Product photography for Harney and Sons tea by Allegra Anderson.

As a tea drinker myself I was especially excited for this photoshoot with renowned tea company Harney & Sons. Founded by John Harney in 1938, the company has over 300 varieties of tea and accessories from kettles to mugs. Sourced from the finest tea gardens around the world, the Harney family members regularly visit tea regions worldwide to taste and source the most exquisite and finest quality pure teas.

Harney & Sons was interested in having me photograph their classic collection which includes: Hot Cinnamon Spice, Dragon Pearl Jasmine, Paris, English Breakfast, and Peppermint Herbal. I have a roster of stylists I’ve worked with and knew Monique Sourinho would be just right for this job.

I did the prop sourcing myself, specifically choosing natural ingredients to emphasize the flavors in each style of tea, and to visually show Harney & Son’s dedication to the finest quality ingredients. I have a roster of stylists I’ve worked with and knew Monique Sourinho would be just right for this job. Monique elegantly styled each setup with the props I brought all with the end goal of highlighting the level of excellence Harney & Sons strives for. We didn’t want to seasonally date any of the set ups, instead we chose to work with colors like oranges, yellows and browns to pull out the natural colors found in the cinnamon and orange notes that make up Harney’s Hot Cinnamon Spice tea.

Working with a stylist can elevate a photograph in a way that makes it looks effortlessly put together. One of my favorite things about working with Monique, aside from her talent and eye for details, is the great energy she brings to the set.

As Jasmine teas have quite elegant floral notes we went with delicate cups, actual florals, and an exquisite table cloth to mirror the sophisticated nature of the Dragon Pearl Jasmine tea.

For Paris, we really wanted to set the scene as if one was looking into a Parisian cafe. Adding almond pastries and macaroons with a classic gold rimmed tea set created just the right ambience that this tea gives off.

Last but not least was English Breakfast. For this classic tea lover’s blend we set our scene to mimic a typical kitchen table in England. I found a lovely white crochet table linen that mirrored the white drizzle atop the pastries and scones. And what English breakfast wouldn’t be complete without a little jam for your scone? Simple and natural, we threw in a few raspberries and set it all atop a quaint wooden table to complete the scene.