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?

Tips for Adding Black Elements to Food Photography at Home

No time to read? You can listen to this post instead. Just click the play button below.

Dark, moody, mysterious. Even the brightest of photos can benefit from black elements added to your food and product photography set at home. It’s an especially fun element to add during October when you want a touch of festive Halloween in your photos. 

If you don’t want the mysterious and moody to take over, though, use black sparingly. The color is best used with a combination of lighter subjects, props, and surfaces to bring out its best qualities.

These are three ways to add more black to your photos this season with tips for creating a sense of balance and highlighting your subject well when doing so. 

Use black cheesecloth. Black linens which also have a light texture are perfect for food and product photos. Black cheesecloth is my favorite option, followed by black lace if you can find it. (shown in above image)

Black plates (but only if you have the right supporting props). As those who take my courses have heard me say time and time again - you can’t shoot a dark food, on a dark plate, on a dark surface with a dark linen. Well, you can, but you likely won’t love how it looks. 

One or more of these components of your set needs to capture the light and soften the look. Lighter foods that can be highlighted with natural light like work great on black props. 

Black utensils. If you are interested in a little touch of black that won’t overwhelm your whole set, black forks, knives and spoons are by far the best option. 

Tinted glassware. I found a glass several years ago at a vintage shop that had a unique black shade. It’s clear, but tinted black. I don’t use it often, but when I want to add subtle darker shades, it works perfectly.