Case study
Atelier cheese
by Hochland
HOCHLAND ATELIER - PRAID CHEESE INFUSED WITH WINE
CLIENT: Personal project (just me, lots of enthusiasm, and great cheese!)INDUSTRY: Food & Beverages (a.k.a. delicious things)
SERVICES PROVIDED: Product photography, set design, high-end retouching, and a bit of tasting during the process 😋
This was a personal project driven purely by my passion for visuals and, of course, cheese! The goal was to create a photograph that could easily pass as part of a premium advertising campaign.The Praid Cheese from the Atelier line is a unique product, a blend of tradition and sophistication. Carefully matured and infused with red wine, it promises a rich taste experience, with subtle notes and a velvety texture. In a world of ordinary products, this cheese has that “something special” that deserves to shine.My mission was to create an image that reflected this exclusivity. I wanted to convey the product's elegance and depth, turning it visually into a piece of culinary art. This wasn’t just about photographing a product—it was about telling a story of flavor, refinement, and the joy of savoring life’s finer things.
Concept development
The vision behind the image
What inspires me when creating an image? In this case, I wanted to capture the essence of a moment of indulgence. Picture this: a quiet evening, a carefully poured glass of red wine, an elegant plate of matured cheese, and crisp crackers, maybe even some jazz softly playing in the background. Everything needed to say “subtle luxury” without feeling stiff or overly formal.
I envisioned a photograph that didn’t just look good but evoked a feeling. A scene that makes you want to sit down, enjoy the moment, and savor every bite. I knew the background had to be dark, with well-placed lighting to highlight the cheese’s texture and the wine’s depth. Nothing garish, nothing artificial—just natural elegance and authenticity.
The shooting process
Bringing the vision to life
Once the concept was clear, it was time to bring the image to life. I started by setting up the scene, which involved carefully adjusting every detail: the angle of the cheese, the placement of the grapes, and ensuring the wine in the glass had that perfect ruby glow.
Camera Settings
To capture all the essential details, I used:
- Camera: Nikon Z8, 48 MP
- Lens: Nikon Z mount 85mm f/1.2
- Settings: f/8, ISO 64, shutter speed 1/160
- The camera was mounted on a SmallRig tripod, positioned at a lower angle to create a strong and balanced composition.
Lighting
- Godox AD600 Pro as the primary light source.
- Godox AD400 Pro with a snoot and grid, used to selectively light specific areas and control the light’s precision on key details.
- Godox GEMINI, employed to light the background, creating subtle separation and depth in the composition.
Tips & Tricks
- Using the snoot on the AD400 Pro was key to perfectly controlling the light’s direction and highlighting the cheese’s texture without affecting other elements in the frame.
- The Godox GEMINI added a soft glow to the background, creating a contrast that didn’t distract from the main subject.
- Positioning the camera at a lower angle added a sense of drama and gave the cheese and wine glass a more commanding presence.
Next came the testing phase. I captured dozens of frames, tweaking every tiny detail: Should the camera angle change? Should the crackers move slightly? These small adjustments made all the difference, each contributing to the perfect harmony in the final composition.
After a few hours of work (and a few strategic cheese tastings, I admit), the final shot was ready. The vision I had in mind from the start had come to life, delivering exactly the elegance and flavor I had aimed for.
Behind the scenes
Making it all work
What happens behind the scenes of a shoot like this? A lot of careful planning, constant adjustments, and a few “Eureka!” moments along the way! In the accompanying timelapse video, you can see the entire process—from setting up the scene, positioning the lights, and arranging the composition, to capturing the final frame.
The timelapse highlights the dynamic process: how each element was moved ever so slightly, how the lighting was fine-tuned with precision, and how all the pieces came together to create a flawless photograph. It’s a genuine look at the effort behind the camera and the details that elevate an image from good to extraordinary. I hope it inspires you! 🎥✨
Post production
Creating the final image
Once the perfect shot was captured, it was time for some digital magic. I used Capture One to convert the RAW files and make initial adjustments to white balance, contrast, and exposure. Then, the image was exported to Photoshop for detailed retouching.
A key step in the process was focus stacking—a technique that combines multiple images with different focus points into a single frame, resulting in perfectly controlled depth of field. This was essential to highlight the cheese’s rich texture while keeping every element crystal clear.
In Photoshop, I fine-tuned the colors to enhance the warm tones of the cheese and wine. Minor imperfections were removed, and I used dodge & burn techniques to add depth and volume to the image.
Finally, I meticulously checked every detail to ensure a flawless image, ready to shine in a high-end advertising campaign.
The final result
The final image was everything I hoped for: a sophisticated composition with a warm and elegant atmosphere. The cheese’s texture is beautifully highlighted, the wine exudes a noble presence, and the overall scene conveys the essence of a premium culinary experience. Each element is thoughtfully placed, and the lighting adds depth and drama to the image.
This is a photograph that doesn’t just look good—it tells a story. A story of refined taste, indulgence, and an appreciation for life’s finer details.
Conclusion
This project was more than just a photography exercise—it was a creative and technical challenge that allowed me to combine my passion for photography with my love for details. From concept to post-production, the process showed me how crucial it is to pay attention to every element and plan meticulously.
This experience reminded me that, with dedication and creativity, high-quality images can be achieved even in personal projects. And, of course, it reaffirmed my belief that good cheese always deserves to be in the perfect light! 🧀🍷