All case studies Food photography and film

Maki

Restrained food photography for Maki, using a dark palette and simple styling.

The brief

Maki is a premium Japanese brand, and every dish had to say so before anyone read the menu. The look was dark, simple and luxurious, with restraint as the premium signal.

How we shot it

Across two shoot days we covered the full range on a dark palette and kept the styling deliberately simple. The luxury comes from restraint rather than decoration. A dark stone block, plain ceramics and low light are enough, so a pair of lace-topped dumplings or a bed of pressed sushi rice can hold the frame on its own.

Selected work

Maki dining room in low light, with wooden tables, a brick wall and a Japanese wave mural

Sushi rice pressed flat on a white board by a chef in black gloves, a long knife and orange crumbs beside it

Two dumplings with crisp lace tops on a black stone block, orange dipping sauce in front, a ceramic bottle and cup behind

Figure in black samurai armour holding a katana, lit red with smoke rising

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