I conducted my final photoshoot at my house and a local bakery. After previous photoshoots in this genre, I have gained knowledge and realized my flaws which I applied when executing this photoshoot. This photoshoot allowed me to take photos for my magazine's cover image and double-page spread. Images are essential in my magazine as I plan on targeting amateur bakers; I aim to create a visual-forward magazine to improve the ability of less experienced bakers to follow recipes.
Final Photoshoot Part 1 (Home Photoshoot)
Homemade Oreo Cheesecake
Ingredients:
Part of my final photoshoot included photographing the ingredients necessary to bake an Oreo cheesecake. Although this wasn’t a part of my shot list, I realized while implementing this photoshoot that photographing this step was crucial; readers can have the option to either read the ingredients list or refer to the images in my magazine—whichever suits their preferences best. I originally photographed each ingredient needed to make a homemade Oreo cheesecake in their packaging (top photo). However, crowding them to fit in the frame made it hard to see each item, and it looked messy. As I wasn’t pleased with this result, I photographed the ingredients without their packaging, one by one (photos below). I experimented with assorted dishes to make these shots less dull, especially as they are already the same color. I also used different plating depending on the amount of the ingredient the recipe calls for and if it is a solid or a liquid. For example, Oreos are the predominant ingredient in an Oreo cheesecake, and to make this dish, you need a lot of them—between the crust and the batter. Hence, I needed a large bowl to be realistic with the quantities. I used a photography light box when taking the shot of each ingredient to improve the current lighting and minimize shadows (considering my work surface is reflective). For contrast from the white dishes, I photographed them on a black background (one of the various options the photography light box provides), which was eventually helpful when removing the surroundings of each image; I used the iPhone feature that allows you to press on the subject you want to isolate, which instantly removes its background. The photography light box achieved my goal of clear, bright, and shadow-free shots of my ingredients list.
Baking Process:
As mentioned above, I plan to create an image-filled magazine as my target audience is amateur bakers; I want them to feel that even challenging recipes can be a breeze to bake. During my final photoshoot, I followed through with my goal of photographing each step of baking an Oreo cheesecake. It is worth noting that I only photographed each step of making cheesecake in this recipe since it is the main focus of my article—which will also be the cover image of my magazine; it is the showstopper dish, with more in-depth steps and decorations compared to the other two recipes. I used various shots and angles when displaying the baking process of this dessert—mostly overhead shots, close-up shots, and high angles. I photographed some subjects in motion (for example, sifting the flour and beating the batter) to have more diverse photos. It also shows the technique and baking process more comprehensively for my readers. Not only that, but I used flash for some steps, mainly when using the food processor, as I noticed it enhanced the quality of the photos and increased the focus on the subject.
After analyzing the photos above, I could’ve improved this part of my photoshoot by showing more action. For example, I could’ve shown myself mixing the Oreos into the batter rather than showing the batter before and after I mixed it (images 15 and 16). I could’ve also shown myself adding boiling water to the water bath inside of just showing the springform pan sitting in a larger pan, as it looks unclear (image 19). In other words, photographing myself while displaying the action would’ve cleared up what the image indicates. In doing so, there would be less confusion, and the audience can instantly comprehend the step without reading the directions, especially if they are pressed for time or are more visual learners.
Decorating:
As I did with the photoshoots above, I also photographed the decorating process of the dessert. These photos show me making chocolate and white chocolate ganache to top the cheesecake with a swirled design. I mostly photographed at high angles as they were more fitting in this context; this angle showed the most detail of the components of the dessert from the point of view that a baker would be viewing it. I mostly took images without flash, as the lighting looked realistic and natural. However, I used flash in the second image, which displayed the shininess of the ganache, and surprisingly, the lighting looked realistic. I also took close-ups of the subjects as I wanted them to be the main focus without much of the background showing. Although I am pleased with the quality of the shots, I could’ve improved had I shown myself spooning the ganaches onto the cake and swirled it with a skewer; if I didn’t do these steps off-camera, images five and six would’ve been more descriptive on how to achieve the design on the top of the cheesecake.
