A Spontaneous Shoot, Banana Leaves & a Surprise MVP

I wasn’t planning on doing this photoshoot during my holiday. Definitely not one involving banana leaves, gunny sacks, and my dad’s surgical skills.

But hey – sometimes, the best shoot experiences are the ones you don’t see coming.

Here’s what happened: I was visiting Coimbatore – part holiday, part work. Since I was visiting from Chennai, I’d already planned a shoot with my friends Sahana and Rahul for their cloud kitchen. We’d worked together before, and with their kitchen based in Coimbatore, it made sense to combine the trip and make the most of it. They were doing a rebrand and launching a brand-new line of delicious desserts. I brought along some of my gear, a few dessert-centric props, and a couple of sleek backdrops that suited their brand’s clean and polished aesthetic.

Just as I was winding down after the shoot, Rahul (who also runs an ad agency Desert Hawk) and his partner Sarvesh asked if we could squeeze in another shoot – this time for a new client they'd just onboarded, Soar in the Bowl, a cloud kitchen focused on Indian cuisine. They needed food photos ASAP. And I was leaving in two days.

“Can we make this happen?”

The brief? Mildly rustic, Indian vibes. Earthy textures. Traditional elements. Homestyle food photography. The timeline? Basically… now.

Enter the Dream Team: Rahul, Sarvesh, and... my parents?

Rahul and Sarvesh from Desert Hawk pulled off a mini miracle and sourced a textured wooden plank on short notice. I had packed a gunny bag, and I remember thinking, ‘I don’t think I’ll use this for Rahul and Sahana’s shoot; it doesn’t really match their aesthetic.’ But my inner stylist told me to pack it anyway. I literally told myself I’m packing it 'just in case. ’ And it turned out to be the real MVP of the day!

We planned the whole thing in under 48 hours. The Desert Hawk team arranged for banana leaves and the relevant ingredients for each dish. I had a few ideas, they shared references from the client, and we all pieced it together on instinct and quick thinking.

Since I was on holiday, my parents came along for the ride – to help with the shoot, spend time with me, and, of course, indulge in some heavenly food. And before I knew it, they unexpectedly became part of the crew! My dad (who’s an ophthalmologist) was meticulously trimming banana leaves into perfect styling elements. All I had on hand was a basic cutter and a pair of scissors we borrowed from the restaurant – not the ideal tools for sharp cuts. But, thanks to years of practice and his surgical-level precision, he managed to create perfectly shaped banana leaf pieces without batting an eye. No scalpel, no problem! My mom, who has always been the queen of organisation, kept the whole thing running smoothly. Props, setup, ideas, ingredients – she was on top of everything, and she was cutting some banana leaves too! 

Banana leaves cut to perfection by my Dad!

We shot for a whole day and covered around 40 dishes – and wrapped up with a few portraits of the team at the restaurant, ending the shoot on a high.

The outcome?

The client was thrilled with the final images, and honestly, so was I. For a shoot with almost no lead time or formal preparation, it came together in such a natural, collaborative way – the kind of creative chaos that just works. 

Looking back, I surprised myself with how many creative setups we managed to pull off in a single day. It reminded me that sometimes, even with minimal planning, you can still be spontaneous and creative – especially when you’ve got the right people around you.

Huge thanks to the Desert Hawk team, the restaurant crew, and of course, my parents – everyone brought their A-game and made it such a smooth and memorable experience.

Quick shout-out to my dad for the behind-the-scenes photos - thank you!

If you’re looking for a food photographer in Chennai or beyond – whether you’re planning in advance or working on the fly – feel free to reach out. I love working with brands that love good food and great storytelling. 

PS: This wasn’t the only spontaneous shoot I pulled off during that trip. There was also a last-minute jewellery shoot for Desert Hawk that came together in a similar way – but more on that later!