Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to shoot Cannings Free Range Butcher’s simply beautiful free range raw meat range for their website upgrade. It was such a fun experience, and working with the gorgeous, fresh cuts of meat was like creating artwork. Founder, Sam, was there with me for the two days we slogged through over 100 products, freshly cutting each piece of meat for me聽to perfectly show its character. We shot this entire set in his Kew store here in Melbourne, which boasts some pretty stunning North facing windows.
As you all know, I am very fond of shooting feminine looking recipes, like聽cakes, with flowers and powdered sugar, but this was a real chance for me to bring out the dark masculine side of the photography I love to shoot also. I haven’t worked with a lot of raw meat before, so I was super stoked to be able to work with produce of this calibre, and with a butcher who truly cares about animal welfare and ethics.
One thing that I really love about food photography is highlighting the beauty of real food, so creating beautiful raw meat photography was just so easy with this job.聽These cuts of meat are real, there was no tricks needed to make them photo ready. Just a killer background and a few props is all you need to bring the story to life, and focus on the shape and colour of the meat.
This shoot will be hard to top and I am so pleased to have this work in my portfolio. Here are a few of my favourite shots from the day, mixed in with some shots of the props that I used.
I’m still undecided which is my favourite, however the contenders are the aged wagyu, or the butterfly chicken!
Beautiful Raw Meat Photography
Kiki
Wow – I never thought I’d say that meat looks beautiful but you made it so!
Rachel Jane
Thanks Kiki! I had seen a few other photographers that I follow really highlight beautiful cuts of meat with simple props, so I was keen to do something moody and beautiful.
Lauren
Just beautiful, Rachael! Your minimal approach really highlights the meat, and of course I love that backdrop! I’ll pull out my rusty cookie sheet yet! 馃槈 I love the look of your new site! I just had a sec waiting for my turn in the shower, but I’ll be back to really look around. I need to get better about making you one of my regular, inspirational stops. You’re making me wonder why I don’t shoot food as much anymore! XO Lauren
Rachel Jane
Such lovely words Lauren. I am really loving the new space, it is just so functional and easy to be able to create the visual stories that I want. Hopefully you’ll be shooting some more food in the near future with your film camera – that would be awesome. Looking forward to seeing the cookie sheet more on IG!
Barry
Rachael, I think is now officially my favorite of your posts! Everything is just amazing, and like Lauren, I especially love the backdrop. This makes me want to fire up the grill! Now, if only I had one to fire up… 馃槈
Rachel Jane
Hey Barry – nice to hear from you. Hope you are well! The backdrop really makes it. I wanted to stick away from wood surfaces we typically see with meat shoots as I think this is just much more powerful. I am really glad Sam went for my idea. I too don’t own a grill, living in an apartment but I’d be firing it up too if I had one. Thanks for stopping by!
The Blonde Chef
Insert "bow-down" emoticon here 猬咃笍 Seriously, I love this shoot so much! That rusted backdrop and the various butcher tools are truly stunning (not to mention the expertly cut meats)! You are absolutely right to be proud of this! Well done, Rachel!
Rachel Jane
You are too cute Aubrie! AND why is there not a ‘bow-down’ emoji? I feel like emjoi’s need a revamp. There is no steak emoji either! I am loving the feedback from the rusted surface, background of choice I think. Thanks for your kind words Aubrie – you make my day as always.
Jasmine
Just stunning, love the pop of the meat against that gorgeous background. Beautiful looking cuts too!
Rachel Jane
Thanks Jasmine! Pop is right, I just love how simple stories allow you to really focus on the soul of the image – the meat. Really lucky to have such perfect cuts of meat. The whole day, I was just like ‘wow, wow….and again wow’.
Bea
Hmmm…I’m not sure if I mentioned it before…I LOVE YOUR WORK!You are so super talented Rachel!
Rachel Jane
Thanks Bea – these are such kind words. I really felt like I was in the zone on this. Simplicity is just so stunning.
Justin @ SaltPepperSkillet
Such fantastic work! These are beautiful.
Rachel Jane
Thanks Justin! Raw meat is truly beautiful. Thanks for stopping by, I checked out your site and you have some great work on there.
Steve Tredinnick
Outstanding, Rach. Beautiful aesthetics. Your work goes from strength to strength.
Steve.
