It all began with a cupcake recipe and a camera in 2009. Since then, Linda Lomelino has become one of Sweden’s most successful food photographers, with her popular blog and four internationally published books. In this story, Linda reveals her top tips for making your blog stand out, exclusively for Profoto’s followers.
How did you get started with photography in the first place?
Something about photography has always appealed to me. In high school, I learned about analog photography and how to develop black-and-white film. But it wasn’t until a few years later, in 2008, when I got my first DSLR from my mother, that I really started to experiment with my camera. Cupcakes were very popular at the time and when I took my first pictures of baked goods, I knew right away that it was a winning combination!
How important was photography to your success story?
Photography is a huge part of my success. For example, I know the publisher Bonnier contacted me about my first cookbook because they saw a lot of potential in my pictures. When they discovered me in 2011, I was pretty early with the combination of baking and blogging with great pictures.
How did you develop your photography style?
My pictures weren’t very consistent those first five years; there was a lot of trial and error. Only when I started experimenting with darker, more atmospheric pictures did it start to feel like my style, and then I stuck with it. That was when I discovered that lighting is one of the most important factors for my pictures. At the same time, I tried to develop a consistent editing style, so that my pictures all harmonize together.
How do you typically take your pictures?
I shoot everything with a Canon 5d Mark II, which I’ve been using for eight years now, together with a lot of different lenses, but I prefer to stick to a focal length between 50 and 100 mm. When I started my Instagram account, I just took pictures with my iPhone, until three years ago. I still use my iPhone, but only for Instagram stories.
As a Profoto Light Tribe member, you were among the first to try the Profoto C1 Plus. How was your experience?
I hadn’t used a flash before I tried the C1 Plus, so it opened up a whole new world for me. Before, I was hesitant and uncertain about how I would use a flash. It was challenging at first, because I’m so used to natural light. But it wasn’t as hard with the C1 Plus, so I started experimenting in a way that I wouldn’t ordinarily.
How did you use the C1 Plus?
I try to capture movement in a lot of my pictures, like the steam in a picture of my cupcakes. With natural light, you need a fast shutter speed, which can be tough on a dark day. Otherwise you need a high ISO, so it was good to use the C1 Plus as an extra light source.
And for the latest shoot, I put the C1 Plus behind my kitchen curtain to create a beige color and the light was perfect. I was surprised at how good and natural the pictures looked, and it made me less skeptical about using a flash. Basically, I tried a lot of different things and step by step, I’ve gotten used to using a flash. To me, that’s what the C1 Plus is all about.
How can bloggers and photographers create high-quality pictures with the C1 Plus?
- As a complement to natural light. It’s an outstanding tool for photographers who ordinarily use natural light, but who want to start using flash light.
- With flexibility. It’s small and compact, which means you can take it with you anywhere.
- As continuous light. You can use it to light up your face or film YouTube videos or Instagram stories.
Finally, do you have any tips for people who want to learn to take fantastic pictures of food and baked goods?
- The subject has to look really good! It’s easier to take a picture of a beautiful cake than a brown Swedish pea soup. Don’t start with unattractive dishes.
- Consider the composition of your photo and what objects to include. It’s about finding a balance and using different shapes. For flatlays, I like to use objects in the foreground, like a bouquet of flowers positioned closer to the camera. That adds extra depth to the picture.
- Be attentive to colors and textures. Especially the use of complementary colors. For example, placing an orange cake on a turquoise blue background will really make the cake stand out.
Visit Linda’s blog and Instagram account to learn more about her food photography and recipes.