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    Home / Recipes

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}

    Published Jul 20, 2017

    Our California Food Photography Workshop, Sebastopol edition, was tons of fun! If you're interested in future workshops, email [email protected] to be added to our workshop mailing list. 

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}
    Jered's Pottery, Erickson Woodworks background

    A few weeks ago, Sarah, Gerry, and I (with a ton of help from the amazing Carla) hosted our first food photography and styling workshop in Sebastopol, California. For three days, we cooked, taught, styled, shot, and nerded out on all things food photos, from prop styling to making your food shine (literally) on set to composing dynamic frames to becoming a Lightroom wizard. We also ate our weight in delicious food! I knew going into the workshop that it would be an intensely rewarding week. But what I didn't know is that I'd make 12 new friends by the end, and come out of it more inspired than ever to take pretty pictures of food.

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}
    Jered's Pottery, Erickson Woodworks background

    Set in Sebastopol, a sweet little hippie town about an hour and a half north of San Francisco, the workshop gave us the chance to celebrate all things California and feature many of our beloved artisan makers. I knew I wasn't in the city anymore when, at the local tiny Whole Foods (whose produce aisle I camped out in for about 2 hours loading up on fruits and veggies for the week), strangers kept smiling at me. At first I thought I must have something stuck in my hair or teeth, but after the third smile, I realized that people are just friendlier up there. I took a quick trip to Red Car and Iron Horse wineries to pick up some bottles that they generously donated, and resisted (barely!) staying all day sipping wine in their lovely tasting rooms.

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}

    After the most insane grocery trip of our lives, we ordered GF pizza and vegan caesar salad from Slice of Life (which I wish I could have delivered to SF, it was so crazy good) and stayed up late packing goody bags full of loveliness from some of our favorite makers:

     

    • MMClay Ceramics 
    • M Bueno Pottery
    • Studio Patró
    • Jered's Pottery (who also loaned us full sets of ceramic dinnerware for the week)
    • Elsie Green
    • Rigel Stuhmiller
    • Peerless Coffee
    • Guittard Chocolate
    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}
    From top: MMclay Ceramics, M Bueno Pottery, Jered's Pottery, Cogworks Board, Wolf Ceramics, Totem Ceramics, on an Erickson Woodworks board

    Our wonderful attendees arrived the next day, and we adored getting to know everyone over the course of the week. They came from all walks of life: the music industry, design, catering, baking, PR, wedding and travel photography, as well as some professional food photographers and bloggers. I loved getting to spend three days immersed in the world of food styling and photography, the "real" world fading away to a distant memory as the days flew by.

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}
    MMClay bowl, Woodville background, Fog Linen towel

    Every meal was a shooting opportunity, and unlike in normal everyday life, nobody minded if I spent half an hour fussing with my breakfast before I sat down to eat. Together we twirled pasta, swirled yogurt bowls, scooped ice cream, and fluffed salad greens. I wish I could eat so well every day. The last night, Chef Cregg cooked us a stunning four-course meal that was completely gluten- and dairy-free, every course a stunner.

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}
    Erickson Woodworks board, M Bueno bowl
    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}
    MMClay plate, Erickson Woodworks background

    One of our attendees, Reah, brought a bunch of loaves of gluten-free sourdough bread from her Arcata bakery Arise (and pssssst: they ship!) The bread was so good that when Sarah took her first bite, she was convinced that she had poisoned herself with gluten. Another treat came from Annette who brought bottles of wine from her family's winery Shafer Vineyards (as well as strawberry rhubarb compote and homemade GF banana bread) which we enjoyed with slices of Bellwether Farm cheeses.

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}
    MMClay plate, Erickson Woodworks background

    While I fully expected to share any knowledge that I have about food styling and photography, I was amazes at how much our attendees taught me, not to mention my talented fellow teachers Sarah, Gerry, and Carla. I'm incredibly lucky to get to work with those three.

