Case study

Bonduelle

Advertising shot

Bonduelle – Simple, Healthy, Natural

Bonduelle represents more than just vegetables; it’s about transforming the simplicity of nature into delightful moments in your kitchen. Based on this concept, I set out to create an image that captures: naturalness, freshness, and inspiration for healthy meals.As a personal project, I had the freedom to implement my creative ideas to highlight the product's ingredients while maintaining an elegant and appetizing aesthetic. The goal was to create an image that clearly and directly communicates the message: “Simple. Healthy. Natural.”

Phase 1

Concept development

The vision behind the image

The central idea was to highlight the vegetable mix for pumpkin cream soup, focusing on the natural textures and colors of the product.

Key elements of the concept:

  • Rich colors: The vibrant orange of the pumpkin and carrots, complemented by the warm tones of onions and parsley.
  • Fresh ingredients: The final product was paired with raw vegetables to emphasize freshness and authenticity.
  • Rustic ambiance: Wooden props, dried leaves, and a warm color palette were used to create an autumn atmosphere that underscores the product’s seasonality.

Shooting process

The vision comes to life

Phase 02

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 and positioned at an overhead angle to create a strong and balanced composition.

Lighting Setup

  • Godox AD600 Pro: Used with a 120 cm softbox and an additional diffusion layer to create soft light across the frame. It was set to 1/16 power, creating a low overall brightness that allowed selective lighting adjustments using the Godox AD400 Pro.
  • Godox AD400 Pro: Equipped with a snoot and grid, it was used to illuminate individual elements in the scene precisely.
  • Godox AD200 Pro: Provided background lighting and added dimension to the image.
  • White Reflector Plate: Used for shadow fill and to illuminate the right side of the Bonduelle bag.

This lighting setup was essential to create an autumnal atmosphere with vibrant colors and dynamic light.

Tips and Tricks

  • Tethered Shooting: Everything was photographed in tethering mode through Lightroom (later switched to Capture One for subsequent projects). This allowed real-time adjustments during the shoot.
  • Product Arrangement: After setting the tripod and camera, the products were arranged in the frame to tell a cohesive story.
    • The Bonduelle bag was emptied, filled with soft material like cotton, and shaped with tape and support from a small bottle of liquid to keep it upright.
    • The soup in the bowl was supported by a smaller plate underneath, which also helped position the croutons effectively.
  • Lighting Focus: Once the overall scene lighting was set, the AD400 Pro with a snoot and grid was used to spotlight individual elements.

Techniques Used

  • Focus Stacking: Using an 85mm lens, the depth of field was not sufficient to keep all elements in focus, even at smaller apertures. To resolve this, focus was adjusted for each element individually. Multiple images were captured and later stacked to ensure everything was in sharp focus in the final composite.

Phase 03

Behind the scenes

Making it all work

This personal project gave me the opportunity to experiment with composition and lighting to create a frame that clearly communicates the message.

What I did:

  • Lighting and Angles: Every detail of the packaging and vegetables was illuminated to maintain balance between the main product and the supporting elements.
  • Rustic Frame: The choice of a black background and natural props was key to highlighting the product.
  • Simplicity: I kept the composition clean, avoiding any elements that might distract attention from the product.

Post-production

Creating the final image

Post-production focused on refining the visual elements while preserving the authenticity of the product.

  • Image Blending: All captured images were combined, both for focus stacking and to individually light each element.
  • Color Correction: Warm tones were enhanced to highlight the vegetable mix and the autumnal atmosphere.
  • Texture Enhancement: Subtle adjustments brought out the details of the vegetables and the soup, conveying freshness.
  • Final Edits: Lightroom and Photoshop were used to finalize the image, ensuring a natural and balanced appearance.

Phase 04