The Language of Food Photography Part 5 | Creating Moods with Ilva Beretta
Part one and part two of the series discuss how to see more creatively by using the elements and principles of design. In part three professional prop stylist Paula Walters shares her tips on how to choose the right props for your images. For part four, food stylist Tami Hardeman answered your questions on food styling.
Today for part five of the series, food and still life photographer Ilva Beretta is here talking about creating moods in food photography.
Swedish by birth but now living in Italy with her husband and their three kids, Ilva started her blog, Lucillan Delights , over 5 years ago which led to her new career as a food photographer and recipe developer. You can find her professional work at Ilva Beretta Photography. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter. Welcome Ilva!
When I start working on a new food image, one of the first things I think about is which mood I want to convey; or, when working with editors or creative directors, the mood they want me to create.
Depending on whether the photos are intended for magazine/editorial use or commercial use, there are many aspects that you have to take into consideration when you are creating a mood.
I will show you five different examples of food images I have shot recently to show you how I (or in some cases we) went about getting the image I was looking for.
1. Rustic Mood
Photo info: Canon 5D mark II, lens: 50mm, f/4,5 , iso 200
This shot of fresh peas is a proposal for a book cover for a book on local produce I was asked to do.
I had just bought a bag of fresh peas and I knew that they wanted a rustic feel to it with warm tones so I pulled out a dark brown wooden board to have as a background and placed it on a old table I have in my studio.
Then I looked at my props and found this old box I bought in a thrift shop for a few euros. It is a very simple shot but I had to think about a few things to get it right:
- First I had to consider the mood of the image, not too much light so I just used the light from a window on the right hand without using any reflectors because I wanted the peas and the pods to stand out from the dark brown.
- I also underexposed the photo slightly to deepen the shadows.
- I put the focus on the pea and with an aperture of f/4.5 the background is out of focus but most of the peapods are still quite focused.
The composition of the image was very important as I had to leave empty spaces in the right places where the title and texts had to go in which meant I had to shoot it several times and compare with the photo of a previous book cover they had sent me before I got it right. But in the end I got a shot with a mood and a composition that satisfied me.
2. Bright Mood
Photo info: Canon 5D mark II, lens: 50mm, f/2,5 , iso 200
One of my regular jobs is shooting promotion photos with a big advertising agency for a chain of cafeterias here in Italy and this is a shot for one of them.
The client wanted clean, light images that emphasized the product and also conveyed a sense of hygiene so the mood of these images is constant and they are always shot on a white background with mostly white props with lots of light from several angles.
We always put the product in question in the forefront with props that relate to it in the background. The focus is on the product while the props in the background are kept well out of focus as they are only a means to creating a mood.
When I shoot these types of photos I usually overexpose the images a bit to get that bright feeling they are looking for.
I also have to consider the composition because there is a fixed layout with text in determined spaces.
Because I shoot this with the ad agency, I discuss any ideas with the creative director who usually is present at the shooting and then we adjust to make a good photo that the client is satisfied with.
3. Casual Mood
Photo info: Canon 5D mark II, lens: macro 100mm, f/3,5 , iso 200
This is a photo that is part of recipe feature on cold summer soups that I recently did for a big Italian food magazine.
The editor wanted a summery feel to the pictures and possible shot outdoors so I propped up a table in the shadow under our oak where the table was spotted by sun glimpses. The focus is on the plate of soup in the foreground.
I wanted to create a feeling of a relaxing lunch in the garden with lots of sunlight but not directly on the food as it is a bit too harsh at that hour of the day.
Shooting outdoors with sunshine is not easy because even though it really helps to create a mood, you need to be careful about strong contrasts. I would suggest shooting either early in the morning or in late afternoon/evening when the rays are less strong and more slanted which helps to highlight the texture of the food and there are generally less strong contrasts between light and shadow.
4. Mood Based on Quality of Light
Obviously when I take photos for myself and for my blog Lucullian I am free as a bird to create the mood I want. One of the best aspects of that is that I can live in the present and create moods that are directly related to the season at hand.
Working for food magazines means that you are usually living three months ahead due to the time needed to plan and create the issues ahead of time.
The photos above were shot in late winter/early spring when the light has a cold quality to it, so I wanted to create an airy mood with lots of light.
I used daylight from a window on the left that was reflected by a silver reflector on the right hand side. I used a wooden board painted in palest blue on a green base and then scraped it to give it a stressed look. The white gauze fabric and white props also add to the lightness of the image.
