Maximalist food styling tips for minimalist photographers

One of the big predictions in art this year, , was a shift to maximalism. Supposedly, it’s in retaliation for all the minimalism with simple designs and neutral colors that grew in popularity over recent years. 

So if bold colors, bright patterns, and over-propping (in a good way) are your thing, it’s your time to shine. 

But what if it’s not your thing? 

As a negative space, neutral-loving stylist-photographer, I feel you. 

There are ways to create more maximalism in your work while still keeping things simple. While, of course, you don’t need to follow trends, sometimes experimenting with them can help you grow. Here are some ideas.

Try simple applications of color. You don’t have to go all out. Incorporating one or two and still keeping the propping simple gives a balance of boldness with minimalism. 

Lower angles can create a towering effect for your subject, giving it a more striking presence. 

A tighter shot with focus on the top of a drink or bowl, highlighting the garnish, communicates a strong message as well.

If propping your scene isn’t your strength, focus on the subject. If you’ve put in the time styling your salad, for example, fill the frame with the details of your hero.

Experiment with a print. Incorporate something simple with you cooler tones and minimalism. It will hint a more maximalist style. 

When trends come around that aren’t an exact fit, you can always find ways to make them your own. 

How do you define your work - more maximal or minimal?

Six Books That Changed My Styling and Photography

Few books on my shelf fail to inspire me, but as I look back on my style and the path of my work, I can see the impact some very specific books have had on the photos I create. There is no doubt that these books made me a better stylist and photographer.

I find it’s important to look everywhere for inspiration, especially outside of where we most expect to find it. These books are not how-to guides for photography and only about half are even related to food photography. Seeing them, reading them, and understanding their perspective provides me with something that I bring back to my work day after day. 

Those things slowly evolved into my eye and my photos. This is truly what it takes to create your own art. Maybe they will inspire you as well, or at the very least inspire you to go searching for your own list.

(Some books in the list are links back to my Bookshop.org shop where a purchase will support independent bookstores and earn me a very small affiliate commission.)

What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio.

This was the first photography book on my shelf and my first introduction to documentary photography. It remains the most impactful 15 years later. My background in nutrition is what launched my interest in food and food culture. That interest is what motivates my work in food styling and photography with an emphasis in where food comes from. This book still encourages me to capture a different perspective. On the dietary and nutrition side of things, while I didn’t know it then, it laid the foundation for my belief that there is no one right way to eat. 

Home Made by Yvette van Boven with Photography by Oof Verschuren.

All of her cookbooks inspire me, because I have all but one. But this was the first one I added to my collection many years ago. Seeing the photos by Oof Verschuren in this book was striking to me during a time when everything in food photography appeared very much the same. They were truly original and encouraged me to insert my own little differences into my photos. They almost serve as a sign of permission that you can do your own thing.

Bountiful: Recipes inspired by our garden by Todd Porter and Diane Cu.

This book inspired me to start capturing what is outside with what is in. It helped that I took a workshop with Todd and Diane about the time this book was published. The book has also taught me to create my own scenes when what I want to photograph isn’t right there for me to capture. 

Wabi-Sabi Welcome by Julie Porter Adams.

This book met me right where I was when I found it several years ago. I wanted, and still want, simplicity. It educated me on the concept of wabi-sabi and allowed me to incorporate more of that - negative space, natural elements - into my photos. 

In the Mood for Colour by Hans Blomquist.

All of his books are worthy of your shelf, but this one in particular helped me appreciate original color. I’m typically drawn to neutrals and muted tones in my work, but when I flip though this book I’m encouraged to add pops of color where they work. It has also shown me that color can be present without being loud or demanding. It can be rich and intriguing. 

The Multi-Hyphen Life by Emma Gannon.

No, there isn’t a photo in this book, but it did something for me that no other book has. That is to embrace the fact that I do many things. I am a stylist-photographer-writer. I consult, direct, style props, develop recipes, create photos, capture photos, and write words that go with it all. After years of feeling like this made me less than because I wasn’t focused on one thing or served one narrow role as part of a photography team, I finally embrace it and know it makes me so much better at my work. I don’t have to do it all, but can, and often do, do it all. 

