Location and Set

My media studies class and I have been planning and researching for our magazine. A part of this process is deciding on the location and set for conducting projects to include in our magazine. I plan on taking photoshoots at my house and a local bakery, Sweet Delights Cheesecakes. I would also like to interview a baker at this bakery.

Home Photoshoot:

For my magazine article, I plan on featuring three oreo cheesecake recipes—a standard, vegan, and no-bake cheesecake—to give my audience options, accommodate their lifestyle, and provide an alternative for those with dietary restrictions. Since I will make these recipes from scratch, my photoshoot will take place in my kitchen. Consequently, I don't need to worry about permission which may have hindered my photoshoot idea. Nevertheless, I usually face issues with taking good-quality photos due to shadows from the reflective surface I bake. I should, therefore, consider purchasing contact paper—a prop I’ve been researching in my media studies class to elevate the outcome of future photoshoots—to place above my reflective workspace. I also often face issues with lighting, both natural and artificial. For this reason, I should also consider a ring light and a reflector to enhance my kitchen’s lighting. I am currently unable to display pictures of my kitchen as it is under renovation, an additional issue I may face in future photoshoots; it may limit me in terms of workspaces and photography space.

The following image is the standard cheesecake recipe I have baked and would like to feature in my magazine article:

Bakery Photoshoot and Interview:

These images are from Google.

I also plan on featuring an oreo cheesecake from Sweet Delight Cheesecakes, a local bakery in North Miami Beach, Florida, whose products are solely cheesecake-based (from whole cheesecake pies to cheesecake shakes). When I visit this bakery, I would like to photograph their cookies and cream cheesecake and interview one of their bakers. More specifically, I want to ask one of their bakers about the ingredients and process of making cheesecake and tips they may have for amateurs baking this dessert. If possible, I would also like to photograph their process and preparation for making cookies and cream cheesecake. It is worth noting that I will need permission to conduct this interview, and depending on the time I come, there may not be a baker on hand that is familiar with baking cheesecake. The bakery may also be busy when I come, meaning the bakers may not have time to answer my interview questions. To combat this issue, I should call beforehand for permission to interview one of their bakers and coordinate the best time for me to come (if they approve). If this plan fails, I can visit another bakery that sells oreo cheesecake. Another issue I may face during this photoshoot is lighting; I wouldn’t have access to the equipment and props to tackle this potential issue as I would if I were at home. However, I can bring a professional camera into the bakery (it is small and portable), increasing the quality of my photoshoot.

Of the countless local bakeries in Florida, I chose Sweet Delight Cheesecakes. Since the bakery solely sells cheesecake products, they may have more tips and tricks for amateur bakers trying to make this dessert. In other words, the staff and chefs are more likely to give me in-depth responses to my interview questions since they would be the most specialized in cheesecakes—rather than bakeries that sell all types of baked goods. I was considering interviewing a chef at Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop, a well-known bakery that sells cakes, cheesecakes, pies, and more. However, coordinating an interview with one of their chefs would be challenging as they are usually busy.

During this portion of planning for my magazine, I decided on the location and set for conducting a home and local bakery photoshoot and a bakery interview. This process also made me realize issues I may face when executing these ideas and backup plans I can implement if they fail to work out.