Final Product:
After photographing the baking process of the Oreo cheesecake, the next step was to photograph the final product of the dessert. When photographing it, I used a silver cake stand and a red, green, and blue plate to have options when deciding which dishes worked best with the subject. I like the silver cake stand more for the whole cheesecake as it is simplistic but effective. It also works better with my magazine’s color palette (white, pink, gray, and black) and the neutral colors of the cheesecake. Nevertheless, I do like the look of the slice of cheesecake on the more colorful plate as there is less decoration on the dessert, and therefore, the burst of colors works well. The red, green, and blue plate also has a heart painted on the center, which connotes sweetness and cheerfulness (the mood I plan on evoking in my magazine).
Since I wasn’t sure which shots would look best for this dessert, I photographed the whole cheesecake from high angles and overhead shots. I like how these shots came out, and I think one of them will work well as the cover image of my magazine. I then photographed the cheesecake with a slice cut out of it—an overhead shot and a shot leveled with the subject—to show how both the exterior and interior of the dessert. I like image five with my phone in front of the cheesecake. However, I’m not as content with the overhead shot in image four as it doesn't add anything; the whole point of cutting a slice was to display the interior and texture of the cheesecake. I then photographed a piece of cheesecake with the whole cheesecake behind it, using Portrait mode to blur the background and create a shallow depth of field (sixth image). I wanted a shot with a shallow depth of field for the slice of cheesecake to be the main focus—to indicate the texture of the dessert—while also displaying what the whole cake looks like without it being distracting. I enjoyed the result of this shot and plan on including it in my magazine. Lastly, I photographed a slice of cheesecake from both a front (with and without flash) and a side view to determine which would showcase the most details of the dessert (the crust, filling, and decoration) and look the most appealing.
I am pleased with this part of my photoshoot, yet a recommendation I noted when conducting the other cheesecake photoshoots was to photograph in areas with a better surface (one not reflective) and more natural lighting. Especially since I won’t be photographing the steps of baking the other two cheesecakes, I won't need the kitchen. I can, therefore, be more flexible in my filming locations.
Homemade No-Bake Oreo Cheesecake:
The second cheesecake I baked for my magazine’s double-page spread is a no-bake Oreo cheesecake. My inspiration for including a variation of the Oreo cheesecake recipe came from analyzing the data in my Target Audience Questionnaire, which displayed that most people live busy lives and don’t have much downtime. In particular, I wanted to accommodate people’s lifestyles, allowing them to indulge in delicious desserts and make dishes for a crowd without racing against the clock to fit time into their schedule.
Unlike the standard Oreo cheesecake, my magazine won't feature images corresponding to each step of making the dessert. Instead, I focused solely on photographing the final product of the dessert. For quality images, I photographed the whole and a slice of the cheesecake from different shots and angles; I wanted to see which shots and angles would work best in this situation. Regarding the whole cheesecake, I like the high angle better as it displays the crust, filling, and decorations (rather than the overhead shot, which only shows its decorations). On the other hand, I found positioning my phone in front of the subject was more suitable when photographing the cheesecake slice; I found it more important to photograph the inside of the cheesecake rather than the top. To improve the quality of my photos, I also slightly increased the exposure before taking the shots for more brightness.
Learning from the standard Oreo cheesecake photoshoot, I continued photographing the whole cheesecake on the silver cake stand and the slice of cheesecake on the red, green, and blue plate. I also photographed in an area directly under a windowsill, rather than in my kitchen, to maximize natural lighting—which I noticed improved the brightness of my images. I am pleased with the results of this part of the photoshoot since I reached my goal of finding a location in my house with quality lighting and surfaces; the shots of this cheesecake were also in focus. Despite the more simplistic decoration of this cheesecake, I feel that it looks neat, doesn't distract from its interior, and well-represents an option for people with less downtime.
