How To Elevate Your Visual Storytelling: Food & Drink Still Life Photography and Slow Motion Video for Bulk

Today we're diving into the art of food and drink still life photography, with a special focus on capturing the essence of protein shakes and nutritional drinks for renowned nutrition brand Bulk. We'll explore the techniques and requirements we used essential in creating stunning images and slow-motion videos that beautifully combine drink ingredients and lifestyle settings.

Still Life & Lifestyle Drinks Photography

Creating a captivating still life scene involves more than just placing items together. It’s about telling a story. For Bulk's protein shakes and nutritional drinks, this means highlighting their premium ingredients and the active, health-conscious lifestyle they promote. With the help of my amazing food stylist we created scenes that recreated the look and feel of different kitchen and lifestyle enviroments

1. Background and Props: Choose backgrounds and props that resonate with the brand’s identity. Natural elements like wooden tables, fresh fruits, nuts, and sleek gym equipment can complement the health-focused narrative. When creating the shot consider the foreground or surface, the background and then the props for each shot

2. Lighting: Natural lighting style is ideal for food and drink photography. Soft, diffused light can make ingredients look fresh and inviting. Use reflectors to fill in shadows and highlight textures. For this shoot the client was very keen on a style where the light appeared to shine though like a shaft of light through a window.

3. Composition: The rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry can guide the viewer’s eye to the main subject—the drink. Sometimes it good to experiment with different angles and perspectives to find the most flattering compositions. For this shoot the angle needed to be exactly the same for each shot for consistency

Capturing the Ingredients

Bulk’s protein shakes are packed with high-quality ingredients. Showcasing these components enhance the viewer's appreciation of the product.

1. Macro Shots: The use of a macro lens enables close-up shots of key ingredients like protein powder, fresh berries, or nuts. This technique highlights texture and detail, making the ingredients look more appealing. I also used a Lowa probe lens which is great way of getting close macro shots and with a wide perspective.

2. Layering: Arrange ingredients in layers or sections within the frame. For instance, having a ingredient in the foreground with a ready-made shake in the background. This layered composition adds depth and context.

3. High Speed Flash : Adding a premium technical style of lighting works particularly well with pouring or spills and can add a great interest int he shot. The majoirty of shots capturing the ingredients were shot with ahigh speed flash, creating images that worked really well with the slow motion video

The Magic of Slow Motion Video

Slow motion video brings a dynamic element to food and drink photography, making the visual experience more engaging. Here’s how to master it:

Equipment and Settings

1. Camera: Use a high-frame-rate camera that can shoot at 400 fps or higher. This allows you to slow down the footage without losing quality. Technology has moved on quickly and now renting or buying high speed camera is accessible

2. Lighting: Continuous lighting is crucial for slow-motion video. I like to use LED cob lights as the provide a hard consistent and flicker-free illumination. You also need alot of light so get the most powerful lights you can afford

3. Stabilisation: Ensure your camera is stable using a tripod or gimbal. Smooth motion is essential to achieve a professional look.

Filming Techniques

1. Pour Shots: Capture the protein shake being poured into a glass. The slow motion emphasizes the fluid motion, creating a mesmerizing effect.

2. Ingredient Drop: Film ingredients like berries or nuts dropping into the shake. This technique showcases the freshness and quality of the ingredients in an eye-catching way.

3. Action Shots: Record something the happens quickly with lots of movement Fgor example dropping or blending. Slow motion highlights the mixing process, adding a sense of energy and dynamism.

Storytelling Through Stills and Motion

For this successful campaign we combined still images with slow-motion video clips to create a compelling visual narrative. With a clear breif, art direction and a great stylist we were able to create a fantastic set of images with a small team. The content was used across multiple marketing platforms providing consistency across all media.

Final Thoughts

Mastering food and drink still life photography and slow motion video requires attention to detail, creativity, and an understanding of the brand’s message. By focusing on the quality of ingredients, the lifestyle of the target audience, and using advanced photographic & video techniques we were able to create captivating visuals that elevate Bulk’s protein shakes and nutritional drinks.

At Howlett Photography, we’re passionate about bringing products to life through our lens. Whether you’re a brand looking to tell your story or a photographer aiming to refine your skills, we hope these insights inspire you to explore the dynamic world of food and drink photography.

Ready to transform your product visuals? Contact us today and let’s create something extraordinary together!