Specialization in Visual Storytelling through Culinary Photography

Camera Fundamentals for Food Photography

Module 2

Adrian Mueller, known for capturing irresistible food and beverage imagery for brands like McDonald’s and Kellogg’s, reveals how to harness the beauty of natural light. With his guidance, you’ll dive into essential techniques in composition, lighting, and editing—transforming everyday dishes into striking photographs that feel both authentic and refined. Let daylight become your most powerful storytelling tool.

13 lessons (3h 7m)

The first step is to review important camera functions. Here I'll tell you about your lens choice for food photography and the difference between working handheld and with a tripod. I'll also explain the different effects of the aperture for depth of field and how this applies to the project.

Now I'll explain essential concepts regarding composition, including the rule of thirds, negative space, image orientation, and how to deal with objects along the edge of your frame.

The Composition

Understanding Natural Light

To work effectively with natural light, you need to understand the different qualities and colors light can have depending on the time of day. Here you'll see how best to deal with low and high contrast situations.

20m

Mood Board and Sketches

To start planning the project for this course, I'll show you how you can fuel your inspiration, excitement, and motivation by making mood boards and sketches.

Next, I'll review the equipment, light shaping tools, and materials that you will need to complete the project. You'll understand how the surfaces, props, and ingredients you choose will depend on the mood board and the sketches you've made.

Equipment and Materials

12m

Food Styling Tips

Here are the most important, simple, but effective food styling tips you need to know to work on your project and any other future endeavors.

Lighting: Knowledge in Action

Here I will quickly review everything needed before setting up the set for the photoshoot.

Taking the Photo: Indirect Daylight 1

This is your step-by-step guide on how to build, frame, light and capture your shot, including which light shaping tools to use and how. For the first part of this photoshoot, I will be working with indirect daylight.

Taking the Photo: Indirect Daylight 2

I will now place the stand-in food to see how it looks and how I can light it before the real food and drink come in and I capture them.

Taking the Photo: Direct Sunlight

Next, I will be taking the second picture in direct sunlight. I will teach you how to find and set up the perfect spot to shoot with direct sunlight at your studio, apartment, house, or atelier.

20m

Retouching the Images 1

In this lesson, you will see how to edit your images. I will start by teaching you how to use the edit tools on your phone. Then I'll show you my process for editing images in Adobe Photoshop. This includes manipulating shadows, highlights, and contrast and enhancing light to dark transitions. You'll also see how to play with layers.

15m

Retouching the Images 2

After finishing editing my first image, I will move on to the second one and repeat a similar process.

Tips for Sharing Your Work

Here I'll share ideas and tips on how to present your work on social media and how to build an impressive website without knowledge of coding or web design.

In this lesson, we’ll learn a little bit about what food styling actually is and the key principles to consider.

Module 3

Step into the flavorful world of Kimberly Espinel, where every dish becomes a canvas of color and emotion. As a food stylist, photographer, and author of [i]Creative Food Photography[/i], she brings a distinctive warmth to her work with brands like KitchenAid and Waitrose. Learn to style, photograph, and edit your favorite meals while discovering your personal visual voice—one delicious frame at a time.

13 lessons (2h 57m)

What Is Food Styling?

16m

Understanding Colour Theory

Colours are powerful and beautiful and knowing how to use colours to your advantage is key in food styling! It’s especially important if you want to find a level of success on Instagram with your food images, which is why we’re deep into this super fun topic!

How to Create a Mood Board and Build a Shot List

In this lesson, you’ll learn the art of mood board creation and discover how powerful mood boards are in preparing for food photography and food styling session. Discover why creating a shopping list and shoot list are a MUST for nailing your food image and making your photo look professional and delectable.

Shopping and Ingredient List

Let's see what are the things you need to capture your food in the best way possible.

11m

Styling Pancakes 1

I’ll start my styling with a stack of pancakes. This is a popular dish on Instagram and a good example to showcase all the techniques we’ve talked about so far.

