Well, the holiday season is upon us and cookie baking is in FULL SWING! I love this time of year and have always found baking to be really soothing. Below are some of the things I always keep in mind when working with cookies to help you capture your holiday cookie baking this season!!!
1. Use a macro lens, particularly if you’re photographing small cookies like these adorable spritz! Spritz are my Dad’s favorite and my Grandma used to bring them from Arizona to Washington every year for the holidays when I was growing up. It wasn’t until I was older and started making these myself that I realized how much work these little guys can be! Pro tip – the dough from the press won’t stick to warm pans 😉
2. Tell a story – a shot of the cookies on a cooling rack with a messy baking scene and plate piled high with coffee nearby tell a different story!
3. Hone in on the details – every cookie has something special going on! Was it rolled in cinnamon sugar? Is it filled with jelly? Find a way to highlight those unique characteristics. I always love thinking about specular highlight – those little shiny spots you see in the jelly of the Linzer cookies below. These shiny little reflections of light tell story of a gooey center and add some fun highlights!
4. Get Gooey – everyone loves a melted chocolate shot. Before you’ve got your macro lens ready, your light just right and a friend who can help pull cookies apart for you!
5. Think about a different perspective – I always like doing some kind of 45 or 90 degree shot when working with cookies.
Want to more cookies!? Check out Twix Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms and Kolachis on the blog! Want to work together to photograph your cookies? Get in touch today!
