Today I would like to feature Claudia Silva, a food photographer, food stylist and a recipe developer based in Portugal whose work speaks volumes. Her work feels like a direct reflection of who she is as person. Besides great composition and amazing recipes published in her blog, there is a sense of stillness, peaceful, intimate, simplicity and honesty in all her beautiful pictures.
In today’s interview, she shares her styling philosophy as well as her
inspiration. Please have a look at her amazing pictures and read more about her
work.
A brief
about yourself
My name is Claudia, I am a food photographer, food
stylist and storyteller living in Porto, Portugal. I find always hard to tell
more about myself in words, in fact knowing more about who I am is
something I am trying to discovery in my daily life, I feel very simple, but
full of questions and the desire to find my way of being, keep a thought of
growth, self-questioning, a desire to know more about the ones surrounding me,
learning how to grow in a responsible and kind way.
How did your journey as a photographer begin? Did you
have any formal training or is it self-taught?
My journey as a photographer is relatively recent. In
December 2019 I created the blog Caminho Integral, I really wanted to share my
adventures and culinary recipes, I like to try new flavors, get to know and
feel other cultures through food and the blog, and later the entry on
Instagram, allowed me to get in touch with a wonderfully new community.
And that's how the interest in food
photography came about, a way to express emotions, to share not just recipes,
but feelings and states of mind, actually to convey a message, to touch people
and be touched by them.
How would you describe your style?
Definitely I include myself in dark and moody
photography, but I also love outdoor photography or just playing with shadows
and hard light. When I started I was very minimalist, but with time, I realized
I needed more elements to tell my story, it felt right this way. I also have a
very rustic side, playing with browns and wood really makes me feel
comfortable. Other technical aspects that I really enjoy are action shots and
including the human element in my photos, but I can also say that I am a
storyteller.
What's your
inspiration?
Food, nature, people, feelings. I can describe my
inspiration with these words. For me, photographs tell stories, convey
feelings, and touch people. My family is also a kind source
of inspiration for me; they touch my soul, my heart, the
simplicity of everyday moments, knowing how to transmit love, not with words,
but with simple gestures.
What is the most challenging aspect about your work?
Mindset. Your way of dealing with the world is such an
important thing in any job or relationship; I have to pay attention to it every
day. I find it difficult to believe in myself, I try to learn from others
without comparing myself, and I am alert when thoughts of exaggerated
self-criticism arise. From a more technical point of view, in food photography,
I have some difficulties in applying composition and color theory techniques,
namely in using color to make the Instagram feed more consistent and appealing.
What is your
creative process like? And what keeps you motivated?
I try to question which theme tells me something more
profoundly, without a doubt the light in photography and the inspiration / my
way of telling the story are the starting point. Then I go to a mood
board. Here I put the feelings, food, colors, and mood that best tell the
story. Then I think about the number and angle of the photos, as well as the
props. I often use my own photos as a starting point and when shooting I let my
intuition and what I feel guide me.
Is there a capture
that holds a special place for you? And why?
Luckily I can say that the vast majority of photos
have a very special place for me, but those in which I photographed my family
are accompanied by such affection, sharing and warmth. When they serve as
models, whether full body, like my grandmother and mother, or hand models, like
my sister and father, we are together in that moment, dedicated and present, in
a simplicity that is difficult to describe.
Any tips or words
of wisdom to aspiring photographers who want to pursue a similar career.
The humble knowledge of ourselves is a precious starting
point, setting goals based on concrete points that support our dream. After
knowing what we really want, it is important to understand how we are going to
achieve it, planning is important, namely not to hesitate to invest in
ourselves. And here I could not fail to mention learning, whether in tutorials,
books, courses or workshops. Learning from others is so enriching, it opens our
horizons and helps us grow as people and professionals.
Thank you dear Claudia, for sharing your journey with us and for
sharing some amazing tips for us to follow. Wishing you all the best for your amazing and we look forward to seeing more of your fabulous work!
Please click here to get updates on her work on Instagram and click here to have a look at her website.
All the above images are copyrighted by Claudia Silva