Rachel Jane
Thanks Steve, this was a really exciting project and I was so keen to make raw meat look like art. You are right, the aesthetics were perfect. I was hoping you’d have a look at this post as I knew you’d appreciate it! Hope your well x
Rebecca@figsandpigs
I have just found your blog and I am blown away by your beautiful photographs a firm new favorite of mine so inspiring. I think I like the wagu beef shot best but also the shots of the knifes and tools so characterful.
Rachel Jane
Hey Rebecca! Thanks so much for visiting my page – so pleased you found some inspiration here. I agree, I love the Wagyu shots as well. I had a little look at your page, you have some great recipes on there. Will have to try the mussels and saffron!
Aysegul
I am in awe of this photography. Especially because I know how hard it is to make raw meat look so beautiful like this. Very well done..
Rachel Jane
Thanks Aysegul! It was almost too easy with this backdrop and props. Not to mention the brilliant cuts of meat.
Daniel
Nice shots, beautiful lighting. did have a question about where you found metal background like that. I’ve been searching for something like that and can find new metal but nothing with "character"
Rachel Jane
Thanks Daniel! The lighting was natural light in the butcher shop – pretty lucky really. I just love this background too. Sadly it isn’t mine though. I hired it from a prop studio. I thought I’d mentioned that somewhere, but turns out I think I mentioned where I got it from on IG. It was quite a large metal try, like one that you’d find in an industrial oven or a commercial kitchen. It’s a little worn and rusted so when I applied my VSCO filters, it textures were really highlighted.
blossom
Hey-o! Not sure if you’ve answered this question but where did you buy you knives from? I lovvvvvve them.
Rachel Jane
Everyone loves them! Me especially!
I hired all these props for this shoot, from a local food styling and prop place. So unfortunately I don’t own them or know where they got them from. Trust me, I’d have a collection of them if I could!
Nanette
I seriously love this set. Such amazing work and you continue to be an inspiration! xx Nanette
Rachel Jane
Thanks Nanette! Me too. Thanks for your kind words. Very touching. Have a great day.
Hung Quach
Great photos! Can you share which are some of your favourite VSCO filters to use?
Rachel Jane
Sure, no prob! I have the VSCO Film 05 – Nikon set. I like to the use the Kodak Gold 200 and 100 set, mainly the N – Kodak Gold 200 – and the N – Kodak Gold 100 –.Others I often use too are Kodak Ektar 100, Kodak Max 800 and Agfa Vista 400. I also love the HB1 on VSCO app that I use in Instagram.
Matt
Great striking imagery, I love the contrast in the colours and materials. You really get a sense of the type of person who might own a kitchen like this and the environment they may live in. Great when images really speak to you. Nice job.
ED
Hello,
Love the post and pics are amazing…mind sharing what light setup you used? it doesnt look like a flash was used so a constant light from above?
Rachel
Hey Ed! Thanks for the kind words. You can see a little behind the scenes shot here from some recent work I did for Cannings. Just a simple natural light from a very large window. Overcast day. Pretty cool huh?
Mohamed Abdel-Hady
Lovely shots, May I wonder how did you light it please??
Rachel
Thanks Mohamed! Just good old natural light – back lit. You can see the set up here.
Asmita B Das
Thanks Rachel! I have a similar shoot coming up and this was very helpful!
Andrea Garzon
Heey! I love these shots, do you have any advice when photographing raw meat?
Rachel Korinek
The biggest tip is to photograph fresh meat! Meat goes brown if it touches other meat so it’s best to shoot the raw meat as it’s cut. If you can, work closely with a butcher 馃檪
Zack
Hi Rachel – just stumbled on these pics and they are great!! Your primary background is fantastic, and I’m curious to know what exactly it is?? Weathered metal sheeting??
Thanks!
Rachel Korinek
Hey Zack! It is indeed an old metal sheet. I hired it from a local studio in Melbourne, Australia. I don’t know how they weathered it, unfortunately. But it is super cool. Wish I owned it myself.
SNACK VIDEO DOWNLOADER
Absolutely stunning photography! The way the colors and textures of the meat are captured really highlights the quality of Cannings Free Range Butcher’s products. It鈥檚 inspiring to see such artistry in food photography, making me want to experiment with new recipes. Great job!
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Wow, the photography in this post is absolutely stunning! The way you’ve captured the textures and colors of the meat truly highlights the quality of Cannings Free Range Butcher’s products. It鈥檚 inspiring to see raw ingredients presented so beautifully. Can’t wait to try some recipes with their meats!
DLawrence Barksdale
Where do you get your backgrounds from?