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Food Photo Studio
  • Home
  • About
    • Studio
    • Virtual Studio
    • Design + Marketing
    • Brands
  • Work
    • Beverage
    • Recipe
    • Restaurant
    • Promotional
    • Packaging
    • Motion Gallery
  • Blog
  • NEW! SURFACES
    • surface gallery
  • Contact
  • members only

Shooting food should be easy (and fun!) A look back on our April Fools Day video

Photoshoot in a can!

This concept sprouted from a conversation Curtis and Renee had during a client meeting: "Food photography should embody joy, beauty, and efficiency." We brainstormed that if we could streamline and encapsulate those qualities, it would appeal to clients struggling to grasp the nuances of food photography or hesitant to invest. From this exchange emerged the idea for "Photoshoot in a Can!"—an easily purchasable package comprising all the essentials: equipment, props, backgrounds, surfaces, and even a food stylist (portrayed beautifully by Kathryn Conrad). And, true to the comedic nature of infomercials, it's all conveniently packaged "in a can."

We consistently emphasize how clients can confidently invest in professional-quality food photography without the burden of coordinating multiple elements themselves. Everything you need is right here! It represents a creative solution to a prevalent challenge within the industry.

At foodphotostudio.com, we boast a collaborative team of creative talent–food stylists, photographers, and designers dedicated to crafting top-tier, visually captivating food photography. Leveraging a streamlined process and an arsenal of resources—including professional equipment and an extensive collection of backgrounds, surfaces and props—we facilitate seamless shooting experiences. Whether it's conceptualization, shooting, or post-production, partnering with us ensures professional assistance every step of the way. Specializing in serving restaurants, food brands, and various businesses, foodphotostudio.com guarantees high-quality images tailored to meet your needs, hassle-free! To learn more about scheduling a shoot with foodphotostudio.com send an inquiry to info@foodphotostudio.com or call 630-400-8966.

Here are the images captured for the video:

Thursday 06.20.24
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Image is (far more than) Everything

At FoodPhotoStudio, we are more than just a photography studio; we are your visual partners. We are problem solvers, capturing the essence of your products as stunning visual masterpieces that tell your brand's unique story.

FoodPhotoStudio, based in Elk Grove, IL (near O’Hare Airport), is a team of seasoned professionals dedicated to their craft. With a deep passion for food photography and a commitment to delivering exceptional results, we go above and beyond to ensure every photo we capture exceeds your expectations.

We have a Passion for our Profession

Food is not just nourishment; it's an art form that deserves to be celebrated. We approach each photoshoot with genuine enthusiasm, capturing the textures, colors, and flavors of your products in a way that makes them truly irresistible.

Our team at Food Photo Studio is committed to continually honing our craft. We stay on top of industry trends, experiment with new techniques, and invest in our professional development, all to ensure that our clients receive the highest-quality photographs that make their food come alive.

What makes us different?

Our problem-solving mindset: Each project presents unique visual challenges, and we thrive on finding creative solutions. By taking into account your brand identity, target audience, and desired aesthetic, we work collaboratively with you to strategize and plan each shot, ensuring it captures your food in the most compelling way possible.  We also strive to give you the most content possible.

Attention to detail: Meticulousness is at the heart of our process. From selecting the perfect props to arranging the composition, we pay careful attention to every element within the frame. Each detail contributes to the overall visual impact, telling a story that resonates with your audience and creates an emotional connection with your brand.

Technical proficiency: We combine our creative vision with technical expertise. Through the use of advanced equipment and editing tools, we enhance the visual quality of our photographs, delivering images that are crisp, vibrant, and visually captivating.

At Food Photo Studio, we are passionate about what we do, and our dedication shines through in every photograph we create. From the vibrant colors of fresh produce to the intricate details of a decadent dessert, we take pride in showcasing the beauty of your food.

