Food photography should get the tastebuds tingling almost as much as eating the dishes themselves – and so presents the ultimate creative challenge, to come up with something that is as mouthwatering as the finished plate.
Portfolio Events Catering refreshes its food photography every year and creates a short film to celebrate its latest menus. The aim this year was to push the styling further than ever before, adding movement, colour and life to create something that would put delicious temptation in front of customers in a new and creative way.
Anna Hughes, Marketing Manager at Portfolio, said: “Refreshing our food photography has become a tradition that not only keeps our visuals up to date but also gives us the chance to showcase our food in a new and creative way.
“This year, we worked once again with the brilliant photographer and filmmaker Paul Michael Hughes to produce something really special.
“I had a clear vision for this shoot: food photography is always about the details, but I wanted more movement and life injected into our images. So, we introduced hand models into the mix, bringing a sense of energy and enjoyment to every dish. It wasn’t just about how the food looked on the plate, but how it feels to experience it.”
To enhance the visuals, the team leaned into colour drenching as a main creative direction. Three bespoke backgrounds were created in the brand pantones – deep navy, rich merlot, and a softer salt-speckled contrast. Models wore navy and merlot tones, with accents of fresh aqua nails (a playful nod to the brand colours).
“The combination of these bold, moody hues against our food made each dish truly pop,” said Anna. “The colours framed the plates perfectly while letting the food remain the star of the show. We were fortunate to be able borrow from Wren Ark. Kate, from Wren Ark, curated a stunning selection of tableware from her hire collection, each piece carefully chosen to complement our dishes without overpowering them. They gave Giles, our head chef, the perfect canvas to plate everything with his usual flair and precision.”
After a full-on day of stills and film being captured simultaneously the result was worth every second. A short film was produced to capture a dynamic range, full of personality, and completely mouth-watering.
Anna added: “It’s the kind of video that makes you stop scrolling, lean in, and (hopefully) crave a bite of what you see.
“We’re thrilled with the outcome. The colours, the styling, the creativity, and, of course, the food – everything came together exactly as we imagined. We think it really does tickle the taste buds.
“And we found the perfect track to match the mood – so watch it with the sound on!”
Find out more about Portfolio on 01604 215606, email team@portfolioevents.com or visit the Portfolio website
Find out more about Paul Michael Hughes at their website
Discover Wren Ark’s beautiful tableware at the Wren Ark website
