In this article, I'll be giving you 5 tips on how to get everything you need from a F&B product shoot.
I’ll walk you through the thought process of planning your first shooting
It is especially important if this is your first brand shoot because you’ll produce the very first assets your audience will see you through.
What you need to go through before the day of the shoot:
Where will you use those shots? (Facebook/website banner, Instagram, Pinterest, newsletter, will you do prints? Visual assets etc…)
Mood & feels of the pictures: This feeling you get when you are seeing luxury brand images vs the famous lifestyle brand. Both are successful but aren’t perceived the same. It’s all up to you.
Texture & backgrounds: Ask for a Pinterest selection or a sample of images you can choose from to the photographer.
Props: Are definitely one of the most important things to plan. Would you shoot a whiskey in a martini glass? Obviously not but think in advance and ask the photographer as to which prop would suit your product.
Source fresh ingredients: Depending on which product you’ll be shooting of course. (Calamansi & pandan leaves aren't running down the streets)
Which leads us to...
Tip N° 1: Think ahead! Framing-wise
With the huge diversity of content platform that exists now, it is important that you frame the pictures to fit the need of your communication & branding strategy.
Will they be used more on Instagram (Portrait) or on your website (landscape)?
In most of the case, it doesn’t take a lot of time to take an extra shot in a vertical format so that you can use this amazing shot (I’m sure he’s good) where you’ll see fit!
Will you print them? Will you make designs out of them? (Require free space around the product or blanks areas).
Once again it is to discuss with your photographer prior to the shoot.
Tip N°2: Create a certain ambiance for your product
A photographer’s job is to adapt its style of images to your brand, your vision and your needs while adding its own personal touch and style to the images.
But you need to be specific about what you like/dislike. Working with my clients I found out that if they gave me a clear list of do’s and don’t it’s usually easier to build an image around those guidelines as they leave you with a margin for creativity.
Most of the time I’ll put together a presentation with different styles of images so the client can get a better real understanding of where I plan to go with a shoot.
Tip N°3: Choose your surfaces
Associate your product to a surface with texture and colors that’ll contextualize it.
If you take a look at Du Rhône Chocolatier Galerie you’ll see that the products were shot on light wood surfaces to contextualize the products in “lifestyle” scenes. It makes the product pop, palpable to the audience, and respect the premium aspect of the products with light compositions and lighting.
Tip N°4: PROP UP!
Props are an essential part of the final image you’ll get and it definitely helps to create a flattering ambiance and make a statement through your image.
Would you serve your 16YO premium whiskey in a martini glass? Usually not!
Food photographers are addicted to props. Some call it sickness, we call it passion! This means we usually have a lot in stock so feel free to ask for sample pictures and see if the props fit your ideas or not.
You might have a clear idea in mind and want a unique picture with a prop that has never been used in another shoot? It might be worth the time to look it up online or search for it in the flee market.
I still recommend you discuss it with your photographer prior to the shooting. We know what will and won’t work in certain situations. It’s all about the exchange and finding what’s right for you and your product.
Tip N°5: Make it fresh
When it comes to food photography there are multiple ways to add life to your pictures and make the final result more “vibrant”.
You can add a hand reaching for coffee, or serving a drink.
You could use fresh ingredients like fruits or flowers to build a seasonal setup around your product. Fresh ingredients are also a great way to help your audience visualize what your product tastes like.
Let’s take a bottle of Gin for example. The liquor being transparent, (In most instances) it’s hard for the audience to have a sensorial perception of what your product tastes like if you don’t include spices or related ingredients in the frame.
Call out to your audience senses and make it fresh!
This part usually is up to the photographer but you might want to use some specific ingredients or spices to feature your product. Just let us know.
Conclusion :
We, photographers, know our jobs but we don’t necessarily know your product or your band as well as you do, so it’s always important to exchange ideas and briefs around the products.
It is the photographer’s job to get to know you and your product and ask the right questions but it always speeds up the process if you have a few guidelines ready.
Be specific as to what you like and dislike, it helps us a great lot when creating a scene.
Think ahead : Know where the photos are going to be used (social media, magazines, website etc..) and share it with the photographer. We’ll frame your shots accordingly.