In Golden, CO you’ll find the Rachel Shoots Food operation.

 It's where we plan, cook, photograph and celebrate after our multi-day shoots.

The Studio

All the magic happens in our 1,100+ sq foot commercial photography studio in Golden, CO. Conveniently located at the intersection of 3 major highways, we are only 15 min from downtown Denver. We have ample free parking with a roll-up garage for easy load-in and out. Outfitted with a full commercial kitchen, we have an enormous fridge, 2 freezers and gas range. Our cozy client lounge is set up for live image viewing with a couch, desk and long dining table so our clients can stay connected. Our snack and coffee station will keep you fed and caffeinated. We also offer virtual shoots, but we promise it's more fun to join in-person.

The Pros

Rachel is no longer a one-woman-show. She has surrounded herself with the best of best. Our crew is flexible in size, but always includes Gina Nistico, premiere food stylist and mad scientist (she's actually very sweet). As the shoot demands, we have a crew of photo assistants, food styling assistants, prop stylists and digi techs who often support us in our complex shoots. Our team of professionals have decades of experience and are focused on making your product look the best it possibly can. You and your products will be in good hands. 

The Props

First, the scene must be built. The studio is stocked with an array of in-house surfaces, backdrops and props. This includes white sweeps, custom hand-painted surfaces, tile backgrounds and brilliant solid color vinyl sheets. It's stocked with plates, glasses, silverware, cutting boards and even some faux fruit for those off-season shoots. We've hand-collected props that photograph well and complement the scene. Need something special? We also offer custom backdrop creation including Pantone-specific, food-friendly backdrops. Sourcing is also a passion, so let us find custom props if our library doesn't have something for your exact needs.

The Gear

A photographer once said the best camera is the one you have. I believe it's much more important to know how to light and use your gear than the gear itself. But, have no fear, we have it all.  Multiple cameras, profoto studio lights, every light modifier you can think of, a ginormous FOBA light stand, multiple viewing monitors, and of course wifi. We have the gear covered and more. This includes the tweezers to make sure every crumb is in place. But most importantly, we know how to use the gear.

SERVICES

  • Creative / Art Direction Consultation
  • Asset Library Strategy
  • Mood Board Creation
  • Food styling
  • Prop Styling
  • Still Food Photography
  • Product Photography
  • Food Packaging Photography
  • GIF / Stop Motion Creation
  • Stop Action Photography : Splashes and Crashes
  • Photo Editing
  • Image Compositing
  • Image Stacking
  • In-Person Food Photography Workshops
  • Corporate Workshops

OUR APPROACH

We know how to plan, craft and build food imagery that sells.

YOUR
BRAND:

First, we learn about your product so we can determine exactly how to sell it, one detail and a time. What makes your product different from the others? What sells it? What do you want showcase and why? Once we learn this, we know how to sell it visually. The strategy comes from our corporate marketing and food editorial backgrounds. We will build a plan and execute on every detail.

MARKETING
UTILITY:

We compose your images to lend towards as many crop options as possible so you can utilize assets across multiple platforms. We've even created a custom crop overlay so we can compose the image for multiple crops. Our goal with each image is to ensure what you are selling is the focus (literally and figuratively). Styling techniques use flavor cues, supporting props and art composition principals to guide the viewer to what you want them to see.

PACKAGING
WORK:

Quite possibly our favorite projects to photograph are food items for packaging design. This level of detail is where we thrive as a team. Need help determining the composition or angle of the camera? Have a design? We will overlay your design as we capture the product and watch it come to life on set. We can't wait to see the products shining on shelves.

AND...
THE FOOD:

Of course, this all started with food. Our crew's experience is everything food. Our resumes include: food blogger, personal chef, caterer, test kitchen lead, classically-trained chef, recipe developer, recipe tester, food magazine editor, food content strategist, marketing manager for food distributor, editorial food photographer, food educator, food stylist and food photographer. Combined we have decades of “food” on our rap sheets. This is how we know how to work with food, how to style and how to photograph it. Because we know food first. We understand recipe builds and how to recreate them for the camera. From selecting camera angles, to lighting styles and on-set food styling, we know how to capture the food in its best light.


I recently worked with Rachel to capture images of protein bars for packaging, and I couldn't be happier with the results. Their attention to detail and creative eye truly brought out the best in the product, making it look mouthwatering and irresistible.

Not only did she capture the essence of our brand, but she also exceeded my expectations in terms of professionalism and timeliness. Working with Rachel was a pleasure, and I highly recommend her services to anyone looking for stunning food photography.

- Sara Mae Spinale, Package Designer


MEET THE TEAM

site designed by Elizabeth McCravy

photography by lexi marie photo

Photos of Olivia Rink