Look closely at the (a send-up of a album cover) promoting at the at 900 E. 11th Ave.
Then glance at the staffer restocking the produce a few feet away.
Yes, it’s the same guy, only he probably has a shirt on this time. It might be , the one with the long, curly hair, or , who resembles the actor from or , who might be wearing his hipster glasses, or , whose mop and smile make him an older version of in
“The photo with Sebastian throwing tomatoes in the air for Early Girl tomatoes is what started it all,” Russell said.
About a year ago, Whole Foods encouraged store staffers to promote produce, cheese, bread and other products by posting photographs of them posing with their favorite foods. At most stores, that meant snapshots and a written comment.
“But Scott and I thought this had more potential,” North said.
So, with Smith and Thomas, who also are photographers, they set up quasi-professional photography sessions that featured staffers embracing a theme or striking a pose.
Russell took a self-portrait, with a Honeycrisp apple in his mouth and in each hand and his hair flung high. North popped a bottle of bubbly to promote champagne mangoes. The store’s bakery department came up with the idea of dressing in lederhosen for a “Breads Of Austria” campaign.
“Everyone is working together on the creative side,” Russell said.
“A couple of the pictures we’ve done have gotten a lot of attention from the company,” North said.
“The national newsletter sent around two or three of our pictures. Other stores are doing the photos, but nobody’s turning it into professional-style shoots.”
They’re thinking about creating a calendar from the archive they’ve established.
“For the most part, the reviews from our regulars have been positive,” North said.
“I had one customer, a middle-aged man, straight up ask to buy the Hatch chile poster.”
Claire Martin: 303-954-1477, cmartin@denverpost.com or twitter.com/byclairemartin