We invite you to experience the professional expertise and creative collaboration at FoodPhotoStudio. Contact us today to discuss your food photography needs and discover how we can help you overcome your visual challenges and bring your brand's vision to life. Together, let's create images that leave a lasting impression.

Wednesday 01.31.24
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

What is a content calendar and how can it help your marketing efforts

A content calendar is a tool that helps businesses plan and organize their content creation and distribution. It provides a visual representation of the content schedule, allowing businesses to plan, create, and schedule their posts in advance.  It also allows you to maximize your time in the studio.  When all the key players are on set: the food stylist, prop stylist and photographer, why not utilize the beautifully plated food in a completely different way? Repurposing the same styled food allows you to gain content that can be used throughout the year, saving you time and money.  

For food businesses, a content calendar can be particularly beneficial. Here are some ways it can help your food business:

  1. Streamlined content creation process: A content calendar allows you to plan and schedule your posts in advance, saving time and effort in content creation. By having a clear schedule, you can allocate time for recipe development, food photography, and writing engaging captions, ensuring that your content is consistently produced and of high quality.

  2. Consistent messaging and branding: With a content calendar, you can ensure that your messaging and branding remain consistent across all your social media platforms. This consistency helps build brand recognition and trust among your audience, as they come to recognize and expect a certain style and tone from your food business.

  3. Maximize engagement and reach: A content calendar allows you to stay ahead of important food-related events and holidays, enabling you to plan and create timely and relevant content that resonates with your audience. By tapping into these events, you can increase engagement and reach by leveraging trending topics and capitalizing on the increased interest in related content during these periods.

  4. Improved organization and efficiency: With a content calendar, you can better organize your content ideas, track post performance, and analyze the effectiveness of your content strategy. This data-driven approach helps you identify what types of content are resonating with your audience and allows you to make informed decisions about future content creation and distribution.

This approach helps food businesses effectively plan, create, and distribute their content, ultimately enhancing your online presence, engagement, and overall success. With our extensive studio prop reserve, we can pull different backgrounds and sets to create a totally different set up effortlessly and at no extra cost to you.

At FoodPhotoStudio we respect your time and budget. A day of shooting at our studio is an easy way to grow your content library. Send us a message to get started on your project.

Wednesday 12.13.23
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Telling a visual story with lifestyle food photography

Lifestyle photography is a genre of photography that aims to capture real-life events or situations in an artistic way. Set up as candid and unstaged scenes, lifestyle photography shares a story in an authentic and natural manner. It is not to be confused with product photography as it focuses on capturing genuine moments and portraying a realistic representation of products in an environment. To make a food photo a lifestyle photo, you need to add context to the image and tell a story that connects the viewer with the food. Here are some items that can help turn a food photo into a lifestyle photo:

1. Props: Props such as utensils, table settings, and other decorative elements can add context to the food photo and set the scene for a story.

2. Environment: Capturing the food in a natural setting, such as a rustic kitchen or outdoor setting, can make it appear more relatable and organic. Using natural light instead of artificial light can also add to the ambience of the shot.

3. People: Including people in the photo creates a narrative and adds a personal element to the image. Showing the food being enjoyed by others can make it more enticing and relatable.

4. Action: Capturing the food in action, such as someone pouring hot sauce over a dish or slicing into a steak, can create a sense of movement and make the photo more dynamic.

5. Story: Creating a story around the food can make it more appealing and engaging. Consider the inspiration behind the dish or what it represents, and use image captions to tell the story and connect with the viewer.

6. Composition: Be mindful of the composition and framing of the photo to ensure that it adds to the overall story. Consider the angles, depth of field, and focus on the food or elements of the scene.

By incorporating these items, you can turn a simple food photo into a lifestyle photo that tells a story and resonates with the viewer. Remember to keep the image authentic and relatable to your target audience while showcasing the food in the best possible light.

What is the difference between product photography and lifestyle photography?

The main difference between product photography and lifestyle photography lies in their purpose and style of presentation.

