Working From Home With... A series where we feature the home workspaces of some inspiring friends of the brand around the globe & chat to them about how they are staying productive, organised, & positive. Plus they let us in on their workspace essentials too.

This week we spoke to...

Name: Steven Chee

Occupation: Photographer

How long have you worked from home:

I've actually been working from home for a long time.

A large part of my job besides being on location or in the studio is doing post production work. I do all of that work at home using Photoshop.

I choose to do the post work where I can as I feel it’s the last bit of magic that I get to sprinkle over the images before they go out into the big wide world.

I really enjoy spending the time creating the colour treatments and crafting the look. I do like the 'quiet' time in front of the monitor, its a nice contrast to the hustle and bustle of the shoot.

Where is your home workspace set up & why did you pick this spot? 

My home workspace has been a long time coming. Endless Pinterest boards and tearsheets of inspo culminated in my dream work space.

When we renovated, (probably 6 years in planning), I was able to bring it all to life in a dedicated office space on the shady side of the apartment.

Its on the south side as it gets way less sun and I need a very dark environment to work in so the screen is the hero in the room as colours and contrast are critical.

Working from home is your norm. Can you let us in on your number 1 tip for staying productive while working from home?

I like to stick to a routine. When we shoot in studio, I get up at 6am. That gives me time to get a coffee, get ready and pack the car and travel to the studio, usually arriving around 8:30am.

So on a day that I'm retouching I still get up at 6am, grab my coffee and get cracking in the office by 8-8:30am. Keeping that time line locks in a work zone instead of dragging your feet in the morning on a 'day off' from shooting.

What are your workspace essentials currently at your desk? 

My main essential is my Eizo screen. I’ve found it to be the most accurate, (colour and contrast), but also very easy on the eyes. Sometimes I'm in the office all day so it’s critical for me to be able continue for long periods of time.

It also has it's own built in calibrator which is priceless to me as it keeps the calibration spot on day after day. Its pretty nerdy but worth every cent!

My Iphone is always on its wireless charger and my AOL Diary is there too. My Wacom Tablet is also pretty up there!

How do you ensure you stay organised & also inspired?

I was a fan of hand drawing up a monthly calendar on an A4 page to visualize where my jobs were, how many free days I had to retouch in between etc. I found it was easier to ingest than using the calendar on the Iphone.

Now though, I am totally hooked on writing all my notes and job info into my diary as its always ALL in one place. I would always lose the A4 calendar somewhere along the way so it wasn't very practical. 

I watch a lot of movies to stay inspired. I like my pictures to tell a little story so I find watching movies helps with lighting scenarios I might try or framing and composition elements to experiment with. I guess at the end of the day I hope my pictures can take the viewer on a journey so drawing from my favourite movies hopefully helps that flow and transportation.

I'm also a big fan of "YOU TUBE University" as I call it. The wealth of technical information available here is incredible. With the increased demand for motion I've needed to learn more about editing footage. The edit is like putting a jigsaw together where you have made all the pieces of the puzzle. Its so rewarding when you finally get to save the final revision of the edit. It's so important to the end product, equally important as shooting and planning all the assets.

What do you love the most about working from home?

I love it because I'm doing something I love. If I wasn't a paid working photographer I would have been doing it as a hobby for sure. Developing B+W film at home or tinkering with a film scanner and Photoshop would have been my weekend distractions no doubt. I really feel lucky to be doing the thing I thoroughly enjoy as my vocation.

And how about the most challenging? Do you have a strategy to overcome this challenge?

The most challenging thing during this virus isolation shutdown has been back to back to back nature of the days at home with no sure path out of the repetitiveness.

My solution was to buy a couple rolls of 35mm film and load up my M7 and walk the streets of Bondi. I like the fact that I'm going to have to wait to finish the roll and wait again for them to be processed. Its a much slower pace than I am used to at work. Taking more time to compose/frame and expose each finite frame has been a good way to fill the days.

Top 5 songs on your WFH playlist? 

1. The Daily Podcast. NY Times.
2. Joe Rogan Podcast. Polarising but very entertaining guests and topics.
3. Any new camera review on YouTube!
4. Ice Cube - It was a good day.
5. Notorious B.I.G - Juicy.

Name: Josh Emett

Occupation: Chef & Restaurateur

Where have you set up your new home workspace & why did you pick this spot?

