So the Monday after Salad Bowl still in a daze from the late nights (getting home after 1 am two nights in a row) and all the work that went into it… I get an email through via my website.
Hi. My name is Scott and I am a Seattle-based food photographer. I am working on a shoot for Starbucks that requires 4-6 custom coffee mugs (without handles) - produced and delivered by August 26. Please let me know if you are interested and available and I can send further details.
It was August 18th – so the 26th was 8 days away. They came to the studio the next day and so I had 7 days from briefing to delivery. If you don't know clay, this is a very fast turn around - but achievable because lots of things aligned to make this happen in the way that it did:
- they specifically wanted a cup with no handle
my cups don’t have handles! (I've never seen a handle I've like enough to make it mine)
- they wanted it glazed on the inside, and not on the outside
that’s how I glaze my cups, so lots of experience working that way
- they wanted the cups in a slate grey / black
I had started running tests (as you've seen earlier) with the black / grey
- they wanted it white on the inside
yup, that’s how I do my work too
- Lastly, they wanted a satin finish glaze on the inside so it would behave under the photographer’s lights.
which I'd originally thought I'd be doing for all my work - so had that in stock and tested too.
The cherry on top was that the campaign was for a Flat White - & that’s my coffee!! Its how I drank my coffee in Melbourne – and I still try and order the same thing here which is always an effort “a 12oz latte with 2/3rds the normal amount of milk and no foam, please.” This is Seattle, and being specific about your coffee is okay - but even this is taking it a bit too far. I’m thrilled that its going to become a part of American’s vernacular!
The campaign launches today in the US and Canada from what I understand – in every Starbucks. You know that just 13,000 (ish) stores with a picture of my cup in it! I'm don't think I believe in that "15 minutes of fame " thing - but if this is my 15 minutes, I'm thrilled. Thank you universe.
Lastly, I don't think writing about this is complete - without say working with Scott had been a pleasure. He’s been a dream client. He gave me a very specific briefing, was interested in my process so that he could understand what the parameters are that we were working within… and was a champion of my work. He's also a really genuine guy. I couldn't have asked for more.
Oh and final cherry on top of the cherry?! I was paid 4 days after submitting the invoice, and the check was cut on my birthday. I have to say, this project was probably the best birthday present.
