"After the Hunt": Featuring Kevin's Fine Outdoor Gear & Apparel and 1861 Distillery

Let’s talk about the power of collaboration…

When you find a brand that really aligns with your own, consider working together on a styled shoot! This will not only introduce a fun prop/element into your shoot, but you will also be able to split the cost, AND introduce your brand to a whole new audience.

I recently had the honor and pleasure of shooting for Kevin’s Fine Outdoor Gear & Apparel and 1861 Distillery in Thomasville, GA. Kevin’s is a southern family and an American success story, with 40 years’ experience serving outdoor sporting enthusiast from around the world. Garden & Gun said it best, “Imagine turning a quail plantation into a store, and you’d have Kevin’s”. Their designs are unique to Kevin’s and their gun room is as impressive as it gets. Google it!

And then there’s 1861 Distillery, founded by Brian and Jill Higgins. I’ve listened to Brian give his speech about what makes his spirits so special (and high quality), but what stood out to me was the distinct nature of the water he uses.

"A lot of people don't realize that Tallahassee and Thomasville sit on top of the North Floridan aquifer, which is some of the purest water in the world. The well at my house in Thomasville is tapped into that aquifer, and I've sent it off for testing and it comes back as pristine — almost the perfect water for distilling," Higgins said. "It's very low iron, it's got calcium, it's got all the trace minerals, the hardness, the pH ... everything is spot on. I think I could make the argument that our water down here in Thomasville is actually better for distilling than in Kentucky or Tennessee."- Brian Higgins

1861’s commitment to a slow distilling process and true ingredients produce some of the most magnificent Gins, Bourbons, and Vodkas around. So when Jill Higgins (1861 Distillery) and Kathleen Kelly (Kevin’s) met with me via Zoom to discuss ideas for a shoot in Thomasville, I couldn’t have been more thrilled to make the road trip down from Atlanta.

The Art of Storytelling

Whether it’s a brunch menu for a restaurant, or an entire collection of sporting apparel, I aim to tell a story with the images. I do not offer “shot on white background” catalog images. You know those (much necessary) images you see when you click to purchase an item online? Nope, not me. I would be the one shooting the photos that you see in press releases, print stories, Instagram, and anywhere that the brand is sharing content meant to evoke a feeling, and entice the viewer to want to be a part of the narrative.

Our theme here was “After the Hunt”. The idea was that this group had been out quail hunting on a plantation in South Georgia, and upon their return, celebrated their time together, as us southerners do, with a cocktail party. The set up was styled with linens, dishes, serveware, and glassware from Kevin’s. The clothing was all from Kevin's and the vintage wagon you see in the background in also part of Kevin’s personal collection - an authentic quail hunting wagon used during hunts from the 1800s until now. The beverage of choice - of course 1861 distillery’s distinctive dark-in-color variety of fine Gins.

The Planning Process

Planning out your shoots in truly half the battle. I use the Milanote to create moodboards with inspiration photos, location details, notes on timing for sunrise and sunset, a scheduled out shot-list, examples of editing style, and a color palette that I refer back to when editing. Here’s a screenshot of the larger moodboard I created for this shoot:

Milanote makes it easy to share the board with clients so that they can approve, or comment on the direction. Once the board is complete, we plan the props lists and got to work. I brought down a cooler full of fresh flowers, the appropriate camera equipment, my tall rain boots (it’s not often that I spend a day in a field shooting), and a can of smoke (seriously, look at the first pic below, I was hoping it would give me that morning fog look, although sometimes it gives more “field might be on fire” vibes 😳).

Overall, I was very pleased with the outcome. Kathleen and their whole team were extremely helpful and brought a HUGE truck filled with every type of prop we could need. Jill (1861) bought the spirits, ice, and even assisted me throughout the day by holding a diffuser to block the sun. That’s what you get when the client is also a friend. Special shout out to Mr. Charlie Whitney, a fine art painter and business owner in Thomasville, GA who graciously allowed us to use his vintage Land Rover as a prop, and served as one of our models. His only payment was fine Bourbon and cigars.

Next time you visit Thomasville, GA (or perhaps even Tallahassee, make a detour to visit Thomasville), make sure to check out Kevin’s and then stop in to 1861 for lunch and craft cocktails. If you’re interested in discussing ideas for a styled shoot for your brand, publication, or venue, shoot me an email at monica@monicafarber.com

Greece

Santorini

I can check this one off the bucket list...  Exceeding all dreamy, picture perfect expectations, Santorini's beauty is simply breathtaking.  Known for it's blue-domed churches, whitewashed buildings, and steep and winding stairs that ascend from the Aegean Sea, it is exactly how you imagine it to be, and more.  Bright pink blooms pop against what seems to be a blue and white mirage.

We stayed at On the Rocks boutique hotel in Imerovigli.  Our "cave" was built into the side of the mountain.  This was the most unique hotel I had ever stayed.  The staff were equally as lovely.  Each morning, we were awakened by a knock at the door and breakfast delivered on our private patio, overlooking the sea.  Fresh coffee, greek yogurt with honey and nuts, omelets (with feta and olives), pastries and fresh fruit.

