Foundation Food Styling and Photography Online Course - Image of a food scene with a vibrant pink dip in a ceramic bowl and some plates with toasted bread and dip spread on top.
 

The Foundation Online Course

Food Photography & Food Styling Online Course

FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS

A COMPLETE FRAMEWORK FOR THE CURIOUS FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER WHO IS EXCITED TO DELVE INTO THEIR CREATIVITY, FIND THEIR OWN UNIQUE FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE, TAKE THEIR IMAGES TO THE NEXT LEVEL THROUGH EDITING AND DO ALL THIS AT THEIR OWN PACE FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOME!

Whether you’re new to food photography or have already been behind the camera for a while, this FOUNDATION food photography and food styling online course provides everything you need to start taking exceptionally gorgeous food photos you never dreamed you could (even if you’re not that camera tech savvy)!

If this sounds like what you’re after, listen up!

 

THIS FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY AND FOOD STYLING ONLINE COURSE is for anyone who…

✔ is new to food photography and food styling and eager to kick start their learning process

✔ has been taking food photos for up to 3 years, but feels like they are capturing endless photos without being truly happy with the results

✔ is self taught, but confused by all the conflicting content out there which is stopping them from finding a unique photography style and confidently creating a look all their own

✔ wants to pursue food photography or food blogging as a hobby or serious side hustle, making use of what they have without needing to invest in expensive lighting gear

✔ is excited about delving deeper into their creativity without getting overloaded with information about the technical side of food photography

✔ is ready to do the work, eager to get the BEST RESULTS and studies well through a mixture of theory (WHY), practice (HOW), implementation (ACTION), revision and with TONS of accountability (SUPPORT)!

✔ is a passionate foodie and food business owner who wants to use their mobile phone, mirrorless camera or DSLR to capture great shots!

 

WHAT WILL BE COVERED DURING THE FOUNDATION FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY and FOOD STYLING ONLINE COURSE?

 
Foundation Food Styling and Photography Online Course - Image of a food scene: a person (torso only) holding a plate on a tiled surface. The plate is filled with a dip, two skewers with vegan meatballs and some pickled radishes.

LESSON 1 - MASTER YOUR CAMERA & GEAR LIKE A PRO!

Before we can create the images we’ve always dreamed of, we need to understand how to best use the camera we have to hand. For intermediate students, the focus will be on stepping outside your comfort zone to experiment with new and creative ways of using your camera settings! We’ll explore which simple tools can make your images especially awesome (you might be surprised what I recommend and all the tools you don’t need!) and what to look out for when you are ready to invest in new gear!

Through a mixture of lecture style and behind the scenes classes you’ll learn…

  • GET TO KNOW YOUR CAMERA INSIDE OUT

  • CAMERA GEAR THAT CAN TRANSFORM YOUR IMAGES

  • BONUS! BEHIND THE SCENES OF SETTING UP A MOVEMENT SHOT

  • BONUS! BEHIND THE SCENES OF SETTING UP A DRINK SHOT

  • BONUS! SNEAK PEEK INSIDE MY GEAR COLLECTION

  • TOOLS TO TEST YOUR LEARNING

  • AND LOTS MORE TO MAKE YOU FEEL CONFIDENT BEHIND THE CAMERA!



 

 

LESSON 2 - LIGHT, SHADOW, PROPS, ACTION!              

You might be asking yourself how to use natural light like a pro and what to do when your images look kinda flat! You may also want to explore how to choose the right props and backdrops to make your images look drop dead gorgeous, without spending insane amounts of money, am I right?

So, through a mixture of lecture style and behind the scenes classes you’ll learn…

  • HOW TO TRULY MASTER NATURAL LIGHT AND SHADOW

  • BONUS! BEHIND THE SCENES: STYLING A SCENE USING A REFLECTOR!

  • BONUS! BEHIND THE SCENES: CREATING A DARK AND MOODY MOVEMENT SHOT!

  • WHICH PROPS AND BACKDROPS ARE RIGHT FOR YOU?

  • BONUS! TAKE A LOOK INSIDE MY PROP COLLECTION

  • TOOLS TO TEST YOUR LEARNING

  • AND LOTS MORE TO MAKE YOUR IMAGES LOOK SUPER PROFESSIONAL!

Foundation Food Styling and Photography Online Course - Image of a food scene with a fresh looking tomato salad on a pretty plate. Two hands are near the plate looking as if they just left it on a concrete surface.

Come and look behind the scenes in Lesson 2 and discover how THIS image was created immediately upon joining the course!

 

WANT TO KNOW HOW I GOT FROM IMAGE A TO IMAGE B BELOW AND HOW YOU CAN TOO?

