Close Quarters Maneuvers: Rebel Oven at 222 Market
Product photography mode activated! Mari started laying out these incredible treats on the counter, and I loved dialing in my camera settings and lighting to capture the rich, mouth-watering textures of the frosting and cake crumb. My family happily devoured the props later!
Part 2: Tender Velvet Rebel Oven
Mari at Tender Velvet Rebel Oven was the first to respond to my call for partners. The name immediately intrigued me, and after some initial research and an introductory meeting, we settled on a date for the mission.
Rebel Oven was my second shoot of the day, located within the 222 Market. Unlike the Taylor Ray’s session, I planned to bring in my own lighting to have better control over the scene. Upon arrival, I noticed a significant amount of natural light from the ceiling panels, but I also encountered a major obstacle: there was absolutely zero space behind the counter.
Getting up close and personal with the baking process! This shot of the rich chocolate frosting straight off the mixer was one of my favorites to capture. Using a shallow depth of field keeps the focus exactly where it needs to be—on the mouth-watering details that make Mari’s creations so special.
Mari was a champion, allowing me to squeeze into her workspace. Navigating the cramped quarters was difficult, and I had to constantly problem-solve, eventually shifting my lights to the front of the counter and bouncing a bare bulb off the ceiling to fill the space.
As we neared the end of the session, the "assets" became much more delicious. Mari crafted my first-ever Matcha, and its vibrant green hue looked stunning in the lens. She then set out a variety of cakes for me to photograph. My background in product photography felt right at home here; I dialed in my settings and got straight to work.
Squeezing into the incredibly tight space behind the counter at Tender Velvet Rebel Oven was totally worth it for this action shot. Bouncing a bare bulb off the ceiling helped fill the space smoothly and capture the delicate process of crafting my first-ever matcha.
The highlight was the Guava Matcha—a gorgeous, layered drink that I paired with a slice of Guava Cake. I am incredibly proud of these images. To wrap up the mission, Mari sent me home with a box of the treats I had just photographed. My household devoured them—for me Guava Cake was the clear winner, though the carrot cake was the winner for my wife.
If you want to support a local, queer-owned business, head to 222 Market for a treat from Rebel Oven. Supporting these creators is exactly why I believe access is not optional
The vibrant layers of this Guava Matcha paired with a beautiful slice of cake were a dream to shoot. Setting up my own lights really made the bright green of the matcha and the pink of the guava pop against the warm wood counter at 222 Market.
