Before and After Vacuum Package Bag Styling, Scaffolding, and Retouching

Written By Judy Doherty

Sometimes the retouching of a packaged product has to start on the table. On this product, the cheese curds are packaged in vacuum-pack bags. This one had us using our creative skills to make a pretty photo that shows the curds in the bag while allowing the flavor to be readable. We started with the bag on the board, building a scaffolding of sorts to keep the ends flat and extended. But the team decided to break the vacuum and arrange the curds nicely. When it was time to retouch, I used the curds on the table to composite over the top of the bag, keeping a special blending mode on my layer so they still appear to be in the bag. It also got a better sunlight effect. These cheese curds are delicious!

Judy Doherty

I am a food, beverage, and CPG product photographer specializing in photos, stop motion, and video, with over 250,000 visuals delivered worldwide. Based in Southern California and formerly in the San Francisco Bay Area, I work in my studio, throughout California, and on location nationwide. 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.

I bring over 20 years of professional culinary experience and more than a decade in commercial photography. My work 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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Chocolate Bars Out of Retail Packaging