If you are on a search for more books to add to your reading list, always feel free to check out my page on Bookshop.org where I keep updated lists of all my favorites. 

Three Key Factors for Creating a Photography Style

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Identifying a style in photography is something I consider to be the most difficult thing in my work. It’s because I love A LOT of things. Dark, mysterious, shadowy mood is as interesting to me as bright oversaturated subjects on colorful backdrops. 

But loving just about everything and finding joy and inspiration in it, doesn’t mean it’s true to me. 

I’m on a style journey myself. I was warned early on that reevaluating your style and being drawn to new techniques in styling and how you take photos is something that will evolve - with your experience, age, and place in life. 

And I’m there right now. I’m asking myself - do I still love my work or am I ready to explore new looks? (It doesn’t help that I’m pretty sure the answer to both of those is yes. Haha!)

For me, style was something that I knew I needed, but I initially didn’t seek it out. I only knew I’d established one when people started telling me that they could definitely identify my photography style.

I’ll say that I think it’s a much better way to go if you seek it out first. But by reflecting on things and breaking down what I put into my photos, I was able to kind of work backward to better understand what had really created it. I sum it up into these three key factors.

Knowing what invigorates you.

Most people might say inspire, but I prefer invigorate. Invigorate means to bring energy and life to, to animate, and also to stimulate. When I see art or create art that speaks to me, I feel downright invigorated. I get excited, it gives me energy, and it stimulates a sense of creativity and eagerness to be productive.

Some examples of this in terms of subject for me is where our food and drink comes from and that extends from farms to food culture and travel. Human elements in food photos, but only hints and in abstract ways, like the knife in the artichoke photo on the left above.

I’m invigorated by captures of these things portrayed in muted tones, but not those completely without color. I fall into late summer and early autumn when it comes to seasonal color psychology. And I love photos that play with light and shadows.

This also extends to the type of environments that invigorate you. I love outdoor light at dusk and dawn, foggy days, and natural shadows created by winter light. This is why I also prefer natural light in a studio setting.

What invigorates you? What do you undeniably love when you see it – either in a photograph or another work of art? How can you bring that into your own work?

Using your location and experiences.

 We all live in a place that is unique to us and we have all had unique experiences, no matter how mundane your life may feel at times.

Place and geographical location is one of the top complaints I hear for lack of inspiration. I’ve listened to one person complain about living in New York City with a lack of flowers and vegetation while I simultaneously watch another person create exceptional photos and videos of the same place. I know people who feel the Midwest is boring. Meanwhile, I can’t wait to get out and see vast fields of corn like those I grew up in when I visit my family, just so I can create new photos.

What are you overlooking? What about you, where you come from, and where you have been can you add to the inspiration for your work? Does growing up around more concrete than vegetation allow you to uncover a beautiful perspective others miss? Does being a parent make you exceptionally organized in how you work? Does being single give you more control over your time to explore new techniques? Use it.

For me, while I live in California now, I grew up in Indiana and that is where my love of food and farm began. I also have a background in nutrition which drives my view of clean, simple, fresh produce. I travel a lot and I bring bits and pieces of that in the form of props and linens home with me to use in my photos. I’m also adventurous in how I seek out surfaces.

Find that thing you do.

 A style goes beyond a subject. You can carry a style through many subjects. Style also doesn’t have to be a choice between creating bright photos or dark, moody photos.

Style can come from the type of light you always use, the same aperture, styling with a repeating composition, the angle you most often shoot at, something creative such as always shooting through or always creating deep shadows.

Start with what you like to do and repeat it. If you don’t know what that is, take a look at past photos and see if you can identify any similarities that result from something you always do.

For me, if I had to narrow it down, this is really negative space. I love space in my photos, empty space. This goes for how I style food and how I capture photos outdoors. I also feel that always using natural light contributes to my style.

And this is the biggest area for me that I’m exploring in terms of style. I don’t plan to leave my current practices behind, but I’m working to establish more things that I do to build on the style I already have.

Struggle with style? The CreatingYOU.® newsletter is here to help you find yours.