Cranberry couture: a product photography experiment
For me, Thanksgiving is all about the sides. Stuffing, pie, and—most importantly—cranberry sauce. Not just any cranberry sauce, though. I’m talking about the jellied, can-shaped marvel that holds a special place on my plate (and in my heart).
This year, I decided to pay tribute to this tart, crimson icon—but with a twist. I wanted to decontextualize cranberry sauce, pulling it out of its usual role as a humble side dish and seeing it in a new light. What if cranberry sauce was…sexy? What if it was fashion? What if it took cues from the high-gloss world of cosmetics? After all, what is lipstick if not a red tube? That’s where the idea began.
To get started, I pulled together a mood board inspired by aspirational cosmetic photography. I studied lighting setups, color palettes, angles, and techniques, diving headfirst into unfamiliar territory. Shooting from below? Tricky. Shoutout to the pros who make it look effortless. I also swapped my usual approach—hard shadows and bold backdrops—for something entirely new: soft, diffused overhead light and a crisp white background. Minimalist. Product-focused. No props, no distractions. Just the sauce. Sticky, experimental, and entirely out of my comfort zone.
The results? At first, I wasn’t sure. Was it bold and brilliant, or was it a total disaster? Doubt crept in. But after some distance (and a good night’s sleep), I reminded myself of the point: experimentation. I had tried new techniques, tackled unfamiliar challenges, and learned as I went. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it was growth. And at the heart of my practice, that’s what it’s all about—play, discovery, and pushing boundaries.
What’s your surprise source of product photography inspiration these days?