Now for Part 2 of the food styling and photography workshop I attended in Whistler, BC (find part 1 here…). 
One of my favorite parts of the workshop was the variety of shooting locations. As you can tell from the title of this post, we traveled from farm, to market, to table, gathering produce, and trying to capture the moments from each stage of a locally-grown feast.
First, the farm. I have a special place in my heart for farms; my mother was raised on one in outside of my hometown. About a 45-minute drive from our house, we used to go there as a family to see my grandparents, pick vegetables, milk cows, chase cats in the barn, the works. I’ve lived in or near a city my whole life (4 years at Clemson excluded :), and to this day when I tell people that I loved to milk cows as a child they laugh.
So, our visit to the farm was very nostalgic for me. A different backdrop than I was used to growing up (look at those mountains!), but the feeling of simplicity, and the delicious flavor of a freshly-picked raspberry or apple, is very familiar and welcome in my heart.
We had fun taking turns as “vegetable models,” trying to get the perfect shot of the sweet farm animals (I swear the sheep made eye contact with me), and just enjoyed the vast rows of crops and warm sunshine. It was a perfect morning.
A Sunday morning visit to the farmers’ market in Whistler was next on the list. I spent most of my time talking with local vendors and sampling bread, but I did manage to get a few shots in. So much goodness all in one place: fruit, vegetables, vintage French linens, homemade bread, fresh juice, maple syrup, flowers, crafts, artwork, and so much more. I could have spent hours wandering through the stands, finding out the stories of the items for sale. There is such amazing energy in local markets, don’t you think? We had some more learning to do though, so we headed to a charming little house on the lake for the “table” portion of this story.
Aran showed us how to prepare ingredients so that they hold onto their natural beauty. Raw vegetables are so gorgeous, and many of my photos from the house at the lake tried to capture them. Roasted root vegetables, fresh bean salad with herbs and almonds, sandwiches (including my new favorite – apricot, brie, and arugula on baguette), fresh fruit galore – everything you need for the most perfect lunch. It was so simple, and still one of the best things I’ve tasted in a long time.
I hope this post has inspired you to go to a farm or market and indulge in some late summer goodness. The whole workshop has certainly reminded me to do so!
I have one more post to share with you next week. Thanks so much for being here. Have a lovely (and hopefully long) weekend.