The Food Workshop

The Food Workshop Advanced Module is designed to give you a comprehensive, real-world understanding of professional food photography, from concept to execution. You will explore the essentials of food, props and styling, composition, colour, focus and lens choice, while learning how camera angles, macro decisions and careful framing shape the final image. Through a strong foundation in light, including natural, artificial and mixed, you will develop the skills needed to control mood, texture and depth, whether working with window light, studio setups or outdoor environments.

Moving beyond technique, this advanced module examines the realities of commercial food photography across magazines, cookbooks, advertising, restaurants and image libraries. You will study complete advertising shoot sequences, learn how to photograph challenging subjects such as drinks, ice cream and dark foods, and understand the roles of the photographic team, from food stylist to art director.

The Food Workshop Advanced Module

Master the art of professional food photography!

Food photography involves balancing creativity, precision and storytelling, turning everyday ingredients into visually engaging narratives. This advanced module encourages you to think beyond technique, focusing on how mood, atmosphere and intention shape images. You’ll learn how professional food photographers approach problem-solving, adapt to different briefs and translate ideas into images that resonate with audiences. By exploring the realities of working within this genre, the module helps you refine your skills and produce cohesive and commercially relevant food imagery.

Food Photography by #pistudent Esmeralda Caires Image Source: #PIstudent Esmeralda Caires @esmeraldacairesphotography

Module Topics

In this module, we will cover the following topics and beyond:

Introduction to The Food Workshop
The Essentials
The Food
The Props & Styling
Composition
Light
Colour
Focus
How to Choose the Correct Lens
Selecting the Correct Camera Angle
To Macro or Not to Macro?
Composing a Food Photograph
Advertising Shoot Sequence One – Vogue
Pitfalls When Encountering the Gutter
Advertising Shoot Sequence Two – Wild Turkey
Lighting Food
Backlighting
What is So Wrong with Front Lighting?
Lighting Methods
Window Light
Accessories
When to Shoot with Daylight
When Not to Use Daylight
Shooting Food Outdoors
Basics of Lighting with Artificial Light
Mixing Daylight & Artificial Light
Essential Studio Food Photography Equipment

Photographing Difficult Food
Drinks
Soups
Stews, Casseroles & Curries
Ice Cream
Chocolate & Dark Food
Combining People & Food
The Photographic Team
The Client
The Art Director or Editor
The Producer
The Cook
The Food Stylist
The Photo Assistant
The Photographer
Avoiding Things That Can Go Wrong
Weather
Seasonality
Prop Failure
Job Cancellation
Photographing Food for Magazines
Photographing Cookbooks
Photographing Food for Advertising
Photographing Food for Restaurants & Events
Photographing Food for Image Libraries
More Image Libraries

Module Outcomes

By completing The Food Workshop Advanced Module, you will:

Creativily compose food photographs using light, colour, focus, lens choice and camera angle.
Learn how to style, light and photograph a wide range of food subjects.
Plan and execute professional food shoots for editorial, advertising, restaurants and image libraries.
Build the skills to anticipate and avoid common production pitfalls, ensuring consistent, high-quality results.
Work effectively with clients, art directors, food stylists and photographic assistants within a professional team environment.

Are you interested in specialising in food photography creating unique images?

The Food Workshop Advanced Module is available exclusively to students enroled in our online Photography Course. You’ll also receive a free six-month course extension and the support of a dedicated tutor who will guide you through the module and help you apply acquired knowledge to your own food photography projects, creative gastronomy essays and jobs involving culinary imagery.

By addressing common pitfalls, production challenges, and on-set decision-making, this advanced module prepares you to work confidently, creatively, and professionally in the industry. Start today and elevate your abilities, taking your food photography to new heights!