It’s her last name!
Cowichan food producer Louise Pickles needed new photos to support a shift in her business and to focus her marketing on her customers biggest questions.
Strategy Meeting
From our planning session came two key points: 1. Louise wanted to move away from grazing boxes to focus on her signature items — pâté and terrines. 2. Her most common question from potential customers is about how best to enjoy her very French products, so we needed to show them. That meant we’d focus on a few clean product shots of her two pâtés and three terrines, and the rest of the shoot would put the food in context, using both traditional and unique accompaniments to show her customers how versatile and delicious everything is.
As with so many small business owners, Louise also new she needed to get her face on her feed more often, so a collection of portraits and action shots would take the pressure off and make it easier for her to show up regularly.
Session Planning
I divided the shoot (and the resulting gallery) into four categories: Product, Portraits, Prep and Black & White. We’d start with the product shots, then I’d build the styling around them to create a narrative, sort of like product action shots. Then it would be photos of Louise. I sourced a collection of unique silverware and dishes just for Louise to highlight the different items.
Then we’d move into the kitchen to showcase Louise at work, along with some of the local products she uses and her fantastic tools. I’d keep my little Ricohflex loaded with black and white film and shoot a few frames at each stage of the day.
Shoot Day
The weather forecast was looking a little dicey, but it wasn’t raining when I arrived at the kitchen so we started with the outdoor part of our shot list.
Next up was portrait time. I love portrait time. I chose my Hasselblad loaded with Portra 800 film and we took advantage of a bright red vinyl restaurant booth outside.
One of the best parts of on-site shoots is the opportunity to be creative with whatever is around. I don’t have control over every little thing, and I like it that way. That push of creativity means fun for me and unique images for you. Louise’s collection is not something that can be replicated in a studio. And while the style might be recognizable as mine, the set up is unique to her brand and her business.
Hope you enjoy the collection! And visit PicklesPantry.ca to see some photos in situ and to order your own spread.
Cowichan food is the best. I’ve been eating my way through the valley since last May, and there’s no end in sight.
Interested in your own brand collection? Don’t hesitate to get in touch!
