Last year, I had the pleasure of collaborating with my photographer friend Jayme Burrows on a lifestyle product photography featuring products similar to peanut butter and nutella but made without nuts, specifically designed for people with nut allergies. Our creative goal was to authentically integrate kids with food product into the images.
This shoot made me realize how much warmth and humanity is often absent in modern food photography. Many products are depicted in a sterile, editorial style, placed on abstract pedestals in studio settings, lacking life and authenticity. Lifestyle shots often feel contrived, staged in sterile kitchen settings, showcasing “perfect” looking people.
Introducing kids into the shoot brought a genuine, lively component that lent credibility and unique energy to the product. It was a beautiful experience, a refreshing departure from my usual work with much less spontaneous adult models who often pose and stage their expressions, which can sometimes feel artificial. Working with kids was different because they interacted naturally, playing with food as they normally do. The shoot was memorable and transformative for me as a creative; their presence injected a unique energy and pure joy that elevated every image.
This experience inspired me to explore how food products for kids are presented in advertising. Surprisingly, none of the major brands I reviewed featured children in their promotional images! All the images seemed focused solely on the packaging, lacking in vitality and connection. Visiting their websites, I couldn’t easily identify that their products were intended for kids without prior knowledge. This realization motivated me to approach Jayme with an idea: a project featuring food products that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults together, starting with a brand whose products we sometimes use ourselves. We decided on Annie’s brand products.
The result is a series of photos involving moms and kids, showcasing four different products in various everyday life scenarios with their children.
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