A FEW ADDITIONAL DETAILS I have a BA in English from Middlebury College and an MA in Culture + Communications from the University of the Arts London. When I’m not obsessing over textiles and antiques, I can often be found mucking out horse stalls at the equine rescue where I volunteer, or driving far and wide for the best food. (I’m currently craving the pizza squares at Lil’s Cafe in Kittery, ME, and the steamers at the Clam Bar in Portland, ME.) I live north of Boston with my family.
HELLO!
My name is Esther—I’m a writer, editor, photographer, and small-business owner with a background that spans publishing, trend forecasting, art museums, and independent retail and e-commerce. My years of writing, styling, shooting, and selling can help you solve your creative problems—quickly, beautifully, and with good humor. (That’s me on the right, age 6, ahead of my time in both bangs and culottes.)
STYLING + RETAIL As a magazine editor, I styled more interiors and accessories shoots than I can count, always focused on making homes and products look their best. As the owner of Nine Streets, a retail shop and e-commerce site, I styled countless outfits, and helped women make clothing choices that balanced quality with comfort. I focused on honest advice and thoughtful selections that ensured clients felt confident in what they wore.
CONTENT As an editor, I wrote and edited extensively—covering trade shows and art fairs around the world, shaping manuscripts in New York’s book publishing industry, and producing trend reports on consumer behavior for global brands. I’ve also written and edited copy for exhibition catalogs, social media campaigns, and e-commerce sites, developing a talent for connecting words with visuals.
PHOTOGRAPHY Over the years, I’ve collaborated with many professional photographers on interior, product, portrait, and food shoots—experiences that sharpened my eye and strengthened my own love of photography. I’ve also worked behind the camera, photographing products, art, and cultural events as a trend forecaster, and building a visual identity for my retail business through original images for social media and e-commerce.
“WHAT’S HUTSPOT?”
A traditional dish from my native country, the Netherlands, hutspot (/ˈhʏt.spɔt/) is a humble, hearty mix of potatoes, carrots, and onions that’s all about comfort and practicality.
I’ve been wanting to use the word in some creative capacity for years and this finally feels like the right time—I think it’s the perfect metaphor for this little consultancy.
At Hutspot Creative, I bring together a range of core skills—decorating, styling, photography, editing, writing—and blend them into one creative agency. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, I can draw on years of experience across creative fields to shape solutions that fit each client. But the goal is always the same as the namesake dish: practical and down-to-earth results that stand the test of time.
NOTES ON A RECIPE I couldn’t name my business Hutspot without making it myself (left)—and it was even more delicious than I remember! I used local potatoes, carrots, and onions from the farmer’s market; I (mostly) followed this recipe, substituting this bouillon; and served it with a mix of Maille whole grain mustard (for texture) and Kozlik’s curry mustard. (I found the latter at Sissle & Daughters, a great little cheese shop up in Portland, ME.) Try it! Let me know what you think.