Client Spotlight : Julia Deckman Studios

Julia Deckman, owner of Julia Deckman Studios, has fostered a creative haven out on James Island. She carries over 20 local vendors from candlemakers to jewelers to painters. Each month she hosts pop-up galleries featuring different artists, and also offers creative workshops hosted by a variety of creative talent.

We met last August when she reached out to schedule her first shoot for JDS before she opened the doors. Since then, we’ve become dear friends and I’ve had the pleasure of capturing multiple events and watching the studio evolve into what it is today.

Even with just one year of being open, she has the remainder of 2021 booked in gallery shows, she’s officially opened her own bottle shop Stono, all while working on commissions and building her inventory of original artwork. Julia hopes this space will provide artists “an opportunity to experiment, lean into the ideas they find most exciting, curate these thoughts into a cohesive show, and ultimately translate them into a public exhibition.”

Being surrounded by this energy is so inspiring for so many, including me. Not only does it illustrate how much can happen with consistent action and a clear vision, but it also shows how much people are craving for this kind of community.

I’m excited to announce that as of this month, JDS will start carrying Kate Blohm Postcards and Stationary available for purchase. Available in four different collections, each set contains 5 postcards printed on high-quality matte paper with a soft finish as well as 14 different greeting cards.

Kate Blohm Prints at Julia Deckman Studio

I’m so grateful for the Charleston food and art community who have welcomed me in with open arms. I’m excited to see what this next year has on the horizon for JDS.

With love,

Kate

Client Spotlight: Rachael Nerney

Rachael Nerney is a Charleston-based artist working to spark joy through her whimsical artwork. When she landed her biggest piece to date (115 ft x 5 ft) she reached out for me to come and capture the full experience. It was so exciting being able to see the process of this massive endeavor which took her over two weeks to create. She had pursued through a lot, mentally and physically. Rachael’s work primarily focuses on food and botanicals but she really took a deep dive (pun intended) into this project to challenge her limits, and I’d call it a great success.

Rachael Nerney, Seascape mural for Town of Mount Pleasant

Rachael and I met over 10 years ago, day one of college at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She was an Illustration major while I, Photography. We both, coincidentally, ended up focusing our creative efforts around food and food purveyors. Needless to say, we love to eat together. It’s been an honor to watch her career unfold as she takes on new and bigger projects each year. In addition to her mural work, she has a line of greeting cards with Fluttr and is represented by Miller Gallery in Charleston, Art & Light in Greenville, SC and The Gallery at Sweetgrass on Isle of Palms.

“Kate was an absolute pleasure to work with! Her passion and engagement during the shoot was so energizing. I love the variety she created in the final edited images. She makes the process from start to finish a delight.”

— Rachael Nerney

Working with creatives is my favorite thing to capture. It’s inspiring, it’s energizing and it’s always a fun collaboration. If you are an artist in need of headshots, process shots or product shots, reach out to me and let’s work together.

<3

About me

Hi friends, I’m Kate Blohm (pronounced bloom), a Photographer and Videographer based in Charleston SC. I love eating good food, experiencing fun interiors, and hosting intimate dinner parties. I enjoy spending entire days at the beach with a lot of snacks and sparkling water, I live outside as much as possible, and I will devour anything raw (tartare, crudo, ceviche, etc.). For work, I shoot with chefs, farmers, artists, designers and educators. If you are a local business, or just a badass individual, looking to tell your story through high-quality imagery, send me an email and let's work together. As always, I happily offer discounts to non-profit organizations, and I'm always looking for new ways to support my local businesses.

In addition to my career as a freelance Photographer, I have also created an online store where you can buy luxury prints and postcards from my portfolio. This idea came about through my marketing work with PeachDish, a sustainable meal kit delivery service. You can read more about how it all came to fruition on my previous blog post, and you can shop the store here.

If you are looking to work together, I’m available for food photography, food styling, prop styling, thorough recipe testing, cookbook development, brand shoots, cooking tutorials and on location shoots. My mission is to help spread the word of people doing good work within my local community, and also support conscious business owners on a worldwide scale.