Product photography aims to showcase and highlight a specific product in a way that accurately represents its features, details, and quality. It tends to be more focused on the product itself, often shot in a controlled studio environment with a plain background or with minimal props. The objective is to provide clear visuals that inform potential buyers about the product's appearance and functionality.

On the other hand, lifestyle photography goes beyond just showcasing a product. It involves capturing the product in a real-life context, often with models or in various settings and scenarios that reflect its usage or aesthetic appeal. The focus is on telling a story, evoking emotions, and creating a connection between the viewer and the product. Lifestyle photography aims to show how the product can fit into someone's life or enhance their experiences.

Product photography primarily focuses on presenting the product itself with a clear and objective perspective, while lifestyle photography adds a narrative element by portraying the product in real-life situations, creating a more relatable and engaging visual story.

How does lifestyle photography benefit your product?

Food lifestyle photography can play a significant role in boosting the sales of a product by creating a visually appealing and enticing representation that connects with potential customers. Here are a few ways food lifestyle photography can help sell your product:

1. Showcasing the product in use: Lifestyle photography allows you to capture the product in real-life situations, showing how it can be enjoyed and incorporated into people's lives. When customers see the product being used and enjoyed by others, it helps them visualize themselves using it, making it more relatable and enticing.

2. Evoking emotions and creating desire: Through carefully composed visuals, food lifestyle photography can evoke emotions and create a desire for the product. It can make the viewer crave the taste, smell, and experience associated with the product, driving them to make a purchase.

3. Demonstrating product features and benefits: By highlighting the unique features and benefits of a product and showcasing the product in action or in a specific context, you can communicate how the product can solve a problem or enhance the consumer's life.

4. Building brand identity and storytelling: Lifestyle photography helps build brand identity and tells a story about the product and the brand behind it. By aligning the photography style, colors, and visual elements with the brand's values and messaging, it creates a cohesive and compelling brand narrative that resonates with the target audience.

5. Engaging customers on social media: Lifestyle photography is highly shareable and has the potential to generate buzz on social media platforms. It can attract likes, comments, and shares, increasing brand visibility and reach. Engaging with potential customers through social media platforms can lead to increased awareness and ultimately drive product sales.

Lifestyle photography can help sell your product by showcasing its usage, evoking emotions, highlighting features and benefits, building brand identity, and engaging customers on social media platforms. It creates a visual story that connects with potential customers and entices them to try or purchase the product.  Contact us today to create your next lifestyle campaign! foodphotostudio.com.

Tuesday 10.10.23
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Behind the Shoot: Where the recipes used in food photographs come from

Everywhere you look you see beautiful food photography–on social media, websites and in magazines– along with well written and tested recipes.  Have you ever considered where those recipes came from?   Depending on the brand, there may be a huge media company, network or corporation associated with extensive resources and a test kitchen team working on them consistently (think Epicurious and Food Network.) Their business is recipes so of course they have tons of recipe developers at their fingertips putting out oodles of content. But what if you are a food manufacturer and you are looking to expand a section of your website or offer recipes on your product packaging?  Or perhaps you need some social content to highlight all of the great features and uses for your product?  Enter a freelance Recipe Developer.

Hiring a recipe developer for your product photo shoot can be beneficial in various situations. Here are some instances when you might consider bringing in a recipe developer:

Launching a New Product: If you are introducing a new food product to the market, a recipe developer can create unique and appealing recipes that showcase the product's versatility and potential uses. This can help attract customers and provide them with ideas on how to incorporate your product into their meals.

Highlighting Product Features: A recipe developer can design recipes that specifically highlight the key features or ingredients of your product. This can be particularly useful if your product has unique qualities that you want to emphasize in your marketing materials.

Creating a Cohesive Brand Image: If you want to maintain a consistent brand image and message across your product photography and marketing materials, a recipe developer can help create recipes that align with your brand's values and target audience.

