Still Life Photography: Create Conceptual Images
A course by Gerard + BelevenderArt Direction and Photography Duo
A course by Gerard + Belevender, Art Direction and Photography Duo
Learn to tell visual stories by exploring color, camera angles, set design, props, and lighting to create carefully-composed images from scratch.
“The purpose of all our work is to fulfill our own creativity, to always have fun, and make images that excite or amuse us.”
Gerard + Belevender is an art direction and photography duo whose quirky approach to creativity has led them to collaborate with brands like Little Saints, Club Backdrops, DADA Daily, and Ban.do. They’ve also worked with publications such as Compound Butter, where their personal projects_Sunday Sinema_ and Scenes from Quarantine have been showcased.
In this online course, Gerard + Belevender teach you the process behind conceptualizing nostalgic still-life photos that resonate with your audience. Use food to spark memories and transport the viewer into your world through the power of photography.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 28 downloads
How to Generate Original Ideas
17 minutes, 3 seconds
Exploring Ideas through Research
10 minutes, 48 seconds
Camera Angle, Color Palette, and Lighting
14 minutes, 2 seconds
Set Design and Props
14 minutes, 58 seconds
Shooting the Final Photo
5 minutes, 0 seconds
Editing the Final Photo 1
17 minutes, 46 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know the creative duo behind Gerard + Belevender, Michelle and Jenna. Discover how their individual photography careers led them to start a studio together along with the influences that inspire them.
Learn how to generate original ideas and explore them through research. Then write a narrative statement that captures the mood and concept you’re trying to emulate, and develop a mood board for inspiration.
Discover Michelle and Jenna’s advice for working with simple foods and see how they use references to visualize a scene. Explore camera angles, color palettes, and lighting as well as set design and props in preparation for your shoot.
Time to put everything into practice! Start by looking at the equipment needed, then set up your scene with tethering, and style and light the space before capturing your image. To wrap up the course, Michelle and Jenna show you how to edit the finished photo by adjusting things like color, exposure, and sharpness.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a carefully-composed still-life photograph that tells a narrative around an element of food.
Who is this online course for?
This course is for photographers, creative directors, stylists, or anyone interested in conceptualizing scenes around food and nostalgia.
Requirements and materials
Basic photography skills are recommended.
In terms of materials, you will need a camera or smartphone, a light source, as well as access to Milanote, Capture One (if you are choosing to tether), Lightroom, and Photoshop. A tripod is also recommended.
Reviews
- 4 months ago
No me ha gustado y no lo recomiendo. Me parece que no hay demasiado contenido. Se centran mucho más en cómo es el proceso de recoger datos en Milestone que en crear una escena. No exponen argumentos o técnicas extrapolables a otros casos, son muy concretas para su proyecto. La traducción de la IA a castellano es pésima.
- 3 years ago
Very inspiring!
- 3 years ago
Too much gibberish for me. I didn't find out anything...
- 3 years ago
The prospect of a unique, colorful exploration that is most exciting! I am eager to try this course - and the bonus of discovering a great way to organize such a creative project.
- 3 years ago
This course is like a high dose of creativity.
Since then, Michelle and Jenna have conceptualized still images for brands like Little Saints, Club Backdrops, DADA Daily, and Ban.do, and worked with publications such as Compound Butter. One of their personal projects, The Artist Diet, has also been published internationally both in print and online.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Us
- Influences
- U2
The Project
- How to Generate Original Ideas
- Exploring Ideas through Research
- Creating a Narrative
- Creating a Mood Board
- U3
The Photoshoot Plan
- Working with Food
- Setting the Scene in Milanote
- Camera Angle, Color Palette, and Lighting
- Set Design and Props
- U4
Shooting the Photo
- Technical Equipment and Settings
- Setting up the Scene with Tethering
- Lighting and Styling
- Shooting the Final Photo
- Editing the Final Photo 1
- Editing the Final Photo 2
- FP
Final project
- Conceptual Still Life Photography
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for photographers with some experience who want to deepen their creative approach to food, editorial, and documentary-style photography.
You’ll need a camera (any type), basic lighting gear, and access to software like Lightroom, Photoshop, and Milanote. No advanced equipment is required—creativity is emphasized over gear.
You’ll learn techniques for shooting restaurant menus, capturing documentary-style images, and using natural light or creative setups to convey authentic stories and moods.
Yes, the course includes lessons on set design, worldbuilding, prop selection, and creating themed scenes inspired by movies, literature, and nostalgic references.
Absolutely! The course teaches you how to collect references, organize research boards, use Milanote, Pinterest, and mind mapping techniques for efficient creative planning.
You’ll explore narrative techniques, mood board creation, and color palette development to help shape a unique visual identity and thematic direction for your projects.
Yes, the course covers a range of lighting setups, from natural light for documentary and still life shoots to creative studio lighting for editorial and narrative scenes.