I can not wait to share this Food Photography Workshop with you! So. Much. Fun.
You guys. I just need to take a minute to gush about my last week.
Well, those of you who know me well, know that my dad has had some health problems this week, resulting in three hospitalizations and three trips to the cath lab. It’s been a roller coaster to say the least, but in between all of that worry and stress, was a bright, bright light-The Pinch of Yum Tasty Food Photography Workshop.
One word: Ah-mazing!
This week’s Good Food Reads is going to be a little more personal than usual…all about the food photography workshop!
(PS-My dad is all fixed up and is doing great!)
Warning: Personal information and sap alert ahead, feel free to skip! #LeavingMyComfortZoneNow
This is where I take a second to plug “me-time”. In real life, I have a full time job, a job that plants me firmly in responsibility-land. Pure adulting. And for the most part it is good, after all I am a responsible adult. I have managed to keep two kids alive. I am still married. I earn a living. I work hard. I think I can say I’ve made a difference. But sometimes I need to do something to feed my creative side. Something purely for my soul. Something that I do solely because it makes me happy. And that is a big part of why I wanted to start this blog with Holly.
Don’t get me wrong, I love having fun with my kids. And my husband, he’s the real deal.
But as we get so busy building a life and moving forward we often put those things which are not directly related to our kids or our careers or our spouses on the back burner. We get “too busy”, and I am 100% guilty. I’m reluctant to take time away from my responsibilities to explore things that are purely for enjoyment (well except for book club-that is pure enjoyment and I do not feel guilty. Hear that ladies? No guilt at all). But life is short. And sometimes you just have to carve out some time and learn to do you.
For me that was what this food photography workshop was. Two full days to explore what makes me happy. Two full days to concentrate on learning and developing a new skill. One that I did not need for my kids or my spouse or my full time job. Something just for me.
If you know what that thing is for you, by all means-make time for it. Whatever it is.
So here goes nothing, I’m going to try to give the experience justice…because it was the bomb. For realz.

These contain just napkins, silverware and a few small glass props. There is a whole other prop room that is HUGE!
I have learned that I really enjoy photography (who would have thunk it?). I really enjoy the creative aspect of coming up with recipes, testing them, staging photos and trying to get the right shot. Blogging has been so much fun (and even more fun now that it’s not just our parents reading it-although thanks mom and dad, I’ll be forever grateful) and learning photography has been a big part of that.
Having said that, photography is Hard (capital H) and I felt like I needed all of the help I could get.
The Pinch of Yum Tasty Food Photography Workshop was merely a dream of mine last year. However as the blog has grown and I’ve become more comfortable with my camera, I decided to go for it. As a testament to how awesome this food photography workshop is, the first two sessions released sold out so quickly I didn’t even have a chance to get logged onto my computer. The second two sessions sold out in less than 30 minutes.
The Pinch of Yum Studio in Minneapolis is the brainchild of Lindsay Ostrom and her husband Bjork. Lindsay, originally an elementary school teacher, has been blogging at Pinch of Yum for seven years and she has built it into an empire. The studio is in an old warehouse building that has amazing light, gorgeous space and was a place I could have stayed forever! Click here for more pictures of the magic that is the Pinch of Yum studio (and prepare to be wowed!).
Lindsay and the Pinch of Yum staff were incredible. Great teaching, great advice and a small enough group that you could get as much individualized help as you needed. The light in the studio is gorgeous and the Pinch of Yum prop room is loaded. How can you go wrong?
The Pinch of Yum staff provides all of your food and snacks, and encourages you to style and practice with all of it, starting with some bowls of colorful fruits and vegetable and ending with a pancake bar to perfect the “pour shot”. We had an amazing amount of food available to us and it was so fun to see what everyone’s different interpretations were. Every participant had their own window with a table, the use of props and backgrounds, and access to assistance from all of the staff, including Lindsay herself. (I won’t deny feeling just a little #fangirl)
Lindsay also teaches a segment on styling (so useful!) and on the use of Lightroom for editing (even more useful!).
