Not long after I started The Lunch Tray, a reader asked why my blog’s photo depicted such an unhealthy school lunch:
The short answer is that I started TLT on a whim, launching the site less than twenty-four hours after I decided to do it, and this stock photo was readily available. But I, too, wasn’t thrilled with the food shown and I also grew tired of seeing “my” photo pop up all over the Internet (I had a nonexclusive license).
Brett in action.
So I asked TLT readers for their input on a new photo and then took bags of food and vintage lunch trays to the studio of talented Houston photographer Brett Chisolm. (Brett’s the same guy who took my head shots and if you’d ever seen me when I roll out of bed, you’d agree the man is a miracle worker.)
I played amateur food stylist while Brett worked his magic and eventually we hit on this new and improved TLT lunch tray:
I know there will be quibbles with my food choices. Some of you would rather see a vegetarian entree instead of turkey, sandwiches seem to be unpopular with kids, and you’re unlikely to see fruits like watermelon and strawberries on a public school lunch tray. I wanted to put a cookie on the tray for dessert (I’m no Food Nazi, really!) but it just didn’t photograph as well as the broccoli. And I haven’t the foggiest idea if my meal meets federal guidelines, or how much it would cost.
My only goal was to create a new logo with a clean, minimalist feel while depicting a wholesome meal I’d be pleased to serve my own kids.
I hope you like it! Let me know what you think.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Bettina Elias Siegel
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
It looks great! Congrats on the new logo.
Nicely done!
Congrats!
Thank you, guys! Glad you like it. I was a little OCD about it — drove poor Brett crazy with post-production issues!
Love. Love. Love!
Thank you!
Love it! Would eat that lunch with delight.
My unbiased mom.
Awesome! I thought Your bad lunch, with totally unrealistic fresh tomato and lettuce, was a political statement! Still always good to lead by example, and I love the new look! The sandwich triangle suggests a smile.
How funny that you thought there was meaning, and not just laziness, behind my old stock photo.
And the thing that is making me LOL is your comment about the smiling sandwich. For reasons I won’t bore you with, a prior iteration of the
photosandwich really curved up at the ends and I made Brett use Photoshop to shave off the “smily corners” — that’s how we referred to them in emails. Now I’m thinking I should have kept it as it was!Love your photo styling and new lunch tray! Congrats…
Thanks, Vicki!
I like it too!
Your pic has a very crisp and clean style to it. Looks great!
Lovely!
Thank you, all! I feel much more “at home” on my blog now.
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