Alice Paling - Object Story
Alice Paling is based in Stroud and runs Object Story – a beautifully edited collection of homewares.
Would you like to tell us the idea behind Object Story? I like nice things and I really believe that we can turn everyday moments into small pleasures. If you go to the effort of making a coffee for a friend, why not light a candle or put the milk in a beautiful jug - it elevates a moment in your day. These details are what make memories and my store is full of products that will do just that. They are beautifully made objects to value and have for a long time.
How did you find out about Article Studio? When Lenny and Jenny set up Article Studio they had an open day and I chatted to them about my idea for the business. Talking to them helped me decide to go for it and make it a reality, I trusted them and their knowledge.
What was it like working with them? Really good! They are really knowledgeable but also really welcoming. My opinion was always valued and they were really respectful of my vision. They understand that I am a new business and considered the practical and technical side of that. They know I need to affordably grow my business without being tied to spending large amounts of money, so we talked about how that would work. I’m always recommending them to people and I’ll keep using them. Lenny’s technical knowledge meant I got much more than just one image from one set up. He was thinking ahead to where I might use the images and making them really versatile. His knowledge meant he captured everything first time because he knew, more than I did, what I would need. The time with Article made me realise what the difference between amateur and professional styling and photography is! I can put some things on my kitchen table and make it look nice but this is another level. It made me realise having the shoot was really money well spent. It was a creative process, I went in with an idea but what I came away with was something else – kind of what I imagined but better.