Special Events or Seasons: For holidays, special events, or seasonal promotions, a recipe developer can come up with thematic recipes that capitalize on the occasion, making your product more relevant and appealing during that time.

Expanding Market Reach: If you are trying to tap into new markets or target different consumer segments, a recipe developer can adapt recipes to suit regional tastes or dietary preferences, making your product more attractive to a broader audience.

Testing and Quality Assurance: Recipe developers can help ensure that the recipes used in your product photo shoot are well-tested and of high quality, leading to better outcomes in terms of taste, appearance, and ease of preparation.  This is a very important step, if recipes fail the consumer can sour on your brand.

Collaboration with Influencers or Bloggers: If you are collaborating with influencers or food bloggers for your product promotion, a recipe developer can work with them to create exclusive recipes featuring your product. This can help generate more interest and engagement from their followers.  Many consumer brands use influencers on social media, especially on Instagram and TikTok–it’s a great way to get your product in front of consumers in a personal way.

When hiring a recipe developer, it's essential to communicate your goals and expectations clearly. Provide information about your product, target audience, brand image, and any specific requirements you have for the recipes. Collaborating with a skilled recipe developer can significantly enhance the overall impact of your product photo shoot and marketing efforts.

Ready to hire a Recipe Developer? We can help find the perfect person for your project. Once the recipes are finalized, we can plan a photo shoot in collaboration with the food stylist to capture stunning images of the dishes featuring your product.  Let’s chat! info@foodphotostudio.com

Friday 08.04.23
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

The Use of AI Technology in Photography

Is AI Technology the Future for Photographers?

As photographers, we are always looking for ways to improve our craft and stay ahead of the curve. With new technology emerging every day, it can be difficult to know what is worth investing in and what will become obsolete in a few months. In this short article, we will explore the potential of AI technology and how it could benefit photographers in the future.

The future of photography is changing. The days of manually adjusting lighting, saturation, and other settings are quickly becoming a thing of the past with the rise of AI-assisted editing software like Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, and Luminar, to name a few. These tools make it easy to edit photos without requiring any skills or knowledge about how to use editing software and in some cases, even a camera. But does this mean that you should use it?

What Is AI Technology?

It is the next big thing that will change our lives and industries as we know it. Whether you are a photographer or not, AI technology has already started to have an impact on your life with things like Google Photos and Facebook's DeepFace detection software. But do we need this technology? Is there room for both AI-assisted and traditional photography in the industry?

AI technology can be used for a lot of different things when it comes to photography. It can help you with the editing process, but it can also be used to make suggestions about how you could improve your shots. For example, if you're taking photos of people and they're blinking, the AI might be able to suggest that you take another shot.

One of the most exciting applications of AI in photography is its ability to improve image editing and composition. By analyzing thousands of photos, AI can learn which elements make a good photo and how to edit them accordingly. For example, it can identify the best angle for a photo or adjust colors and lighting to create a more aesthetically pleasing image.

How Will AI Technology Affect Photographers?

In a lot of ways, AI is a good thing for photographers because it allows us to take better photos with less time and effort. The problem is that if we rely too much on AI, then it won't allow us to grow as humans and improve our skills as photographers. One way around this is by combining human aspects with machine aspects when taking photos so that each works together to create the best possible photo.

As a photographer, you are probably wondering if AI is going to replace your job. The short answer is no, we need the human perspective in all aspects of it, but the long answer may be slightly more complicated. AI can be used in many ways for photography. For example, it can help identify colors and objects in photos that most people would never notice on their own. This makes it easier for amateur photographers to take better pictures without spending too much time editing them by hand. It also helps with taking photographs of subjects that move quickly like animals or children because the camera doesn't have an issue focusing on them. The technology may not be able to replace professional photographers just yet, but it will change how they work over time.

