Every Recipe Needs a Dash of Soul
Updated: Aug 19
Thomas Keller, acclaimed restauranteur and chef said, “A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook must bring soul to the recipe.”
If I may take a bit of liberty and parallel his sentiment as it relates to our craft of food and beverage photography - a recipe image has no soul unless you, as the food photographer, food stylist or set stylist, bring soul to the image.
The appeal of any recipe is 5-fold as all our senses engage when individual ingredients are mingled, melded and transformed into a final dish. A debate can be held as to which sense reigns supreme, or which signals first to our brains of something potentially amazing in the offing. Not debatable is the impact of that first impression. When it comes to food photography the goal must be to ensure full visual engagement and potentially evoke an emotional response that taps memories and invokes the play of our other sensory reactors, specifically smell and taste.
A food image well done not only depicts in illuminated detail the full potential of the ingredients as prepared in any specific recipe, but also engages the imagination of the viewer as their eyes drink in the color and light, shadows and shapes of the dish. Immediately they are connected to previous experiences or, perhaps, transported to wishful ones. Conversely, food images poorly orchestrated, carelessly plated, prepared or lit, will potentially leave the viewer confused or indifferent to the presentation before them. And with that, the opportunity to inspire a new kitchen adventure, ingredient exploration or flavor profile is lost.
At Blue Moon Studio we work with an exceptional team of stylists who share our commitment to the art of food photography and embody the notion that the soul of any recipe image lies in the hands of its creators. For your next food related project let us show you the difference putting a little soul in your food images can make!
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