It’s amazing how many shots I find myself taking in order to get the one that is just right. Well, the photo of these cookies (which are dairy free, nut free and egg free) is the finished product of what seemed like hours of photographing cookies. The challenge was to not eat them until after I had the shot I wanted.
As a public relations professional, I often work with media outlets to provide story ideas, then help facilitate the story if they like it. This is what led me to photograph cookies. I had pitched a story to a Utah-based magazine, Wasatch Woman, about food allergies. My two sons have allergies, so I became involved with the Utah Food Allergy Network and was looking to bring more awareness to childhood food allergies.
After making the pitch to the editor, I offered to not only place her in contact with some families who are dealing with food allergies, but also provide recipes of treats that were free of certain allergens. She mentioned her photographer was on maternity leave (or something like that) and asked if I could provide some photos. Since they would be printed in a magazine, I felt the pressure of making them worthy of publication.
Cooking them was the fun part. Photographing them was the challenge. I didn’t have any lighting beyond the on-camera flash, so I pulled in a few lamps from around the house to help light the scene. I attached my 50mm, 1:1.8 lens to my Canon Digital Rebel XT, opened up my aperture as wide as it would go and started clicking away.
While I don’t think I’m cut out to be a professional food photographer, it was fun to try something new and see what I could come up with. And it was even cooler to see my photo printed in a publication that was sold in stores across Utah.
~signed, Carltonaut
Carltonaut 
That’s made me reach for the cookie jar!
I probably should have eaten a bigger breakfast, because the photo also made me want to grab a little snack, even though it’s only 10 a.m.
Oh, I want one! But that’s fantastic. Props to you for stepping up to the challenge.
(Also, a professional food photographer’s job is to make the viewer want the product so I think you did a great job. 😉 )
Thanks. It made me hungry, too. Looking back on it, I should have posted the recipe, too, but I don’t remember which recipe it was or where it is even at now. I appreciate the feedback.
Hi
The cookies look fab – can I have the recipe please? I would love to reblog them (with the great photo) on my blog intrepidallergymum.com.
Thanks!
Charmaine
I took the photo back in 2009, and my two sons have since outgrown their allergy to dairy and eggs, so I am not sure where the recipe is. I will see if I can find it and share it with you, but it might take me a while. Sorry.