Photography / Creative direction
Plant-Based Food. Full Colour.
How colour relationships, clear composition and contrast give plant-based food imagery its impact.
By Peter Trainer · 3 October 2026
Bold colour earns the first glance. Light, texture and a clear point of attention give someone a reason to stay. These three supplied images show how a simple background can make food feel energetic and inviting. At Icon Studios, the useful starting point for this direction is the creative brief: the audience, the main message and where the images need to work.
Start with a colour relationship
The green drink against orange, the burger against lime and the red breakfast bowl against blue each establish a clear visual direction. A dominant background colour keeps the setting simple, while smaller accents lead the eye towards the food.
Give texture a place in the frame
Ice, sauce, fruit and the surface of a bun communicate different textures. A close composition makes those differences visible. When planning food imagery, choose the angle that explains the subject and check whether the main ingredients remain easy to distinguish.
Shape the light
Directional light can give a glossy surface bright edges and a textured surface readable shadows. Adjusting fill changes how much detail appears in the darker areas. These examples illustrate a look; their original lighting settings and production process are not documented here.
Plan the finished use
A food image may appear on a menu, website, social feed or advertisement. Decide the main message and required framing before production. Leave room for copy where needed, and keep the important shapes intact when making platform variations.
Start with your creative brief
Tell us what you want the images to communicate, who they are for and where they will appear.