palettes that exude a sense of tranquility. His designs go beyond mere comfort; they evoke a feeling of calmness, making them the perfect sanctuary after a hectic day.

We look forward to sharing more of these projects in the near future.

Harbor

One of the things we love about architectural photography is the diversity of the spaces that we get to photograph.  One project we shot we shot a few years back really stood out.  Harbor restaurant in Chicago.

We photographed the space just after their soft-open, and were so impressed by the design.  Set into an older structure, the interior design made use of rustic walls, floors and ceilings, making them part of the overall aesthetic.  The results were inviting, warm and captivating.  Below are a few of our favorites from the shoot.

Barrett’s Technology Solutions

We received a call last year from Brian Perreault of Barrett’s Technology Solutions.  Barrett’s are masters at incorporating state of the art technology into any décor setting.  Look closely at the images and you’ll see that they have the latest sensors, lighting dimmers, speaker systems, theater controls etc., all carefully integrated into the space without drawing undo attention.  It’s this meticulous detail that makes them the first choice among architects, custom builders and interior designers.  We really enjoyed working with Brian and his team.  Below are a few of our favorites from the shoot.

 

Shot on Film: Michelle

Back in 2005 we were photographing an aspiring model name Michelle.  I’m pretty certain that this was Michelle’s first professional photo shoot.  We brought in an amazing make up artist and did the shoot at Bruce Starrenburg’s Light Box Studio. 

I shot the images using three Photogenic Machine II power packs, with a 48” soft box as a main light, a high back glamour head for a broad hair light and 36” bank light as a kick.   My main camera was a Minolta XE-7 loaded with Fuji Astia 100F color reversal slide film.  Lenses were a Minolta Rokkor 58mm 1.2, and a Vivitar 100mm 2.8 prime portrait lens.

 

As we were shooting, Bruce was processing our exposed film and we all had a great time at the end of the day drinking martinis and looking at the images trough a loupe on the studio light table.  We were really pleased with the shoot and Michelle was awesome to work with.  She took direction like a seasoned professional.

 

Below are just a few slides pulled from the shoot and scanned full frame using a Minolta DiMage 5400 dedicated film scanner.

RAB Group, LLC

We recently did a quick photo shoot of a kitchen and dining room remodel for RAB Group, LLC out of Northfield, Illinois. 

RAB Group is one of those custom boutique firms that have over 30 years’ experience in custom cabinets, millwork, design and construction.  Everything is perfect, the fit and finish are luxurious and their customers are always amazed at the results.

 

Below are a few of our favorites.

Shot on Film: Ann

I was recently shooting a group photo, and overheard someone walking past my camera bag say “I haven’t seen one of those in a while”.  I am sure that he was being genuine and I just smiled.

I am pretty certain that he was referring to my Sony A850, which is my ‘go-to-camera’.  The shoot went well and I actually ended up using my Sony A7RII instead.

I later learned that the gentlemen making the comment was a photographer, and was wondering why so many photographers feel that ‘only the latest gear’ will do.  Just think about all the amazing photographs taken through the years, all with what is now outdated technology and equipment.  This of course has inspired me to post something I shot years ago on film.  Even at the end of the film days, I was primarily using a manual focus camera with absolutely no automation.  It’s what I was comfortable using, and what gave me the best results which is all I am ever concerned with.  I also preferred using color reversal slide film as opposed to shooting color negative film.

The images here are shot using my well-worn Minolta XE-7 and a Minolta Rokkor 50mm 1.4 prime lens on Fuji Astia 100 color reversal film.

Lighting used was a Vivitar 285 on a Vivitar flash bracket as a main light, and a Carl C. Buff White lighting CPS 10,000 mono light, attached to a Larson 22” Softbox firing into a single 48” gold reflector as a kick.  The images were scanned full frame using a Minolta DiMage 5400 dedicated film scanner with no adjustments applied. 

For those interested, this is still my all-time favorite camera and lens combo.  I still use them, and they still give me amazing results.

Everclean -

Saim from Level Construction asked us to shoot a recently constructed car wash for their online portfolio.  We had done one a few years back that turned out exceptionally well.  

We elected to shoot the building as soon as it closed, so that there wouldn’t be in vehicles in the parking lot or carwash.  This would give the images a cleaner look and highlight the architectural aspects of the project.  

 

The shoot took us about two hours and went extremely well due to the cooperation of on-site manager Josh Ogiba.  Josh made sure that everything was clean and well lighted for the shoot, even staying after hours so that we could get the shots we needed.

 

Thanks for the help, Josh!  Below are just a couple of images from the shoot.

 

Lauren Coburn Interiors -

We had a photo shoot earlier this year with Lauren Coburn.  Lauren and Senior Designer Susie Chavez met us on-site to walk us through the incredible transformation of this project.  This is an early century estate, that is just filled with craftsmanship.  Staying true to the character of the home Lauren, and her team updated the house by removing walls, opening up spaces, modernizing all of the living areas and making the home more beautiful, comfortable and opulent then one could possibly imagine.

When we arrived on the first day of shooting, Lauren and her team were fully prepared, having everything perfectly set and staged for the photo shoot.  As someone who shoots nearly every day, I really appreciate all the hard work and preparation that they put forth to make the shoot run smoothly and allowing us to capture as many images as possible.  Just look at the attention to detail in the images.  This is what true high-end interior design is all about. Artistry in the home.

You've read about Lauren and her team here before, and below is why her firm is considered on of the most exclusive and sought after Interior Design firms in the Chicagoland area.  Enjoy.