Stop chasing the sun!
LIGHTSHAPING
Getting Started with Artificial Light for Food Photography
Are you ready to ...
TAKE CONTROL OF
YOUR LIGHT
..and stop relying on guesswork to get the results you want?
Master the lighting techniques that bring depth, detail, and consistency to your food photography.
Let me take a lucky guess ...
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
You've just baked the most beautiful chocolate cake but the sun is setting and you don't have enough light for your shot.
You're already shooting with flash but can't figure out why your light looks so harsh and flat
You have an idea of how you want your light to look but you can't seem to translate your vision to your images
You just don't have good windows at home; the best window light is in the bathroom
Introducing ...
LIGHTSHAPING:
GETTING STARED WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FOR FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
Sick and tired of chasing the sun?
Know that artificial light can make all the difference but don't know where to start?
Get ready to change your photography life!
With 150 pages of content, this eBook has everything you need to take your food photos to the next level with artificial light.
Imagine If You Could ...
take your food photos at any time of day, even in the winter time or after your kids have gone to bed
shoot images that mimic window light so beautifully no one can tell if they were shot with natural or artificial light?
understand how to get the perfect exposure every time
take pour and splash shots without having to worry about blurry photos and digital noise
photograph glassware without ugly and distracting reflections
shoot with artificial light without having to invest $$$ in a ton of expensive gear
Are you feeling the limitations of natural light?
Do you struggle to get the right exposure with your food photography because there just isn't enough light when you have time to shoot?
Or maybe you're already using artificial light but can't figure out why your light looks flat, and you can't get that same dynamic look that comes so effortlessly to you when working with natural light?
LightShaping: Getting Started with Artificial Light for Food Photography will empower your creative process with all the nuts-and-bolts of shooting with flash and continuous light.
Tired of piecing together generic info on the Internet, trying to figure out how it applies to food photography?
This ebook drills down to the core principles you need to know to successfully use artificial light to take your images to the next level.
what you'll learn
Why Artificial Light?
Understanding Light
The limitations of natural light and why you MUST learn how to effectively use artificial light as a pro food photographer.
Shooting from intuition will only take you so far. To get the light you want, you need to understand a few basic principles of light and how to apply them.
Lighting Equipment
Lighting Set-Ups
Build an intentional kit of gear for the food that you shoot. How to decide whether to use flash or continuous light.
A ready-to-use AirTable base to help you organize, track, and manage your outreach. Includes built-in examples to get you started right away.
Creating Mood
Case Studies
The tools that create mood in a photograph and how to use them to shape your light for maximum impact.
I peel back the curtain for behind-the-scenes of how I lit my most popular images.
Testimonials
I went through your LightShaping ebook again to prepare for a shoot and it’s amazing!
Visnja S.
PHTOGRAPHER @VISNJASESUM
I highly recommend this guide to all who wish to learn or improve their skills in food photography. Darina is a wonderful teacher, highly skilled and an excellent communicator which is evident in the clear way she has written this ebook.
Margaret
BLOGGER @CREATECOOKSHARE
This book is a steal for the price and it won’t just leave you confused like so many online tutorials, but rather, it will nurture you into feeling confident and definitely more skilled.
Kristy
AUTHOR, COOKING WITH COCKTAILS
WHAT BONUSES DO I GET WITH MY PURCHASE?
The Essential Gear Guide
($22) VALUE
Understanding Exposure
($24) VALUE
Principles of Light
($19) VALUE
The essential equipment you need for shooting food, with tons of gear recommendations at every price point.
All about the ins-and-outs of getting a correct exposure when working with artificial light. Metering, reading the histogram, and how to shoot in challenging light situations.
Cheat sheet of the principles of light discussed in the eBook. Perfect to have open on your phone to reference when shooting!
I'M DARINA,
YOUR FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY MENTOR
I help food photographers refine their skills, build confidence, and create thriving, sustainable careers.
With a unique blend of career counseling expertise and real-world business experience, I help food photographers and creatives navigate the challenges of building fulfilling, sustainable careers. As a certified Career Development Practitioner and experienced professional food photographer, I bring both formal training and firsthand insight to my work.
I’ve collaborated with top brands and publications, honed my craft over more than a decade, and guided countless clients to identify their strengths, craft actionable strategies, and overcome obstacles like pricing and client acquisition. My approach is rooted in understanding your unique goals and providing the tools and guidance to achieve them.
GOT QUESTIONS?
Answer to your most frequently asked questions
If you're new to artificial light, then this guide is perfect for you. I'll walk you through the required equipment, key lighting set-ups, and all of the nuts-and-bolts of shooting with flash and constant light. You'll learn important concepts like angle of incidence and inverse square law and how to apply them to improve your food photography.
Nope. If you have a handful of solid pieces that reflect your style, that’s enough to start. I’ll also share tips for how to pitch strategically—even if you’re still building your portfolio.
No doubt there is a ton of free information online, but most of it is general and it can be hard to figure out how it applies to food photography. Lighting courses cost hundreds of dollars, which can be a big investment. Also, visual people tend to learn well by reading. You have all the key points at your fingertips, without having to backtrack through video, looking for what you missed.
Photography equipment can absolutely get very expensive, but you can make artificial light work for you for under $200. Let me show you how.
Due to the digital nature of this product, no refunds will be issued.
© 2025 GASTROSTORIA | DARINA KOPCOK PHOTOGRAPHY