new year, new you
Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you had an amazing time ringing in 2024. I’m sure you’re all experiencing that familiar “fresh start” feeling, setting goals and making resolutions and wondering what the year ahead holds. Let’s talk about some of those things, like the evolution of AI, the new approaches to all things plant-based, and the new Pantone® colour of the year. This heartfelt peach hue brings a feeling of kindness, tenderness, and a longing for community and collaboration. In the realm of food photography, Peach Fuzz offers a unique opportunity to infuse warmth and sophistication into your visuals, making it an ideal colour to kickstart the year with a creative bang. Read on for more!
Duché de Longueville Sparkling Peach
peach fuzz
The Pantone® 2024 Colour of the Year has arrived and I am totally here for it. Who doesn't love a cute peachy shade? Peach Fuzz is super versatile and can be incorporated into your business in myriad ways. It is at once soft and welcoming, evoking feelings of community and togetherness, but also subtly sensual and alluring. No matter the voice of your brand, there's a place for Peach Fuzz in this year's imagery to give it a fresh and clean look. Pantone® wanted to create a colour that expressed how we feel when we tune in to who we are and what brings us joy. Eliciting strong emotions is key to any brand's story, allowing their customers a chance to truly connect. Peach Fuzz encourages a new modernity in food photography. Its clean peach tone with a vintage vibe reflects the past but is refashioned with contemporary ambiance. Your ability to set the scene with sultry lighting and cast intriguing shadows creates an opportunity to weave the unique qualities of Peach Fuzz into your visual narratives.
“We are reminded that a vital part of living a full life is having the good health, stamina, and strength to enjoy it. That in a world which often emphasizes productivity and external achievements, it is critical we recognize the importance of fostering our inner selves and find moments of respite, creativity, and human connection amid the hustle and bustle of modern life.”
ai is your friend
As a photographer, I'm constantly asked about whether I feel AI is threatening my profession, and the answer is a resounding no. The first reason is that because of advertising laws, brands can't showcase an AI representation of their product and claim it's the real thing. Food photographers are always going to have to shoot real life tangible products. Secondly, AI is not super great at creating images from scratch (have you seen it try to do hands?), and not all the content is original, but based off artists' source material, leading yet again to legal issues. What most people don't realize is AI is being used in minuscule ways every day. I use it almost every single time I edit an image. For instance, in the image of the peach below, I used Photoshop's Remove Tool to erase some blemishes on the fruit. This tool uses AI and machine learning to remove an area of an image and seamlessly replace it. I also routinely use Generative AI to extend backgrounds, which I also did with this peach image to create a 16x9 aspect ratio. I absolutely love AI and it does not threaten my livelihood, but rather makes my workflow a lot easier. AI is a tool, and it's not coming to take your job; someone who knows how to use AI is.
I used AI tools in Photoshop to remove blemishes from the peach and extend the background.
plant-based is here to stay
I've been plant-based for about 8 years now and it is so much easier today than it ever was. The number of products on the market has exploded and we're totally spoiled for choice right now. In Nourish Marketing's 2024 Trend report, they talk about plant-based products as they have in reports past, but this time the focus is on consumers' reactions to what is now a diverse market. People are eating more healthily and mindfully, and they're more wary of overly processed foods and ingredients they can't pronounce. Plant-based brands today, and those that offer plant-based options have to think about their marketing more than ever before, highlighting fresh ingredients and celebrating the vegetables for what they are. That's one of the reasons I love the carrot lox from Save Da Sea, a brand based in BC, Canada. Their ingredients list is minimal – it's just carrots that taste really really good. And the plant-based gummies from Smart Sweets are such a good alternative to sugar-laden snacks.
Smoked carrot from Save Da Sea
Fruity Gummy Bears and Peach Rings from Smart Sweets
taking care of business
I will definitely be using the colour of the year a lot in my photography for the foreseeable future. Peach Fuzz is not just a color; it's an invitation to explore, innovate, and set the stage for a visually compelling year ahead. As you think about how you want to represent your brand, think about how you can introduce a fresh perspective to captivate your audience. One of my goals this year is to level up my business by improving my skills and embracing AI, thus expanding the services I can offer clients. And I always hold a special place in my heart for plant-based brands. I hope we can create together in 2024! Cheers to a year filled with fresh perspectives, captivating imagery, and the vibrant essence of Peach Fuzz!
