The new year is here! January is the perfect time to take a look at the photos you have on file and assess if it’s time for a refresh. If new photos are part of your business’s new year’s resolutions, it’s important that you prepare ahead of time to ensure that you’re making the most of your photo shoot day. When you and the photography team are on the same page, you’ll be able to maximize productivity and get the job done right. That being said, here are five tips to make the most out of your food photoshoot this year.
1. Know where your assets will be used
Most clients know when they need photography. This could include launching a new product, redesigning a website or social marketing content. But it’s also important to think about how the photos will be used, because that impacts how the photographer will approach taking the shot.
For example, if you are using a photo on the packaging of the product, the product needs to be as authentic as possible to adhere to “truth in advertising” regulations. In our experience, packaging photos take longer to shoot because we focus on making sure the product is enticing and meticulously styled. This helps the product stand apart from your competitors.
Website photos on the other hand can be looser and more creative. This is where the product’s environment comes into play. One direction to go with is to choose product-focused photos that feature your ingredients. Or, you can choose shots that create an environment around the product, which gives the product’s future consumer an idea of how it can be used. The photographer will work with you to choose the “look and feel” for backgrounds, surfaces and props that best works for whichever creative direction you choose.
Social media photography can be the most editorial and fun! The considerations above apply here as well, but this is also a great opportunity to experiment. Plan ahead for holidays and utilize some motion (gifs), and don’t be afraid to add fun props!
2. Know your product
Does your product contain fresh or frozen ingredients? Does it perform better in an oven or a fry pan? Can it stay on set for an undetermined amount of time or will the product “die” quickly under the hot modeling lights?
Knowing how your product is best stored and cooked, and giving this information to the food stylist is essential. Years of experience has taught them the best way to brown a crust, get the perfect scoop of ice cream, melt the cheese or get the perfect beads of water on a fresh tomato. Their techniques of preparation are all geared to highlight your product’s best attributes.
3. Prepare a mood board
Consider what photography style and props fit your product best. Do you like rustic wood with moody shadows, or colorful backgrounds with whimsical props? Do you gravitate towards bright, sunny lighting with more contrast or softer, diffused lighting? Make a mood board to think through your company’s aesthetic. Sometimes it can be helpful to look around for photography examples online or out in the world. Creativity is everywhere and can be used as an inspiration to develop a style that is uniquely yours. The photographer and prop stylist will work hand in hand to bring the goals of your sample images on the mood board to life.
4. Decide how you want your product to look
After you create the moodboard, plan what you’d like to see in your photos - shot by shot.
Let’s say you are selling pizza. Do you want to see gooey cheese or well-done cheese? A crispy crust or lightly browned? There are so many different ways to present a product, so take a look around to see what’s in the market and what works best for you. There is nothing wrong with comparing (not copying) competitors’ product photos to see what appeals to you and suits your product. This will also help you differentiate yourself from the pack. When you work with us, we have a pre-production call prior to your shoot to discuss preparation details; this gives the stylists and the photographer all the information they need to have resources on hand for the shoot day.
5. How you can plan your shoot day to maximize your takeaway
At FoodPhotoStudio, we are all about giving clients additional assets during the extra time we find during the shoot day. For example, since there is a lot of prep time that goes on in the kitchen unpacking groceries and prepping food, we sometimes find ourselves with extra time. When you are making a list of photos you’d like to make sure we get from the shoot, we advise you to plan the list of “musts” and “nice-to-haves”. We can develop a plan where we will do our best to fit it all in. Depending on what we are shooting and how complex the prep will be, we can determine how many shots we can accomplish. Some questions we ask ourselves are: what can we shoot on a second set while the hero food is being built for the main photos? Can we take an ingredient shot, a loose social media photo or a fun gif?
Bringing value to our clients and producing fun and exceptional assets is our main focus for every shoot. We are available for a conversation on how to plan your next shoot and maximize your budget. Send us an email at info@foodphotostudio.com to discuss your next shoot!