Photographer Udo Spreitzenbarth Improves The Bretz Collection With A Great Catalog.

Bretz is a German furniture and rug company whose products are not really my personal taste. Lots of glam, modern whimsy with ornate velvets, Swarovski crystals and funky silhouettes. Very Miami Flash meets Hollywood Glam with some Guido thrown in. I would even go so far as to say I actually dislike several of their products.

So, why am I blogging about them? Because they are an example of a company who have effectively improved their brand with a catalog that actually heightens the appeal of their products and designs. Does this mean they'll sell more pieces? Not necessarily, but anyone on the fence would be positively persuaded by this representation.

By hiring photographer Udo Spreitzenbarth along with talented hair, make-up and clothing stylists (all credits are listed at the end of this post), and using one model posed dynamically and uniquely on their products, the images transform the sofas and the chairs into sets worth looking at.



Just shows you what a well produced catalog can do for products.
Take a look at more.



























Credits:
Photography Udo Spreitzenbarth (NYC)
Producer Matt Lehitka (NYC)
Model Melissa Kurland (NYC)
Hair & Make Up Alexander Becker (Berlin)
Stylist Ty-Ron Mayes (NYC)
Photography Assistants Mario Steidlinger (Berlin)
Robert Spreitzenbarth (Oakland)
Production Assistant Charlotte Feigelbinder (Berlin)
Production | Management SEVEN | SVGN
www.svgn.eu
Copyright SEVEN | SVGN | Udo Spreitzenbarth


Contact
Bretz Wohnträume GmbH
Alexander-Bretz-Str.2
D-55457 Gensingen
Phone: +49 (0) 6727 / 89 50
Fax: +49 (0) 6727 / 10 30
website

Shanghai Tang Holiday Catalog's Balloon Art Will Leave You Breathless

... and that's without your having to blow up the thousands of balloons used in the catalog.




Every year retail companies scramble together around mid-june to start concepting and designing catalogs for the holiday season. It's hard to keep them fresh, original and memorable. But Shanghai Tang, the chinese lifetyle brand, has done it yet again.

Teaming up with Chandelier Creative, the cutting edge design firm (who has produced other fabulous holiday catalogs for them in the past) they've produce a 2009 holiday catalogue inspired by the whimsical world of balloon art. It's amazing what they've done in terms of styling stunning backgrounds and unusual product shots, photographed by talented product photographer Kanji Ishii, with simple colored balloons.

These are not all the images from the actual catalog, nor are they in order, but these are my favorites and I think you'll find them inspiring:
















In addition to a beautiful catalog, Shanghai Tang's gifts are equally as fabulous, shop for them here.

To see other impressive balloon art and design, check these out:

A Photographer Who Is Full Of Hot Air: Paul Graves' Balloon Sculpture Series
Paul Graves' Newest Work - Balloon Expletives & More

Bela Borsodi Breathes Life Into Product Photography

Vienna born, New York based photographer Bela Borsodi has a unique approach to product photography. By incorporating three dimensional sculptural environments and unique materials, he builds mini sets that personify the products and turn what would be simple table top images into living breathing pieces of art.




He has used everything from bent wire, cut paper, shadows, balloons, silhouettes, collage, suspension and more as homes for the products, turning such static items as diamonds and shoes into sculpture. In some instances, the inanimate objects become 'people', in others, the editorials are reminiscent of artful narratives. Some executions mix photography of models with animation, adding whimsy to what might otherwise be a typical fashion shot.



He has such a large body of work, I wish I could share it all, but instead, I'll show you some of my favorites from the past few years. Several blogs have featured the image that is on the home page of his site, but frankly, that's nothing compared to much of his other work. In addition to his editorial work for magazines like Tatler, Wallpaper, V Magazine, and Elle, he has created advertising for such well known clients as Nike, Sportsac, Selfridges and Hermes.














Coincidentally, he collaborated with another photographer whose work I previously featured, Paul Graves, for several editorials in 2004 and 2005 - as in the "Inflated Egos" shown below.




He has some fabulous, but very sexually suggestive work, he's created for Swedish and Danish publications (no surprise there, huh?). I will share with you some of the tamer executions (like the wonderful foot fetish editorial), but for the more risque ones, those you must go see on your own. be aware that the following images are NSFW.







"I try to treat each of my projects equally and to make them interesting for myself. I always try to do something that can translate the joy and the intrigue that I experience when I am working on it. With commercial projects there is more responsibility involved with all the logistics and demands to deal with –but I believe in making images that inspire and tell stories, that touch and intrigue peoples’ minds and hearts. A fascinating image will always stand out and will be recognized –whether it is found in a commercial context or in a freer art context. I have the luck to work with interesting clients who trust me and understand what I am up to." -- Bela Borsodi

Bela Borsodi
bela@belaborsodi.com

Agent USA : Art-Department
Contact: Patrick O’Leary
tel (212) 925 4222
Agent FRANCE : Mily Kadz
Contact: Mily Kadz
tel +33 (0)1 58 05 19 19
mobile +33 (0)6 84 83 67 55
Agent SWITZERLAND : BMR-Fotografen
Contact : Beatrice Mächler
tel +41-44-709 20 11