How to Brainstorm Ideas for Food and Product Photography

It’s coming up with ideas that seems to get you stuck. At least that is what a lot of people tell me. It’s an issue with nearly every creative endeavor - the creative block. 

And when you are trying to come up with new and different ways to photograph your food and products, it’s even more of a challenge. You don’t want to do what everyone else does. 

I’m the same way. I used to hit creative blocks all the time. 

Then I started practicing my method for Idea Generation. Whenever I have a subject to photograph whether it’s a food such as soup or a salad, or a product like jewelry or a candle, I ask myself four questions. 

The answers to these questions lead to ideas for how I could photograph the subject. And I keep working on my answers until I have 10 solid ideas. 

Overtime, the questions and answers become a more natural process. Ideas are almost instantaneous. I rarely get stuck after doing this for over 10 years. 

Here are those questions. 

What ingredients were used to make it?

What tools did I use to make it?

What does this subject make me think of?

How would I present this to another person or how is it served or used?

Question one and two generate ideas for garnishes to use, fresh items to add to the frame, how-to shots, hints at flavors and scents for the viewer.

Question three helps you to create a mood with lighting and colors as well as generate ideas for the type of scene.

Question four gives ideas for how to package and present the subject, what to serve it in, the environment it would be served in.

Here is how I would answer the questions for a subject such as lentil soup and then a product such as a candle. 

Lentil Soup

What ingredients were used to make it?

Lentils, broth, carrots, celery, salt, pepper, herbs

What tools did I use to make it?

Saucepan, ladle, measuring cups, spoon

What does this subject make me think of?

Comfort, health and wellness, autumn, lunch, bread for dipping, crackers

How would I present this to another person or how is it served?

Bowl, mug, thermos, jar, on a tray, with sandwiches or a salad, with crackers or bread

From answering these questions I get the 10 ideas below.

10 Ideas for Photographing Lentil Soup

• Flatlay with all the ingredients

• Soup in saucepan with a ladle nearby

• Soup in a mug with warm browns, golds, and orange colors

• Soup in a bowl with crackers on the side

• Soup in bowls on a tray with crackers or bread

• Soup in saucepan on a tray with empty bowls or mugs and spoons on the side

• Soup in a jar or thermos prepping a to-go lunch

• Soup in a mug next to a salad

• Soup in a bowl on a plate with a half sandwich beside it

• Piece of rustic bread being dipped in a bowl of soup

Scented Candle

What ingredients were used to make it?

Wax, any scents associated - vanilla bean, fresh flowers, dried flowers, cotton balls, linen material, thyme, rosemary, lavender, lemons, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves

What tools did I use to make it?

Jars, wicks, lids, labels

What does this subject make me think of?

Autumn, winter, reading by the fire, comfort, blankets, table centerpiece, celebrations, intimate dining

How would I present this to another person or how is it served?

With matches, on a plate ready to burn, on a coffee table, as a gift with a bow or in a box, in a gift basket, with a book

From answering these questions I get the 10 ideas below.

10 Ideas for Photographing a Spiced Candle

• Candle surrounded by vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks and cloves

• Candle on a wood plate with matches next to it

• Tool flatlay with jars, wax, labels and other ingredients

• Candle with dried autumn leaves around it

• Candle lit, next to an open book on a table

• Blanket draped over the side of a couch or chair with candle lit on a table next to it

• Seasonal table centerpiece with candle in the center of a board surrounded by twigs, leaves, dried flowers, etc. 

• Candle lit in the center of a dining table with a bowl of salad nearby and two place settings

• Candle in a small gift basket with matches, a book, decorative tea bags and a mug

• Candle nestled in a small box with tissue or shredded paper
  
  

Here are a few photo examples with which of the questions led to the final photo. 

Finding Where You Fit With Photography and Styling

The other day, I watched a photographer I admire pack her gear for an on-site commercial shoot. There was so much stuff. All I could think was - no thanks.

Yes, all of that stuff was necessary for her. But do I want to photograph for billboards? It turns out that I’m pretty happy photographing for trade show displays, websites, food media, and the occasional supermarket promotion. 

On the flip side of this, someone commented on a past YouTube video of mine where my props were visible behind me - Oh, wow. You have so much stuff! Do I have to have that many props to create food photos? I don’t want that many props!

Not at all. High-quality print campaign photos can be created with a number of different professional cameras and lenses that you know how to use well. Beautiful food photos can be created with only a handful of props. 

