For retailers, Thanksgiving starts early. While consumers are enjoying the fun & sun, heating up the grill and enjoying their summer break, retail experts behind the scenes are already thinking about OND (October, November, December).

Whether you’re a national retailer or small business, it’s true what they say, ‘Christmas is in July’. Does that mean Thanksgiving is in June? Either way, there’s so much that goes into prepping for the holidays, retail-side and we feel grateful to be part of it.

Here’s a look back at a Thanksgiving photoshoot we did for the local LA retailer, Lazy Acres – the before, during, and after of how it came to be!

There were 24 products in total, 6 of which were whole proteins. All needed individual shots for the online ordering site – plus 15 proposed group shots to bring the Thanksgiving spread to life. The spreadsheet was impressive!

If you’ve ever been to a traditional Thanksgiving feast, you know it’s hard enough to get 1 Turkey cooked to perfection on a reasonable timeline. Needless to say, our team rose to the occasion and captured 3 Whole Turkeys, 1 Prime Rib, 1 Whole Ham, and 1 delicious Slice of Poached Salmon, and 33 side dishes in just a few days.

During the shoot we had a team of 2 photographer/stylists, along with Danielle and Heather from TCP – plus ample planning beforehand from the entire TCP team to organize props, delivery of product, and manage the workflow leading up to Day 1 of the shoot.

We went in with a clear styling strategy to achieve the ‘Coastal Yet Cozy’ aesthetic. Think soft simple linens, traditional textures with various wood tones, perfectly imperfect – the familiar comfort of a holiday gathering, with a hint of casual California charm. Overall the soft warm tones imply late afternoon dining, patio-style with a focus on fresh, seasonal produce and floral as props.

In addition, this all happened mid 2020, so big holiday gatherings were likely off the menu for most consumers. With Thanksgiving looking slightly different for most, we decided to pivot and divide the Shot List into 4 categories that highlight the diverse offering of the Lazy Acres catering menu:

• Table for 2 / Party of Four – giving options for small, safe gatherings, styling food as if it’s for a couple or 4 roommates, instead of a 12-person spread.

• Plated Personalities – Supports a variety of diet preferences – a more inclusive approach to holiday meals – The Flexitarian, The Part-time Paleo, The Traditionalist, The Carb Lover, The ‘No-Touching’ Kid Plate.

• Simple Servings – Feature Ready-to-Eat Options, Emphasis on Ease

• Quality over Quantity – Individual Abundance, with dramatic closeups of really beautiful hero items – shooting from every camera angle to show the importance of a really good side dish.

Go ahead and feast your eyes on some of our favorite shots from this festive shoot, then let us know YOUR plated personality!