BLOG POSTSTEVE ADAMS STUDIO

1/23/2015

ENHANCE YOUR FOOD AND DRINK PHOTOGRAPHY WITH STORYTELLING

“A picture is worth a thousand words,” is a very old cliché, and photography that also tells a story is worth even more. Calculated storytelling (whatever the subject matter) can create memorable images that invoke an emotional response. When you drive emotions with food and drink photography, you can influence viewers to do what you’re hoping for, like share a photo socially, order a specific dish or signature cocktail, or try a new flavor of chips.

Trigger an Emotional Response

In beverage and commercial food photography, inciting desire is key. Use a light source and angle that best demonstrates the textural and flavorful qualities of your dish. You do not want sacrifice your subject’s ability to generate feelings of hunger or thirst with distracting filters and lighting, or too much context. Keep your main focus on the taste and quenching or nourishing qualities of your subject, while then adding other chapters to the story.

Nostalgia is a very powerful emotion to trigger with beverage and food photography. If your target audience yearns for better days, vintage dishware can bring up positive associations. Your audience does not necessarily have to have had experienced a nostalgic era to appreciate it; look at self-proclaimed hipsters who revel in all that is retro.

Human beings have a natural tendency to want to belong. Beer commercials are a very good example of this bandwagon effect. While they are not permitted to show people actually enjoying alcoholic beverages, and cheap beers are not renowned for their taste, beer advertisements still successfully portray their beverages as a cool party must-have. You don’t need to use a single person in your shots to jumpstart the bandwagon.

[Photo: http://www.steveadamsstudio.com/Portfolio/Beverage/7/thumbs]

Use your setup to show how your subject brings people together – and why it’s an essential part of being with other people. A dinner party setting can suggest that a product feeds into elegant and highly desirable get-togethers. Setting up a beverage shot with a pair of glasses hints that the beverage beautifully complements a romantic date.

Bring Action to Still Photos

Illustrate an experience by adding action to your photography. Capturing a drink mid-pour is a common way to create a more captivating photo. Rising steam, misty condensation and scattered crumbs all suggest movement in a way that makes a photo more memorable. Use action to not only energize your photo, but to strategically direct attention to important details.

A popular photo trend of 2015 is to photograph a dish that appears to have been recently and thoroughly enjoyed, instead of a full, freshly loaded plate and topped-off wineglass. This effect can look messy, but it tells a tale of satisfaction. It’s unexpected and when thoughtfully executed, oddly satisfying.

[Photo: http://www.steveadamsstudio.com/Portfolio/Beverage/15/thumbs]

Set the Scene For Your Story

As I’ve said before, props and strategic background elements should be used smartly to avoid taking the focus off your subject. Use just a few essential visual aids to suggest a time, place and event. Your light source can help you replicate a garden party, a busy café, or a trendy bar scene without leaving your studio. Natural lighting is not always reliable, but an assortment of lighting choices will give you optimal lighting day or night, rain or sun.

The placement of complementary objects helps narrate your storytelling. Are the utensils neatly arranged on either side of the plate, or organically rested across the dish? Is your subject below, above or behind your props? Keep in mind where you would like your viewers to look first, and how you can effectively direct their attention.

Every photo has a story, a “who, what, why, where and when”. Evoking emotions through storytelling empowers food and beverage photography and influences viewers to take notice.

If you are interested in taking or need some great food photos, in addition to other St. Louis advertising photography, such as beverage, animal and pet photography, or other advertising subjects, please give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to answer all your questions and

give you the advice you need so that your next shoot can be a special one. You can reach me (314) 781-6667 or via email at: info@steveadamsstudio.com.