Brand Session: Petrichor
I had the pleasure of starting my product photography journey here in Columbia, Missouri with a very talented craftsman, Damon Coyle, the founder of Petrichor.
The first time I saw Damon’s work, I was immediately drawn to the stunning design and beauty.
After some thoughtful planning, we headed out on a brisk December day to capture images for his newest product, a unique Caligraphy pen-dant. The pendant is a unique item that can serve as both a statement necklace as well as a functional calligraphy pen. It makes for a perfect gift for any artist, writer, or appreciator of impeccable craftsman skills.
Damon brought along his fiancè Haley and good friend Gretchen to model the pendants. I packed up my usual camera gear, threw on two pairs of pants, and brought along a thermos of coffee to keep everyone at the shoot awake and warm!
During the shoot, I got to learn more about how this pendant came to be. And it’s pretty remarkable.
Damon created the original pendant for his fiancè Haley. Haley is a very talented artist herself (they are a power couple, to say the least), she received ‘the first’ pendant as a birthday gift in 2017.
I’ll let her tell the story:
From Haley:
“Damon made it in his make-shift shop/spare bed-room, fashioning a homemade lathe out of a cordless drill and a vice. It’s the best gift I’ve ever been given–because it’s from him, because he made it, because it’s so well made, but mostly because it’s such a personal and thoughtful gift. I’m not a calligraphy expert by any means but I’ve always loved the art. Every time I wear the necklace it makes a statement about what kind of person I am. I love it so much that it took me almost an entire year to give my blessing for him to make more...I didn’t want to share!! But they’re too amazing to keep to myself.”
It was special to see the connection Haley felt to Damon’s work, and get to photograph such a unique and intricate item.
Its high-quality detail is one thing, but the purpose behind it is much greater. Petrichor serves as a respite from the many mass-produced throw-away items used every day. Damon creates heirloom wares designed to last and be cherished. He keeps function and quality as a top priority in all design and creation.
