THE ANGLER'S TABLE - EDITORIAL PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY, TŪRANGI
Some client relationships start with a single shoot. Others grow into something much more significant over time. My relationship with Liliana Calva and the team behind The Hare and Copper in Tūrangi is firmly the latter.
We've worked together across photography, fine art prints and branding over several years now. When Liliana and her partners began developing their new venture, The Angler's Table café, I was brought in to help shape the visual identity from the ground up, covering brand design, logo and the creative direction that would define how the new café presents itself to the world.
The Brief
With The Angler's Table preparing to open in Tūrangi, the timing aligned perfectly with an editorial commission for Kia Ora Magazine, Air New Zealand's inflight publication. The brief was to photograph the owners in a way that captured not just who they are, but the spirit and story behind what they're building. Editorial portrait photography at this level is about people first. The café, the food and the location all play a supporting role to the human story at the centre of it.
The Shoot
Working with the owners on location, I produced a series of editorial portraits that will appear in Kia Ora Magazine ahead of The Angler's Table opening. For a new hospitality business in Tūrangi, placement in an Air New Zealand publication is significant exposure, reaching hundreds of thousands of readers across domestic and international routes. The photography needed to earn that platform and reflect the quality and character of what The Angler's Table will offer its guests.
The Result
The editorial images are set to appear in an upcoming issue of Kia Ora Magazine, timed to coincide with the café's opening. For a business that hasn't yet opened its doors, it's a remarkable way to arrive. Introduced to a national audience through one of New Zealand's most widely read publications, with photography that sets the tone for everything to follow.
"We've worked with Richard for several years now, and he's become our go-to creative for both photography and branding. His fine art pieces have been a real feature on the walls of The Hare and Copper here in Tūrangi, and our guests comment on them all the time. Richard also helped us develop our branding and logo, and most recently the full brand design for our new café, The Angler's Table. He made the whole process easy, and really understood what we were trying to create. We're looking forward to showcasing more of Richard's fine art photography in the new space when we open. He's professional, talented, and genuinely great to work with. Highly recommend."
Liliana Calva, The Hare and Copper, Tūrangi
If you're a hospitality business, café or restaurant in the Taupō region or Central North Island looking for photography or branding that sets the right tone from day one, get in touch to discuss your project.
