Still life styling workshops for food and product content creation

Our practical workshop training days are aimed at beginners and improving photographers or content creators who would like to elevate their styling and photography skills - whether that's using a phone or DSLR camera.

Come along to refine your styling and gain confidence in producing content to promote yourself, your product or your brand, learning essential techniques and industry tricks with Sophie, a commercial stylist, content creator and consultant.

Perhaps you already run a blog or sell food related products but need a confidence boost or creative kick up the bum to increase your output by banishing those little niggles that make us all procrastinate!

Be taught first hand by a professional and have an inspiring training day working on your own, individual set ups, learning with other creatives, marketers and business owners!

Each attendee will get two Black Velvet Styling vinyl backdrops to use during the session and take home to keep.  

 

    Who is this training for?

    This training is for you if any of these apply! 

    • you create (or need to create!) content to promote your services, products, blog or business

    • you want more confidence in styling

    • you want to learn how to style your product at its best

    • you want to improve your image quality and photography skills

    • you sell food or small household products like jams, cakes, candles, flowers, gifts etc

    • you run a food business like a cafe, deli, bar, takeaway or anything else

    • you want to learn about styling or photography to start a career in it or you just want some styling experience and tuition to develop yourself or your business.

    It doesn't matter your reason for wanting to learn more about styling - as long as you are confident at the basics of photography (either using your phone or camera and tripod) you will gain lots of knowledge and confidence.

     

    Learning content

    These workshops cover the following modules to help you uncover your brand style and produce beautiful food-based images that tell your story and captivate your audience. Using a mixture of group teaching, demonstrations and guided practise tasks we will cover:

    • How to define a style

    • How to create your own styling rules & repetition

    • Prop styling dos and don'ts

    • Food styling kit essentials

    • Writing your creative brief/shot plan

    • DSLR camera/phone camera tuition tailored to your needs

    • Camera tips and tricks for food photography

    • Controlling natural light wherever you shoot

    • Composition techniques

    • Three fool-proof compositions

    • Story telling with food and props

    • Checking the details

    • Getting more from your set up

     

    What’s provided –

    • You will have full access to my prop collection including ceramics, linen, glassware, bakeware, cutlery, utensils and curiosities (you are welcome to bring your favourite props too) plus fresh foliage and seasonal produce 

    • Two vinyl backdrops of your choice to keep plus more to play with during the workshop

    • all learning materials will be provided for each attendee to work through and take home

    • selection of savoury and sweet food to practise with (and you can bring your own too if you like)

    • refreshments and a light lunch

     

    What you need to bring -

    • your camera or phone and chargers

    • a tripod (essential)

    • any props you love to use or are finding tricky and would like help with

    • your note book 

    • laptop and tether cable if you'd like to (not essential) 

    • any specific food you'd like to work with (not essential)

     

    Training plan (loose timings) -

    • 10am, introductions and welcome

    • 10am, 11am group learning around style, kit & planning

    • 11am, photography demonstrations and practise

    • 12pm, composition demonstrations and practise

    • (lunch)

    • 1.30pm, group learning - directing, refining and getting more

    • 2.30pm guided practise

    • 3.30pm open Q&A or more practise

      

    Spaces are very limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

    Our workshops run from 10am to 4.30pm with a short/working lunch.  Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided.  The teaching will end at 4pm but you are welcome to stay and chat while you pack away until 4.30pm.

     

    Want to spread the cost? No problem!

    If the workshop is over 40 days away you can use the 'Pay in 2' option to pay £155 today and £155 no later than 30 days before the workshop. We will email you about how to pay the remainder shortly after booking.

    You will pay a bit more for this option, a total of £310.

    Please understand that failure to pay within the agreed terms will mean your space is made available again to others and any money already paid will be liable to an admin/cancellation fee, the amount of which will depend on if we can resell the space.

     

    About the venue

    Our studio on the first floor of a Victorian mill provides the perfect setting for our styling workshop with tall windows running down either side of the space giving us lots of natural light and space to work. 

    We are up one flight of stairs and free parking is available - I will send more details on email when you book.

     

    Missed out or can't make it to our studio? Book an online zoom workshop here.

     

    CONTENT CREATION

    We've been producing content for food and lifestyle brands for over five years, bringing Sophie's commercial background and creative flair to maximise the results of this complete styling and photography service.

    We offer one-off photography and video packages as well as ongoing services, working alongside you in your business to identify marketing opportunities and produce content on a regular basis.

    Content creation packages include props, food, styling + photography or filming following an agreed brief + budget - sign off remotely or work alongside us for the day at our place or yours.

    We'd love to hear about your products or brand - please contact us here.

    We are based in Derbyshire but work all over the UK and remotely.

    Content creation for OTTOLENGHI at our Derbyshire studio

    • CREATIVE DIRECTION

      If you need help to clarify your vision and aims for a specific shoot or campaign we can develop the creative direction and production plan to ensure your marketing objectives are met beautifully and authentically. 

      We'd love to hear about your project - get in touch 
    • YOUR BRAND STYLE

      If you're yet to define your overarching brand style and visual identity we can help with that too, going back to the beginning and working through the strategy to ensure everything that follows is authentic and of value. 

      Read more about strategy services 

    CONTENT CREATION FOR LO STUDIO