Alluvial Farms is a long time KMP Client and one of my very favorite local farms. I’ve been working with them since way back in 2018 when I first captured their beautiful pig farm in action. I was so excited when Katie approached me about photographing their latest endeavor – Dog Treats! These little guys are made with just 2 ingredients (or 3 for the CBD version!) and she really wanted to showcase the simplicity of the recipe and the quality of the ingredients.
The Challenge
The biggest challenge we faced was making the ingredients in these little treats look appealing. The only ingredients in both of these treats are garbanzo bean flour and, the main ingredient, pork liver. CBD is added to one of the varieties. We decided that it was important for the customers to see the liver so we could really bring home the fact that these treats are locally and organically made from their very own pigs. We also knew that this color palette wasn’t going to be very exciting, so we decided to tie in native plants to bring a pop of brightness and interest to the scene.
The other challenge was working with reflective packaging. It takes particular lighting techniques in order to be sure that the package details are readable and that the product is visible without the light reflection interfering.
The Project
Katie knew that the simple, natural ingredients of these treats were the most appealing attribute to her customer base, so we didn’t want to over complicate the photos with too many props or distractions. We started with each product alone in and out of packaging and then moved into some more styled work utilizing the ingredients included in each type of treat. I added the raw liver in the corner or foreground of shots on a black stone board for contrast and tried to limit the amount of shine on the liver. I used white bounce boards and diffusers to help with the reflection on the packaging. Given my lifestyle approach to all of my projects, I am never aiming to entirely eliminate reflection, but want to be sure it’s not taking away from the product as much as possible.
The Takeaway
I spent 1.5 hours with these products and the final collection totaled 51 images. There are a variety of both vertical and horizontal, top-down, 90 degree and 45 degree shots that can be used in many different situations including their website, online shop, social media and marketing materials.