AI Software

For a long time, the world of photography has been dominated by software and hardware. But with the introduction of AI technology, it seems that things are changing. The latest Photoshop release from Adobe is packed full of AI features to help you edit your photos with ease. And this is not just for professional photographers: even novice users can take advantage of these new tools to create amazing images, as they can still use AI technology to produce high-quality images without any prior experience whatsoever. But is this a good thing?

Sky replacement in the form of AI has been around for some time now with mixed reactions. Some fervently oppose its use, while others can see the potential when used correctly.

Lightroom and Luminar Neo are just a few other examples that use AI technology for editing photos. This is not something new. AI has been around in some form or another for decades now. Perhaps this is the way forward, and perhaps we should embrace it. AI technology can assist you in creating images that perhaps are just out of reach for you. It can also help you extend your content library by creating new backgrounds, as seen in our example images.

For or Against?

Some people believe that AI technology is a bad thing for photographers. They say it will replace them and their craft. But perhaps it is the fact that with AI comes the ability to make photography more accessible to those who can't afford it or lack skills, as well as those who want an easier way of taking photos. There are negatives and positives to this technology, but without a doubt, there's room for both traditional and new forms of photography.

Both arguments have their pros and cons. On one hand, it is great that anyone, regardless of their skill set or knowledge, can now produce a decent quality photograph with the help of AI technology. This could lead to a whole new generation of photographers who might not have otherwise pursued photography as a hobby or profession. On the other hand, some people might argue that this takes away from the traditional artistry and skill required to be a good photographer. We believe AI can be used to enhance images and make editing easier.

Final Thoughts on the Use of AI Technology in Photography

It’s hard to say what the future holds for photographers and post-production artists, but this may be a good time to consider how you could embrace AI technology. There are many benefits of using artificial intelligence in photography. For example, it can save you hours or even days worth of work if your photos need some sort of editing before they are sent to your clients or go live on social media. But how do we know when enough is enough? Will there come a day where nothing needs tweaking and correcting due to AI post-processing? Do we want that kind of world? What does this mean for learning technical skills like Photoshop or Lightroom when AI will take care of all those steps for us? Is this the end of technical learning when AI can do it all without any effort from humans? We believe that embracing new technology only enhances our abilities as content creators.

One note to add, this entire blog was written using AI software.

Thursday 06.29.23
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

2023 Studio & Stylist Recipe Project

Last year at FoodPhotoStudio, we set out to collaborate and connect with food stylists. Some we’ve worked with on countless projects in the past, and some were new faces whose work we’ve admired from afar. The challenge? Create a beautiful (and tasty) dish - no client, no predetermined expectations. In this blog, we’re excited to share the 12 creations we made together as a result, from each partnership, and their recipes - so you can be a part of the fun! Read on to see the dishes and learn more about each stylist.

almond_cake_202211449.jpg beet hummus.jpg Negroni.jpg pea_soup_final.jpg shrimp tostada.jpg naan_pizza_final.jpg martini.jpg focaccia_202211499.jpg pit fruit salad.jpg mozzerella sticks.jpg ube_icecream_1.jpg pasta.jpg

Kathryn Conrad

kathrynconradfoodstyling.com

Kathryn is a 20+ year veteran Food Stylist and Recipe Developer. Her experience includes work in editorial, commercial, social media, catalogs, packaging, video, menus and more. She can help you find success in any project - large or small. Kathryn is based in the Midwest and available for bookings nationwide.


Breana Moeller

breanamoeller.com

As a Food Stylist, Breana combines her honed tactile skills with her favorite edible medium...food! Her experience combines a formal education in Advertising, Journalism and Culinary as well as 6 years of restaurant chefing and 10+ years of Food Styling. Her favorite part of being a Food Stylist is mixing her joy of food, art and relationships.


Cindy Melin

cindymelin.com // Prop styling by Kelly McKaig: kellymckaigstylist.com

Cindy is a photographer and sculptor-turned Food Stylist with 25 years of experience making all things edible looks great! Quickly her love for food took over in the studio: she jumped into the kitchen and never looked back.