5. Mood Based on Place
Photo info: Canon 5D mark II, lens: 24-105mm, f/5, iso 200
During the spring and the summer (and the autumn too in Italy) I usually shoot a lot of photos outdoors in my garden.
I rig up provisional tables with various wooden boards on sawhorses in different places, which means I can create different moods quite easily.
I shot the above photo outdoors. I usually shoot a series of six or seven photos for a food magazine that asks me to use the same mood and settings in all the photos, and I decided to go for a series with a kitchen “feel” to it.
I used props that recall a kitchen and an even light all over because kitchens are usually very well lit spaces. The focus is on the slice of cake and at f/5 the cake is still in focus as it is the protagonist of the shot.
Here are a few pointers to use when you are creating moods:
1. First, think about what kind mood you want to create: is it a seasonal mood or more of a place? A party feeling or a more intimate mood? Or, do you want to concentrate on an ingredient that inspires you?
2. Whatever mood you decide on your next step is to start thinking about how to achieve it. Think of how you want the light to fall and how much of it you want. Choose backgrounds and props that suit that mood. If you want a darker mood,think darker plates and fabrics, wood is also a great help for creating atmospheres. Try using only one light source or if you use more than one, dim them down. If you are going for a lighter mood, use lighter background and props and light from more than one side. Use reflectors and/or white boards for fill light to get that lightness of mood you are looking for.
3. When you are actually shooting the photo, play around with the camera a bit. For a dark mood for example, under-expose your image to see if that gets you what you are looking for. Also think about where you want to put the focus and how much of the photo you want to be in focus, along with how the focus may influence the mood of the image.
4. Don’t forget to play around in the post production phase as well.
5. But above all, have fun and try to find your own voice and not to imitate what you see. Yes, get inspired but make it your way because the web is filled with imitations and I am sure you want your photos to stand out and show who you are and not how the most popular food bloggers do it.
Thank you Ilva for giving us a look into how you achieve the right mood for your images. For more beautiful food photography and recipes please visit Ilva’s food blog: Lucullian Delights.
(Writing and photography submitted for this post by Ilva Beretta, all rights reserved 2011.)
Read Part 1 of The Language of Food Photography | Learning the Visual Elements of Design.
Read Part 2 of the Language of Food Photography | The Principles of Design.
Read Part 3 of the Language of Food Photography | Prop Styling with Paula Walters.
Read Part 4 of the Language of Food Photography | Food Styling with Tami Hardeman.
How do you choose a mood for your images?
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55 Responses to “The Language of Food Photography Part 5 | Creating Moods with Ilva Beretta”
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I took in every word you said Ilva… and enjoyed every bit of the post. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and work so wholeheartedly. Thank you too Sylvie for bringing the uber-talented Ilva over. I LOVE her work!
Another great post! I love those pictures.
Cheers,
Rosa
Love this series of yours!
Thank you Sylvie for asking me to guest blog, I really enjoyed it and it feels great to be here in the company of all the other fantastic guest bloggers, not to speak of you yourself!
This is by far the best and most helpful photography post in your series IMHO. Ilva’s images are so enticing, original and she is so so good at what she does. LOve! Am glad she put the lens and camera specifications for us to learn from as well.
The photos are gorgeous! Thank you very much for these helpful information, as Sukaina says, the camera specifications. Often I guess what lenses photographers use and what about aperture and all the technical know how.
with best greetings and wishes,
Sandy
Excellent tips! Thanks for another wonderful post with another talented food photographer
A treasured post bookmarked for future references. Love the professional aspects Ilva has presented here about her photography skills. Wonderful work, Sylvie.
I have been following Ilva’s blog for a good few years , she just gets better and better, love her photos and her props, especially the little spoons she uses.
Ilva’s work is stunning – i’ve watched her from afar for nearly a year now and love everything she does – great job!
Fantastic info!
I love this post. You’ve put so many small details we should be aware of. Thank you
I am LOVING this series, Sylvie. These are great tips!
Fantastic tips Sylvie. this is something I’ve gotta play with.
This is a wonderful series on food photography and an insightful post by Ilva. Thank you!
Another great post! Keep them coming!!!
I am learning so much from your well thought and very well organized guest posts Sylvie! Another great post from another great photographer!
Love these tips! Wish I could actually put them to use
What a great series this and so helpful. There’s so much to think about conceptually before the shutter button or lens is even touched!
