Tips and tricks – do’s and dont’s when making a salad for a photo shoot.
Work with fresh and beautiful ingredients. You might want to buy some extra, to use as prop styling or if you have to re-think your setting.
Cut the vegetables in perfectly imperfect pieces. different shapes will bring life to your salad.
Keep all the ingredients separate and put the salad, step by step on the chosen plate.
Save some of the ingredients, you might want to use them for styling on the side. It will make the photo more relaxed with a nice kitchen feeling. It also gives a hint of the taste.
When the photographic angle is from above you don’t need to create the same depth as from a side angle.
Start with the larger salad leaves and then add the smaller ones. Mix in cucumber, avocado and ingredients that will do the highlights, for example a blood orange.
Add sprinkles, such as pomegranate, seeds or nuts. Also add something bright for the eye to focus on, such as is this case goat cheese. That will also help to create contrasts.
Now I think there is a great mix between different colours, shapes and texture.
Fill the “black holes”, but do not fill all the empty spaces. There is a risk that the plate will look to packed without airy spaces.
If you – as in this example – also have a plate with a sharp inner line, show some of it! That will create harmony, balance and composition.
Regarding the salad, work with a spontaneous look. If it is to symmetrical, remember to break som of the lines here and there.
Do not add any oil or dressing until the last minute, that will only make the salad look old and messy.
To dampen the white in the cheese use the oil or black pepper.
Final step! Add more moisture to the salad by using a spray bottle with water.
Conclusion:
– Work with fresh and beautiful ingredients
–Cut the vegetables in perfectly imperfect pieces • Save some of the ingredients, you might want to use them for styling on the side • Keep all the ingredients separate before plating
–Add something bright for the eye to focus on
–Do not fill all the empty spaces, the plate can look to packed without airy spaces
–Do not add any oil or dressing until the last minute before photo shoot
Good luck with your salad!
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