Photography is not something that I have really ever got to grips with. I have done numerous workshops and bought equipment but I have never invested the time it takes to make my photographs better. I mean, they are better than they were when I started blogging, but they’re not as good as they could be and I often wonder if the better ones are a fluke. When Cotton Bag Co contacted me and asked if I fancied giving their new #TheFoodieBag a try, I thought it was about time that I put lockdown time to good use (other than eating and drinking my way through it) and hone the skill.
The Cotton Bag Co create printed and plain cotton bags in Wiltshire. The majority of their products are wholesale for companies to use for advertising but they have designed The Foodie Bag with a selection of items to help you up your food photography game.
The bag itself is beautifully made from a thick cotton and printed on both sides, the front is shown above and the bag shows a series of foodie pictures. There is a zipped compartment, a mesh divider to stop things from banging against each other and a zip closure across the top.
Included with the bag is a series of cards showcasing some beautiful food photography with tips of how to take a better photograph of your meal. There is also a 5 in 1 pop up reflector and 4 backdrops to perfect your flat lays. I have used backdrops for a while, relying on pieces of wallpaper mounted to card from the DIY stores, but the backdrops included in the bag are lovely quality and will last a lot longer. They also reflect a countertop a lot better so definitely look more authentic when laying out a food image.
I have used light reflectors on workshops before but for some reason I don’t really do it at home when styling images. I have no idea why because they make SUCH a difference! If you are working with low light or harsh light, they can diffuse it so your image looks softer with less shadows. Here is an example –
I took this image in the afternoon when the natural light in my kitchen is a little dull, thanks to the winter months setting in when the sun is lower and the sun having passed my kitchen to the front of the house. The change is very subtle but shows less of a shadow and the writing on the can is clearer, without the light bouncing from the front. You can get much more dramatic results by manipulating the light which I will play with in the future, this was a 5 minute experiment to show you how easy it is!
I pop everything in the bag; included my camera, tripod and tabletop ring light, and it stores everything away safely but together where I can find it easily. If upping your Insta game or perfecting your food photography is on your agenda for this year, I’d definitely recommend investing in this equipment to get you started. Who knows where it will lead.
The Foodie Bag costs £39.95 delivered and you can order yours from the Cotton Bag Co website.
Contains PR Samples
No Comments