Lisa Bishop

lisabishopfoodstylist.com

Lisa received a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from Iowa State University and studied chef's techniques at the Culinary and Hospitality Institute of Chicago. She continues to study and learn to keep abreast of best techniques and current food trends.


Lisa Vargas

lisavargasfoodart.com

Lisa has been in the food creation business for over 30 years. She has worked through many varied positions, including chef, pastry chef, personal chef, culinary instructor, cake decorator, bakery research and development, quality control, corporate test kitchen manager, cookbook developer, food product developer and now, Food Stylist.


Lissa Levy

lissalevy.com

With over 17 years in the industry, Lisa has been helping food reach its ideal look through her cross-training in print, packaging, editorial, film, TV, and web. Her clients include national brands, regional favorites, and local endeavors.


Christina Zerkis

christinazerkis.com

Christina has been a food stylist, concept developer, cooker, grocery shopper, reliable eater and prop collector since 2005.  Based in Chicago, her visual approach to food and drinks is used in product packaging, editorial, motion projects and digital media.


We hope you enjoyed the photos of each of these dishes. If you do give any of these recipes a try, be sure to leave us a comment or send us an email and let us know what you think!

Tuesday 05.16.23
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Everything (Ube) Everywhere All at Once

As creatives, we sometimes need to take time to have photoshoot days for ourselves. We use these “sample days” to build creative projects of our own, allowing us space to have fun and experiment with new techniques. From new concepts and camera angles, to different lighting and props, we see these sample days as a way to feed our creativity, and make ourselves the client. This week, we met with food stylist Kathryn Conrad to put together a shoot around an ingredient we’ve been hearing a lot about: ube.

Ube Pavlova

Ube: the sweet purple root

So what is this purple root vegetable that’s taking the culinary world by storm? Though new to many of us in the United States, Ube is a purple yam native to the Philippines that is used in many traditional recipes, especially desserts. Many people confuse ube with purple sweet potatoes or taro, but they are totally different ingredients. Purple sweet potatoes share the purple color, and taro can turn purple when it is cooked; but the main difference is ube is much sweeter than either of its purple counterparts. It naturally has a vanilla-like, slightly nutty flavor. Kathryn considered this in choosing what foods to make for this shoot.

Ube creations by FoodPhotoStudio

Ube can be used in so many dishes. Traditionally, it’s used to make halaya (or ube jam): a delicious sweet pudding that is eaten on its own or as an element of desserts like halo-halo (Filipino shaved ice). Ube is now used in a variety of desserts, and here in the studio, we made ube pavlova, glazed donuts, soup, and ice cream.

Ube Ice Cream

Ube Pavlova

Ube Soup

Ube Glazed Donuts

Ube Soup

Ube Ice Cream

Ube’s bold color quickly made its dishes Instagrammable. We’ve found that photographing ube dishes is a lot of fun and allows us to experiment with different backgrounds, textures, props, and color combinations we haven’t considered before.

We are fortunate to work with so many different collaborators & brands that create opportunities for us to challenge ourselves and push us out of our creative comfort zones. We love what we do, and giving our time and talent to each other as a gift brings joy to our souls and ube to our plates.

Food Styling and Recipe Development by Kathryn Conrad.

We’d love to work with you to help bring your ideas to life. Let’s connect!

Wednesday 03.15.23
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Food Photo Shoot This Year

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!

Wednesday 01.25.23
Posted by Curtis Newborn
Comments: 1
 

A Year in Review at FoodPhotoStudio Blog

We covered a lot this year in our blogs: from why you need a food stylist, to how to prepare for a photoshoot, to how to incorporate add-ons into a shoot. With 2023 just around the corner, let’s take a look back at our blogs from this year!

Click on each photo below to check out what blogs you may have missed!

Read more

Thursday 12.15.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Who's Who on Our Photography Team?