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}
    M Bueno plate, Woodville Background

    Thanks from the bottom of my heart to our amazing attendees Lisa, Renee, Kimberly, Denisse, Jenna, Alisa, Reah, Annelies, Annette, Judy, Alysha, and Fawni for making the week such a joy.

    Huge thanks to the amazing brands that made our workshop extra delicious and beautiful:

    • Whole Foods for delicious groceries
    • Taylor Farms for fresh, organic salad greens
    • Dutton Estate Winery for tasty sips
    • Red Car Wine for rosé all day
    • Iron Horse Vineyards for the sublime bubbles
    • Copper River Salmon for keeping our pescatarians happy
    • Pearls Olives for adding briny goodness to meal upon meal
    • Lo-Fi Aperitifs for the best vermouth cocktails, ever
    • BreadSRSLY for superb GF sourdough
    • Udi’s Gluten-Free for our loaded bagel breakfast
    • California Avocados for the killer guacamole makings
    • Bellwether Farms for ALLLLL the cheese and sheep milk yogurt
    • Adobe Lightroom for making our photos shine
    • Erickson Woodworks Boards for adding texture and mood to our photos through stunning backgrounds
    • Woodville Boards for also adding style to our shots with beautiful boards, from Russia with loads of love

    And special thanks to our kind sponsors whose generous donations gave us beautiful food to style and shoot:

    • Valley Fig Growers for the figgy salad love
    • Lucini Italia for organic, non-gmo tomato sauce and organic extra virgin olive oil
    • Tillamook Dairy for a freezer full of delectable ice cream

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}

    See more photos shared from the event at #CAFoodPhotos and in Sarah's recap post.

    We can't wait for the next California Food Photography Workshop! If you're interested in attending future workshops, email [email protected] to be added to our mailing list. If you're local and interested in private food styling, photography, or editing lessons or consultations, email me ([email protected]) for more information.

    Enjoy Food Photography - Check Out

    • 12 Things That Have Helped my Food Photography

    *Thanks for reading! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest, or subscribe to receive new posts via email.*

    California Food Photography Workshop: Sebastopol {recap}

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    the cover of the award-winning cookbook, Alternative Baker

    Hungry for more?

    Alternative Baker celebrates the unique tastes and textures of 14 gluten-free flours, from buckwheat flour to almond flour to sorghum and coconut! This cookbook will fill your kitchen with sweet treats that burst with flavor every month of the year.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Conner says

      July 21, 2017 at 6:05 am

      Wow it looks amazing! Those photos are simply beautiful and the food!!
      I sure hated to miss it, but I will be at the next one!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 21, 2017 at 5:18 pm

        Aw, thanks Lisa! We wish you could have made it, but will look forward to seeing you at the next one! <3

        Reply
    2. bella says

      July 21, 2017 at 7:05 am

      What an incredible workshop you guys hosted! Your images are stunning (per usual) & I seriously wish I could have been a fly on the wall because it sounds like it was a weekend to remember!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 21, 2017 at 5:18 pm

        Aw, thanks Bella! You were very much there in spirit thanks to all your wonderful help and advice. Many thanks for the guidance!

        Reply
    3. Alysha says

      July 23, 2017 at 3:54 pm

      Loving this post all the way from Nagasaki!! Loved meeting, learning, and working with all of you! Photos are stunning! So happy I got to be a part of this wonderful workshop!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        July 30, 2017 at 9:05 pm

        Aw! I've been loving all your beautiful Japan pics on IG. SUCH a pleasure to have met you Alysha – let's hang out and nerd out more soon! <3 <3 <3

        Reply
    4. Paul Batson says

      October 27, 2017 at 7:10 am

      These images resonate with me on an artistic level much more than most I've seen. I'd really like to attend one of your workshops. Please keep me posted as to the dates of your next one.

      Thanks, and Best Regards...!

      Paul Batson

      Reply

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    I'm Alanna, a recovering pastry chef-turned food photographer, stylist, videographer, and award-winning cookbook author. The Bojon Gourmet is a celebration of the sweet, savory, and occasionally boozy recipes that I create in my San Francisco kitchen. About →

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