In any given calendar year, our team will quote hundreds of jobs for photography services, and not all come to fruition. Some businesses may choose a fellow creative in the industry, they may look at going in a totally different direction, or oftentimes they hold off for budgeting reasons. Maybe photos weren’t in the financial plan for that quarter or year, so they will wait for the next one and book with us then. It is not often that we quote services for a potential client and see five years pass before the job gets scheduled.

Well, never say never! We were thrilled when the fantastic team at Prime Valley Farms contacted us in 2024 to say they were ready to shoot their products for their new e-commerce site. A family-owned and operated Japanese Wagyu beef farm, Prime Valley Farms has provided premium Wagyu meat to butchers, chefs, restaurant owners, families and breeders since 2012. Located about 60 miles Northwest of Indianapolis in Cutler, Indiana, you’ll find over 100 acres of lush ranch land, where the PMF team raises Wagyu cattle free from hormones and drugs to provide a top-tier, delicious experience for all customers.

We first took a visit to the farm (so cool!) to understand the products we’d be shooting and gain knowledge and insight on the goals he owners had for the photos on their site. When shooting high-end food photography for a website, we really want to grasp the style of the site and also what the customer is envisioning so we know how to best showcase the merchandise for a successful project. 

There’s no denying Wagyu is not only the most delicious beef out there, but the cuts are gorgeous, with stunning marbling that steals the show in photographs. Unlike other products, to really make the steaks shine, we had to place them on appropriate props and backgrounds to make the steaks pop, while not taking away from the beauty of the meat itself. Our client happily helped gather necessary props to have ready for the shoot to ensure a smooth and efficient day for all. 

Food photography is a passion of Lesle’s and these opportunities do not come across our table (ha!) as often as some of our other projects, so when the chance arises to work with an awesome team on a great project, we are excited to jump at the chance to be a part of it! 

Thank you to everyone at Prime Valley Farms that made this day so successful! We couldn’t be happier with the end results and can’t wait for the next project together. If you’re in the market for exceptional Wagyu beef, check out the Prime Valley Farms online catalog.

Thinking of adding food photography to your portfolio? We’d love to help you! Find out all you need to know about high-end food photography here.