Ilva is absolutely the best food photographer in the food blogosphere. Every image is individual and unique, evoking emotion, mood, place and a story. Absolutely stunning! She is a true inspiration.
Thank you for another helpful and beautiful post!!
Amazing!! Super information!!
Ilva, thank you for all the wonderful info! Your shots are tremendous!
Sylvie,
Thanks for the series. Truly enjoyed and learned a lot from all experts in photography. A great bookmark for food bloggers if you asked me
Another wonderful shot as always. What time do you normally shoot? I see the quality of light was so beautiful.
That pea photo is divine!
Beautiful photos and great information!
Your talent and generosity always amazes me! Gorgeous work!
Thank you so much for this lovely post. Her work is excellent and I especially love the casual mood photo. It makes me feel like I could reach out and grab the drink right off the page. Great tips too!
Yet another wonderful post in this series. That shot of the bundt cake is wonderful. I love playing with moods in photography.
filled with great information!
Sylvie, this series are extraordinarily amazing! I enjoy every one of them! Thank you so much for putting all these together!
Ilva has a wonderful unique style. The moods she creates in her images resonates so perfectly with the props/styling and the way she uses other photography techniques. Not to mention she is one of my favorite people out there! Love you Ilva!
Your series has been so inspiring, I can’t wait to start playing around and trying some of the tips you have shared with us all. xoxo
My goal is to get better props for my picture taking. I love all the tips and tricks and I am certainly putting them to good use. Might not seem that way in my pictures right now but I swear I am ! LOL!
Hello ^_^ I am very happy to have you found, post well explained and practical advice that I can not wait to put into practice, soon I will take -finally- a Reflex as it should and I will return your suggestions useful for sure. Thanks for sharing with us.
who knows how many more I admired without knowing that they were yours!
I’m Italian (sorry my bad English) in these days looking through the famous “big Italian food magazine” I found that your photos
I wish you a good day and thank you for the valuable suggestions
Sonia
Ilva, this is such a helpful post. I loved reading about the process you use to achieve your gorgeous shots.
Really cool idea. I’ve never approached my photography with “mood” in mind but I really want to now. Thanks for another wonderful post!
I have loved each of the posts in this series – this one is full of such great information – I’ve already read it through twice!!
Just love this series…yearning to know more and so wonderful to get information from a food blogger, not just a local photog; so not the same. Thanks!
Great article. Loved your comments and images. Thank you for sharing this series of tips with us. Sherron
Some great tips, thanks for sharing!
Another superb post! Gorgeous photos. Thanks for sharing, Sylvie.
You know I love all your photos Ilva and these are just a couple of examples of how brilliant they are! I especially like that outdoor sunny photo. Beautiful!!
Brilliant photography. I adore it.
this is one of the best photography explained posts. Love Ilva’s work and have admired her ever since I have come across her. Beautiful images with nice descriptions. very helpful.
i love these tips! thank you for this post:)
Sylvie, I had to read this post twice, because I only managed to stare at the photos the first time around. Ilva’s photography is very emotional, and it reminds me of yours. I am hoping that I’ll have some more time next week to play with my camera. I am at my parents’ house in Serbia, and there are various places with beautiful and different light. I have a variety of surfaces to play with, and I need to take advantage of it and learn, prompted by you and your amazing guest-photographers.
Thank you, Sylvie and Ilva, for illuminating my (at this moment) pretty gloomy life:)
Sooo pretty. Thanks for the tutorial.
Finally! I have some time to savour Ilva’s words. She’s amazingly talented!
[...] your images. For part four, food stylist Tami Hardeman answers your questions on food styling. In part five of the series, food and still life photographer Ilva Beretta talks about creating moods in food [...]
Thank you all for your heart warming comments, you really inspire me to go on shooting! xo
What an informative post…Thank you so much Ilva..I have so much to learn…I have printed your wonderful tips and pointers for my photogrpahy folder…Absolutely amazing…Thank you ever so much
-Shilpa
Hi Ilva, what a beautiful and informative post! I will want to practice all of your fantastic tips
I so enjoyed how Ilva shared these different moods with examples and explanations of the shot. It’s an educated, experienced and creative thought process that goes into such beautiful work. Thank you for sharing your insights…my mind is racing and I can’t wait to shoot!
This is such a wonderful post, with the tips that one only wishes that a pro can share..thanks so much for bringing the best food photographer/blogger to show it how!!