Thanks for reading,

Tips for being in front of the camera

Sometimes (often times) it can be uncomfortable to be in front of the camera, especially if you don’t do photoshoots often. I always hear comments such as “I don’t know what to wear”, “I don’t know what to do in front of the camera” or “I’m so awkward”. Luckily, I’ve put together a few things that I implement to help elevate any photo shoot.

Keep it clean

1. Wear solid colors that compliment your skin tone. Faint patterns work too. Keeping a minimum color palette not only keeps it from being too busy but it creates a sense of stylistic detail, and neutrals will never go out of style.

2. For more personality, add a fun lip or a bold earring.

3. There are always exceptions to everything, if you or your brand is the opposite of neutral, own it!

Eliminate any branding

1. I love getting details in people’s studios, kitchens or restaurants etc., however, I always stay away from getting any branding throughout (unless I’m shooting for a specific brand). This not only eliminates visual clutter, but it makes the space feel more yours and personal

Do what you would normally do

1. When I’m photographing someone, I always try to keep things as realistic as possible. Where would you actually sit? How would you normally cut that? People relate to real life. It’s then my job to help style the scene, shift an angle or straighten the posture to capture you as your most authentic self, in the best light

2. Laugh. I know it feels weird and uncomfortable at first but this loosens your face muscles and eventually you’ll actually laugh, resulting in a perfect “plandid”

I hope that you find this helpful in not only creating beautiful photographs, but also being more confident in front of the camera so you and your business can be captured in a true and genuine way.

Thanks for reading!

Intuition, a gallery show with Miller Gallery

Hi friends, it’s been awhile since I’ve written publicly. 2021 has been a whirlwind of new beginnings, I shot my first book cover to cover, moved to a new island and made a lot of beautiful new connections. In addition to new, there’s also been a lovely intertwining of old. For the past two years I’ve had the pleasure of building relationships with so many amazing artists through Miller Gallery, a women owned and operated gallery here in Charleston, SC. This month, I’m honored to be apart of their new show Intuition, hanging alongside 25 different artists, who all came together with completely different visions and the same assignment. Each artist received an 11 x 14 wooden panel and a tarot card to use as inspiration for each piece. I’ve been practicing tarot for the past year or so. For those who are unfamiliar, it’s a deck of cards whose sole purpose is to reveal things that you already know. They’re beautiful prompts that can bring clarity, perspective or realizations, from within. If you know me, you know I love to lean into the magic of life. For this project I received the Judgement card, and it’s a lot more positive than one may realize.

“Judgment: awakening, decision-making, reincarnation, renewal, self-evaluation, purpose, reflection, reckoning. It is through self reflection that you have a period of awakening. A new calling and understanding of small actions to result in who you want to be.”

- Tarot: Connect with yourself, develop your intuition, live mindfully

When I heard that this was my card it seems like a necessary decision to create a self portrait. Immediately I had this vision of me in my mind’s eye, from behind, a braid in my hair, and a bouquet of flowers above my shoulder. A symbol of homecoming to myself, with interwoven parts of my past and my future. The past year, and even what has occurred in 2021 alone has been an unveiling of new beginnings. This time in my life, and for many others, is a pivot point for so many things. From a literal sense, my process with this piece was a new beginning as well. Printed on watercolor paper, incorporating paints and metallics and finished with a sexy resin pour. The faint blue represents the ocean and my view for life’s next adventure (iykyk), the braid represents and interwoven beauty of past and present and the flowers are a symbol of homecoming to myself. You can shop this super cool exhibit here.

“Exciting artwork.”

“Something different.”

“Not super-Charleston.”

All quotes from people that have walked into the gallery over the past week. Sometimes it hard to explain contemporary artwork because there truly are so many different styles of artwork being made these days. Throwing out the descriptions this week and soaking in the “whoa, this place is cool”... because good vibes are our M.O.

- Miller Gallery

Until next time, stay well and follow your intuition.

Shop small this holiday season

How you spend your money is another way to vote for what’s important to you. When you shop small you support individuals and 67 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stay within the local community. I’ve had the pleasure of working with a lot of these businesses below and I’m honored to know them and support them however I can. The quality of these products are insane and I hope it inspires you for some of your gift giving this holiday season.

Here is a round-up of some of my favorite small businesses.

Miller Gallery, 2019

1. Miller Gallery - a badass, woman-owned art gallery based in Charleston, SC. They ship nationwide and here is a few of my favorite artists that they represent.

