This blog is all about my own process for when I need to take a selection of images to use for my own social media promotional material. Most of my social media images are taken from set photography sessions.

For my own marketing strategy, I like to plan each month with, yearly food days, well-being or holiday days into my calendar so that I can upload a photo for the set occasion or celebration.

This shooting process was to take a photograph that can be used to represent #WaffleDay

One of my 1st tasks for each shoot is to decide what type of photograph I wish to take, this would mean, the angle, colouring, positioning and composition that I prefer. I also like to complete some visual research to help make these decisions and here are some of the image examples that have influenced this shoot idea.

These are the two examples that I prefer and I have collected the same ingredients, props and similar coloured backgrounds.

For this idea, I need to decide on which background looks better, with the props. I am thinking about how the pattern from the backgrounds and how matches the colour of the tea towel and food ingredients. I have posted these images on my social media to get some feedback and help in this decision.

From this research, my final combination for the photographs will be image selection number one.

For these images, I have brought sweet circle-shaped waffles, greek yoghurt and mixed berries.

COMPOSITION & PLACEMENT

The plan is to take two angled shots, one bird’s eye view (hero)/flat lay) and the other at a side angle.

For the hero photograph, I will use the golden triangle composition technique to place the food and the props.
Theory: To use the golden triangle, you can place your subject directly along the diagonals, this will give your subject direction and help your viewer land directly where you want them to
For the side angle picture, I will use a wide aperture and shoot these pictures as a close-up so that I capture the layered berries, yoghurt and waffles As an extra I will photograph as I drizzle honey over the top of the stack of food.

LIGHTING PLAN

This lighting setup I will use is referred to as one light setup and this setup can also have two lights instead of the reflector option. I will diffuse the light with an oblique umbrella in front of the studio light, from the left-hand side of the composition, with a reflector on the right, see the diagram below