WELCOME TO THE MAGENTAVERSE
We're halfway through the year, the longest days are somehow already behind us, and the colour pink still reigns supreme. The 2023 Pantone® Colour of the Year is Viva Magenta. According to Pantone®, Viva magenta "revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement." It is pure joy and unadulterated fun! Viva magenta paired with its monochromatic hues is everywhere in the world of food and product photography.
Fun Fact: Photoshop's Generative Fill feature was used to create the background of this image.
“Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.”
pink Food&Drink
My favourite example this year of the use of vibrant pink hues is the cover image on the early summer edition of the LCBO Food&Drink magazine. The talented Maya Visnyei captured the bright pink cocktail bubbling with effervescence and irresistible allure. This delightful splash of pink serves as a testament to the captivating power of color in food photography. The image is a tight shot, simple as can be, but the vibrant pink serves as the focal point, elevating the composition and creating an instant desire to dive right in and explore. You can practically feel the sweet bubbles on your tongue.
Maya Visnyei for LCBO FOOD&DRINK
cake cake cake
These past few months I've of course been inspired by the colour pink and its attention-grabbing vibrance. One of my favourite brands, Cake Beauty, has made this colour the centre of their brand identity and embraced its playful energy. Food and product photography go hand in hand, (it IS called cake, after all!) so I had some fun creating cute GIFs and fanciful images with their products. It may not seem like it given my profile picture, but I have extremely curly hair and The Curl Whip totally to die for whipped curl mousse is my ride or die.
Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle
pink in motion
I've been making a concerted effort to include more motion work in my repertoire as clients are asking for it more and more to help connect with their markets. Plus the ever-important algorithms demand it so I must obey. At Planted Expo in Toronto this spring I met Beata Antoninas, a holistic nutritionist, fitness enthusiast, and creator of Amino Snacks, some of the best tasting protein balls I have ever tried. Pink features heavily in her brand's colours and I created a fun little stop motion bringing her delicious snacks to life.
have a pink party
In the realm of branding and marketing, color story plays a crucial role in creating a compelling visual narrative. As food and product photographers, we have the power to shape our client's brand imagery and evoke specific emotions in their target audience. Pink, with its associations of joy, playfulness, and vibrance, can be a powerful tool in this endeavour. Whether you're a bakery, restaurant, emerging or established brand, harnessing the power of pink in your imagery can help put a fun spin on your brand's visual identity and create an emotional connection with your customers. Embrace this vibrant hue, tell compelling color stories, and watch as your imagery exudes an irresistible charm that resonates with viewers, making a lasting impression on your audience. Let's make it happen!
