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  • Revolutionary Cornish photography studio provides world-class results for designer Tom Raffield

    Commissioning high-end photography that will capture the very essence of a design that has taken weeks or even months to create can sometimes be a real barrier for artists and designers.

    Figolux has carved an impressive name for itself as the go-to studio for quality-lead image creation in the UK for its innovative approach to lifestyle and product photography.

    Breaking with convention to provide exceptionally high-quality, bespoke photography solutions for clients across multiple market sectors, Cornwall-based Figolux specialises in high-definition 360-degree spin photography that can literally bring designers and makers creations to life on camera.

    For the last 18 months, Figolux has been working alongside contemporary furniture and lighting designer, Tom Raffield, to provide the photography for Tom’s latest collection, a collaboration with British textile designer, A Rum Fellow.

    Specialising in lovingly handmade designs crafted from sustainable timber using the age-old art of steam bending, British designer, Tom Raffield, has made quite a name for himself on the world design stage.

    Renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and hands-on work ethic, sourcing a photography studio local to his Cornish woodland workshop that could photograph his unique collections in the way he wanted to, while achieving the quality he needed in order to compete on the global design stage was something that Tom initially struggled with. That was before he came to hear about Figolux.

    “Discovering Figolux was a revelation,” said Tom, designer and maker at Tom Raffield Ltd.

    “There are lots of photographers in Cornwall but not a lot of studios, which often meant having to travel to bigger cities, such as Exeter, or even further afield to commission photography.

    “I first heard about Figolux through word of mouth from an industry contact, so I went to do a recce of the studio and I was absolutely blown away by the set up.

    “For me, the mark of a really good studio is finding a balance between the quality of the set up and the competency of the photographers and at Figolux, you get the best of both. I feel very lucky to have found a studio offering international quality photography on my doorstep.

    “Andy and the team are very professional and go above and beyond to get the results you need. The team are very efficient and understand the importance of getting it right and if you need something done urgently, it’s never a problem.”

    Tom has enjoyed runaway success in recent years which has seen him featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs and open his own pop-up shop in London’s trendy Marylebone.

    Having discovered the technique of steam bending while studying product design at Falmouth College of Arts, the Helston-based designer, whose creations can be found in the likes of John Lewis and Heal’s across the UK, has since formulated his own pioneering methods of working with steam that enable him to create freely.

    “Steam bending is a very low-tech, very ecological way of working with wood that produces very little waste material,” Tom said.

    “We’ve basically taken an age-old process and found a new way of using it for the 21st century to create contemporary designs for people’s homes that are entirely original and completely ageless.

    “Understanding the process of steam bending, its limitations and its merits, has led me to develop many new ways of using steam to shape my designs over the years. Steam bending allows our makers to twist and bend wood to create shapes as freely as you would use a pencil for drawing. It is this freedom to create unusual shapes which makes our creations so instantly recognisable as a Tom Raffield piece.

    “Everything we make is completely unique, they’re not mass-produced commodities. Each piece is entirely traceable, has been hand-crafted to perfection and is built to last.”

    Owner and company director at Figolux, Andrew McLean Brown, said:

    “We are absolutely delighted to support Tom Raffield with its photography needs.

    “We’ve been working with Tom for around 18 months now and within that time, we have done multiple photoshoots for all of his products, from bespoke furniture, to standing lamps and pendants to Christmas decorations!

    “Our approach to photography is tailored to the needs of each client we work with. We like to think that our work processes during a shoot mirror the attention to detail that has gone in to creating each piece we photograph, especially when we’re working with artists like Tom, so that the end result comes out perfect each time.

    “We’re very much lead by quality, not by cost. Our priority is achieving total customer satisfaction and making sure that we showcase our clients’ products in the best light.”

    Working with clients across the UK, Figolux provides a wide range of photographic services in addition to its product photography and 360-degree image creation, including high-quality editorial, portrait, property and food photography.

    To find out more about Figolux, visit: www.figolux.com or for more information about Tom Raffield, visit www.tomraffield.com.

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