Workshop: Supercharge Your Creativity with AI

Last week I gave the course 'Supercharge Your Creativity' to the brilliant students at the Mediacollege Amsterdam. We dove into the world of AI in food photography and how to boost your ideas with a little AI magic.

It was amazing to see these young creatives amazed by the possibilities of AI. From transforming basic photos into true works of art to generating wild, out-of-the-box ideas - we explored it all. I'm excited about the creative sparks I saw ignite. This generation is really going to push the boundaries of photography and creativity.

Navigating the world of AI in food photography is an adventure, but it's not without its challenges. One thing I've been grappling with is AI's tendency to over-beautify images. It's like putting too much icing on a cake – sure, it looks great, but sometimes it can be a bit much.

Above images are created with Midjourney

We often find ourselves going 'all out' with our ideas, pushing boundaries to the extreme. While the possibilities for idea generation and image creation are endless, sometimes they can be overly extravagant. I'm all for creativity, but I'm learning the art of restraint too.

I'm championing a more modest approach, where we see real food (still working on making it look ultra-realistic with AI – we're not quite there yet, but close!). It's about finding that sweet spot where AI creativity meets authenticity.

MADAQ: A Sweet Fusion by Chocolatier Soufiane Mourabit

MADAQ blends exciting flavor combinations with classic chocolate making, creating a distinct taste experience.

At MADAQ, you'll find chocolates infused with ingredients like argan oil and saffron, offering a unique fusion of tastes. We've created a series of images for the upcoming holiday season and range of coffee products for Madaq's shops, website, and social media.

Explore MADAQ's website and social media for a glimpse into this innovative world of chocolates. Soufiane Mourabit's MADAQ is more than just chocolate; it's an artistic expression of cultural fusion.

Capturing Warmth in High-Speed

Here’s a glimpse into our recent project with NS Retail/Kiosk for their campaign "Light in Dark Days".

We dived into the world of high-speed photography and film for this. It’s always amazing to see how ordinary moments can be transformed into something special just by slowing time down. A big shoutout to NS Retail & Kiosk for this fun and creative challenge!

Tapping into a Younger Audience

Finlandia pure Vodka made by Finland. Came with the challenging brief to come up with something exciting for the holiday season. Together with Nosh Foodfilms and DDB Unlimited we created this completely new style to revamp their positioning, tapping into a younger audience. Loved working on the moodboards and eventually shooting both stills and moving assets.

Youth, Food, The Flow of Things

I went to Liguria, Italy, to shoot some personal work. No concept, just youth, food and the flow of things…

Then I stumbled into this little church where the natural light was perfectly shining through the coloured glas window. The next day I positioned my model Esther with some sweet pastry from the bakery down on the church chair. A little excited we quickly made this photo just before the pastor walked in and the light slowly shifted out of frame.

This is Joe, a happy little boy living on the biological farm Ca Du Chittu. I sat him down in front of me and handed him a pot of honey. This picture is what I got in return. Love you Joe!

I bought a whole crate with amazing artichokes at the market. Beatrice, confident and cool.

Brabanders United

Shooting my neighbour, fellow Brabander and extraordinary chef Jaap Boogaard. Jaap is running a catering service ‘rond ‘t fornuis’ (around the stove) and knows how to char his food. Lunches, (private) dinners for all size of parties, or even arrange a great location, Jaap got you covered. Can’t wait for the day we’re allowed to sit around the stove again…

Lentil-pumpkin-carrot soup - Nasi goreng - Side dish with roasted vegetables - Wild goose with carrots, celery, roasted shallot, red onion and orange caramel - Sourdough bread with chickpea hummus, roasted cauliflower, dill, and extra virgin olive oil - Burrata - Sweet and sticky brownies.

Be More Triangle!

Toblerone, the triangle among squares, needed some bold new images. We delivered in the spirit of their founder Mr. Tobler, celebrating diversity in all forms - of thought, appearance, and identity. 

client: Mondelez/Toblerone agency: Media Monks, creative-director: Nimo Awil, producer: Cherice Whewell, Emily Fenstra , production design: Myrte Beltman post: Media Monks, London.

Neolea's 300 Years Old Methods

Had the passionated people of Neolea in the studio with their brand new sparkling wine, a cuvée spéciale and rosé. I made these these custom backgrounds to fit the brands Greek heritage. This extraordinary wine is produced with a 300 years old method, combined with it’s nearly forgotten Greek grape varieties you get.. Something extraordinary. Hip!

My Brilliant Failure... Shortlisted Spotlight Awards 2021

I’m very happy to announce that today one of the below images has been shortlisted for the Production Paradise Spotlight Awards 2021 in the Still Life Category.

It was April 2020, now more than a year ago. The COVID19 situation was really kicking in. I had been working on some artistic development a few months earlier and I finally could find the time to work on some ideas that had been laying around for way to long. The intention was to shoot, edit and kick it into the world fast, just like I’m used doing with client work.