Behind every great photo is an even greater team that helped bring it all together. On our team, there isn’t one role that is more important than the others, but rather it’s the strength of the team that brings it all together. In this blog, you’ll learn more about each role on our photography team and what they need to best bring each shoot to life.

Read more

Wednesday 11.30.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

8 Dos and Don’ts of Hiring a Professional Photographer

Get 8 concrete tips for creating a fruitful relationship with your professional food photographer from the start. From trusting your photographer to bringing a fun and creative attitude to the studio, there’s a lot you can do to ensure your photography or motion project is a success!

Read more

Tuesday 10.25.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Build Your Visual Content Library with Easy Shoot Add-Ons: The 4 Best Variations to Add to Your Photo Shoot

Simple variations on one scene are easy for us to create in one photo shoot. Left: A quinoa and kale bowl table setting with a human element. Right: The same scene, with slight adjustments and product placement.

Get the most out of your photoshoot by planning a shoot add-on, where we transform one scene into a bonus one by making simple switches. We share four easy shoot add-ons we love to offer clients, with visual side-by-side examples.

Read more

Wednesday 09.21.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Virtual Photoshoots: How They Work and Why They Benefit Brands and Agencies

Curtis Newborn sets up a shot for live-streaming to clients during a virtual photo shoot on Zoom.

Virtual shoots let us work collaboratively with clients near and far to produce quality visuals. Clients live-stream our setups via Zoom and provide direction. Here’s how virtual shoots work in our studio and 3 ways they can benefit brands and agencies.

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Friday 07.29.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Playing with Contrast in Food Photography (4 Types of Contrast with Examples)

Contrasts in lighting, color, composition, and texture can help your brand’s photography stand out from the crowd. Discover the techniques we use to highlight contrast at Food Photo Studio.

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Wednesday 06.29.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

What Happens Before a Professional Photo Shoot? (Week by Week Photo Shoot Checklist)

Building a great photoshoot takes time, usually about four weeks. Find out what goes into every step of photoshoot planning, and see the week-by-week checklist we use at Food Photo Studio.

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Thursday 05.26.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

The 3 Types of Motion Visuals (with Examples) — and Why You Need Motion in Your Content Library

If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine the power of a picture in motion! Today, businesses big and small can incorporate motion into their marketing and social media materials. We’ll show you 3 ways to do it — and why it works especially well for food.

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Thursday 04.28.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Why Writing the Perfect Email Is Critical for Your Business Success

Shot from above, a woman wearing a stylish leather watch types on a laptop keyboard, surrounded by a plate of food, espresso cup, camera, beverage in a glass, and a smartphone.

Your customers want to hear from you via email, but you've got to meet them halfway. They want just 3 things: a clear intent, personalization, and compelling visuals. Find out how to each of these right, so your customers will buy again and again.

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Friday 03.04.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Why You Need a Food Stylist to Bring Your Images to the Next Level (With Before-and-Afters!)

On the left, a restaurant-plated version of lasagna, looking flat and monochrome. On the right, a lasagna presented by a food stylist, with more height and clearly contrasting layers by color.

On the left, a restaurant-plated version of lasagna, looking somewhat flat and monochrome. On the right, a lasagna presented by a food stylist for maximum appeal from the angle of the photograph, with more height and clearly contrasting color layers.

An explanation of what food stylists do and why they are essential to getting mouth-watering final images (even if you’re a chef!). See three images of plates before and after food styling, and read five great reasons to have a food stylist working alongside your photographer on set.

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Monday 01.31.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 

Recharge Your Creativity in 2022 with an Artist Retreat (Whether You're a Professional Artist or Not)

A camera on a tripod is pointed toward a rocky beach and a blue-grey horizon during the author's artist retreat

The author’s camera at Monterey State Beach

Artist retreats, when done well, allow you to expand your horizons as an artist. Discover what an artist retreat is, what you’ll get out of one, and ideas for what to do on a retreat.

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Thursday 01.06.22
Posted by Curtis Newborn
 
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