Now, we are going to add even more colour and textures to our pancakes to make them ready for the shooting.

Styling Pancakes 2

16m

Styling a Soup: Light and Bright 1

In this lesson, we’ll style another scene, but in very different ways. I’ll demonstrate how to create a different look, using a green goddess soup.

Styling a Soup: Light and Bright 2

It's time to make any adjustments we need to do in order to obtain the effect we want for our shot. Let's see how!

11m

Styling a Hummus Bowl: Dark and Moody 1

In this lesson, you will learn how to use the mood board we created in Unit 2 and capture a purple beetroot hummus in a moody and cosy set-up using a different angle.

Styling a Hummus Bowl: Dark and Moody 2

After taking our test shots, we need to make a few changes to enhance the moody atmosphere we are going for and to make the dish pop out.

In this lesson, we’ll take our shots and use the editing program Lightroom to edit and finesse them.

Editing in Lightroom 1

Now that we have edited the first 2 photos, it's time to focus on the third one, export it, and get ready to upload all of them onto Instagram.

Editing in Lightroom 2

Sharing Your Work on Instagram

Ready to discover my 5 top Instagram posting tips for maximum engagement and exposure? Let's unveil them.

11m

Module 4

Join Nia Ravichandran and Kyle van Bavel as they blur the lines between food and fantasy, transforming everyday ingredients into mesmerizing levitating visuals. With a portfolio that spans Sony Europe, Magnum Ice Cream, and celebrity chef Sharon de Miranda, their bold, colorful style speaks volumes. Learn how to sketch, plan, light, and shoot with intention—crafting images that float, shine, and spark irresistible desire.

14 lessons (1h 23m)

What Is Levitation Photography?

So, what is levitation photography? In this lesson, we will provide an overview of this artform and explain what makes it so magical.

Materials for the Course

For the levitation photo shoot to be a success, you will require a few items. In this lesson, we will cover all the items you will need to create that perfect levitation shot.

Camera Basics and Frame Orientation

We will now go over some camera basics and practise framing different types of shots. We'll also discuss the camera settings we most often employ and offer some pointers on how to deal with some issues you might run into.

Understanding Light Direction and Light Modifiers

How can you manipulate light so that your pictures look amazing? Because we're big fans of learning by example, we'll show you how to use light to create a crisp, sharp image by taking pictures of some honey.

Color Theory

As part of this lesson, you'll gain an understanding of color theory and how to tell a story with colors. We will discuss the color wheel and extract the meaning of different schemes.

Time to Get Inspired

In this lesson, you will learn how to pick out elements for your course project by constructing a mood board of images that can inspire you along the way.

Sketching the Process

With the mood board in hand, you can begin to compose the major components of your course project. In this lesson, we will list some things to keep in mind while you're sketching.

Foraging for the Props and Equipment

It's time to gather all of the props and materials you will need for the photo shoot! We have also provided an edited checklist below to help you make sure you have everything you need.

Let's Set the Scene!

In this lesson, we will show you how to set up the scene. During this process, we will apply some of the lighting tips you've learned covered in the previous lessons.

Constructing the Photo Piece by Piece

Next, we will add food and props to the scene. We will show you how to achieve the levitation effect and capture some photos.

Some Tips to Help You along on Set

In this lesson, I will share some troubleshooting tips as well as things to keep in mind during the photoshoot. Let's dive in!

Lightroom Editing

In the lesson, we will begin by editing the photos in Lightroom. Here we will make some basic edits like color correction, adjusting the exposure, and so on.

Photoshop Editing: Combining the Pictures 1

This is where the real magic happens! In this lesson, we will show you how to combine all the different photos into one and edit out the imperfections in Photoshop.

20m

Photoshop Editing: Combining the Pictures 2

To conclude the creative process, we will make the final touches to bring our image to a strong finish, before showing you how to export it from Photoshop.