The project was big and ambitious. There was foodstyling, prop-styling and art-direction, hand models and especially a lot of crazy editing to do. It took me all summer and the beginning of this year to finish it. Last week I finally had 3 images in front of me that spoke to me from one place.

I’m very thankful to the people that helped me produce this: Oliver Knight took care of the food (not the pizza), Ildiko Korzelius for the amazing art direction and overall styling. Nicole Vos provided the hand models (the boys hand is my son Mattan). Wieger Poutsma retouched 2 out of 3 images, guess the one I did ;)

It’s a surrealistic collection of shots inspired by the works of Dutch painter Kenne Grégoire. Produced during an even weirder period in time and it’s so cool to see the things you have in your brain come alive. There were many ups and downs and moments I thought I wouldn’t get it done but finally here it is, Quarantine Dinners, shortlisted.

Straight Jacket Worthy Client

Eggs, eggs, eggs is what we’ve been shooting for the launch of the all organic Crazy About Eggs. Crazy About Eggs helps organic farmers to become fully organic circular. Every egg sold contributes to a better chicken life on the farm and a sustainable world for all of us.

Starting the 16th of June you can find them in Plus supermarkets. For the launch they’ve opened up a pop-up art-gallery, or ‘gallerei’ as the Dutch would say, with loads of shots we took on display.

Client: Crazy About Eggs, Post-Production: Studio Aico, Art-Director: Guido van der Mark

Funky Colour Pallet for Izakaya Ueno

I gave full creative freedom to my intern Veerle Maar to art-direct a shoot for the typical but completely fictional Japanese restaurant ‘Izakaya Ueno’. Keywords: Beer & Fingerfood. How about this exciting colour pallet she came up with?! For this project she created custom backdrops, stone stack and custom made ceramics (including spoon) to complement the tableware from ‘The Table’ (thanks guys!). Foodstyling and recipes by the talented Lelani Lewis.

Moodboard

Custom hand made ceramics

Shoot!

Crazy 3 Day Products Shoot P&G

We did it… 500 Products and shooting film for P&G / Media Monks in 3 days, with the most amazing crew!

Client: P&G, Agency: Media Monks, Producer: Femke Groot, Gaffer: Gregoor van de Kamp, Product Handeling: Kroko Schilte, Marten Hoekstra, Assistant Photographer: Thomas Franke, Intern: Veerle Maar.

My 40 Greatest Cocktail Photo’s Ever

I would like to share with you the 40 greatest cocktail photo’s that I’ve selected from the many fun shoots I’ve collaborated on with creative studio Cocktail Professor over the past 7 years.

7 Years ago I needed someone to help me pour some cocktails for a shoot. I came in touch with Cocktail Professor’s Creative Director Teisje van Emmerik, who at the time I knew working with as a marketeer. She Introduced me to Bar Consultant Jarl de Vries. Those first shoots were so much fun that a collaboration and friendship was born.

Since then I’ve been traveling with Cocktail Professor from Amsterdam to W-Hotels Koh Samui - Thailand to Singapore and back. Shot Moonshine Whiskey for the DJ Mag top 100 winners, cocktail menu’s for all the big hospitality brands like The Eastern & Oriental Express, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W- and Renaissance Hotels. And created cross-media content for non-alcoholic brand Fluere, Licor 43, Liberties Whiskey, Hendrick’s Gin and many more.

Photographing these designs made me fall in love with the craft and inspire me again and again. And, oh yeah! There has been some tasting… These baby’s not only look great, they taste great too! And that’s ultimately what we are striving for to get across.

Aico Lind is a creative food and beverage photographer running an intimate tabletop studio in the centre of Amsterdam. It’s equipped to shoot a full production, serving both small and big brands with high-end content. 

Check out more of my food & beverage work here: www.studioaico.nl

Source: http://studioaico.nl/

Bols, The Original Spirit of Amsterdam

Secretly already thinking of celebrating a time after covid-19? This fun and colourful work was shot earlier this year for Bols, a simple but strong concept by Designbridge using photography and illustrations. With our studio still up and running this is a great example of something we can produce for your brand right now.

Client: Bols, Concept: Designbridge, Post: Designbridge

Photography in times of Corona? Yes you can!

These are difficult times for everyone, with so many uncertainties, also in the food and beverage sector. Still, I know that many retailers, food brands and agencies will still need photography in the coming months, but are struggling to solve this in the current situation where we have to keep 1.5 meters apart or are not allowed to meet at all.

Here I can help because my fine photo studio is still open, we work with a small team and you, the customer can still be on set from behind your laptop at home. All images are immediately shared online and can be commented there and we have Skype and Zoom. So it still feels like you are present at the shoot!

Feel free to contact me if you want to know more about our possibilities.

#foodphotography #retailers #productphotography #packshotphotography #zorgvoorelkaar

Studio Spaarndammerstraat 30V - 2018-1.jpg