Novo Studio recently completed a video project highlighting the creative work of BUF Studio in Bentonville, Arkansas. The piece profiles several of BUF’s recent projects, emphasizing their design approach, materials, and craftsmanship. Shot on location, the video blends detailed product and process footage with local residents enjoying the spaces that BUF has helped create. The project demonstrates Novo Studio’s capacity for producing polished commercial video that communicates brand values, highlights product quality, and supports local creative businesses. Enjoy the show!

We recently had the opportunity to hang out with the fine folks from the Bentonville Water Utilities Department, thanks to a chance meeting with one of the higher-ups at a recent Vanarky in the Ozarks Event. Before long, we had a plan to meet for a day of photography + water utilities education. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again every time it’s relevant; One of the best parts of this job is learning about other people’s line of work. And for a major city’s water utilities department, there’s a lot to experience. And after a full day of photographing different scenarios, tools and departments, we came away with a library of images that clearly and thoroughly showcases many of the water utilities day-to-day responsibilities in visual form. Today, we’re sharing a few here on the blog. Enjoy.

Today on the blog, new work for the University of Arkansas’s Center for Farms and Food. For this photoshoot, we payed a visit to the farm at Red Barn in Bentonville, the first official residential community with an operational farm on the property. This model of living is known as an agrihood and Red Barn is the first of its kind in the state of Arkansas. Among its fresh food amenities, Red Barn also boasts beautiful living spaces, indoor/outdoor community gathering spaces and direct access to Bentonville’s nearby mountain biking trails. And of course, residents (and non-residents alike) have the wonderful, year-round, farm-to-table experience of knowing EXACTLY where their produce comes from. For more information, visit their website here.

Hello and Happy (almost) Summer time. As you may or may not know, I (Philip) now have a business partner/collaborator/additional photographer/videographer/website & social media contributor who’s name is Jared. For the past few weeks, we’ve been hard at work creating content and figuring out the routine of running a business together. And that has left us both too busy to share recent work here on the blog. Today, I’m going to begin to remedy that by sharing a few images from a recent photoshoot in Bentonville’s newest culinary establishment, Bar Cleeta.

Unlike a traditional restaurant that serves entrees, Bar Cleeta serves small, shareable plates that pair well with their curated wine list and craft cocktails. As you might expect from a culinary establishment of this caliber, everything is beautifully presented and wonderfully delicious. For more information on Bar Cleeta, please visit their facebook or instagram page.

Cheers!

Coming up in the next issue of Bike Arkansas Magazine: Ellen Brune shows off her beautiful Thesis Gravel Bike and some other items in her kit, Jason Zehner flexes his calf muscles in the studio and Bike Bentonville’s Aimee Ross shreds some of the wonderful trails right outside her office at Slaughter Pen.

Cheers!

Today on the blog, a few recent images for the March 2019 issue of Local Palate Magazine, a premier food culture publication focused on the South. This month’s issue featured an article on Scott Baker of Tusk and Trotter. Scott’s techniques for infusing liquors with natural flavors and the resulting cocktails are gaining attention outside our little are because they are absolutely delicious. Cheers to Monday!

When an awesome bank and its awesome marketing agency hire you to photograph landscapes and community imagery for marketing purposes, you make the most of it and have fun in the process. For me, that meant road tripping, truck camping, exploring small towns and taking some time to sit by the water and watch sunrises and sunsets. Thanks to The Twiggs Group & Grand Savings Bank for sending me on this work trip that didn't feel like a work trip at all. 

I recently had the opportunity to work with the wonderful staff and incredibly bright students of the Thaden School. Prior to my time there, I had only a vague knowledge of the school, it's history and it's mission. But spending a few hours there was downright impressive. Here's a few images from the afternoon. Enjoy. 

I'm convinced that you cannot live in Northwest Arkansas and not hear about The Preacher's Son, a fairly new restaurant and bar concept from the brilliant minds of The Ropeswing Group. The atmosphere is beautifully dramatic, yet homey and subtle. And the food...well the food is downright delicious. (You may recall a recent blog post for Food and Farm Magazine recipe for a salad that I couldn't stop eating.) Executive Chef Matt Cooper and his well-trained and good natured kitchen staff use locally sourced ingredients and insane amounts of creativity to create dishes as delicious to eat as they are beautiful to look at. I recently had the opportunity to hang out in the kitchen and create some images for the restaurant and today, I'm sharing a few of my favorites. Enjoy.

For full menu and hours, visit The Preacher's Son website.  

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Dwayne & Rose. Their beautiful, intimate and charming wedding celebration was held last weekend in a beautiful little corner of Downtown Bentonville Arkansas. I was honored to spend the evening with this incredible couple along with their family and friends and today, I'm sharing a few of my favorite photos here on the blog. Thanks for having me, you two. 

You know you're in the thick of a busy season when you just so happen to click on a professional social network only to find that...

It was a weekend full of celebration for Roman and Kailey and I was honored to be a part of it. Many sincere thank you's to them for having me, their wonderful families for making me feel at home, their energetic friends for making the day even more memorable, and the best wedding planner in the area, Melissa Holmes, for pulling it altogether. Also, special thanks to Crystal Bridges Museum staff for being so accommodating and last but CERTAINLY not least, my good friend and fellow photographer, Jessika Layton for helping me document their special day. Enjoy the photos. 

I recently had the privilege of creating some images for the newest issue of Block, Street & Building, a magazine showcasing the progress of New Urbanism in Arkansas. In case you haven't noticed, there's a lot of stuff going on around here. :) Click here to read the full issue and enjoy the images. 

Last year, I had the unique opportunity to sit in on a video shoot for Clairol Color and create some behind-the-scenes images of the video-making process. And this year, I got to do it again. Here's a few images from my time on-set. Special thanks to Verge Videos for putting up with me again. Enjoy. 

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Dallas and Madison. They were recently married on the most beautiful of Saturdays at Orchard's Park in Bentonville Arkansas. Amid laughs, tears of joy and the good company of family and friends, they exchanged rings and vows they had written themselves. Here's a few images from their celebration. Enjoy. 

Say hello to the Phat Tire Racing Team. But make it quick, because they'll be long gone before you get to the double ll's. These riders are the real deal. They train together, race together, hang out and even volunteer together. And while they train on all of the nearby trials, their home turf is the Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike trails of Bentonville Arkansas. This particular trail system is certified as a Silver Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), making it a destination for out-of-towners and local riders alike. I recently had the opportunity to hang out with some of the riders that make up the Phat Tire Racing Team and I managed to get them to slow down enough for a few photos. Look for the complete story in the upcoming issue of Bike Arkansas Magazine. Cheers. 

Say hello to Erin O'Brien, a class of 2016 student at Bentonville High School. I recently had the opportunity to hang out with Erin and her mom, Michele while creating some senior portraits.  Here's a few of my favorites. Enjoy. 

It's common knowledge among anyone that knows me well, that the opportunity to photograph anything bike related would be considered a dream job. And a couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days doing just that.