Did you know there are ways to maximize your photoshoot to get more visual content?
At Food Photo Studio, we actively look for ways to help you get the most out of your photoshoot with us. In this blog post, we’ll detail:
What does (and doesn’t) make a good shoot add-on
Our favorite add-ons to consider for your next photoshoot (with visual, side-by-side examples)
Why we offer them (when other studios charge extra)
The best time to discuss shoot add-ons
What Makes a Great Photo Shoot Add-On?
For us, add-ons are simple additional shots we offer outside of the original shot list.
The best add-ons are ones we can easily fit into our existing shoot schedule because they build on a setup we’re already planning. With a quick tweak or swap, we can provide you with more photos or motion options for different uses.
Examples of add-ons we can easily offer are:
• Simple motion
• Different lighting
• Different angles
• Different props (such as holiday, seasonal, product)
So, what doesn’t make a good photo shoot add-on?
As much as we try to accommodate add-on requests, there are limitations. Some add-ons we simply cannot do because of the time it takes to set them up. They require a full shoot of their own. Examples include complex gif builds or recipe videos. These setups require about a half-day shoot, taking away time from the rest of the shot list. We love to shoot projects like these, and we’ll gladly work with you to plan dedicated time for them so we can create the best results possible!
Where Recipes Come From — And How They Can Help Food Companies Stand Out in the Marketplace
From experience, we know which add-ons are quick, and which will take longer. We only suggest add-ons that are true add-ons, and that will provide value and content without interrupting the rest of the shoot schedule. With any shoot, there’s a finite amount of time. We first and foremost aim to get the list of photos you need, and if we see opportunities to do a quick change to get an additional shot, we will always point it out.
4 Photo Shoot Add-Ons to Round Out Your Content Library
Here are some of our favorite photoshoot add-ons to make your shoot investment pay off even more:
Simple motion
Adding simple motion involves taking a still shot and applying a little bit of motion to it. The key word here is simple: Think a quick pan across a scene, or a zoom-in where both lighting and food won’t require too much of a change.
The 3 Types of Motion Visuals (with Examples) — and Why You Need Motion in Your Content Library
In the example below, we styled and shot the still burger at left, then rotated it and shot a video.
Different lighting
This varies from shoot to shoot, but generally we can make small adjustments to lighting to capture the same scene with a different look. A lot depends on what kind of shoot you’re starting from.
For example, if we’re doing a product shot (standard, super bright lighting with not a lot of shadows), it’s not too difficult to adjust the lighting to create more contrast for a different look, perhaps for social media.
That being said, it is key to start planning for this in pre-production, as a request to switch lighting is most difficult if we’re already on set. If we know that we want to add some different lighting effects, it’s a lot easier to pull off with preparation.
Two variations in lighting for one scene. Left: Rice and black-eyed peas on a wide leafy green were shot with focused light on the main subject. Right: A slight lighting change spills light over the entire scene to create deep shadows throughout.
Playing with Contrast in Food Photography (4 Types of Contrast with Examples)
Different angles
Common angles include: overhead, ¾ angle, straight on (and any degrees in between). We can often provide the same shot from a different angle, as long as it’s planned beforehand.
Typically, food stylists optimize their preparations specifically for one shot angle. If clients want a different angle of their product, we have to communicate that ahead of time to make sure that the product is being styled for different angles.
With a change to the angle, these two images look very different but were shot together. Left: A plate of pasta shot from overheard. Right: The same plate shot at a 3/4 angle, as well as the addition and rearrangement of props and backgrounds.
Different props
Prop changes involve adding, switching, or removing backgrounds and props to give you different options in the future.
Sometimes clients want to start with a shot on a white plate with white background with a couple items around it. From this base, we can then swap in and out different props such as:
• A gift card in front
• Seasonal items (for example, pumpkins and leaves for fall)
• Holiday-related items (red, white and blue colored props for the Fourth of July, or Christmas lights around the scene — and perhaps make a gif where those lights flash)
We can also take that plate and slip it into another background entirely, or remove props to create a simpler scene. Planning ahead for this add-on is key to making sure our stylist has all they need for each version of the shot.
Simple prop additions can provide seasonal options for your marketing needs. Left: A beautiful pecan apple tart shot with cutting board, knife, cloth napkin, and coffee cup. Right: The same image, adding seasonal autumn props (pinecones, dried leaf).
4 Things We Consider When Choosing Props for Your Food Photography Shoot
Why We Offer Photo Shoot Add-Ons
Two reasons: It’s fun and creative for us. We’re a full team of food stylists, prop stylists, and photographers who are agile at playing with these sorts of easy switches. We love nothing more than looking at a shot list and thinking of related shots we can capture with the same resources.
Our clients love it. Clients usually come to us for packaging photos, sales collateral, or social content. If they’re here to shoot one type, and we can suggest an add-on that gives them another, that’s a huge value add. Above all, we want to make sure you capitalize on the money you’ve spent for a shoot and leave our studio with as much content as possible.
What’s Your Brand’s Photography Style? 5 Popular Looks to Choose From (with Examples)
When to Discuss Shoot Add-Ons
We try to make add-on recommendations as soon as we see the shot list. Planning ahead allows us to keep everyone (photographer, food stylist, prop stylist) in the loop and have everything prepped and ready so the add-on doesn’t derail the shoot day schedule.
What Happens Before a Professional Photo Shoot? (Week by Week Photo Shoot Checklist)
Of course, if we’re on set and a situation naturally lends itself to an add-on, we won’t hesitate to suggest one then, too!
Conclusion: Shoot Add-Ons Can Maximize the Value of Your Photography Investment
We’ve very value-driven here at Food Photo Studio, and we like to be able to provide more assets for our clients. We always want our clients to feel like they're leaving with as much content as they possibly can get. Being proactive and collaborative with suggesting add-ons to shoots is one way we show clients our commitment to their success.
