Building better portfolios with spec work: my Winter Baking & Doves Farm case studies

It’s been a while since my last post; after a month immersed in photos from Iceland, I finally carved out some time to capture something new and seasonal, without client pressure or specific deadline.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I do this a lot: bake something, mess about with some props in the studio and emerge a day later with some photos or short videos I won’t shut up about because (at least to me) they’re the best inventions after sliced bread. I ADORE those days of creative freedom, when I allow myself a few hours to create what feels inspiring in the moment, without a target or client in mind.

Why Spec Work Matters for Photographers

If you’re someone who waits for paying clients or collabs to have a reason to create… let me CONVINCE you that creating spec work is one of the BEST MOVES for a creative! Why wait around for whatever work gets thrown your way, when you can work on projects that MAKE YOU FEEL ALIVE?

Some of my best work was created on days like this one, and those projects attracted clients who wanted similar work, so I got to create more of the things that brought me jo. This is how you become one of those people who do what they love for work, therefore don’t have to work a day in their life…

Are you with me? I’m about to go full hyper-fixated AuDHD nerd (it’s just who I am, ok???) and dive in the pros & cons of creating spec work. I figured, since I already monologued about it to my husband, I might as well bore you too. Maybe one of you needs to hear this today. Maybe not… but I need to get it out of my system.

But first, a few nice photos:

Yes, there’s a dog in there. Yes, I’ll tell you all about her later!

All the good things about spec work:

• Spec work = creating a project without a client brief, purely to build skills, experiment, or attract future clients.

• Helps photographers develop a recognisable style and portfolio direction.

• Allows complete creative freedom: no constraints, no brand guidelines, no expectations (unless you plan in advance exactly what you aim to shoot).

• A way to test new lighting, styling, and compositions in a low-pressure environment.

• Builds confidence and reveals workflow gaps before working with a paid client (this one is my favourite as I get to make all the mistakes in private & save me from a situation that would cripple me with shame in front of a client!)

• Shows potential clients what you can do, not just what you’ve already been hired to do.

• Allows you to create work aligned with the kind of brands you want to attract.

…and because there’s no sun without annoying glare in your eyes (again, if you know me, you know my feelings about THE SUN) here are the downsides: unpaid time, production costs, and effort with no guaranteed return (aka no client throwing money at you for more of that type of work).

In my opinion, the pros outnumber the cons BY FAR and I’d rather spend a day on a project like this, than eating pizza on the sofa & doom scrolling on Insta disguising it as ‘networking’. They both cost the same in terms of money and time, only one leads to a feeling of self disgust, bloating and night sweats ahahahha… the other? Some cool photos I added to my portfolio: a Case Study about winter, baking and storytelling… and a second Case Study about Doves Farm where I talk more in-depth about everything that went in creating those images; from styling, to lighting, props, creating the mood etc etc etc.

How I created 2 case studies from 1 photo shoot, nobody asked? Very easy: I incorporated the product in a pre-existing scene, moved some props around & changed the angle a bit. See these 2 images:

How the Idea for the Projects Started

Not gonna lie, I didn’t plan this, I just saw a bag of blood oranges at Morrison’s and thought I could make a blood orange upside-down cake over the weekend. I’ve made one before & took photos of it; you can see it here.

Now back to this cake, and this shoot. My brain went immediately from the bag of oranges to a full-on photo shoot with seasonal hints without being overly-Christmassy. Thoughts and ideas flooded my brain, and before we even reached the car, my head was full of plans.

I envisioned a table scene, inspired by the winter season: moody light (always!), warm candlelight, slow baking rituals, nice ceramics, linens and wood tones. A blood orange upside-down cake instantly felt like the perfect seasonal centrepiece.

I wanted two complementary stories: a candlelit winter still-life & a messier, more natural baking scene. I also challenged myself to take some self-portraits with the scene, since I had an appointment later in the day and was getting all dressed and pretty.

So, the challenges were:

• styling everything from scratch

• shooting alone

• testing new compositions

• incorporating layered storytelling… and a product without making it a plain product photos - it had to fit in naturally with the scene

the butter could have been focused a bit better, but… don’t you dare tell me that!

Props and visual inspiration:

• brass candlesticks

• beeswax candles

• greenery (planned on some fir tree branches but didn’t fancy going for a walk in pouring rain to get some… so I relied on ceramics and linen tea towel to do the job)

• citrus colours

• rustic props

• textured linens

Case Study 1: Candlelit winter still life (no product)

Focused on mood, atmosphere, and emotion. The blood orange cake was the hero (and Masha, one of my dogs, who snuck in the studio to eat all the crumbs).

• Purpose of this case study:

  • demonstrate ability to create evocative lifestyle images

  • show seasonal storytelling

  • highlight my food styling approach

  • attract clients looking for warm, cozy, winter content

• Visual themes:

  • quiet moments

  • slow living

  • handmade textures (rustic ceramics, linen tea towels, homemade cake)

  • soft, warm light (thanks, overcast early winter day!)

  • golden glow from candles

Honestly can’t get over that soft light!

Bringing in a brand: why Doves Farm Flour

The baking story naturally created an opportunity to introduce a real product, and Doves Farm felt like an authentic fit. Not only do we use this flour in our bakery/coffee shop and for baking at home, but the brand values are aligned with the visual direction, and the packaging photographs beautifully. Jokes on me though: I bought a few bags, and only after I styled the scene I realised that the green pack was for pasta, and the one for baking was blue… but we survived, ok? No need to have a meltdown over something as trivial as the color of a bag of flour (it’s something I wish someone would have told me that afternoon ahahah).

To sum up: Case study intention:

• Show how to incorporate a product subtly

• Create a commercial-feeling image set that’s still real and relatable for bakers at home

• highlight brand values through visual storytelling

Even without a client brief, the project was treated as if it were a real commission:

• product placement

• lighting to flatter the packaging

• thoughtful styling and prop selection

• narrative cohesion

Case Study 2: Doves Farm Baking Story

Expanded on the first shoot, but with a commercial angle. Showed the “behind the magic” of baking with flour, utensils, ingredients, and a bit of artistic mess and aimed to demonstrate how lifestyle and product photography merge seamlessly.

• Highlights:

  • flour dust

  • citrus colours

  • layered props

  • lived-in textures

  • a warm, real kitchen atmosphere

• Purpose for brands:

  • see how their product could fit into a real, aspirational setting

  • understand the storytelling power of context

  • imagine the product in seasonal marketing campaigns

To wrap things up

Spec work has a way of reminding us why we picked up the camera in the first place. It gives photographers the freedom to experiment, refine their style, and create the kind of imagery they truly want to be known for. These two winter case studies are exactly that for me: little creative experiments that turned into fully formed stories.

And if you’re a brand looking at this thinking, “Our product would look amazing in a scene like that,” I’d love to help bring that vision to life. Whether you're after seasonal content, thoughtful storytelling, or a fresh set of images for your next campaign, my door is always open.

Let’s make something beautiful together. Message me!

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