CREATE Together
2023
Spring/Summer
2 Shelly Waldman Maria
Quin Engle Kara Chin 4 12 8 16
Squires
Editor’s Note:
Welcome, to our first edition of Create Together, the magazine.
Since its inception in 2020, the Food Photography Mentorship has continuously sought innovative avenues to foster artistic growth, and community collaboration all the while helping and supporting growing commercial photography businesses.
In this issue, we’re thrilled to unveil an exciting endeavor that encapsulates the essence of shared creativity – the Create Together Challenge. With a vision to inspire and celebrate individual artistry, this challenge invites us to embark on a collective journey. It begins with a common theme, a shared muse that ignites our imaginations.
As you delve into the pages ahead, you’ll witness the unfolding of this process. From inception to realization, each participant has meticulously crafted their visual narrative.
Ideation takes shape as scenes are meticulously set, props are thoughtfully selected, lighting patterns embrace each subject’s character, while compositions paint vivid stories within the frame.
But the journey doesn’t end there. The retouching phase unveils a world of meticulous craftsmanship, bringing forth the true embodiment of each artist’s vision.
We hope the Create Together Challenge sparks your own ingenuity, and may it serve as a beacon for the collaborative spirit that was at the heart of this challenge. Together, we elevate each other.
With excitement,
Shelly Waldman Founder
3
Shelly Waldman
SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES & LONDON, UK
4
I moved to London in 2022 and have been learning about the seasonal traditions. The quintessential British summer cocktail is Pimm’s. You can find it being served at Wimbledon with strawberries and orange wedges. It is a celebration of flavors much like sangria. The goal was to embrace this refreshing cocktail and highlight the colorful and fruit-forward cocktail.
5
THE MOOD:
Refreshing, cheery, and iconically Pimm’s. The images are to feel vibrant, crisp and summery.
PROPS:
• Three glasses of various shapes and sizes
• A surface and two bounce boards
• Loads of fruit and mint, one Pimm’s bottle
6
ABOUT SHELLY
Shelly started the mentorship program in 2020, looking to share her knowledge of photography and business. With her background in finance and running her photography business since 2009, she brings a unique perspective of analytical and creative.
Shelly splits her time between California (SF + LA) and London. She has loads of travel tips, is testing new productivity tools, researching new technology, playing in her home studio, and finding the best chai in town.
Her work has been described as vibrant, crisp and fresh.
She’s worked with Citibank, 49ers, Michael Mina, Peet’s Coffe & Tea, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Turnbull Wine, Duckhorn WIne, Bluestone Lane, Shutterfly and more.
shellywaldman.com | @shuttershelly
7
Quin Engle
MONTREAL, QC, CANADA
8
I combined the fresh fruit/table scape brief with an ongoing personal project – photographing the pride flags as food. But not just any foods that happen to match the colours. The goal of the project is also to have colour representative foods come together as cohesive recipes.
9
The three flags and recipes brought together for this tablescape are:
RAINBOW PRIDE: A fresh fruit and custard tart with orange short crust.
AROMATIC PRIDE: Wild rice and lentil salad, with potatoes, arugula, and sautéed fiddlehead ferns. Dressed with a mustard vinaigrette.
10
TRANS PRIDE: Whipped blue cheese, sweet pickled shallots, and fresh radish, served on crostini.
Together these recipes are a nod to the potlucks of the queer community, where everyone brings something a little different to the table but it all combines into a cohesive feast with chosen family.
ABOUT QUIN
Quin thinks of food through the queer lens - a space where inclusive foods and techniques are celebrated. Is there something for everyone at that party no matter their dietary restrictions? Absolutely. Does a dish need expensive ingredients to be really special? They think not. Beautiful food is something to inspire everyone.
quin-engle.com | @twistsandzests
11
Maria Squires
12
FLORIDA
In this image, I wanted to highlight the unique experience of living in Florida, where the climate often resembles summer throughout the year. To convey the changing seasons, I turned to the use of seasonal fruits and flowers in food photography. The story behind the image revolves around basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun, savoring the juicy fruits, and finding solace under the shade of a magnolia tree. Refreshing drinks add a touch of rejuvenation to this idyllic scene, serving as a reminder of the distinct pleasures that each season brings, even in a perpetual summer setting.
ABOUT MARIA
I am Maria Squires, the passionate eye behind the camera, capturing delectable moments as a Food, Beverage, & Product Photographer + Stop Motion enthusiast at Art Of Light Studio. I have an insatiable love for all things culinary and a knack for transforming ordinary objects into extraordinary works of art.
Based on the sun-kissed shores of the vibrant East Coast of Florida, I draw inspiration from the diverse cultures, stunning landscapes, and mouthwatering flavors that surround me. With each click of the shutter, my goal is to bring food, beverages, and products to life, injecting a burst of color, creativity, and personality into every image.
When not in my studio, I immerse myself in nature, especially the beach. I cherish witnessing stunning sunrises, relishing solitude, and connecting with the ocean’s rhythm. Beyond personal enjoyment, I’m passionate about environmental conservation. During beach walks, I make a difference by picking up washed ashore waste. This action aims to raise awareness, inspiring others to protect our natural resources. I strive to cultivate appreciation and responsibility, leaving a positive impact through beach conservation efforts.
artoflightstudio.com | @artoflightstudio
13
Kara Chin
SACRAMENTO, CA
14
This photo shoot concept was inspired by delicate pink peonies. My first photography love was flowers and I chose to pair pink peonies with butterfly pea flower tea and lemons. I’m always looking for fun ways to add more beverage photography to my portfolio and I was mystified by how the two drinks interact to create a gradient effect. Additionally, blues and purples are not colors I often find myself photographing with in the food world, so this was an opportunity to have fun with them.
My goal for the mood was to be bright and summery with hard light to accentuate the drink glasses. I wanted the viewer to feel like it was a warm day and this was the most vibrant and refreshing drink to help cool them off.
15
My props for this photo shoot were fairly simple. I used two white/ neutral backdrops for the foreground and background. I also used two styles of drinks glasses—taller ones for the straight on shots and shorter/wider ones for the overhead shots. Of course, a vase for the peonies and some lemon slices for garnish.
16
For both of my compositions, I was very thoughtful about the direction of the shadows. They are a tertiary character in this photo shoot with the shadows dramatically casting a diagonal across the imagery. I positioned my light in the upper left corner to create this effect and with a bounce board on the opposite side to fill in some of the shadows.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
• ¼ cup dried butterfly
pea flowers
• 2 cups boiling hot water
• Lemonade
• Lemon slices for garnish Steep the dried butterfly pea flowers in hot water for about 5 minutes. Strain the dried flowers and enjoy it hot or over ice.
ABOUT KARA
Kara is a multi-passionate creative who tells food stories through food photography and graphic design. As an avid cook and baker, she strives to develop strong visuals that encourage people to spend time in the kitchen and find joy through food. Kara has a knack for seeing the creative story as a whole and how to weave that story throughout various visual mediums. Kara has experience with a wide-range of creative projects including cookbook photography, branding and editorial work.
karablakechin.com | @karablakechin
17
This zine is created through Shelly Waldman’s Food Photography Mentorship.
Design by Kara Chin
Illustrations by Quin Engle
Spring/Summer 2023
