Shoestring Food Photography - a budget food photography guide
I’ve finally completed it and released it into the wild!
Shoestring Food Photography is an e-book, guide, PDF, document, whatever you want to call it, all about starting food photography on a budget.
Do you often feel like you can’t afford to invest in expensive photography equipment? Or do you look at gorgeous images and think that you’re not ‘creative enough’ to create those images too? Do you want to LEARN how to think of these ideas? This guide is for you!
Already sold on the idea? Grab the guide here!
Otherwise, keep reading…
Why write a budget food photography guide?
I know just how daunting food photography can seem, especially when you’re exposed to beautiful images every day both on social media and traditional media like magazines. All you’re seeing is the final product and not what actually goes into it, so you have no idea how to even get from A to B. All you’re left with is that feeling of inadequacy as you compare your images to their images.
I also know just how expensive food photography can get and what it’s like to have virtually zero budget. I’ve been there.
I want to show just how you CAN get from A to B on a budget. I want to show not only that food photography can be approachable, but also that it’s not simply about snapping a pic nor is it about innate talent or expensive equipment. It is a learnable skill. I want to show that it’s not about what you have, it’s about how you use it. I want to show how you can both learn and do food photography on a budget.
Am I writing this because I think less budget-friendly courses etc. are pointless? Absolutely not! A lot of the time these courses have opportunity for 1-on-1, videos, perhaps live sessions, and a cohort or community, all of which can be super valuable. This is not meant to replace those, but to offer a budget friendly option to those on a budget, those who are perhaps unsure of whether it’s for them and just want to dip their toes in, those who want to go at their own pace or don’t have time for live sessions, those who already have a community, or those who just want to consolidate their knowledge or provide some understanding to shoot more mindfully. Or all of the above!
Who was this food photography guide written for?
I wrote this with beginner food photographers and those on a budget in mind, as well as those with an eye for photography but who feel they lack understanding and direction when shooting. This is also for those who find themselves shooting on autopilot and want to shoot more mindfully.
This is NOT for those who want a ‘quick fix’ for their photography or those who feel they are already a master of their craft. Like any skill, food photography is an art that needs to be practised. This guide cannot force you to practise. The information provided must be applied to your own shooting to get the most out of it. It has been designed so that you learn the skills to continually learn from your own and others’ photography, but this also means you have to put in the work to see results - this guide is just giving you the tools to do so!
What is the aim of this food photography guide?
The aim of this guide is to provide you with the information to go forth and mindfully create beautiful images that make YOU happy as well as understand how to create images that also make other audiences happy (such as for a client!).
As I mentioned above, it was designed not only to provide you with practical information that you can apply straight away, but also information and space for you to play and experiment, as well as continually learn, even away from the guide.
What does this food photography guide contain?
This guide contains over 85 pages of information, examples, and exercises, divided into 8 chapters:
Foundations - all about camera settings so that you can make the most of the camera you have as well as understand them when I refer to them in later chapters
Tools of the Trade - all about budget equipment and their pros and cons so you can make an informed decision and know what to look for, as well as budget props
Putting the ‘Photo’ in Photography - all about lighting. Specifically natural light, but these properties of light can be applied to artificial light as well
Setting the Scene - all about composition and the effect it has on your viewer (and why!)
From Concept to Camera - all about storytelling, colour, and planning to best make use of your knowledge from previous chapters and convey what you intend to convey
The Icing on Top - all about editing, and showing how and why I edited certain images a certain way
Troubleshooting Your Shooting - all about analysing and fixing your own image, and what to do when you’re feeling stuck in a shoot
The End is Only the Beginning - all about how and where to start, and a note from me to you
What will you get out of this food photography guide?
A firm understanding of how to make the most of your camera
The knowledge to plan and execute a shoot from start to finish
The knowledge and foundation to continuously learn
Confidence in shooting mindfully
Direction when shooting and planning
The tools to cultivate your own style
My own personal insight and perspective
A curiosity for photography! One of the most important things!
So if you’re ready to kick-start (or supplement) your food photography journey, pull up a chair and join me.
Grab the guide here!
Still unsure? That’s ok! For now, feel free to grab my free ‘Analysing an Image’ guide by subscribing below!