   1. Rachael Nerney - Rachael is one of my ride or dies from SCAD. I’ve had the honor of collaborating with her a lot this year. In addition to her paintings, she just released a special collection for her holiday ornaments. You can shop those this Friday on Miller Gallery’s website.

   2. Teresa Roche - Teresa Roche, this woman and I have been pen pals for the past year or so. Her work captures so much joy and I absolutely love having her pieces in my room. In addition to her paintings, she creates really cool wallpapers and fabric printing.

   3. Julia Deckman - Julia and I met this year since my move to Charleston. We hit it off via email and she has welcomed me with open arms. I had the privilege of working with her to capture her new studio and promote the opening of Julia Deckman Studio

2. Bad Luck Burden - my girl Malorie Burden has started creating these fun, statement earrings to add flair to any outfit. Shop the link for your one of a kind pair.

3. Small Bites Adventure Club - I’ve been working with SBAC since the beginning in 2018. This holiday season you can order six months of kits feature gardening and cooking skills, and introduce children to the farmers that grow their food. Get one or get 6! Buy one or give one to a child in need!

4. Kate Blohm Prints - This year I launched my online print shop featuring high-quality prints or postcards to send or frame. I'm very excited to share my work in tangible form. This holiday season I am offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $40.

Aperol Spritz 8 x 10

All small businesses appreciate your love and support this holiday season!

Happy Holidays my friends!

The La Fortezza Collection / Kate Blohm Prints

The La Fortezza Collection is HERE! If you haven’t heard, I have opened my online print shop this year! Every two months I am releasing different bodies of work to my store, with interior styling in mind. Where escapism meets function. This collection features postcards and high-quality prints of various sizing. 

The first time I visited La Fortezza was in 2018, I was a student. I was awarded the Les Dames d'Escoffier Continuing Education Grant and I chose to attend the Slow Food Styling Workshop with Angie Mosier and Chef Rebecca Wilcomb. Throughout the week we visited a local cheese shop, a specialty baker, a truffle hunter, an olive oil producer and a digestiv factory. Authentic food and immersive experiences are the focus of this story. 

Shooting in Europe was something I knew I wanted to do, especially involving food and small food producers. The story for La Fortezza continued after Annette hired me back in Atlanta for a magazine article. Throughout my first visit to La Fortezza I wanted to capture everything in stills, and in motion. Utilizing this footage I put together a small film for Annette, to share my perspective of the amazing experience that I had. I showed her this after our shoot wrapped and she hired me on the spot. Annette followed up the next day and sent me to dates to come the next year as the On-Staff Photographer. 

Annette Joseph has really created something special with her Italian fortress, La Fortezza. My favorite moments are in the details and Annette has a fine tuned eye. She pays close attention to every element, which makes it a lot of fun for me to capture. She’s a fellow Virgo.

La Fortezza is my favorite subject to photograph and I’ve had the pleasure of photographing it twice. Every moment is a photographic moment. Fresh bouquets being clipped and arranged, freshly picked tomatoes being prepped for sauce and the sun setting with every shade of lavender. I’m excited to see these in print and in spaces. 

An interview with Baked in Code

Social media is a great tool, if you let it be. I met Melanie from Baked in Code on a Facebook group for female professionals in Charleston. She works with restaurants to develop their websites and supports local creatives by featuring them on her monthly blog. We had a good conversation below regarding the intersections of food, art and yes, websites.

What does a chef, a web designer, and a food photographer have in common? We are all creatives which to me is just a modern way of saying, craftsmen.

Regardless of the lingo as creatives, we all understand what it is to have a mindset of “in progress”. You have this mentality if you find yourself endlessly studying new trends, improvising, and experimenting within our area of expertise. However, it all stems from the fact that we are passionate about what we do which is why it is important to collaborate with other artists.

Take for instance food photographer Kate Blohm! She sees the beauty of nature and culture in every dish and aims to bring both of those aspects to the forefront with her photography. Only a true artist can appreciate that! To learn more about Kate Blohm read below for our interview where we discuss her approach to food photography…from a creative’s point of view. Bon a petit!

Q: Do you mostly do food shoots on location or within a studio?