Homemade Vegan No-Bake Oreo Cheesecake:
The third cheesecake I photographed was a vegan, no-bake alternative to the standard Oreo cheesecake recipe I will feature in my magazine’s double-page spread. Like the other photoshoots, I photographed the whole cheesecake on the silver cake stand and the slice of cheesecake on the red, green, and blue plate to develop consistency. Considering slightly more than a fourth of the respondents from my Target Audience Questionnaire had food allergies and dietary restrictions, I felt including a recipe for these individuals would be necessary; including this alternative would not only make my recipes diverse, but it would also allow my audience to feel included and at ease. In other words, fewer people will have to substitute ingredients on their own time if I provide a vegan recipe. Veganism is also gaining in popularity, hence my decision to include a recipe dedicated to this demographic. I also have food allergies and know that when recipes directly state that it is free of my allergy, it is much simpler and stress-free when deciding what I can and can’t eat. As I want my readers to have a simple time figuring out a recipe right for them while accommodating people’s lifestyles, I decided to feature a vegan no-bake recipe.
I am satisfied with how my images came out in this part of my final photoshoot. More specifically, using decorative dishes and photographing in the same area when I photographed the no-bake Oreo cheesecake was a success. However, a piece of criticism I have for this photoshoot is that the red paint on the plate in the fourth image looks slightly chipped. It is worth noting that it isn’t chipped but appears so due to its opacity and the person's angle and perspective with the plate. I will attempt to make this issue less visible by editing it in Photoshop.
Bakery’s Cookies and Cream Cheesecake:
In addition to photographing my three homemade Oreo cheesecakes, I visited a local bakery to interview a baker there. I interviewed Nadia Decius, owner and founder of Sweet Delight Cheesecakes, about tips and tricks she may have for baking the perfect cheesecake. I can incorporate these tips and tricks in my magazine's double-page spread to help amateur bakers successfully bake cheesecake. I also interviewed her on how she became a successful baker to inspire amateur bakers attempting to improve their baking skills and pursue their passion. While visiting Nadia’s bakery for an interview, I also conducted a photoshoot there. One of the desserts I photographed was their Cookies and Cream cheesecake mini pie. Nadia kindly let me take the dessert home, giving me another opportunity to photograph her cheesecake.
Since the cheesecake is mini, the silver cake stand wasn’t the right fit for the dessert. I used a white plate inside, a success as it made my shots more diverse. Its simplicity also worked well, considering the cheesecake had elaborate decoration. I was most pleased with the second image as the lighting was bright, and the whole cheesecake was in focus; I found it slightly challenging to photograph the cheesecake without blurriness, especially with the predominantly black toppings. I am also pleased with the quality of the seventh photo. Despite the slice of cheesecake being small, I was able to take a shot where one can still see the details of the cheesecake, and the whole subject was in focus; I assumed that photographing a slice of the mini cheesecake may be ineffective due to its small size, yet I am satisfied that I tried regardless. I found the overhead shots slightly unnecessary. As mentioned in the other parts of my photoshoot, photographing this type of shot didn’t add anything since it didn’t show the inside of the cheesecake. Therefore, I prefer high angles to display both the cheesecake and decorations.
For the most part, the lighting in this part of the photoshoot was successful, there weren’t shadows, and the close-up shots worked well in focusing on the details of the cheesecake. A minor flaw in the sixth image is that the oreo crumbs at the tip of the cheesecake are not in focus.
Final Photoshoot Part 2 (Local Bakery Photoshoot)
Meeting Nadia:
Nadia was kind and welcoming when I visited her bakery; she helped me achieve my goals by allowing me to ask her questions (to which she provided substantial responses) and photograph her, let alone allowing me into the kitchen to photograph her making two types of cheesecakes. Before I left, we took a picture together. However, my mother took the photo, meaning I can’t include it in my magazine. Instead, I plan on revisiting her bakery to photograph her, which I can add to the interview section of my magazine’s double-page spread.
Bakery’s Exterior and Interior:
I most likely won't include the images of the exterior and interior of Nadia's bakery. Just in case, I photographed the bakery's entrance, as the stickers (of sprinkles, Nadia's motto, Nadia's logo, and the desserts she sells) and colors imply the fun atmosphere of the bakery. I also took a picture of the seating area, which was colorful (white, pink, and green to match her color palette) and neat. I most likely won’t include the counter/dessert stand shot as it doesn’t add much to my magazine’s article, especially as the desserts it displays are models. Regardless, it attracted my attention as it showed the items they sell, and the fake displays greatly resembled the dessert. The last image I took of the bakery’s appearance was the menus, which I can use to display the different cheesecake options the bakery sells in my magazine. Although I most likely won’t use these images in my magazine, I thought they could be significant for showing the bakery's appearance, mood, and decorative elements.