Module 5

Gerard + Belevender bring a fresh, whimsical lens to still-life photography, blending art direction with storytelling to stir memory and emotion. With clients like Little Saints and DADA Daily, and editorial features in Compound Butter, their visuals are both nostalgic and bold. Discover how to turn everyday ingredients into evocative scenes that linger in the viewer’s imagination.

14 lessons (2h 22m)

How to Generate Original Ideas

In this lesson, we'll show you how we come up with ideas, and we'll give you some tips for a consistent flow of new ideas. Once you've come up with an idea, it's essential to mind map it further to ensure you're exploring all options.

Exploring Ideas through Research

Now that you have your idea, you'll research everything you can about it. You'll look at its history, pop culture influences, personal memories, and anything else related to it.

When you're done researching, it's time to write a narrative statement that captures the mood and concept you're trying to emulate. Here, we'll show you how to do this!

Creating a Narrative

Creating a Mood Board

In this lesson, we'll show you how to set up a mood board with references to the overall aesthetic and any notes you've taken during your research.

Working with Food

In this lesson, we'll discuss all of the various ways you can work creatively with food. You definitely don't need to be a chef! We'll also talk about the food prep you can do beforehand to help your shoot day go smoother and faster.

Setting the Scene in Milanote

Using the narrative and mood board as a guide, it's time to start visualizing what a single photo would look like. You'll be asked questions about your scene that will help you design a set that communicates the narrative statement you made.

Camera Angle, Color Palette, and Lighting

Now we'll teach you how to create a lighting plan and a color palette, and decide on a camera angle for the narrative. These should always be referring back to the narrative statement and mood board.

Next, you'll learn how to turn your mood board into a real-life set. We'll explore different ways to build sets and teach you some resourceful techniques. In addition, we'll talk about how to find or make props at home.

Set Design and Props

Technical Equipment and Settings

In this lesson, we'll talk about the camera gear and lighting that we'll be using to capture the scene.

Setting up the Scene with Tethering

Next, we'll start assembling the set using the mood boards as a reference. In addition, we'll discuss how tethering allows you to compose your scene more easily.

Lighting and Styling

Once the scene has been set, it's time to add in the lighting and style the props to represent the narrative statement.

After a few final touches on the scene, we're ready for the photoshoot! In this lesson, we'll show you how to add the last details and capture the photo.

Shooting the Final Photo

Editing the Final Photo 1

All of our photos will now be loaded into Adobe Lightroom, and we'll review them to choose the best one. Then, we'll discuss how to adjust the basic exposure, color, and sharpness. Next, we'll move to Adobe Photoshop, and open the references to edit the image using color grading, contrast, saturation, and so on.

Editing the Final Photo 2

Last but not least, we'll teach you how to merge the layers in Photoshop and start working on smaller details in order to clean up and finalize the image.

This lesson will focus on the importance of color choices and color combinations. How can you harness the power of color to achieve the desired mood and impact?

Module 6

Get ready to see fruits and vegetables in a whole new light with Alexis Jesup and Max Hoffman, the creative force behind Colors Collective. Their bold, playful approach transforms everyday ingredients into striking visual statements. Through thoughtful color choices, set design, and precise editing, you’ll learn to craft images that not only stand out—but tell a story that’s uniquely yours.

13 lessons (1h 12m)

Colors

Shapes

We will now talk about the importance of shapes! You will learn how we use shapes in our work and how to create your own.

Food and Props

Let's turn our attention toward food and props! We will teach you how to best select and source them, as well as styling techniques to consider when deciding on your preferences.

Research and Mood Board

In this lesson, we will cover where to find inspiration for your course project and guide you through the process of creating a mood board.

Sketching

Why is it so important to create concept sketches and a plan for your set? Find out in this lesson! We will walk you through this preparation process and explain how it helps.

Planning the Lighting

Next, we will introduce the topic of lighting! You will learn why it's important, as we guide you in choosing which lighting is best for your image.

