Laura Muthesius: Mastering Serene Food Photography

Laura Muthesius is a Berlin-born photographer who specialises in creating calm, inviting images of food and everyday ingredients. After finishing her photography studies, she teamed up with food stylist Nora Eisermann in the mid-2010s to launch the blog Our Food Stories. What began as a personal project sharing gluten-free recipes has grown into a successful career in food photography and styling, with a published cookbook and features in major design publications. Her work stands out for its soft natural light, minimalist compositions, and gentle colour palette of whites, beiges, and earthy greens.

Primary Genres: Food, Still Life
Primary Photography Style: Straight photography with a minimalist approach – clean lines, authentic details, and soft, natural presentation that feels serene and unforced.
Key Message: Muthesius aims to highlight the natural beauty of seasonal, organic ingredients and encourage a mindful connection to food. Through simple, honest imagery, her work shows that good food and thoughtful presentation can bring calm and appreciation to everyday life.

Laura Muthesius focuses on everyday subjects such as fresh bread, herbs, vegetables, cakes, and table settings. Her images often feature tight compositions with a single plate or a few ingredients, shot against simple backdrops like wooden surfaces or linen. She relies heavily on natural northern window light – usually soft and diffused from overcast skies or morning hours – to create gentle highlights and subtle shadows without harsh contrasts. This results in photographs that feel tactile and peaceful rather than highly styled or commercial. She keeps props to a minimum and works with prime lenses to achieve shallow depth of field, drawing attention to textures like crusty bread or delicate greens. In editing (typically in Lightroom), she lifts brightness, warms the whites slightly, and softens tones for a clean but natural finish.

For intermediate photographers, studying Muthesius means understanding how restraint can strengthen an image. Instead of dramatic lighting or busy arrangements, she uses consistent natural light and negative space to guide the viewer’s eye. This teaches the value of shooting in consistent conditions and learning to see beauty in ordinary ingredients. Her seasonal focus also highlights the importance of working with what is fresh and available rather than forcing concepts.

Accolades:
- Published the cookbook A Year with Our Food Stories with Gestalten Verlag (2022/2023).
- Recognised in the food blogging community during the Saveur Blog Awards era (mid-2010s).
- Featured in publications such as Forbes, House & Garden, and EST Living.
- Served as a judge for the World Food Photography Awards.

Trivia:
- Laura has multiple food allergies, which inspired the blog’s gluten-free focus.
- She and Nora grow their own herbs and source produce locally or from gardens.
- They have renovated a former schoolhouse in the Brandenburg countryside and own a holiday home in Sweden.
- The project started as a couple’s venture but continues successfully as a professional friendship and collaboration.

Lessons from this Photographer:

Laura Muthesius shows that simplicity and consistency create powerful food images. By sticking to natural light and minimal props, she proves you don’t need expensive gear or complex setups to produce professional-looking work. Photographers can apply this by choosing one reliable window for shooting and practising tight, intentional compositions. Her mindful approach to ingredients encourages us to slow down, observe textures and light throughout the day, and let the subject’s natural qualities guide the story. Experimenting with her soft, warm editing style can help develop a recognisable personal aesthetic without over-processing.