My Experience as a Food Photographer of Gourmet Products
As a Food Photographer, companies in the food industry often contact me for my photography, styling, and/or recipe development services. Most companies these days are eager to appear on Social Media several times a week. And more and more often they wish to stay away from the traditional approach to product photography (white background, neutral-looking … ). Customers these days seek images where their products are placed in a realistic scenario, the type of images you find in a carefully tended Instagram account.
Working with a Recurrent Client
The photos below were all taken for the same recurrent customer before I moved from France to New Zealand. The client distributed (and still does) high-quality Spanish gourmet products from small specialised producers to a variety of Deli shops in France.
The customer wanted high-quality images for the monthly newsletter he sends to his contacts. After the newsletters are sent, he uses those same images for his business on Social Media.




Photoshoot details
We followed a similar procedure for every monthly photoshoot which always included 4 images:
- 1 x horizontal image: product displayed in a casual manner
- 1 x vertical image: one of the products used in a realistic scenario (recipe, product being used, could include another ingredient that pairs well with it)
- 1 x vertical image: a different product used in a realistic scenario (recipe, product being used, could include another ingredient that pairs well with it)
- 1 close-up shot (generally shot with a macro lens) of one of the products with or without packaging



As per the customer request, we used different types of backgrounds for every shoot. The client was involved in deciding the mood for each photoshoot and the choice of props. The props were sometimes selected from my prop collection or rented/purchased according to the requirements of the photoshoot.
The duration of the photoshoot was generally half a day. The sessions happened remotely at my studio. I sent the client each photo for approval via email, WhatsApp, or SMS. Once approved, I followed the same process for the following image. For this to happen smoothly, the client was available (over the phone) for the whole duration of the photoshoot.



Once completed, I did some minor editing adjustments and delivered the images ready to use 48 to 72 hours later.
Get in Touch
I have a variety of packages available depending on the project requirements. Feel free to drop me an email at info@maitepaternain.com or call me on +64 (0) 277883321. I will be happy to discuss your particular situation.


