Culture Restaurant in Cornwall was the first stop on our Earth to Table journey, and what a way to begin! This project is all about documenting the people behind sustainable dining, and at Culture, chefs and co-owners Hylton and Petronella Espey embody that philosophy in the most authentic way.
Before the shoot, we had a long pre-production call to get to know them: their story, their vision, and the driving force behind their restaurant. That conversation shaped everything. We learned that Culture isn’t just a name; it’s a reflection of how they live. They’re deeply connected to Cornwall’s land and sea, inspired by nature and passionate about showcasing hyper-seasonal local produce. Every dish tells a story and they're even named after the farms, foragers or locations that inspired it.
View the full Earth To Table photo essay for Culture here.
Setting the Scene
We spent three days with Hylton and Petronella, capturing their world from the stillness of the Cornish coast to the warmth of their restaurant’s open kitchen. The final images reflect that duality: calm and intimate, yet raw and adventurous thanks to scenes of mountain biking, surfing, and foraging by the sea.
When we arrived, they immediately invited us to their home for a South African braai in the garden with their two children and pet dog. It set the tone for the entire shoot: relaxed, honest and full of heart. We left after these three days together not just with photo and video content, but with new friends.
Storytelling Through Food
What I loved most about photographing Culture is how storytelling is baked into everything they do. Their menus read like travel journals with each dish being connected to a specific farm, place or supplier. Guests taste Cornwall’s landscape and the relationships behind it in Culture's dishes. That philosophy shaped how I approached the photography. I wanted the frames to feel personal and reflect where the food comes from, who made it and why it matters.
Creative Tip: Before you shoot a restaurant or chef story, invest time in pre-production. Ask questions that go beyond the visuals - about their values, rituals, and what they want people to feel. That emotional insight will guide every creative decision you make later.
Shooting in Every Light Imaginable
Three days on location meant three days of wildly different light! One moment we were in bright coastal sunshine, the next we were in dim barns or inside a softly lit restaurant with a single window.
I relied on a mix of natural and artificial light. For the restaurant interiors and kitchen prep, we brought a continuous light with a 90cm octagonal soft box, which was a lifesaver in darker conditions. It allowed me to keep that natural, gentle quality while maintaining consistency between scenes. Our 50mm f/1.8 lens was also key for letting in more light when shooting in darker locations.
When shooting outdoors, I worked with the light as it came. I embraced contrast and hard light or leaned into backlighting to capture a more honest, documentary feel.
Creative Tip: Don’t be afraid to mix lighting sources. The goal isn’t perfection, but cohesion. Slightly different lighting moods can actually make a photo essay feel more authentic and dynamic, especially in documentary food photography.
Images captured with Culture's suppliers, foraging on the coast, chef Hylton surfing and mountain biking, and testing a new dish.
Working with Real People
The Earth to Table project is intentionally candid because I want to document people in their element, not stage perfection. We kept things as natural as possible and most of the time we observed rather than directed. Occasionally, we’d ask someone to repeat a movement or position themselves where the light was strongest, but the magic happened in the in-between moments: Hylton and Petronella plating dishes together quietly in the kitchen, interactions with suppliers who'd pop in to drop off fresh produce, small gestures that speak volumes about their relationships.
Creative Tip: Building rapport is everything. When photographing real people, make space for conversation before the camera comes out. Comfort translates directly into authenticity.
The Technical Side
I shot the project on my Sony Alpha 7 II, alternating between three lenses depending on the moment:
- 16–35mm for wide environmental shots and interiors
- 50mm for portraits and mid-range storytelling frames
- 90mm macro for dishes and intimate detail shots
Caleb handled filming mostly with the 24–70 mm, giving him versatility while I switched between lenses and perspectives. I love working with a shallow depth of field to bring softness and focus - that bokeh adds a sense of intimacy and depth that pulls the viewer straight to the subject.
Because the pace was fast and the environments constantly changing, composition was instinctive. I worked in sequences making sure to capture wide, medium, close-up shots to build a full visual narrative for each theme or location.
What I Learned: Don’t hesitate to ask for what you need. If you see a shot in your head which requires a specific action, light, or angle don't be afraid to speak up. Most chefs and teams want the images to reflect their story beautifully, so co-create the conditions for that to happen.
Lessons from Culture
This first Earth to Table shoot reminded me why I love documentary-style food photography: it’s unpredictable, emotional, and rooted in real connection.
Technically, it stretched me and pushed me to juggle changing light, multiple environments and a packed schedule. On the other hand, creatively, it grounded me and reminded me that great imagery comes from empathy, curiosity, and trust.
The result is a collection of images that feel alive: food, people and place woven together through light, texture, and story.
Watch the Story Come to Life
Alongside the photo essay, we also created a short cinematic documentary film that tells Culture’s story in motion, from the coastlines and farms of Cornwall to the intimacy of their open kitchen.
You can watch the full film over on our YouTube channel to see how we brought their philosophy of sustainability and storytelling to life through film as part of the Earth to Table series.
Looking Ahead
Culture set the standard for the series. Hylton and Petronella's warmth, philosophy, and approach to sustainability perfectly capture what Earth to Table is all about: honest, human stories about food that connects us back to the earth.
Next up, we head north to Pine in Northumberland in a completely different setting, but one with the same heart.
If you’d like to follow along as the project unfolds, subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes insights and new photo stories as they’re released.
