A winter baking story

Case study inspired by Doves Farm flour

OVERVIEW

This self-initiated project was created to explore the visual language of winter baking through a warm, atmospheric still-life narrative.

Using Doves Farm flour as the core ingredient, I set out to craft imagery that feels real, tactile, and rooted in the simple pleasure of baking at home on a cold day.

The goal was to demonstrate how a wholesome, heritage food brand could be positioned within a cozy lifestyle setting, without relying on studio-perfect formality.

Instead, I leaned into mood, texture, and authenticity.

CONCEPT & CREATIVE DIRECTION

The creative direction centered around slow winter moments: candlelight, warm brass accents, citrus on the table, and a homemade blood orange upside-down cake acting as the hero element.

Key visual intentions included:

  • A lived-in, rustic atmosphere

  • Deep seasonal tones (greens, oranges, browns, warm neutrals)

  • Soft, natural light paired with beeswax candle glow

  • Props such as ceramic plates, natural linens, brass candlesticks, wooden table, and everyday baking tools

  • A mix of polished still-life arrangements and more spontaneous, “in-process” table scenes

The aim was to produce imagery that feels both inviting and aspirational; something a brand like Doves Farm could use across campaigns, recipes, or editorial content.

dark and moody food photography depicting a baking scenes with a homemade blood orange cake, baking utensils and a person wearing a brown apron holding eggs

MY ROLE & PROCESS

I handled the entire production process independently, treating the project as I would a commissioned brand shoot:

  • Ideation + Moodboard Development

  • Prop sourcing + set styling

  • Baking the featured blood orange cake

  • Designing two visual storylines:

    • A candlelit cake still-life

    • A rustic baking table scene with ingredients and tools

  • Solo photography, including tripod setups for any shots I appear in

  • Retouching and colour grading in a warm, cohesive palette

  • Final image curation, selecting shots that best represent the brand mood

The project also served as an opportunity to refine a seamless workflow.

From shoot planning to post-production, I worked on keeping the visual tone consistent across multiple scenes.

OUTCOME

The final gallery delivers:

  • A cohesive collection of winter-themed, brand-ready images

  • A strong sense of atmosphere, warmth, and storytelling

  • Authentic lifestyle positioning for a flour or baking brand

  • Visuals suitable for use in social, editorial, packaging concepts, and seasonal campaigns

This project showcases how everyday ingredients can be transformed into story-rich imagery that feels tactile and emotive - an approach especially suited to artisan and heritage food brands.

If you’re a food, lifestyle, or homeware brand looking for warm, story-driven photography with a handcrafted feel, I’d love to collaborate.

I offer full creative production — from concept and styling to shooting, editing, and final delivery.
Get in touch and let’s create something beautiful together.

Inquire now

LET’S TELL YOUR STORY

If you enjoyed this project, you can explore more of my work and behind-the-scenes stories here

Curious about working together? You can learn more about my photography services, approach, and pricing here

Ready to book a discovery call? E-mail me here

If you want to read more about case studies and behind the scenes, check out the blog here!

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Wild berry cake and florals