With new developments in AI technology, we’re all beginning to understand that not everything we see in a photograph comes from the camera. But commercial photographers have been using digital aids to create distinct atmospheres in their images for decades. Annabelle Breakey is an expert at the art of compositing, and was given the opportunity to highlight this craft in a new shoot for Peet’s.
Read MoreAnyone who’s found themselves out for cocktails lately knows that a mixed drink is much more than just a combination of spirits. Mixology has become an experiential art form that provides a little something for each of the senses—from the eye-catching glint of the glassware to the scent of aromatic garnishes and the unmistakable sound of the shaker. Even the bar itself—twinkling with candlelight or dotted with flowers—plays a part in the alluring ritual. Photographer Annabelle Breakey was in search of the sensorial when she created her latest round of testing: a series of photographs she calls “Kaleidoscope Cocktails.”
Read More“I love making promos, it’s like making a record album,” says photographer Annabelle Breakey. She’s been in the practice of creating promos—printed booklets showcasing a series of photographs relating to a particular theme—for close to a decade. Some of her earlier promos, which are all under the title Plenty, are The Guilty Pleasures Issue, The Black and White Issue, and, in celebration of all things ovular, The Egg Issue. Her latest is The Latin Issue, which coheres a handful of colorful and purposefully messy images of foods from south of the border. “Promos let me explore a theme from every direction and then form it into one complete thought,” Breakey explains.
Read MoreMany hands make light work, and in the case of a recent rare collaboration between MCA photographers Annabelle Breakey and Randal Ford, it also makes for a lot of creativity and fun.
Read MoreThe holidays are full of scents that spur emotion and nostalgia. A fresh-cut Christmas tree, a simmering pot of mulled wine, the sharp snap of a peppermint stick—there’s nothing like the power of scent to awaken your merry memories and set the stage for new ones. This year, deodorant and body care brand Native took favorite yuletide fragrances and, checking them twice, made their lists for Naughty and Nice.
Read More“Big brand, big photo studio, big images. It’s sweet to be invited to that party—that’s for sure,” says Annabelle Breakey, reflecting on her recent work for McDonald’s. Last November, Breakey traveled to Chicago, home of the Golden Arches, to shoot Crispy Chicken Sandwich and McPlant (McDonald’s proprietary plant-based patty) campaigns—her third job for the legendary international brand, and her first trip to McDonald’s HQ.
Read MoreSeldom do many of us stop to think about how the images on food packaging come to be there. As consumers, we take for granted that dozens of bags of chips line a grocery store shelf, as if divined without the involvement of dozens of hands and minds. Having recently gone through an extensive visual-systems rebrand with Lay’s, photographer Annabelle Breakey knows this isn’t so—she knows exactly how the chips fall.
Read MoreAnnabelle Breakey isn’t shy about her love of photographing fast food. Her foray into the field of French fries and Frappuccinos began in 2000 (with first clients being Burger King and Starbucks) after the dot-com bubble burst and her previous high-tech and product catalog work was stymied. “When the implosion happened, I was like, that’s it, I'm only going to shoot beautiful things and work with interesting stylists,” she remembers. “That’s when I started shooting food and editorial, and now I’m in the lane of super fun, colorful, conceptual food.”
Read MoreWhen it comes to the world of vitamins and supplements, Olly is in a universe all its own. “They come to me once or twice a year for a new product launch,” explains photographer Annabelle Breakey, “and every time they do, they up the ante a little bit. The photography becomes more and more stylized. More and more Olly.”
Read MoreWhen Annabelle Breakey was approached by long-time client Shaklee for their newest line, the creative goal was clear: Capture the blended beauty of Science and Nature.
Read MoreAs we near almost 5 months of sheltering in place, Annabelle Breakey has found new ways to stay creative in the midst of the pandemic. “We are still able to work as artists; the way we do it just has to change a little”
Read MoreWhat creative projects were you working on before COVID19 put them on pause? For photographer Annabelle Breakey, what began as a playfully irreverent, pre-quarantined nod to our culinary guilty-pleasures, soon became a much-needed source of levity in the midst of pandemic tensions. After all, who of us hasn’t over-indulged behind our very-closed doors these days?
Read MoreThe beauty of people coming together in this difficult time, is one silver-lining that we are all thankful for. Like so many others, photographer Annabelle Breakey found it impossible to sit back idly in the midst of a pandemic. It didn't take long for her creative endeavors to merge powerfully with her urge to help.
Read MorePacking design company Hatch asked Annabelle Breakey to shoot a series of “portraits” that reflect the ingredients and the playful image of Good Use’s cold-pressed juices.
Read MoreAnnabelle recently worked with Chen Design Associates and stylist Nissa Quanstrom to create a new set of imagery for the John Masters Organics website, stores, and social media.
Read MoreAnnabelle Breakey teams up with food stylist Abby Stolfo and prop stylist Alysia Andriola to create a decadent menu of black and white foods.
Read MoreBarefoot Wines is all about making wine fun for everyone. Annabelle Breakey says the only challenge of shooting for Barefoot is having too much fun on set.
Read MoreStarbucks wanted to do something a little different for the winter menu boards in its Asian stores, placing the featured drinks between two planes of stained glass. Annabelle Breakey and her team got to work sourcing brightly colored plexiglass and fresh ingredients.
Read MoreFor an outdoor ad campaign in NYC, Annabelle Breakey was tasked with bringing Rao’s Homemade to life in a way that honored the company’s nostalgic history and showed off the sauce’s wholesome ingredients in a fresh and playful way.
Read MoreMethod teams up with a leading designer every year to create a limited edition collection featured in Target. Brooklyn-based interior designer Athena Calderone came up with this year’s collection called Urban Metallics.
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