Paul and Andrea Bartholomew are a photographer/director and stylist team, specializing in interior design, drink and food. They live in beautiful Bucks County, Pennsylvania with their talented teen daughter and three crafty cats. They are central to the Philadelphia, New Jersey & New York region but are available to travel anywhere. Their photoshoots are flexible and can take place either at their studio, or on location. They are equipped for remote photoshoots, allowing their clients to easily attend from anywhere in the world.
BIO
Paul grew up in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, and was greatly inspired by the beautiful countryside around him. Initially gravitating toward drawing and painting to capture these scenes, he later found photography as his preferred medium and earned a BFA in Photography from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Establishing himself initially as an interior design photographer before pursuing food photography, he soon became quite sought after by his clients who won numerous awards by submitting his images to design competitions and magazines. Leica Camera, the brand he uses exclusively, sponsored his visit to Germany and France to become certified in their systems and learn more about the company’s products and history. The British Institute of Professional Photographers awarded him a best portfolio award when he was inducted as a new associate member. While excited about the attention his interior design photography was getting, he encountered a pivotal moment when his hospitality clients began to request images of their restaurant spaces and their menus, and he quickly discovered his new passion for food and drink photography.
Andrea grew up in Central New Jersey, and was drawn to the visual and musical arts from a young age, taking part in many art exhibitions and musical performances. After achieving much recognition for her drawing and sculpture work, she was awarded a scholarship to The College of New Jersey and studied Fine Arts, Photography and Interior Design Rendering. After graduation she worked for many years in the commercial printing arts as an account director, supporting industries like educational films and pharmaceutical clients, coordinating high end productions across teams of agencies, copywriters, designers, and high stake clients. She continued working on her own personal art projects, while pouring through cookbooks, and educating herself on cooking and plating techniques.
When Paul and Andrea met in 2005 they knew their award-winning fine arts backgrounds, mixed with a love for cooking and culinary-inspired traveling, had the potential to create a new business venture together that was very unique. They brainstormed an idea for a food blog called The Framed Table to bring more attention to their food photography and styling. They created beautiful food and drink photos of classic dishes and cocktails, including a brief history and a full recipe for each blog post. As popularity quickly grew from 500 to 50,000 visitors a month, they began to get contacted by companies and publications like Campari and National Geographic Traveler, and were shipped all kinds of products by surprise, including bourbon, ice cream, and an unexpected shipment of live lobsters. They had unknowingly entered the emerging world of social media influencers.
After a few years they realized The Framed Table was getting their work noticed, but not enough site visitors knew who was behind the scenes, and not enough serious food and drink clients resulted. One fateful day on a flight back from Paris, Andrea was sitting next to a woman who started chatting about food blogs, and she insisted that Andrea should check out The Framed Table. An astonished Andrea replied, “That’s us, we’re The Framed Table!” The woman remarked, “Oh my goodness, I had no idea who was writing these posts, I just love the photos and recipes!” It was then Paul and Andrea knew they had become disconnected from their best work and it was time to shift gears. That weekend they rebranded themselves, as themselves, and Bartholomew Studio was born, bringing in a wave of new food and drink clients seeking them out for their unique style.
Paul’s expertise in photography and lighting allows him to create any look that suits the subject, whether it’s soft natural daylight, dark moody vibes, or bright graphic colorscapes. Andrea’s food and drink styling abilities are inspired by her love for painting and sculpture. Together their skills allow for ordinary food and drinks to be elevated to fine art. Food and drink represented as its best self, for its intended message.