Rare Society In Mill Creek By Trust Restaurant Group | Restaurant Photography
The most OG client of mine, Trust Restaurant Group, has provided me with some of my most stunning projects to date, but their newest restaurant may take the cake (or the steak). Their beautiful new location of Rare Society in Mill Creek, WA, is a stunning representation of how a dining experience is elevated by the ambiance set around it.
GTC Design Studio collaborated with Trust Restaurant Group to create a swanky atmosphere with the use of rich colors, textures, and unique finishes. The goal of this shoot was to capture this really distinct vibe before, during, and after a dinner session.
It’s always a pleasure to work with both Trust Restaurant Group and GTC Design Studio on every project they create, so I’m thrilled to share the final result with you all today!
How I Planned This Restaurant Photography Shoot
This restaurant shoot was my longest to date because Trust Restaurant Group, GTC Design Studio, and myself all had lofty goals for what we wanted the photographs to look like. The intention was to showcase the restaurant during its various stages of a dinner session: before, during, and after.
This entire shoot lasted from 1:00pm until 2:00am, but I loved every single second of it! It required a lot of time due to the specific angles we set up that were necessary to capture the intricacies located at every turn throughout the restaurant.
My final pre-shoot planning element was making sure I had all the equipment necessary to create bright lighting, even in the middle of the night. I used a lot of my Godox lighting equipment and shuffled them around the space to guarantee everything looked perfect.
Pre-Service Shots Before The Hustle And Bustle
Pre-service shots were an excellent way to get to know the restaurant’s angles before dinner started, but also get the food and drink shots I’ve been anticipating while everything looked pristine.
I focused on getting a lot of both corner and straight-on shots, while utilizing a head-on approach to mimic what guests would experience as they first walk in. The colors looked so rich and vibrant during this time, I couldn’t stop taking photos!
Capturing The Lively Dinner Atmosphere
The dinner atmosphere was incredible! There was a hum of laughter echoing around that really brought the moody atmosphere up to the next level. It was exciting to capture the actual hustle and bustle of dinner, while still focusing on the design element.
I focused on trying to capture long-exposure shots that blurred the guests and staff while pulling the details of the restaurant to the front. At times it felt like I was in the way, but the end result was totally worth the dodging of the fast-paced service!
Showcasing The Post Dinner Swanky Mood
I think out of the entire evening, this part of the evening was the most magical to shoot. While all the customers and staff were gone, the mood in the restaurant still felt electric. I opted for many of the same angles I got to know well over the evening, but focused on utilizing low lighting to highlight all the little details in a new way. By the time I had finished everything, it felt like I knew this restaurant like an old friend.
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Trust Restaurant Group all these years and watch them blossom to take over the restaurant scene outside of San Diego. It also is always a favorite shoot of mine to capture GTC Design Studio’s work - their visions are constantly upping the bar of what interior design creativity can look like!
If you’re interested in photographing your next commercial project, please don’t hesitate to reach out using this form here to inquire about upcoming availability.
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Architect + Interior Design: GTC Design
Developer: Vintage Housing
General Contractor: ACG Builds
Engineers: Flores Mechanical Engineers, GMEP Engineering, Coffman Engineers, Inc.
Furniture: V2 Fine Interiors, Reclaimed Wood , GMEP/IBEC, Bellacor, Rove Concepts
Lighting: Tazz Lighting