A: I shoot mostly on location. I work a lot with chefs, farmers, and food brands. I want my work to tell stories so being able to capture the details of a workspace/restaurant allows for more unique storytelling.

Q: What is your biggest food styling tip?

A: The most beautiful things are the most raw…similar to life. Radishes with their tops, fresh herbs as a garnish, halved rainbow carrots tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper. The more you can keep the integrity of the ingredients, the more photogenic it will be. It’s also important to think about what you plate it on. White plates are timeless and easily allow for the food to be the star so I always have those on hand. When it comes to actually shooting the food, my #1 tip is to turn off your flash and bump up your brightness when editing. You can learn more tips for elevating your cell phone photography by entering your email on my website (www.kateblohm.com)

Stop Think Chew, Kate Blohm

Q: I noticed that like me you have a case of wanderlust meaning you like to travel. To me, travel and food go hand in hand because food is part of any authentic traveling experience. With that in mind, how do you think traveling affects your photography particularly when the subject is food?

A: I love to travel so much. My itinerary is based around my meals, snacks, and aperitivo. I love seeing how other people eat, set a table, plate a dish, the etiquette, etc. It definitely impacts the way that I style, shoot, and live when I get home. Experiencing other cultures is the most educational thing you can do for yourself, especially as a creative. There’s so many people doing things better than you. Such as mezze platters, aperitivo, and taking 3-hour lunches. Ever since my trip to Greece, I love to shoot (and indulge) tablescapes full of small plates with different flavors, textures, and colors.

Milan, Italy

Q: What are your pet peeves about restaurant websites or their online presence in general?

A: A lot of restaurants do not prioritize their online presence. I love being able to visit websites to see their menu and specials as opposed to always being redirected to the Yelp app.

Q: Please provide the top three reasons why professional photography is the best option for restaurant websites?

A:

1. Perception is reality. If the first touchpoint is someone visiting their website, the quality of photos will impact the way that restaurant is perceived, whether or not the food is delicious.

2. It’s a creative collaboration. Chefs are artists and their work should be captured in a professional way.

3. People eat with their eyes. It’s been proven that menu items with accompanying images increase sales.

Q: What other food industry influencers do you follow online?

A: I follow so many, but I’d have to say my oldest and most cherished food influencer is The Cook’s Atelier. They create culinary magic in France and capture it all so beautifully. They have really impacted my career choices and creative style since 2014. Other ones that I love for inspiration and recipes are Eyeswoon, Mimi Thorisson, Pick Up Limes, and Downshiftology. Some are more for meal prep, some are more for living and eating beautifully.

Thanks, Kate for your time! I love the fact that simplicity is your biggest styling tip when it comes to food photography. This is a tried and true strategy in regards to web design as well which is interesting!

To see more of Kate’s work you can check out her website, follow her on IG, or visit her online store Kate Blohm Prints. Also, be on the lookout for Kate’s Italy collection featuring her work from the La Fortezza Workshops which will launch November 10th on Kate Blohm Prints. And finally for those that find themselves in the Charleston area you can view Kate’s photography in person at the Miller Gallery in an exhibit she collaborated on called Scapes (or shop the exhibit online).

Keep calm and bake on,

I hope you are staying well, and you voted.

Thank you for reading.

<3

Making moves, dinner and friends

Moving is a unique experience. Moving during a pandemic is an exceptionally unique experience. However, I like to think that it’s to my advantage, it forces me to be creative in meeting people. This past weekend my little brother came to visit so he could see my show, Scapes, at Miller Gallery. Just moving to Charleston, I’m still absorbing all the ways to indulge visitors in a local experience. Savannah and Atlanta, I have it down, no problem, but in Charleston, I still have a lot to learn. So what better way to enjoy being by the water than eating seafood that is caught right off the shore? Enter Miss Paula Shrimp, a family operated shrimp boat out on Shem’s Creek. A friend of mine who used to work at FIG (one of the many restaurants Miss Paula sells to) shared this little gem of a business. When you go, you feel like you’re going the wrong way because you drive through beautiful residential streets with southern victorian architecture and huge overhanging oaks but then, it opens up to the water and Tarvin Seafood. It felt like it’s own community in this little nook off the road. I was greeted by Triggerfish, a chocolate lab with a tennis ball and a curious nose. The crew was unsure of me at first, a rando with a camera but slowly, each person started sharing stories, information about the dock and even told me about an incoming catch from Miss Paula herself, she being a boat. I moved down to the dock where I was followed by the dogs and I got to see this shrimping culture unfold.

