RECAP: LONDON FOOD STYLING & REEL CREATION WORKSHOP 2026
Students had the chance to use an array of Blueberry Backdrops as shown here.
Curious to know exactly what it really takes to get noticed as a food photographer or food content creator in today’s fast-moving, saturated social media world? More than ever before, mastering short-form video like a pro — especially Instagram Reel creation — has undoubtedly become one of the most valuable skills you can have both to grow your own channels as well as to get hired by the best food clients! That’s because brands are no longer ‘only’ looking for beautiful food or product photos, instead they are keen to work with creatives who understand how to plan, film and edit engaging Reels that tell a story, capture people’s attention in seconds and perform well across all key social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube Shorts.
It might still feel a little daunting to move from food photography to food videography, but please know that this shift will bring a wave of exciting new opportunities to those who can confidently produce both still images and super engaging video content. So, if you want to secure brand partnerships, grow your audience and increase your income doing what you love, learning how to create polished, scroll-stopping Reels is no longer a bonus skill — it’s essential.
That’s exactly why my co-teacher Silvia and I came together again this year to host our immersive 2-day, in-person food photography, Reel creation and storytelling workshop in London. This time, we also opened the doors to more beginners and mobile phone videographers, making the experience accessible to creators who are just starting out with video as well as those looking to refine their DSLR filming process. Considering social media market demands, we designed the workshop to walk students step-by-step through our filming workflow — from planning the shot list to capturing footage and turning it into engaging Instagram Reels ready to share with the world.
Just like in 2023, 2024 and 2025, Silvia and I designed our London food styling, Reel creation and story telling workshop to go beyond the basics. This time, we focused even more on the skills food creators need today — combining photography with Instagram Reel creation, stop motion and storytelling. Our goal was to help attendees explore different creation styles so that they can find their own authentic voice while learning versatile content creation techniques that make it easier to work with different clients, budgets and brand briefs.
Because we welcomed more beginners this year, we also put extra emphasis on simplifying the content creation process. Ultimately, we wanted everyone to leave with a clear, repeatable process for creating high-quality food photography and engaging short-form video with confidence and so hope we succeeded in this goal.
The two workshop days were packed with hands-on learning covering food photography, styling, short-form videography, Instagram Reels and creative storytelling. Here are a few behind-the-scenes moments from the workshop…
DAY 1 - LONDON FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY, FOOD STYLING AND VIDEOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Silvia and I wanted to give our workshop attendees the chance to…
learn the foundation of DSLR videography
develop their creativity and explore hands on food styling
understand how to create engaging, eye-catching short form videos
explore GIF creation
build a versatile food photography portfolio
edit short form video using mobile phone editing apps
We covered A LOT on day 1, and workshop attendees were able to film, photograph and style 4 separate, complete Reels/TikToks.
Students had the chance to use an array of Blueberry Backdrops as shown here.
DAY 2 - LONDON FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY, FOOD STYLING AND VIDEOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Building on the foundations from day one, Silvia and I intentionally slowed the pace on the second day of the workshop. Instead of focusing on creating more content in less time, the goal was to help attendees produce more refined, high-end food photography and cinematic short-form video that’s ideal for working with a higher budget client who expects the best! So with that in mind, we shifted the focus to thoughtful storytelling, soft, natural lighting, and the kind of sophisticated visuals that help food creators stand out on Instagram and in professional client work.
On day two, workshop attendees had the opportunity to:
create a cinematic recipe Instagram Reel, with a strong focus on more romantic, tactile visual storytelling — a style that performs beautifully for luxury food brands and restaurants
work on considered product photography
learn the basics of editing short-form video in Adobe Premiere Pro and a screen recording so they can confidently revisit the Reel editing process at home
Students had the chance to use an array of Blueberry Backdrops and ceramics by NOM LIVING as shown here.
Students had the chance to use an array of Blueberry Backdrops as shown here.
Students had the chance to use an array of Blueberry Backdrops as shown here.
“Thought it was a lovely group of people and there was a really lovely relaxed and supportive vibe [throughout] the two days. You and Silvia really showed your passion and skill for what you do and the tips and insights were excellent. ”
Before I say a thank you to our generous workshop partners, I first want to say a huge thank you to our incredible workshop attendees, who travelled from near and far to join us in London. It truly means so much that you chose to spend these two days with us, learning, creating, and stepping outside your comfort zone. I hope the workshop has given you practical tools, fresh inspiration, and a clear content creation workflow you can keep using for years to come. Wishing every one of you continued growth, creativity and success on your food photography and short-form video journey!
Anna - Cathy - Lindsey - Luciana - Lynne - Immy - Indre - Vanisha
I also want to thank my INCREDIBLE co-teacher and baker behind the delicious cake you see in these shots, Silvia. We make such a good team!
And also a big thank you to our workshop assistants Suzanne and Andrea. We could not have done it without you!
Workshop attendees got to take home deliciously healthy goodies from FORM NUTRITION too!
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES OUT TO OUR WORKSHOP PARTNERS
A huge thank you for sharing your gorgeous (and absolutely delicious!) treats with us and our attendees. Your amazing products truly elevated the workshop experience, and it simply wouldn’t have been the same without them.
NOM LIVING CERAMICS - The perfect addition to our cake shot and to our goodie bags too! Your ceramics are always on point and complement each and every food scene! Thank you.
BLUEBERRY BACKDROPS - These gorgeous vinyl backdrops made the goodie bags feel complete and were the perfect backdrop for our cake shoot too! Thank you.
FORM NUTRITION - We photographed and then enjoyed the new FORM NUTRITION bars toward the end of the workshop. Pure bliss and just the energy boost we needed at the end of two long and creative days! Thanks so much.
WANT TO ATTEND ONE OF MY FOOD STYLING, FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY and VIDEOGRAPHY WORKSHOPs?
Then please feel free to visit the food photography and styling workshop and retreat page HERE and see if there’s anything that catches your eye. If you can’t find what you’re looking for or you have a question about upcoming workshops and retreats, please complete the contact form below. I can't wait to hear from you.
