Canon Miraisha and Youth Content Collective (YCC) Bring Food Photography and Videography to Johannesburg
Following an earlier portrait photography workshop in Alexandra, the latest session turned its focus to food photography and videography, exploring both the creative techniques behind compelling food content and the commercial opportunities available to emerging creatives in the genre.
Held from 28 to 29 May 2026 at Victoria Yards in Lorentzville, Johannesburg, the workshop brought together 19 emerging creatives for a two-part learning experience. Day one was delivered online, focusing on theory and technical foundations, while day two brought participants together in person for hands-on practice using Canon's EOS R series cameras and RF lenses.
Food photography and videography come with their own visual language and commercial demands. Making food look as appealing on screen as it does on the table requires an understanding of lighting, composition, styling and presentation. With food businesses, e-commerce and digital food content continuing to create opportunities for visual storytellers, the genre offered a natural next step for the Canon Miraisha and YCC collaboration.
Mancoba Msibi, Canon Trainer, opened the online session by introducing participants to the fundamentals of food photography, including lighting angles, composition and the small styling decisions that can transform a flat image into an appetising one.
Canon Ambassador and food content creator Tristan Schäfer followed with a session on food videography, covering composition, movement and practical techniques for creating food content that captures and holds an audience's attention.
The second day moved from theory into practice, with participants converging at Victoria Yards for a full day of hands-on shooting. Roger Machin, Canon SA ITCG Business Development Manager, joined Mancoba and Tristan to lead live demonstrations using Canon's EOS R series cameras and RF lenses before participants split into smaller groups to put the techniques they had learned into practice.
The results gave participants an opportunity to translate the lessons from the previous day's sessions into their own work. For many, it was also an opportunity to experiment with food photography and videography in a practical setting and begin developing work that could contribute to their creative portfolios.
The workshop concluded with participants receiving certificates of participation, marking two days focused on building practical creative skills and understanding the possibilities within a specific genre.
Tristan Schäfer's contribution also brought an important professional perspective to the workshop. As a Canon Ambassador and working food content creator, Tristan operates commercially within the genre the participants were exploring. His experience gave students an opportunity to look beyond the technical aspects of creating food content and consider what building a career in the field can actually look like.
His session therefore extended beyond lighting setups and composition to explore industry entry points, client work and potential monetisation opportunities within food content. For emerging creatives considering whether photography and videography can become a sustainable career, understanding the business side of the industry is just as important as developing technical ability. That combination of technical training and industry perspective is central to the direction of the Canon Miraisha and YCC collaboration. Participants are not only learning how to create stronger images and videos, but are also being introduced to the realities of working as a creative professional.
The food photography and videography workshop is one part of a growing series of genre-based sessions being developed through the collaboration. Each workshop is designed to pair practical technical training with insights from experienced creatives, giving students and alumni a clearer understanding of how different creative disciplines can translate into professional opportunities.
Following the workshop, Canon Miraisha is also exploring opportunities for post-workshop mentorship, allowing participants to continue developing their skills, track their progress and remain connected to the programme as they build their portfolios.
The collaboration between Canon Miraisha and YCC continues to develop with a clear focus: helping students and alumni move from learning creative skills to understanding how those skills can open doors within the industry, one genre and one workshop at a time.