March
It’s been a busy old month…taking on a wide range of roles and projects. I’m lucky to find myself doing it.
Self taught and somehow luckily been paid professionally to do so for 15 years…. Variety’s always been important to me. The spice of life is what makes it exciting, challenging and keeps me on my toes.
It’s been a mad one.
From styling VIP clients to working on brand campaigns, alongside art direction jobs, set design and props, alongside being a studio owner, managing my team and doing some great test shoots with some brilliant models and fellow creatives.
Throw in a couple of trips, and the year as a whole hasn’t really slowed down.
I’ve never stuck to one lane, and I don’t think I ever will. I like getting 5 emails and they are all for different things across different fields.
Most of the work’s been hands-on. Sketching ideas, building sets, sourcing props, moving things around…figuring things out properly, rather than just on a screen. Long days, but good ones.
Back-to-back, but each job still gets the same level of care. That matters to me. I like doing things properly, even when things are busy.
Sourcing runs through everything. I use pieces from my own archive, but I’m always out looking too..markets ( so many good bits from Bologna), charity shops, wherever really. It takes time, but it makes the difference.
VIP styling has been a big part of the month as well. It’s very relationship-led understanding people, what suits them, what they feel good in. It has to feel like them, not something imposed. Love some of the relationships I’ve built and now have with people I would just see on television.
I’ve also started building a small team around me. I couldn’t do it without them, hard-working, thoughtful, all bringing something different. It’s been a real team effort.
There are probably easier ways to do this job, but I’ve never been interested in that. I’d rather put the time in and get it right.
Writing this quickly before heading to the studio to tidy up ahead of a brand recce. Then a meeting about dressing a client for one of the biggest film releases this year. Next week,four shoots, back-to-back.
O’Dell Studios
Studio & Prop Hire
O’Dell Studios is a daylight studio and prop house in the sweet spot between Peckham and Camberwell.
The space is available for half-day or full-day hire, with parking just outside and a quiet, flexible shooting space inside.
There’s natural light through the day, a selection of colouramas, and a large, ever-growing collection of props and furniture available to use during shoots.
Mid-century cabinets, tables, ladders, chairs, period artwork, ceramics, books, magazines, old cameras…lots of pieces with character that have been collected over the past 15 years…that help build a set quickly.
We also keep a large archive of clothing in the studio:
suiting, shirts, ties, shoes and vintage pieces that can be pulled for styling at an additional cost
Over the last three months the studio has hosted more than 20 shoots.
It’s a practical space, well stocked, and priced competitively.
If you need a studio with props already here, O’Dell Studios is available for half-day and full-day hire.
Hope to hear from you
Tom and the team xx
FIFI
Photography & styling by Tom O’Dell
Model @fifi.anicah
Styling assistant @kenna.bates
Agency @nevsmodels
Booker @bboybooker
A really lovely afternoon in and around the studio last month with artist and model @fifi.anicah . Fifi has such a great energy about her…a real free spirit.
Creative, positive, full of ideas and stories, and an absolute pleasure to work with.
Thanks as always to @kenna.bates@bboybooker and @nevsmodels
All roads lead to Camberwell…
Photos by the lovely and talented by @jackamunsch
Driving around in my 1979 Alfa Romeo GTS, Wearing vintage single breasted 1990’s 3 button Austin Reed grey suit, @ralphlauren shirt, vintage tie I picked up the other month in Bologna. @poloralphlauren vintage slip ons. @scottfrasercollection belt, vintage watch, rings and accessories.
In the studio…
Gathered some items together from the studio… working around the colour blue.
I can see this character…he came together quite quickly.
Purchased the fish book last week, such a lovely thing!
Put this little set together at the end of day yesterday just before we left the studio.
Thanks to @emilyhoughton6 for your help yesterday and help with this.
If you want to work together then get in touch. Styling, set design, art direction, props and everything in between. I’ve worked with the likes of Aime Leon Dore, Toast, Mr Porter, New Balance/ Stone Island, Levis….
Work for beautiful men’s jewellery brand @prevaut.official
Styling & Creative Direction by me, Tom O’Dell
Photography @nicktydeman
Grooming @ezove
Production by armoire productions by Tom O’Dell
Production & Styling Assistant @benjamin_wigmore
Model @jacob.coupe
Location @house_of_logan
A pleasure to be involved helping to launch the brand alongside owner Philippe. Please follow @prevaut.official for more information and to view the collection.
Jacob wears all clothes from my ‘armoire’vintage archive collection. An inventory of clothes available for hire.
April was full of fits, kits, fittings, finishings and family & family time
but no fitness (5 weeks and counting… thanks to a football injury).
From hosting the Paul Smith @paulsmithdesign team in the studio,
to dressing long-time client Sir Kenneth Branagh for the The Devil Wears Prada 2 premieres in New York & London…
Michael Socha @michaelsocha13 on The One Show, shoots across London, 3 studio tests, 3 new clients hiring the studio
2 brand styling jobs, 2 art direction projects,
Much needed and great new wardrobes fitted and finished,
vintage finds throughout and even a couple of days away by the sea…
Huge help to @kenna.bates@emilyhoughton6 for all your help with work this month.
A full one. A fulfilling one. Counting down the days till I can gym, box, run and play football again
BEA
‘Gathering thoughts’
Styling, photography and direction by me, Tom O’Dell
Model @beaaxe
Styling assistant & direction @kenna.bates
Thanks to @nevsmodels@bboybooker
Shot on film over 3 cameras in Camberwell
All clothes, props and set from my archive armoire collection
Such a great morning in the studio with Bea. The sun was shining, we had 20 mins in the studio and an hour out and about in Camberwell in the sunshine.