The dogs out there are the ones really living the good life though. Fresh shrimp, water and tennis balls on the daily. I was told the next time I come, I’ll have to grab a glove and get to work on the line. I will indeed be back.

When people visit me, it’s my favorite excuse to explore, and deep clean my house. So, for night one of brother’s visit, we bought two pounds of Miss Paula’s shrimp for a Low Country Boil. LoCo is in the same category as fondue for me - easy, minimal work with impressive, lasting experiences.

For this recipe you need a large pot, (ideally an outdoor cooker to prevent a shrimp scented kitchen but a large 12 qt stockpot on the stove will work too), lemons, seasoning of your choice (we used Old Bay and Zatarain’s), corn, sausage and potatoes. Oh, and definitely napkins.

Serves 4

4 qt water

3 lemons, quartered, divided

2 bay leaves

1/4 c Old Bay

1/4 c Zattarain’s

1/4 c salt

1 tbsp peppercorns

Roasted red pepper flakes

2 lbs shrimp, head off

1 lb smoked sausage

4 ears of corn, halved

2 yellow onions, quartered

Clarified butter, for dipping

Add water, lemons (reserving a few slices for garnish), bay leaves, salt, peppercorns, roasted red pepper flakes, Old Bay and Zattarain’s to the pot. Increase the heat to high and bring to a rolling boil. Add potatoes and cook for 7 minutes. Add the sausage and onions and cook for 5 minutes longer. Add the corn and cook until potatoes are done, about 5 minutes. Lastly, reduce heat to medium, add the shrimp and stir until the shrimp are pink, about 3 minutes more. Carefully remove everything to a newspaper covered table or in our case, large sheet pans for an even easier clean up.

To make clarified butter, it’s just the act of removing the milk solids from the butter. These milk solids naturally rise to the surface when you melt the butter down. Using a spoon, lightly skim across the top to remove the white foam and boom, you have clarified butter.

Serve with the butter and ketchup (for the potatoes). Sprinkle with a little Old Bay for good measure, a squeeze of lemon and get to work.

If you’re based in Charleston or are even just here for a visit, I encourage you to wander down beautiful Live Oak Drive. Text your order ahead and they’ll have it ready when you get there. Support a small business, eat sustainable seafood and impress your guests with minimal effort. It feels like I’m the one on vacation.    

KB Postcard Launch →

I'm very excited to launch this new product line featuring some of my favorite recent work. I hope that through this work I can help keep the art of hand-written letters alive. There are a lot of collaborations in the pipeline so stay tuned!

4 ideas for a perfect birthday in quarantine

A small gathering at home

My friends really killed it this year, surprising me with some of my favorite things. My friend dropped bogus hints all day such as “How comfortable are you with a fishing pole?” or “You’re going to need a hat.” We ended up eating charcuterie, drinking Aperol Spritz, crushing a platter of raw fish and listening to records. It was simple and beautiful.

Dinner from one of my favorite places in Charleston, Sushi-Wa Izakaya. Their sushi features local fish such as snapper and shrimp, amongst many others

Mary-Chelsea and the goods

Camping

Over the last decade, Mom and Dad have become quite the glampers. Don’t be deceived by the tiny house living. The resources are still there for “Over easy or scrambled?”, “Rummy or Bocci?”. You know, the necessities.

Brother, you sleep on the cot

My parents. Dad always cooks the breakfast, Mom brings the flowers from home. Their goodness just radiates.

Ordering a few bottles of wine at a local vineyard

I love to visit North Carolina, it’s where I grew up and all of my family is still there. This year we went to Veronét Vineyards & Winery in Kings Mountain, NC. Their Sauvignon Blanc was the crowd favorite but I personally loved the Cab. Most wineries have lots of outdoor seating, making it a really enjoyable afternoon out.

Going to the drive-in or a projector movie outside

Drive-in movies have been one of my favorite things to do ever since I was young. There’s something so nostalgic about it for me. Our set-up was the camping edition…it was just as lovely.

