My goal for this series of images was to create dimension through shadows and to expand my portfolio in terms of colors and pushing visual boundaries.
My thought process was that I knew the general mood of what I wanted the images to be, but the execution was yet to be determined. Once I took the first image, I immediately liked the contrast of the surface and the products. Ultimately, I chose props that coordinated with the ingredients of each product and styled the image from there. I am happy with the end result and I am glad that my work is taking a turn towards moodiness and play on texture.
My original intention was to only shoot the first image below, however, I ended up doing individual frames of each because the products are actually sold separately.
Side note, I noticed that I have used this surface in a few other shots that I have taken, I guess I have a favorite!
Things that I learned:
Have a clear plan when it comes to props.
There were a few props that I ended up not using which is usually the case. However, I need to be more intentional with my plan and visualize clearly before the day of shooting. Overall, I am happy with the propping choices.
Keep the crop while shooting and create from there.
I do this now, but in the beginning, I would shoot outside of the crop and decided how to crop later. I like the intention of knowing the boundaries of what will be in the frame to create a stronger image.
Having a soft focus on the very back of the image is not all bad.
I’m glad that I focused mainly on the products rather than every plane of focus. It helps direct the eye to what the viewer should be looking at and relaxes the eye.