The step-by-step behind the scenes process is available for you to watch and implement inside LESSON 1 immediately when you join the FOUNDATION food photography and food styling online course! After the class you will be able to create a shot like this too, pinky promise!

So what are you waiting for? Join now!

 
Foundation Food Styling and Photography Online Course - Image of a glass of orange juice on a marble surface.

IMAGE A - Is this you, not quite sure how to make something simple look show stopping?

Foundation Food Styling and Photography Online Course - Image of a glass with an orange cocktail with pretty garnishes. An arm is visible just behind the glass, reaching out to hold it. A second glass is further in the background.

Image B - Knowing your camera inside and out can make THIS image possible in a few easy steps! I’ll show you how inside the FOUNDATION online course.

 

 

LESSON 3 - GETTING CREATIVE WITH FOOD STYLING AND COMPOSITION!

This is everyone’s favourite lesson and perfect if you LOVE gorgeous looking food, but don’t quite know where to start! If you’re a creative at heart but aren’t confident (yet) working with food or can’t quite wrap your head around composition rules, this class breaks the styling process down to a T in the most approachable way possible. You’ll also see me compose and food style numerous food scenes allowing you to do the same too! So, no matter where you’re at, you’ll walk away super inspired.

Through a mixture of lecture style and behind the scenes classes you’ll learn…

  • THE SECRET TO PICTURE PERFECT FOOD STYLING

  • COMPOSITION TECHNIQUES THAT WORK!

  • BONUS! BEHIND THE SCENES: FOOD STYLING

  • BONUS! BEHIND THE SCENES: FOOD STYLING BROWN FOOD

  • BONUS! BEHIND THE SCENES: FLATLAY COMPOSITION

  • TOOLS TO TEST YOUR LEARNING

  • AND LOTS MORE TO GET YOUR CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING!

Foundation Food Styling and Photography Online Course - Image of a food scene with two ceramic bowls of  beautifully arranged grains, falafel and salad.
 

 
Foundation Food Styling and Photography Online Course - Image of a dish with a rhubarb pie, hands placed directly above brushing the top with syrup.

Want your images to tell enticing food stories? I’ll show you how in Lesson 4!

LESSON 4 - SHARING YOUR FOOD STORY THROUGH COLOUR AND VISUAL STORY TELLING

Now that you know how to use your camera like a pro, select beautiful props and style your food to perfection, it’s time to explore colours and how they can TOTALLY transform your image. Whether you love muted tones or colours that pack a punch, I’ll show you how to ensure your colour choices evoke emotions and make you stand out from the crowd. We’ll explore colour theory in a tangible way, so that you can create your very own food colour story!

Through a mixture of lecture style and behind the scenes classes you’ll learn…

  • COLOUR THEORY : TELL YOUR COLOUR STORY

  • THE ART OF VISUAL STORY TELLING

  • HOW TO CREATE A MOODBOARD

  • BONUS! BEHIND THE SCENES: LEVELLING UP BY TETHERING! (IT’S MY FAVOURITE WAY TO SHOOT AND SOON IT WILL BE YOURS TOO!)

  • TOOLS TO TEST YOUR LEARNING

  • AND LOTS MORE TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR OWN UNIQUE STYLE!

 

 

LESSON 5 - EDITING TO ELEVATE YOUR IMAGES AND MAKE THEM DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!

Overwhelmed by all the different editing apps? Always making the same editing adjustments without a real sense of what you’re actually doing? Eager to dip your toes into editing Reels and TikTok videos? Then this lesson has got your name on it!

In this lesson you’ll learn…

  • LEARN TO EDIT IN LIGHTROOM (both the FREE! and paid-for version): A STEP BY STEP PROCESS

  • BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE EDITING IN LIGHTROOM MODULES

  • GET STARTED WITH EDITING MOBILE VIDEOS: MAKING REELS & TIKTOKS EASY

  • GET YOUR LIGHTROOM FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY PRESETS FOR MOBILE AND DESKTOP!

  • TEST YOUR LEARNING

  • AND LOTS MORE TO APPROACH YOUR EDITING WITH KNOW-HOW AND STYLE!

Foundation Food Styling and Photography Online Course - Image of a food scene with several plates of food including spring rolls, wontons, greens and rice. Around the plates are pinch bowls with garnishes. Hands with chop sticks also visible.

Want to see how I edit this shot from start to finish? You can inside the FOUNDATION food photography and food styling online course!

 

 
Foundation Food Styling and Photography Course - image of woman frosting a cake, one hand in motion as she spreads icing around the sides.

By the time you get to lesson 6, you should have all the knowledge you need to create a shot like this for your portfolio!

LESSON 6 - SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT! YOUR FINAL PROJECT

In this final lesson, you’ll work to bring your learning together in a final project where you showcase your newfound style and build your portfolio to help you take your food photography journey to the next level!

