Great Food Photos: Aran Goyoaga

I have always been drawn to blogs that are very personal. It's more interesting to read when you get to find out more about the person behind the camera and blog. So I was super excited when Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle et Vanille agreed to let me feature her photos!! If you don't know Aran she's a pastry chef, writer, photographer, stylist and a mother! How does she find time for everything? Her photos are truly amazing and inspiring. She always adds a bit of childhood memories into her posts because as she mentioned in her about page "Why the name Cannelle Et Vanille? Because those are the smells and tastes of my childhood and this blog is very much filled with nostalgia."

Q. What are you trying to capture when you take your food photos? A. I try to capture not only the food but a feeling/ambiance. I am very inspired by seasons and I always try to evoke that in the images.

Q. What is your process from thinking about what to bake to posting the finished photos onto your blog? A. The process varies really. Sometimes I start with the food in mind. Then I cook/bake it and then I just let the styling "happen" on its own. I play around until I find something that fits what I am trying to convey. Other times, I have a frame, composition or color scheme in mind and I cook around that. That's the inspiration part. Then I actually make the food and photograph it as is. Everything that you see in my blog will be eaten by my family. The photos are simple. It never really takes too long as I want it to be as organic, spontaneous and simple as possible, When it comes to writing the post, I often times resort to past memories. I don't do it on purpose but I think that way a lot. Q. You've been blogging for 2.5years now, how has it been for you? Were there surprises in your life during these 2.5years because of your blog? A. Totally! Blogging started as something fun for me to do, like writing a journal, but now it's become my profession. Q. What makes a perfect food moment? Like the moment when you open the oven to find perfectly baked bread or the moment when you take that first sip of morning coffee while the family is still sleeping...OR during big family gatherings and everyone is enjoying your food. A. I would say all of those things. It's hard to say what it is and I try not to overthink food too much. I want it to be magical.

All photos courtesy of Aran Goyoaga - Cannelle et Vanille

Great Food Photos: Melissa Camero Ainslie

I have known Mel since 2003, we met in graduate school. I've been lucky enough to try some of her cooking, Thanksgiving 2004 bacon wrapped turkey with apricot jam and homemade apple pie YUM. Yes I still remember and yes she gave me the recipe. But now that she's far far away in Florida all I can do is look at her food photos. *Sigh Recently she was nominated for Best Food Photography by Saveur.

Here's what she said about her food photos and her process. Thanks Mel!!

I'm trying to make people's mouths water. If I'm photographing a brownie, I want to capture the crumbs, the chocolate and the fudginess. If it's soup, it should look warm and inviting and homey, preferably with a little steam rising up.

Usually, I cook in the morning. It's when I get the best natural light from the balcony. I have an older Canon Rebel with a cheapo 50mm lens on it - I just use that and whatever pretty plate I have around. Take lots of pictures from lots of different angles. After that, I pick the best 1 or 2, edit them a little in Lightroom (usually just some color correcting and cropping) and post. I try not to think too hard about the setting since I prefer when the pictures don't look so "posed".

- Melissa Camero Ainslie