Sweet Paul Styles Us a Blissful Life

Tailgating. Styling by Paul Lowe. Photography by Jim Hensley

Have you ever tried to photograph food? Try it, look at the photo, then ask yourself "Is this something I would eat?" I guarantee your response will be "Only if I were starving." Like anything done expertly, Paul Lowe aka Sweet Paul makes it all look so easy. A Norwegian who came to New York for love in 2006, Paul has been styling food, props and interiors ever since a photographer friend recognised his talents while he was still arranging flowers in his shop 17 years ago. It didn't take him long to prove he has the keen eye, instincts, style and ingenuity essential for creating scenes that make beautiful photographs, and he's been in demand ever since.

Sweet Paul is not just a nickname but also a stunning blog where he shares his work and his life with a growing global fanbase who check in religiously for their daily dose of Paul. It is serene, highly inspirational, gorgeous and addictive (visit when you have time to browse, and you'll see what I mean when you find yourself 10 pages deep.) And it's interactive - Paul will seek the opinion of his readers when facing a styling conundrum (eg. which one do we like better?), and we are only too happy to put in our two cents. Rewards for loyalty now include Recipe Monday which has featured original concoctions such as Fallen Chocolate Cake, Accidental Pie and his creamy risotto (Paul is often asked to create the recipes for the food shoots).

As for his interiors, they are likely to illicit an 'I wish I lived in this' response, regardless of your style preferences. Who doesn't want to find themselves in surroundings that are warm, vibrant, tranquil, and inspired? And as a special treat Paul shares his brilliant DIY home styling ideas, such as using old books to paper your walls and create the loveliest photo holder:

Both for Country Living. Styling by Paul Lowe. Photography by Ellen Silverman

(Is it just me or do the phonetics of 'Sweet Paul' sound especially pleasing? Just whisper it to yourself 's-w-e-e-t-p-a-u-l'...To me it's the phonoaesthetic equivalent of 'cellar door'. Quite befitting of the blog, isn't it?)

Paul Lowe shared with me a bit more about himself and what drives him (beyond taxis):

Was it a smooth transition going from arranging flowers to styling food and interiors?

It kind of was. It is all about colors, textures, and having good taste in your work.

Has living in New York changed you and the way you style?

Oh yes. I think my work has gotten better and better. There is so much inspiration here, it's amazing. The competition is also very high so you have to be on your toes all the time. The choice for props is also amazing, you can get whatever you want. Love it!

You say that fashion is your greatest inspiration - does it translate directly in your work?

It does. I have a book that I stick in pictures I rip out of fashion magazines. Colours, textures, combinations - it all inspires me. My black fig story was inspired by the all-black Viktor & Rolf Fall collection from 2001.

Black Fig.Styling:Paul Lowe. Photo:Colin Cooke Viktor & Rolf, Fall 2001 RTW

Do you ever go to fashion shows?

I've been to some small ones, but I would love to be in the front row of Marc Jacobs, Viktor & Rolf, Dior, Lanvin, etc.

Have you ever had a food that was a naughty model and didn't want to behave?

It's all about the recipe, sometimes it just does not work. I made some crème brûlées the other day, after two hours they were still runny.

You have thousands of fans around the world who follow your work and your personal life through your blog - how does that make you feel?

Oh, Wow. Ehhhhh...Now I feel like Brad Pitt. He he. I think it's amazing that I have so many readers (Ed note: monthly page views currently total 32,000.) And they are so great, they leave lots of comments and send the best emails. I love them all. I think it's great that I can inspire people.

Does your home interior reflect the warm and vibrant aesthetic you bring to your work?

Ehhh no! We live in a small apartment here in NYC. It's full of stuff - props and books. I did have a shoot here a while ago, I had to tidy up for three days beforehand, so it's a mess. But it looks okay once it's tidy. I'm not the most organised person in the world.

Now that's a sure sign of creativity! If you'd like to know more about what happens on Paul's shoots and advice he offers to aspiring stylists, there's a great article at Cookbook Catchall.

Just one warning before you go exploring: While writing this article - quite late into the night and enjoying the photos from Paul's stories - I finished off stirfry leftovers, then had a yogurt, and I was still searching the refrigerator. You may not want to visit Sweet Paul when you are hungry and have no food around - the suffering would just be too terrible!

Takk skal du ha, Paul.