It’s my twins’ birthday today, so it feels like the perfect time to share a little behind the scenes of a fun salted caramel cupcake photoshoot in my dining room a few years ago! I thought you might like to see the set-up, how I use natural light, and there’s a link to the recipe at the end if you fancy making them yourself. I can assure you they were delish!
What you see…
A dining table, a patterned tablecloth, a couple of boards, some tea towels and a few gold spoons. Not exactly a fancy studio! In fact, if you look closely you’ll spot my candlesticks holding up the boards, a bottle of bubbles in the corner and the playhouse in the garden.
But every piece is there for a reason:
- The light comes from the French doors on the left. Soft side light like this is perfect for food, as it brings out texture – every swirl of frosting and every crumb.
- The black board behind blocks out the rest of the room and gives that dark, moody background.
- The board on the right is black on the side facing the cupcakes too. Instead of bouncing light back in, it soaks it up, so the shadows on that side stay deep and rich. Photographers call this “negative fill”.
- The blue backdrop is a printed photography surface that looks like painted plaster – it makes the warm, golden frosting really pop.
- The tea towels, crumbs and spoons bring in extra textures and colours for more interest.
…and what I see
Same table, same cupcakes, a very different feel! Get in close, shoot low, and suddenly the dining room disappears.
And who doesn’t love a messy flat lay from above?
I also had a lot of fun with a sieve of icing sugar – it takes a few goes (and a bit of a mess) to get the snowfall just right, with hint of movement, but it’s so worth it…
And of course, every food shoot needs a taste-tester. My son didn’t need asking twice (and the birthday boy would happily eat them again today!)…
Why I love showing you this
So many clients tell me they don’t have the “right” space for photos. But great images are far more about light, angles and knowing what to leave out of the frame than having a perfect location. Whether it’s your kitchen, your shop or a corner of your office, I’ll find the beautiful bits.
If you’ve got a product, a bake or a business you’d love to show off, get in touch and let’s make it shine. 🌈
Fancy making them yourself? Here’s the recipe.