In this lesson you’ll learn…

  • HOW TO PLAN AND PREP FOR A MAJOR SHOOT

  • HOW TO BRING VERSATILITY, INDIVIDUALITY, PROFESSIONALISM AND STYLE INTO YOUR PORTFOLIO

  • RECEIVE 1-2-1 FEEDBACK ON YOUR FINAL PROJECT FROM ME (EXCLUSIVE OPTIONAL ADD ON)

  • AND LOTS MORE!

 

 
 
I used to run away from the idea of ‘observing the light’ because I was scared of not being able to fully comprehend it. But now I understand which windows work for me, at which times, and WHY.
— Davinia, UK

Davinia, Foundation student


FAQ ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY AND FOOD STYLING ONLINE COURSE

 
  • No, you don’t need a DSLR to take this online course! You can use a point and shoot, mirrorless camera, an iPhone camera or anything else you've got to hand.

    Bar lesson 1, all modules can be put into action, no matter whether you’re an iPhone photographer or have invested in your first mirrorless camera.

    As for lesson 1, I talk you through when (and if!) to invest in a camera, what to buy when you’re ready, what to purchase if you’re on a budget as well as what gear to get if you wanna go pro!

  • Investing in yourself is scary, isn’t it?

    It’s also empowering and life giving to learn a new skill you never knew you were capable of, delve deep into your creativity for the sheer joy of it, master a new art form and discover a potential new way to earn an income as a food content creator, influencer, food photographer or food business owner!

    To make the process easier, we offer payment plans (see below). That said, despite starting the FOUNDATION course 4+ years ago and having many students note that joining was one of the best decisions they ever made, I wouldn’t want to encourage you to spend money you don’t have.

    Hence if you’re in a super tight spot financially perhaps now is not the right time. Trust your gut and take it from there!

  • Noticeable changes tend to occur after completing lesson 1 and especially lesson 2 (PLUS the accompanying homework for both)! These two lessons really set an incredible foundation and allow your images to glow and pop out from the page.

    Lesson 3 and 4 are the two lessons that create instantly noticeable changes for those a little further along their food photography journey and often allow flatlay images to become second nature and empower creatives to truly find their own unique style!

  • Lifetime access (meaning for the lifetime this course is available and online) is included! This means you can watch and rewatch at your heart’s content and do not have to pay ever again to access the course content once your final payment is made.

  • Even though we have a higher than average completion rate, see incredible results, watch our students find their own style and break away from the cookie cutter mode, and see them earn an income doing what they love as a result of completing the course, this course may not resonate with you. Hence, we offer a 14 day money back guarantee! Please take a moment to read the full terms & conditions here.

  • The FOUNDATION course is built on 5 key principles that together bring the BEST RESULTS. They are:

    THEORY - Taught as engaging and relaxed lecture type classes; here we provide you with the WHY behind food photography, so you can build a strong foundation and understand exactly why certain images look drop dead gorgeous and others don’t.

    PRACTICE - Taught through super fun behind the scenes videos; here we provide you with the HOW a stunning shot comes together, so you can make magic happen in your own photography too.

    IMPLEMENTATION - Provided through (weekly) homework assignments: here you take your online class learning and put it into ACTION thereby building your creative muscle memory that will serve your food photography for years to come.

    ACCOUNTABILITY - Provided by your peers in our community group! There’s nothing like some gentle encouragement and SUPPORT to keep you committed to reaching your food photography goals.

    REVISION - Built into the online course through our incredibly beautiful and thorough, printable WORKBOOKS, fun quizzes and bonus material that allow you to revisit your learning without having to re-watch the entire content if you don’t want to.

  • You get instant access to lessons 1 - 3, all the corresponding modules and the BONUS content attached to those lessons upon joining!

    Most students need about 3-4 weeks to complete lesson 1-3 of the course. So, as not to overwhelm you with content, we release modules 4, 5 and 6 one month after you join.

  • As this is an online course, you need an excellent internet connection and a computer!

    For the lesson on editing, it's helpful that you have Lightroom which you can get for free on your phone or can trial for free on your computer.

    Apart from that an eagerness to learn and a willingness to delve deep into your creativity is all you need to set yourself up for success!

  • The second you join you have access to hours of learning! Yet, the beauty of this course is that it’s self paced - you decide how much time you want to dedicate to the learning process and when you complete the lessons. This way you can ensure this online course fits around YOUR needs and your unique situation, eliminating any sense of stress and taking the pressure off!

    The course is broken down into lessons which are broken down into short, bite sized modules, to make the learning process extra manageable.

  • The fact that you’re reading these lines, the fact that you’re eager to get better and the fact that you’re ready to put in the time and energy to take your love of food photography to the next level tells me you ARE good enough and deserve a chance to explore what you’re capable of behind the camera!