The point is that viewing my process from the first photographer - I use way too little. 

Viewing from the perspective of the commenter on my video - I use way too much.

What’s important is that I’m super happy where I am. I know where I fit. 

Finding this spot took a lot of time, a lot of moments of feeling inferior. 

You don’t have to go through that. Do what I didn’t have the knowledge to do when I first started out, and give some thought to where you want to be. Where do you fit? Grow your skills there and the confidence in your work will follow. 

These are a few things I know about myself and my work as a photographer and stylist:

I don’t use a lot of gear.

I’ve encountered plenty of outstanding photographers who use minimal gear for many different reasons. They want to travel light. They can create what they what to create with what they have, there’s no reason to use more stuff. On the other hand, there are plenty of markets and types of photography that require advanced gear. 

The beauty of it is that you get to choose what category you fit into and how you want to pursue your own work. No one else. 

I prefer natural light and use it 95% of the time. 

This is a hot topic, specifically in food photography. I’ve read comments on photography message boards saying you’re not a professional food photographer if you don’t use artificial light. I’ve seen Instagram ads promising me that using artificial light will make my life so much easier. 

Can I use artificial light? Yes, in a minimal way. Do I want to? No. Not unless it’s absolutely necessary. I like the patience, challenge, and truly unique style natural light gives to my photos. I also get to work in a brightly lit, mood-boosting studio all day instead of a dark room. 

You can do either or both. Lots of types of photography that use natural light - on-farm, outdoor events, landscape, travel, weddings, branding, some interiors, street, architecture… 

Whatever you choose to use and excel at does not make you any less of a photographer. Don’t let anyone make you feel that way.

I am a stylist and photographer.

Many photographers are not stylists. You don’t have to be both. Most commercial and advertising shoots have teams of professionals all with a very specific role. 

I love styling and I prefer to style my own shoots. I love working alone at my own pace. At the same time, it can also be fun to work with others. All my client work requires some type of team effort, whether it’s art direction, campaign playbooks, color schemes, mood boards, or final photo decisions being made via phone calls, emails, or Zoom video calls. But personally, I do my very best work when I have the freedom to create alone based on what my client needs. 

Not everyone is like this. Others prefer to be around a team at all times. Again, the best part is you can choose how you work. 

I know my limits.

I like working alone and that means I have to know my limits. Intricately decorated cakes and pastry art are not my strengths. I’ve taken them on before and it led to more frustration than it was worth. I usually turn them down. If it’s a shoot I don’t want to pass up, I’d hire someone to help create or style the cake. Same with ice cream. It’s a tough subject alone (speaking from experience) so now I usually avoid it. 

Limits are something you can only learn with time. You have to step out of your comfort zone and even fail from time to time to find what is right for you. I feel like when I turned that point where I could say this is what I can do, and no, I don’t do that, my confidence in my work grew even more. 

Your turn. What are four things you can say about your photography and how you work? Say them with confidence and pursue them. Also, be flexible. They may change over time.

Learning outside your photography niche

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Sometimes we put blinders on. We focus on exactly what we want to do, learn exactly how to do it, and nothing is going to distract us. 

While there are so many situations in life where this is advantageous when it comes to photography and styling it can cause us to miss out on loads of helpful information. 

I’ve been an advocate for learning outside of your niche since I began styling and photographing food over 11 years ago.

I call it the Apply It Back method. It’s when you learn about something else and then you apply what you learned back to your own photography and photography niche. It’s a way to grow your skill and more importantly evolve your individual style. 

Here’s how it works for me:

• Landscape photography helps me see my horizon on food sets and keep the scene aligned.

• Learning about freezing motion in sports and nature photography helps me with food and drink action like pours and sprinkles. 

• Reading interior design books gives me ideas for color coordination and scenes. 

• Studying color psychology helps me with propping. 

• Floral design helps with color coordination and styling table scenes.

• People and portrait photography helps me with photographing my own hands in shots.

• Learning about natural light patterns and how to control them helps to improve even my phone photos and videos.

• Travel gives me ideas for how to reflect real life in my photos.

There are so many things to absorb outside of simply how to do food photography. All of our experiences and studies regardless of the focus and topic can be applied back to our art. 

Learning about other things isn’t time wasted. In fact, it can serve as an enjoyable creative break when you are feeling stuck or burned out.