Set Creation

In this lesson, we will show you how to refer to your concept sketches to create and build your set. To do this, we will walk you through how to assemble any necessary studio equipment required for the set-building process.

Styling

Next, we will show how to organize your props on the day of the shoot, style your scene, and keep your props looking their best.

Lighting

By now, your scene should be coming together nicely. The final touch to perfect is lighting. In this lesson, we will teach you how to ensure optimal lighting as well as demonstrate the importance of light modifiers.

Photography and Initial Adjustments

Your set is ready! We will now guide you through the process of capturing your final image, beginning with setting up your camera. From there we will move on to tethering your camera and finally photographing your scene. We will also go over applying initial color and lighting adjustments to your selection in Lightroom in order to begin the editing process. Then, we will teach you how to export the image as a JPEG or into Photoshop.

12m

Postproduction: Editing in Photoshop 1

In this lesson, we will go over our retouching process for our selected photo. To start with, you will learn how to use the "Spot Healing Brush" tool to begin the initial clean-up process.

Postproduction: Editing in Photoshop 2

In the second part of this lesson, we will continue to identify and make minor adjustments to the image to improve its quality, such as adjusting the brightness of the beverages. Let's go!

Social Media and Monetizing

Finally, we will talk about how social media has helped us to build our client base and grow our business. You will learn how we use social media to network, as well as why consistency in sharing your work is important. To conclude, we will cover how we use the process taught in this course to make money!

Module 7

Step into the imaginative world of Victoria Granof, where food becomes a language of emotion, style, and storytelling. With a career spanning iconic names like Häagen-Dazs and Nespresso, she shows you how to build a visual campaign from the ground up—shaping ideas, directing scenes, and styling each element with intention. Create images that not only sell, but speak.

12 lessons (1h 21m)

Elements and Principles of Design

Let's start by learning about the elements and principles of design. Respectively, these are the tools and the rules that will help you create compelling images. They are the foundation of every project I work on.

Every Picture Tells a Story

This lesson will teach you how to compose your photographs. You'll learn about the six foundational compositions and the styling aesthetics that I regularly use.

Working with Camera Angles

There are four foundational camera angles in food photography. This lesson will teach you how to distinguish them and know when to use them.

The Power of Light

Light affects the mood of your pictures. It is important that you understand light and how best to position any source of lighting, even if you're not the one who takes the picture. Let me guide you through the basic notions of light and shadows.

The Narrative

To start with, I will guide you in conceptualizing a story/narrative for your campaign. To do so, you'll have to take into account your target audience and the brand's identity.

The Visual Identity

We will now see how you can identify the overall look and feel of your campaign. This will mean defining the mood of your images, deciding on a color palette and a style of photography, and more.

The Mood Board and Brief

Whether you are presenting your ideas to a client or creating a reference for yourself and your team, making a mood board for your visual references and a written brief describing what you need to accomplish in your photoshoot will help fulfill everyone’s expectations and help the shoot run smoothly.

The Kit

As a food photographer, you'll need to assemble a whole food styling kit for your different projects. In this particular case, I'll show you the tools needed to style ice cream, which will be the main element of my project.

Working with Ingredients

We will finally begin to work with the food. I'll be showing you how to make fake ice cream with powdered sugar, corn syrup, and vegetable shortening. In this way, you'll start learning many tips and tricks on how to mix the ingredients you need to make it all look real.

Creating the Food

In this lesson, you will learn how to create ice cream cups, sandwiches, and milkshakes. You'll see how to make it all look delicious and authentic.

Setting the Scene

Here you'll learn about set design and the different ways you can use props for your photoshoot. I'll give you some tips on how to set everything up so you can easily reproduce this at home.

The Shoot!

In this lesson, we will set up our shots, style them, and work with the photographer to capture the most compelling images possible. Along the way, we'll have to make sure we're fulfilling everything set out in the brief.