Styling Pies for Food Photography

There are so many styles of pies. Flat, rustic crostata and galette styles. Inches-thick fillings and meringues. There are multiple ways to tackle them depending on the style you are working with. 

Thanksgiving is coming up here in the U.S. which is essentially pie season. I’ve photographed a lot of pies and tarts, specifically for my cookbooks. These are my best tips for working with these desserts along with some photos sprinkled in for inspiration. 

A favorite pie from a creative project. It took forever to style, but I share the photo of it often.

• First, if you have control over the recipe focus on the top. The more detail the better - crumble, lattice, piped meringue, layered fruits. Even if your pie doesn’t set up or look as nice on the inside, you’ll still get some lovely detailed shots of the dessert whole.  

• Practice patience. If you need a shot of the interior, give the pie all the time it needs to cool and set up. Rushing this step is a recipe for frustration. Consider letting it sit overnight if necessary.

• Go overhead for flat pies and galettes. Stacked plates can help elevate the subject. 

The acorn squash galette in my cookbook, the California Farm Table Cookbook. Slightly stacking plates helps separate multiple subjects from each other. Different colors of plates help, too.

• Thickly filled pies make beautiful slice shots. Lower yourself and your camera to focus on the height of the pie. Ensure enough light is on the filling itself. 

The deep dish quiche on the left from my book allows for a great filling shot. The pumpkin pie on the right is shorter but with a firm filling that holds well. Both have plenty of light on the filling, highlighting it for the viewer.

Crostata photographed at the breakfast table during a workshop in Italy. Backlight works well with the lattice top.

• Backlight works for whole pies and especially catches the light on toppings. 

• Keep styling simple. Pies are large subjects that deserve attention. Let them have it. 
  
  

• Slightly pulling away a slice or slicing the pie, but keeping it whole gives you another option that is halfway between the whole or single slice decision.

The tart on the left is from my cookbook Food on Tap and the one on the right is an outtake from a pie in my book, The California Farm Table Cookbook.

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New here? If this is our first introduction, maybe you’d like to know a little more about me, my work, and how I can help. You can always check out my About page at LoriRice.com, here are some recent articles I was featured in. It’s great to meet you!

 From Science to Art at Faire Magazine

The Writer Behind the California Farm Table Cookbook by Georgia Freedman

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Build some skills before the holidays. Take a look at my FREE trainings and PDF guides.

Food and Product Photography Props for Styling Holiday Season Photos

Most photos start with the subject. But when I get stuck in a rut, constantly grabbing for the same prop over and over again, I find reversing the process so helpful. This is especially true during the holiday season. I gather every prop I want in the scene to create the mood I envision and the finally place the subject last.

It’s a great way to use props you’ve had forever, to discover the unexpected that is sitting around the house, and to decide what you truly need in a collection.

These are a few of my holiday photo prop ideas. The things I keep around to style seasonal photo shoots for both food and products.

Old white painted stool - I use this all the time. Found at a church yard sale for $2.

Baskets of all kinds - larger baskets are ideal for setting on the floor and filling with seasonal items like blankets.

Blankets - you can’t have enough for fall and winter photos and I find IKEA a great place to get smaller, thinner options that are less bulky and ideal for stacking.

Bundles of fabric - with or in place of linens or blankets, buying clearance fabric in large quantities can create a seasonal look that can be stacked.

Dried greens, plants, and flowers of all kinds - Trader Joe’s is where I get most of mine and let them dry on their own, I keep the ones that dry well.

Wooden bowls - for a classic look that works from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Vintage cookie cutters and baking tins - always a favorite for holiday scenes.

Rolling pins - vintage are nice, but I also like printed versions for holiday-specific photos.

Heavy linens - moving into heavier fabrics like tweeds and flannels changes the mood of a photo for a seasonal look.

In-shell nuts - I’ve written about this one before and I love them for holiday photos.

Mesh shopping bags - these look as great with fall produce as they do with naturally wrapped gifts sitting inside.

Dried leaves and small branches - I gather them when I walk and sift through my collection each year.

Fuzzy table runners - they don’t have to be intended for that, just buy a few yards of something soft and bulky from the fabric store or use a scarf.

Candle holders - I keep red and green around for the holidays.

Pinecones - another thing I collect on walks and from old arrangements and wreaths that are discarded each season.

Antlers - a natural set painted white is perfect.

Matte scrapbook paper - I think these printed papers work well as a substitute for wrapping paper in photos versus glossy paper.

Paper gift bags - I go with brown but matte colors work, too.

Natural twine - this works well with other natural props and dried elements.