Participants came from near and far. A few of us were from the Minneapolis area, but I met gals from Seattle, Chicago, Texas, Atlanta, Maryland, Green Bay and even Canada. I’m pretty sure the late Minneapolis summer showed everyone a good time, and dinner at Hola Arepa with a few of the gals extended our networking time and created new friends (I’m looking at you Melissa, Julie, Ellie, Lesli and Jan!)
All of the above photos in this blog post are photos that were taken with my DSLR (Nikon 5500) as practice shots for the workshop. Many of them also appeared on our Insta Feed (@withtwospoons). I learned so much, not only from Lindsay and her staff, but also from the other workshop participants (whose blog links will be listed below). If you get a chance, check this one out!
Friendship. Food. Photography #SoMuchFun
So here is to doing what makes your heart sing. #soulfood
Check out these blogs whose owners also participated in the August workshop:
All of your photos are beautiful and absolutely delicious looking! They make me want to dive right in so bravo on those skills! You’re making me want to practice more!
It was incredible!
Wow, great job on your photos! Looks like so much fun and like you really learned a lot.
Thanks! It was SO much fun!
These pictures are amazing! I would say you’re a natural, and a fast learner. I’m also working on my photography skills as a travel blogger, but I still have so much to learn. Maybe I should consider taking a workshop!
Take a workshop! It was invaluable! But I would say that food, that doesn’t move, is a little easier than travel photography!
This looks amazing!! What an experience! And now.. I’m hungry. Haha!
http://www.therookiewife.com
It was a fabulous experience!
Those pancakes are calling me! 🙂
Yes. Yes they are 😉
So glad your Dad is doing better! Sounds like an amazing time at the photography workshop!
Thanks! It’s been a CRAZY last two weeks, but I think now he’s on the right path. The workshop was fabulous!!
Love your photos! Visiting The Pinch of Yum Studio would be a GREAT trip all on its own but actually getting to take a workshop and take photos and have access to the staff and Lindsay herself is so AWESOME!!!
Lindsay is amazing and the most down to earth person. She is a crazy good teacher, I soaked up every word! The studio is one of those places you walk into and immediately feel welcome and comfortable and most importantly-inspired!
This photography is unreal!! I’ve set up an account and I am saving for my first professional camera so I can take photos for my blog, but I didn’t know what camera was best. Nikon 5500 it is! Since taking my blogging seriously, I’ve noticed my kids are starting to be placed on the back burner. It’s so hard trying to juggle it all!
So, so hard trying to juggle! Thanks for the compliments, I’m so loving photography! I love my Nikon 5500, it’s easy to use and I love the wifi that it comes with!
That pancake pile looks amazing! Now I want it for breakfast
Thank you! It was so much fun to build and photograph!
That workshop sounds amazing!!!! Your photography is great, girl! <3
The workshop was fabulous! Thanks for the compliment-it’s a work in progress, but I sure am enjoying the journey!
I’ve been wanting to take that workshop so bad! Haven’t quite been able to justify it yet but eventually I plan to sign up…..
Your photographs are beautiful BTW!!
Thank you! The workshop was worth it!
Those photos make me hungry! I’m a big fan of doing things for the sheer joy of creating. I love that you gave yourself this gift and I get to enjoy the result.
Creating is just so much fun! It was a gift, and I plan on doing more!
Looks like fun! Great job on the photos, I am very impressed!
Thanks! XOXO
Looks like this was so much fun! I can’t wait for the opportunity to attend one of Lindsey’s workshops.
She is fantastic-and I learned a ton! Win-Win!
So cool you got the chance to go! I would benefit from the class but haven’t been able to pay for the class yet. Lindsay’s blog has helped me tremendously, I would seriously fan girl out too if I ever get to meet her!
She’s amazing. And I learned a ton. Inspirational, really!
This looks like it was a ton of fun. Thanks for documenting this experience and sharing it.
Thanks Charmaine! Super fun!