I have an office at home that I use regularly although I prefer to spend my time in the kitchen wherever possible. My office is situated in the front area in our house and just out of the way from the main areas so it’s slightly quieter. It’s a great space with a huge wall of cook books which is a great source of inspiration for me. It is lovely in the afternoon as the sun moves around and lights the space.

What's your strategy for staying productive while working from home?

Sharing the house with Helen, our two boys and the dog running about means putting on headphones is a good place to start. It is so easy to get constantly distracted by small things and struggle to get into a good work flow. If I am working from home testing dishes in my kitchen for the restaurants then I’m usually very productive. I guess it comes down to being extremely disciplined in the tasks that need completing.

Talk us through your workspace essentials currently?

A good printer and lots of desk space is essential as I often have multiple projects going on at one time and like to spread notes out. I need space for a whiteboard or large post it sheets that we often use for brainstormingnew restaurant ideas. At present I have a table setting laid out of knives, forks and glassware which is all part of the ideas for our new restaurant which we are opening later this year. I also always have crockery and various kitchen items floating about so good storage is key for me.

What are you loving the most about working from home?

I am not sure I actually enjoy working from home that much. I can probably handle it in small doses. Being a restaurateur you really need to be in your businesses and for me that often means being in the kitchen and to be honest that is really where I am most productive and enjoy spending my time. Home is also a place to relax for me and it can be tricky trying to find balance and make sure I am switched on with the family when at home rather than constantly being in work mode.

And how about the most challenging? Do you have a strategy to overcome this challenge? 

The most challenging thing is allocation of time and giving your day some structure. So spending time with the family during breakfast, then working from 9-midday and allocating some time for lunch. Then back into work for a set time in the afternoon. Without structure the day just becomes one big blur with no real focus.

Name: Brittany Dulic
Occupation: Wedding Planner & Stylist at The Nuptial Collective 

Where is your home workspace set up & why did you pick this spot?

We live in the hustle and bustle of Melbourne’s inner city suburbs. My at-home workspace is set up on a large wooden table in our open living area- it is the largest space in our home, with an abundance of natural light, which allows me to spread out all of my projects, and think freely and creatively.
 

Working from home is your normal. Can you let us in on your number 1 tip  for staying productive while working from home?

To-do lists. As we work with numerous couples, we are creating a unique wedding day for each of them. This means we are also working with many different industry suppliers, styles and plans at any given time. It is so important for my team and I to stay on top of all of our tasks, and we couldn’t do that without a good to-do list. 
 

What are your workspace essentials currently at your desk?

• Our beeswax candles, that are all hand-poured in Bondi. Not only are they insanely beautiful, but the smell of the beeswax fills the space with a gorgeous scent of honey.

• My An Organised Life Lined Leather Notebook, monogrammed of course! This is where I take notes for every client meeting and has now become my little black book.

• An indoor plant. I currently have ivy growing in a beautiful antique pot. It fills the space with greenery, and keeps the airflow fresh.

• Coffee table books- we are constantly looking for inspiration! Whether it be venue scouting for an upcoming wedding, or styling ideas. I always change my books around depending on the clients and themes we are currently working with.

How do you ensure you stay organised & also inspired?

As wedding planners, it is our job to stay organised. Excel spreadsheets are our best friend, as are calendar reminders. We find inspiration through nature, interior architecture, books and industry creatives.
 

What do you love the most about working from home?

Aside from the obvious no travel time, and being able to prepare a home cooked meal in the middle of the day, I absolutely love filling my home with all of our special wedding styling items. Testing floral arrangements, and decor items, will often see our home filled with colour and joy.
 

And how about the most challenging? Do you have a strategy to overcome this challenge?

Nailing a routine. Once you have figured out a routine that suits you best- your working from home experience becomes a lot more pleasant. Our advice would be to play around with time frames to see what fits your lifestyle best. Set aside time for productivity, and take the deserved breaks you committed to.

Top 5 songs on your WFH playlist?

Alaska- Maggie Rogers
Beyond- Leon Bridges
September- Earth, Wind & Fire
Delicate- Taylor Swift
Work From Home- Fifth Harmony

Feeling inspired to get organised & add some new stationery to your workspace? We've got everything you need to stay productive at home, here.