These are fun ideas for any day of the year, but especially during this time.

Thank you to everyone who made my birthday so special. I love you guys so much!

Scapes: Exploring togetherness by way of the tablescape

“Check out work from South Carolina artists Rachael Nerney and Kiah Bellows at this new exhibition from Miller Gallery, Scapes. The show opens on Oct. 2 with a reception from 5-7 p.m. 

Nerney's gouache paintings often celebrate food and Bellows' palette is inspired by the colorful landscapes she encounters. The artists brought in a fresh perspective with photographer Kate Blohm; the artists' used Blohm's photos as a leaping off point for new work.“

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When Rachael came to me with this unique idea, I was extremely excited to help bring inspiration to two incredible artists. I always love collaborating with fellow creatives, especially who are friends. Being inside the mind of another creative’s decision process is so fascinating to me. Some seek shape, some enjoy the undertones of fabric, some see clearly, and some explore. This was an exploration in the most natural sense, with an idea, a color palette and prop budget in mind. Seeing mood boards before a project really helps me curate my vision in order to execute their’s. For Scapes, the first decision was color, then shape and pattern. We wanted to create a table scape that not only felt indulgent, but also realistic and approachable. We wanted to have a color story that you can’t really place within a time period. This leaves room for the viewer to place it however feels coziest to them. Within these photos, I wanted to capture a feeling - that joy that comes from simple experiences, like brunch under the palms. That’s the one thing I miss the most this year (besides hugs) is sharing meals with people. I love the community that it envelops, I love the relationships that build through table talk, I love the pleasure of eating other people’s food, and I also love sharing mine with them. I hope that through this work, you experience a place that only closeness can facilitate, even if it’s just for a moment. Visit www.millergallerychs.com to learn more.

Kate Blohm

Rachael Nerney

Kiah Bellows

These color palettes and unique interpretations from each artist is incredible. I’m so proud for my work to hang alongside these incredible women. If you love their work as much as I do, make sure to follow them @rachaelnerney @kiahbellowsart @millergallerychs

Have a great week!

Staging your home to sell or enjoy

Here are my favorite ways to create a space that is more inviting and create joy

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1. The power of paint. Paint can be a game changer for a room. Not only is it the base for your decor, it can evoke many emotions. Once you genuinely love your living space, you’ll never want to go back. When I style a room, I take into account what colors you enjoy living in. Another way to look at this is - what colors do you love to wear? I get dressed the same way that I style pillows. It’s unique, but this slight variation of thought can encourage you to make choices that are authentic to you and your taste. 

2. Curtains. Hanging curtains all the way to the ceiling not only tricks the eye to make a space seem larger, but if you extend the rod about a foot out on either side of the window frame, you elongate the window and allow in more light.

3. Lamps. Overhead lighting is a real drag. Investing in floor lamps, table lamps, rock lamps (whatever fits your mood) creates an ambiance that is not only inviting to live in but sets a more styled tone to a room.

4. Velvet hangers. This one is a real game changer for closet organization. Not only are they anti-slip, thin and sleek, they are an inexpensive detail that can make any cluttered closet feel more put together. 

5. Style from the doorway. This may be my most important tip when I take on a space. Not only is this the most viewed angle of your room but it carries the feng shui throughout the space. Creating the focal point from the door, whether that be your gallery wall or bed, allows for guests, homebuyers and yourself to see the room as a composed piece every time you look in.

The Aperol Spritz

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The Aperol Spritz, a classic Italian summer cocktail. If I’m being honest, the first Aperol Spritz I experienced was not my favorite thing in the world. However, after being made in proper proportions and enjoyed amongst the mountains of Italy, my fondness for this drink grew immensely. Each year I have the pleasure of going to Italy to photograph at La Fortezza, a 12th century Tuscan fortress. There, Annette Joseph hosts guests from all over the world to indulge in creative workshops, local food and yes - Aperol Spritz.

The proportions are as easy as 3-2-1, literally.

3 parts Prosecco

2 parts Aperol

1 part soda water

1 orange slice

Mix the ingredients in a glass and add ice. Serve with an orange slice, I prefer mine squeezed and submerged.

Cin cin!

Aperol Spritz on the terrace of La Fortezza, Italy