We made no reservations.  We visited during peak season and had no issue getting a table anywhere (with the exception of Amoundi Bay at sunset, which we still were able to grab two chairs and order a bottle of wine just in time for sunset).  The food was fantastic everywhere we went and everything was extremely fresh.

Ios

Funny story... We visited Ios by complete mistake.  In attempt to travel from Santorini to Mykonos, we got off the boat at the wrong stop and found ourselves stranded on Ios.  Apparently this happens quite often, so beware.  With that being said, I consider it a blessing.  Ios is a gorgeous island!  We stayed the one night at Liostasi Hotel.  This charming hotel was not only beautiful, but their hospitality was out of this world.  Every staff member knew our names.  When I return to Ios, I will be staying here.  Much smaller than Santorini, Ios is a party island and had a much different feel.  You walk through the winding streets, literally through the middle of outdoor restaurants and pubs where bands of local seniors played their instruments and sang.  Young people gathered on the village steps to drink cocktails and dance... see a bar called Steps.  I wish that we had spent more time in Ios.  Next time I would love to spend time on the beaches.

Liostasi

Mykonos

Traditional Cycladic architecture, including the infamous windmills, beautiful beaches, and winding cobblestone streets lined with white washed building and more of the bright pink blooms.  Mykonos is a busier, more commercial version of Ios.  Pulsating nightlife, often in competition with Ibiza, attracts jet setters, celebrities, gay pride festival goers, and all kinds of people looking for an exotic adventure.  We stayed one night at Cavo Tagoo, visited the beaches of Little Venice, shopped amongst the beautiful churches scattered throughout the city, ate our way through the island, and danced all night in a cave to the beats of DJ Grandma Man.

Athens

We spent our first and last night in Athens.  There aren't any direct flights to the islands, so going through Athens is a requirement.  This gave us the opportunity to stay at the beautiful Hotel Grande Bretagne and explore the city.  We had gyros from street vendors more times than we could count and drank wine in Monastiraki Square, with the most beautiful view of Acropolis.  Fortunately, on our last day, we did have the opportunity to visit before sunset.  The cost is $20EU per person for just the Parthenon (extra for the museum, which we unfortunately did not have time for).  When I tell you it was hot, the heat put Georgia to shame!  But once we got up there, the view made it all worth it.  It's amazing that structures like this still exist today.

Do not, I repeat, do NOT wear heels in the Greek islands.  Not even to dinner.  Invest in some stylish flats and sandals.  Wear hats, because A) hats are fabulous and B) my scalp and face burned immediately.  Wear light flowy clothing. If you rent an ATV, be super careful (we saw a few nasty accidents).  Be prepared to walk a LOT.  Whatever you're doing at sunset, drop everything and take it in.  And do not be afraid to be adventurous. Go explore. There's more to see than you could ever imagine.

Bora Bora

I think it's safe to say that Bora Bora is on everyone's bucket list. Even if you aren't familiar with the actual island of Bora Bora, the allure of French Polynesia and a stay in the overwater bungalows is real. Bora Bora is a small South Pacific island northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia. It is a dreamy little island surrounded by sand-fringed motus (islets) and a turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef. The water is the perfect cyan blue, that dissolves into a deeper cerulean as you get closer the ocean depths. If you're looking for true relaxation on literally the most gorgeous spit of land on the planet, this is it.

Traveling from the US:

We had to fly Delta from ATL to LAX, and then Air Tahiti to Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. From there, we took a charter plane to Bora Bora. Bora Bora’s airport is located on a motu — a reef island — so to get to the mainland, you’ll need to jump on Air Tahiti’s free catamaran. It takes you directly to the dock in Vaitape, which is the main town on the island. Or, your hotel will send a boat to pick you up and bring you directly to your hotel's dock. Depending on where you are staying, Vaitape could be a 30 minute boat ride away. The hotels are not set up along a strip or next to one another. Once you are at a property, you cannot leave, except by boat. And if you choose to do so, it costs extra. All in all, from Atlanta to the door of our overwater bungalow, it took about 24 hours. Keep that in mind when you're planning how long your stay will be. We booked this entire trip through Costco Travel. Ask me about Costco, that’s a whole separate love story.

What to do:

Given the fact that you are on a tiny island, there really isn’t a whole lot to do but relax. People sunbathe, float by in kayaks, sip from coconuts, and dine on fresh raw ahi, roasted whole piglets, fresh fruits and veggies. We did take a boat out to a gorgeous reef one day to snorkel amongst the sea life and underwater foliage (see the video below for clips from the excursion). We also swam with black tipped sharks and giant stingrays. It was an amazing experience. So there are a number of water actives that you can partake in, but you will need to charter a boat and guides, which is available via your hotel concierge.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia