Cheese Burger

Written By Judy Doherty

For a recent creative test, we channeled the bold, current vibe of the Golden State—think sun-drenched LA and classic comfort food. Our theme centered on the Pasadena Cheeseburger, a dish we discovered was invented in SoCal in 1924 by 16-year-old Lionel Sternberger at The Rite Spot. We recreated an elevated version of this "Aristocratic Burger" in the studio, focusing on capturing its nostalgic perfection and famously melty texture using dramatic lighting and composition. This shoot doubled as a vital test day, allowing us to simultaneously run four sets, from kitchen to studio to lifestyle, while experimenting with new lighting techniques, monochromatic schemes, and quirky props.

Pasadena style cheeseburger with bling and hard light - delicious food photography

The Pasadena Burger from my studio is a homage to where the cheeseburger was invented. It also reminded us of the In-N-Out Burger, which was also invented in California, along with the McDonald’s chain! The ingredients are simple: 1 grilled beef patty, a brioche bun, mayonnaise, ketchup, leaf lettuce, tomato, and onion.

Burger Party Reel

Some Scrabble letter fun!

Food and lifestyle photography hard light with polaroid effect - party table and models with fairy lights pink orange bright crazy fun hip

Burger party set

Food and beverage with party lights and fairy lights bright colors hip

Closeup of party food with fairy light bokeh.

Judy Doherty

I am a food, beverage, and CPG product photographer specializing in photos, stop motion, and video, with over 90,000 photos and motion graphics delivered. Clients hire me for my eye, creative direction, and passion for taking their idea to the next level.

My strength lies in a nimble and lean creative process. Clients love getting creative content at a reasonable cost since my studio can art direct, style, and shoot their images quickly and on budget. My studio features an extensive surface library and prop house with a fully equipped kitchen and two shooting studios.

My experience as a chef, stylist, and photographer has earned many awards, including APA Top 100, ACF Gold Medal, and a juried fine art photo exhibit at Art Basel Miami. I was Executive Pastry Chef for two Hyatt Hotels and Resorts before completing two post-baccalaureate certificates for Visual Art and Graphic Design at U.C. Berkeley Extension in San Francisco.

https://judydohertyphotography.com
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