WIP development - food photography - an old passion rediscovered

Having selected food photography as my new theme meant that I had to remember how things are done. I started taking pictures of food back in 2014 when I struggled to get accepted as a Shutterstock contributor. It took some time but eventually I managed to become part of the community and started building a portfolio. 

The whole process involved a whole lot of 'photo sessions' of anything that could possibly sell. Problem was that images that used to sell in stock image banks at the time were, as my mother loves putting it, 'lifeless' and 'banal'. Still, that was the style I am used to as I have done it for quite some time. 

The other problem with food is that the Internet is full of food images. Social networks, such as Instagram and Facebook and even Pinterest are full of mouth-watering images. Some of them are done by professionals, some by passionate amateurs. I have a friend like that - she is a passionate Instagrammer and I have to admit she does manage to capture some stunning angles. Here is one image of hers - from our most recent evening out:

There was the rub though - I can create images like that, no doubt BUT what I need for the sake of the project is a signature style. All tutors keep telling me that. But how do you find your signature style? Throughout the years, I have worked out to make my images recognizable (which means that people who are familiar with my work would be likely to point out which of the images they see is done by me and which is not, regardless if they have seen that particular image or not). 

Still, compared to most other people on the MA, I still feel like a total novice, yet to find what is what and that 'signature style thing'. Sometimes, I create something that stands out, at other times, things simply wouldn't work. I've experienced that throughout the previous modules since when I go out to take pictures, I count on my 'gut feeling' of what is good and what is not. 

When it comes to food though, I lack many ideas as to what I can experiment with as I have no professional studio equipment (most of my images are taken using natural light on the table in my bedroom using whatever was at hand as a backdrop). I admire food photographers and I am quite a fan of a few of them. Most of those people are traditionalists, so to say. 

So - what I needed was not only rediscover my passion for food photography BUT also somehow find a style that would suit me somehow...