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Let’s just take a minute to talk about food photography…aka the bane of my existence. Seriously guys, taking pictures of food gives me more anxiety than running out of peanut butter (that’s A LOT of anxiety). Unlike cooking and baking, food photography is not a passion of mine. It’s something I do to make my recipes look as good as they taste since most of us eat with our eyes before our mouths. I really do try my best, and recognize I am absolutely a perfectionist, but every time I make something I literally dread reaching the point where I have to photograph it. I’d rather just eat it…

maple-oatmeal-cookies
I’ve read an obscene number of books and blog posts on the topic, put in a moderate effort to read my DSLR’s manual and have become obsessive about only photographing in “natural light”. So far my strategy has been this: take as many pictures was you possibly can and at least 1 or 2 pictures will turn out. It’s been an okay plan and I’m definitely not totally thrilled how a lot of my pictures turn out but considering I’m no professional and have absolutely no desire to be taking pictures in the first place I really can’t complain. I’m hoping one day I develop an interest in photography, but in the meantime you’ll have to deal with my sub-par pictures!
So why are we talking about food photography? I swear it relates to today’s recipe. I made these Maple Oatmeal Cookies in a last minute procrastibaking session late one night. They are actually incredible and I ate half a dozen immediately. What I didn’t do immediately was have a hot photography session with them. Why? Well the lighting wasn’t PERFECT of course! This whole perfectionism thing is gonna drive me crazy one day. So I had to wait until the next morning to capture these beauties.
Fast forward to the next morning. Sleepy Davs rolls out of bed and realizes that her procratibaking led to annoyingly early photo-shoot. Not pleased. With crust in my eyes and my hair at afro-status I pulled out whatever “food props” I could find, grabbed my camera and began to shoot. I was not happy about  how they turned out but I was impatient and hungry so I ate 3 cookies for breakfast (they’re oatmeal right?) and wrapped the shoot. Moral of the story? Food photography drives me crazy. Thankfully cookies don’t so I guess I’ll keep on baking and dreading the inevitable photo-shoot that will follow!

Maple Oatmeal Cookies

by Davida Kugelmass

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 22 mins

Keywords: bake dessert gluten-free oats cookie

Ingredients (Yields: 2 dozen cookies)

  • 1.5 cups rolled oats (GF if necessary)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose GF flour (or regular AP flour)
  • 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar (or brown sugar)
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil (or butter), melted
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Using an electric mixer combine coconut oil (or butter) and coconut palm sugar (or brown sugar).

3. After well combined add in egg whites, applesauce maple syrup and vanilla.

4. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients.

5. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet while mixer is running.

6. Once fully combined roll dough into tablespoon-sized balls and flatten lightly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone-mat.

7. Bake for 11 minutes.

8. Let cool for 2 minutes on sheet before transferring to a wire rack.

9. Try not to eat all of them at once 🙂

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Do you have any food photography tips for me? How about any hobbies you dislike but do anyway?

Meet the Maven

Hi! I'm Davida and welcome to my corner of the internet. I'm a wellness blogger, yoga teacher, certified herbalist, and green beauty lover.

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46 Comments

  1. Such self control, all in the quest for photos that shine! Great work! I’m looking forward to making these too!

    Reply

  2. These look so yummy! I was just talking on my blog the other day about how any recipe I make with oatmeal I wind up loving. Oats rock! And btw, your pictures look fabulous. I don’t dislike taking food pictures, I just don’t think I’m that great at it because I’m impatient and just want to eat the food already!!

    Reply

    1. Could not agree more!!! Oats never fail to please! I don’t think I could live without them.

      Reply

  3. I never thought I’d take as many food pictures as I do today! lol

    Your pics are great, as are your recipes 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks Kierston! The number of pictures on my iPhone is actually absurd. If I ever lose my phone whoever finds it is going to think I’m some crazy foodie…oh wait, I am a crazy foodie!

      Reply

  5. scrumptious cookies…loved the use of our favorite palm sugar and maple syrup…these look so good…tempts us to make some now and finish off the whole batch in one go,adorable healthy munchies 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you both!!! I’m clearly obsessed with coconut palm sugar (it’s basically in everything I bake!). Go make some! I think I’m gonna have to bake another batch soon since they only lasted 1 day in my house!

      Reply

  6. I feel your pain….I have no interest in photography and I literally just can’t get great pictures. I know people can do it with iPhones but I just don’t have the talent. I just cross my fingers and hope that people trust my food tastes way better than the pictures show 🙂 On that note though, I think your pictures are fantastic! ESPECIALLY these cookies!!

    Reply

    1. Paige I think your pictures are great! Your recipes always sound and look delicious! But thank you for the compliment 🙂 Much appreciated!!!

      Reply

  7. I think your photos are lovely! So much better than my iPhoto ones… I can definitely tell you put a lot of effort into them! I absolutely love taking pictures, but I also understand just wanting to eat! Sometimes I think I should put a disclaimer on my recipes that I can only testify to my dishes being good cold due to picture-taking. 😉
    I’d love to give these cookies a try! Maple is seriously one of the best flavors ever. And coconut oil is awesome to bake with! Keeps everything moist but adds extra nutrition and a great different flavor dimension. All good in my book! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks Alex! Sometimes my iPhone pictures turn out better than my SLR…It’s probably because all other factors are “better” aka I’m more patient lol.

      Maple is one of my favourite flavours too (maybe it’s the canadian in me?). Coconut oil finds it’s way into almost everything I make…and coconut palm sugar. So I guess coconut is one of my favourite flavours too 😉

      Reply

  8. I completely understand how you feel!! Being a slave to natural light sucks and I also get a ton of anxiety before I shoot something. I love when I am able to take a good picture but the process is SO much work. Trying to fit that much work into my already packed schedule is exhausting!

    Really though, these cookies look awesome! I think you are doing a fantastic job. The composition and the white balance look great. I do see a little bit of “shake” in the pictures which a tripod can work wonders for. Are you using a tripod?

    Reply

    1. Yes! Definitely looked into getting a tripod. My birthday is coming up so I may just have to treat myself 🙂

      Thank you though I appreciate the positive feedback! I love that you called it “being a slave to natural light” because that could not be more true!!! Now if only I quit my day job…

      Reply

  9. Oh my gosh stop the pics still look great. But you know I share the same anxiety… trying to photograph my frittata last night was so annoying and unsuccessful (you’ll see Friday) then it was getting cold…

    Reply

    1. I’m still laughing about our email convo today!!! Nothing worse than being frustrated and hangry (or the other word I use for it…)!

      Reply

  10. I have a love/hate relationship with food photography – I think once you figure out your “style” (which takes lots of trial and error!) it becomes a bit easier. My one tip, use a tripod. Makes things much easier. My favourite food photography book is “Plate to Pixel” by Helene Dujardin. It’s what really helped me “get” food photography.

    Reply

    1. Louisa! Thank you!!! Your pictures are stunning! I will definitely look into that book. If my pictures can turn out anything like yours I would be over the moon!

      Reply