In the Kitchen (Preparing a DoorDash Order):
When I arrived at Sweet Delight Cheesecakes, Nadia received a DoorDash order and allowed me to photograph her building the order (a customized variety pack of 16 mini cheesecake pies). She showed me the fridge where she leaves her cheesecake products and then demonstrated each step in creating the variety pack. I used the burst feature on my iPhone to photograph Nadia drizzling the sauces onto the S’mores cheesecake (third image), the Banana Pudding cheesecake (fifth image), and the Strawberry cheesecake (seventh image); the burst feature enabled me to capture the exact moment by taking a continuous set of photos, and later, ruling out the best option. The burst feature was also helpful when Nadia piped whipped cream onto the Cookies and Cream cheesecake (sixth image), as it allowed me to have multiple photos to choose from, making me more likely to achieve the shot I intended. Other pictures from this photoshoot were of Nadia sprinkling graham cracker crumbs onto the S’mores cheesecake (fourth image) and spreading the strawberry sauce over the Strawberry cheesecake with a knife (eighth image). After she finished, I also photographed the final product of the order to exhibit how the desserts looked once made.
I am content with most of the photographs, as the framing was effective; it showed both Nadia, her body movements, and the desserts. The natural lighting was sufficient in this photoshoot, brightening and enhancing the subjects. Nevertheless, I could’ve improved this part of my final photoshoot by taking a close-up shot of the final product of the variety pack of cheesecakes (ninth image); I took the photo from afar, and therefore, not all of the cheesecakes were visible and unnecessary background was in the frame. I am also not pleased with how my shadow is visible in the images of the kitchen fridge. Consequently, I most likely won't include this shot in my magazine.
In the Kitchen (Preparing a Cookies and Cream Cheesecake):
After Nadia demonstrated making a variety pack of mini cheesecake pies, she let me choose any mini cheesecake pie flavor for me to photograph her preparing next. I was glad when she asked for my input, as it allowed me to photograph a subject that correlates to my magazine. Considering my double-page spread focuses on Oreo cheesecakes, I picked her Cookies and Cream cheesecake. The shots I took above are each step Nadia performed to make her Cookies and Cream cheesecake, respectively—besides the last image, which is of her displaying the final product to the camera: adding Oreo crumbs in the center of the cheesecake, piping whipped cream around the circumference of the dessert, placing mini Oreos on top of the whipped cream, placing Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme Candy Bars in the spaces between the mini Oreos, and drizzling chocolate sauce over the top of the dessert. I used the burst feature on my iPhone for the fifth shot as it required precision, and therefore, I wanted to take photos consecutively to ensure I photographed at the right moment.
Considering natural lighting was present, the shots were well-lit. Another success was the various angles I photographed from, creating variety. I am also satisfied with the types of shots I took since they were suitable for each step, and the framing only showed the necessary details. For example, when Nadia poured the chocolate sauce onto the cheesecake, I took a close-up shot to focus on the subject without the background distracting from it. I want to edit this photo to remove the Clorox wipes since the yellow/orange packaging is noticeable and distracting. Another shot appropriate for the circumstance was the sixth image; I took a medium-full shot to show Nadia’s body and the dessert in the frame. The kitchen is slightly distracting, and Nadia’s son is in the background; I will try to edit this photo to blur the background and compare it with the original to see which would be better quality.
My shot list greatly influenced my decisions in my final photoshoot since it helped me plan and narrow down my goals. Through this photoshoot, I improved my photography skills and learned which shots and angles are most effective in certain situations. In particular, I realized that high angles work best with cheesecake as it reveals both its crust and topping. My final photoshoot also gave me a greater understanding of how to include representation in my magazine’s double-page spread. I learned how Nadia became an experienced baker via my interview; her background before becoming a bakery owner portrays the experiences of current amateur bakers (my target audience). Despite some challenges during this photoshoot, my shots were mainly successful—for example, they were well-lit and diverse—and produced photographs worthy of my magazine’s cover image and double-page spread.
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