Archives for May 2008

Cooking With Rockstars

May 27, 2008 by Matt 12 Comments

Combining two of her passions — music and cooking — my friend Jen's site called Cooking With Rockstars is
such an entertaining place featuring folks like Jack Black and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie talking about recipes and cooking. And as much as I love Jack Black I don't think I can get behind his Dorrito Burritos but then again I haven't tried them so I shouldn't say a peep. Check it out, and while you're at it check out this portrait I did of Jennifer at the new studio. It's a promo shot and throughout the day I couldn't stop obsessing over that dress. Sigh. She's just so wonderful.

She tells me she has someone really big coming up on her website. As in HUGE rock royalty and I can't wait to read all about it.

Check out Cooking With Rockstars.

When Life Gives You Cherries

May 24, 2008 by Matt 22 Comments

Knock knock, remember me? I used to blog quite regularly. Ok, seriously I'll be back to it soon enough, I've just been keeping busy with work and some amazing gigs as well as trying to organize my studio. It's coming together quite nicely and the light is super fantastic. Thank you for all the well wishes and yes, when the dust settles I will have a small party. Consider yourself invited. But I must admit tt's strange to go from working in a small space to having more than enough room to move around in, and I find myself working in only a fraction of the space solely out of habit. I must remind myself that I can spread out, no need to cram.

Speaking of cramming, today was the first full day of shooting at the new studio. It was a big cherry shoot for a magazine article that won't run until next summer, but when it comes time to hand over files to the printer in April of next year cherries will be almost nonexistent. So we work ahead. And because I'm not only the client and art director but the photographer I am able to share a few of them with you now.

A yummy pork tenderloin with cherry salsa and a big happy bowl of cherries. If you haven't guessed by now I'm in love with the amount and quality of light my studio gets during the day and makes for happy shooting. Big overhead skylights act as a fill and all the extra space lets me put on the ipod and dance around like a total idiot. Not like I've ever done that. Twice.

This was a smoked turkey, feta and cherry salad that was absolutely delicious. Next to it is another cherry beauty shot that was styled with some antique towels my partner Adam has been collecting on his regular trips to the midwest. I freaking love these towels and they pair so well with cherries. I mean, "churries", as we've been calling them all day a la Chingy. Right thurr.

Sweet, chilly cherry lemonade and another beauty shot with an antique colander from the midwest. Had we bought that here in Los Angeles it would have been $2,980.12 I have no doubt. And as far as the glasses, I've slowly been building up my prop closet with unique tableware and antique glasses. It pays to be married to an obsessive shopper. I love you, Adam!

Will these last two shots make it into the story? Probably not but that's ok. I had to use this amazing handmade thin ceramic plate at least once and I liked the color contrast with the napkin that I dyed since I couldn't find the right purple.

Tomorrow is day #2 of the shoot and truly when we get to all the good stuff — pies, clafouti, ice cream, cherry sweets — I really can't wait.

What are your favorite cherry recipes? I'm all ears and since I have 25 lbs of cherries leftover…

Dear Margaret

May 9, 2008 by Matt 32 Comments

This is my friend Meg. We’ve known each other forever and we go wayyyyy back. I mean, like, prehistoric times. She’s the only person I know who caused me to get in so much trouble for cutting up in an office which led to a big cubicle panel being installed between us. I love that. And I love the fact that I was with her as she peed on little sticks numerous times as she double and triple checked the results of her pregnancy test. I love her because she makes yummy vegan dinners when we visit and we sit outside and eat. And I love her because she knows me better than anyone else and is so pleasantly crabby it ain’t funny. Or is that crabbily pleasant? I also love her because her husband is super super super famous and amazing and sweet.

I love her so much that I’m willing to forgive the voicemail that was left for me today. It went like this:

"Hey Mo, it’s me. Where the hell are you? YOU ARE SO COMPLETELY BORING AND YOUR BLOG IS DEAD. DEAD AND BORING AND OLLLLLLLLD. Tired and old. OLD and tired. Gaw. You must post again. Toodles!"

Ok, so I made up the "toodles" part because if you know Meg you know she’s never really all that pleasant. Or at least not to me she ain’t. Look at that picture again and try to argue. And that’s exactly why I love her.

And the truth is yes, I’ve been painfully absent from this blog lately. I don’t mean to be, it’s just that I’ve been busy with the day job, shooting amazing food for people like Mark Peel and these lovely ladies, as well as lining up some really interesting gigs.

Oh, and yea, there’s this:

Ladies and gentlemen, this is my new studio.

MY. NEW. STUDIO.

As in a real, naturally lit space in downtown Long Beach. If you think I’m not giddy and giggling like a child then you’re wrong because I cannot wipe this permasmirk off my face. And why would I? I’m super excited to be shooting in such an amazing space now and not in my garage or some random space. Not that I don’t love my garage and all. It’s just, well, you can see why I love it.

So Meg, I hope I’m off the hook for not posting lately and I promise that once I get settled I’ll be back to sharing way too much information about myself and your pregnancy tests.

Forgiven? I thought so. I love you!