    Years of teaching food photography have shown me that those of us who love food and photography have something distinctly beautiful to offer the world. Wouldn’t you like to discover what unique images you can bring to the table?

  • If you’ve been shooting food for 2 years or more AND, are confident using Lightroom, can style food gorgeously and have found your own food photography style, then this online course indeed isn’t right for you.

    If you’re self taught and have watched hours of Youtube videos, but are stuck in imitating what you see others do online, confused by all the mixed information available and still not quite sure about food styling, composition or how to create stand out images, then this course may be just what you’re after!

    If in doubt, please do reach out. My email address is Kimberly(at)thelittleplantation.co.uk. I’d never recommend you do a course if it’s not the right fit, so let’s chat and take it from there.

  • It is my top priority to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment to my students and mentees, and I am committed to promoting the fair and equal treatment of everyone who joins my community regardless of race, gender, culture, sexuality, language and disability. I strive to offer accessible and inclusive services, and recognize that some people may require additional support to access my classes and courses; I will do what I can to accommodate your needs and am always open to hearing about them in order to help you establish whether working with me is right for you.

  • The course work you complete can be shared inside our student Facebook group for peer feedback and encouragement. I check our community regularly to answer general questions and help you get unstuck, but I don’t provide 1-2-1 feedback as part of the course.

    There is an optional and exclusive 30-minute 1-2-1 Feedback Session module which can be purchased separately as an add on to the Foundation Food Photography & Food Styling Online Course. Details will be available once you join the course.

  • Absolutely! The course content isn’t delivered via Facebook, so you don’t need it at all!

    The Facebook group is there should you find it hard to motivate yourself to learn as you can receive peer support within the group. But, if you’re committed to developing your food photography skills and enjoying going at your own pace, you’ll do great without it.

 
 

STUDENT WORK, BEFORE AND AFTER

 
 

WHAT IS THE INVESTMENT?

 
 

Foundation Online Course

INCLUDES:

  • Unlimited access to video lessons 1-5, including more than 20+ teaching modules!

  • All BONUS behind the scenes videos

  • Beautiful printable workbook to accompany every single lesson for revision and deeper study

  • Quizzes to test your learning

  • Super fun homework to truly empower you to develop your food photography skills

  • 15 Lightroom food photography presets for desktop and mobile

  • BONUS resources filled with tips and tricks to further empower you on your food photography journey

  • Certificate upon completion

  • My ebook, Creative Food Photography

  • My ebook, The Creative Food Photography PLAYBOOK

  • Access to our student online community support group

  • 14-day money back guarantee

  • Lifetime access (lifetime meaning the lifetime of the course)

IDEAL FOR:

Those who want to kick start their food photography journey, delve deep into their creativity, find their own unique style, study best at their own pace and are committed to doing course work to enhance their learning.

Investment £397

or

3 instalments £149

(total investment £447)

 


 

Mélanie, Foundation student

Before joining the online FOUNDATION online course, I was reading content from many different sources meaning I couldn’t focus on what really mattered or progress at a rapid pace. But following the completion of the course I feel much more confident about my work, which allowed me to show up more consistently on social media, lean into my own unique style and get noticed by brands.
— Mélanie
 

 

ABOUT KIMBERLY ESPINEL

Hi, my name is Kimberly and I'm a food photographer, food photography teacher, food stylist and author of the Amazon best-selling book, Creative Food Photography.

I have more than 25 years teaching experience and have taught food photography to 1000s of creatives just like you, ranging from complete beginners, intermediate and advanced students, in person and virtually, 1-2-1, in small and large group settings. In short, you’ll be in good hands if you join my food photography tribe.

What makes this course and my teaching different from what you’ll find on Youtube or in other courses is that my aim to always to help food bloggers, food photographers and food content creators like you develop their food photography, food styling and visual story telling skills. In fact, I’ve made it my mission to empower creatives to find their own unique style and visual identity, delve deeper into their innate creativity, master their cameras like a pro (or get the most out of their smart phone camera!), discover all the magic that the editing process can bring to their images and grow in their food styling and composition skills! Now, I’d love the opportunity to work with you too!

I’ve shot content for clients such as SONY, Ottolenghi, Waitrose, Kitchenaid and many more and I dare say I feel I know a thing or two about what food photography clients want, what food photography trends are emerging and how to take irresistible images of food that will make people want to lick their screen! Now I’m here to share my knowledge with you!

I’m super excited to hear from you and help you discover what’s possible. So what are you waiting for? ;)

profile picture of Kimberly Espinel
 

 

have questions about THE Foundation food photography ONLINE COURSE?

I’d love to hear them! Please let me know how I can help. Simply complete the contact form below, making sure you submit the correct e-mail address ;). I can't wait to hear from you.