Death Becomes Them: A Dia De Los Muertos Shoot

Concept

This shoot was inspired by Dia de los Muertos. A Mexican holiday that celebrates and honors loved ones who have passed. Being half-Mexican myself, I’m honored and proud to celebrate my culture and my heritage.

Inspiration

The inspiration for this shoot came from the vibrant face painting makeup that’s typically worn on this day. I’ve attended Dia de los Muertos parades my whole life and have always loved the vibrancy and meaning of this day. I was watching a TikTok video of Matisse Azul dancing to Un Poco Loco and it reflected everything I wanted to in a shoot.

Props

For this shoot, I incorporated lots of deep purples, bold oranges, and blue tones. I wanted to reflect the vibrancy of this holiday. I used bowls and plates with deep intricate patterns.

Importance of flowers

I used orange marigolds and rose flowers to add more color and vibrancy to this shoot. Marigolds are known for their bright colors and potent smell, and have been known to be the flower of Dia de los Muertos. These flowers together symbolize the fragility and brevity of life. Marigolds are used to attract the souls of the dead to the ofrendas prepared for them. While the roses represent love, passion and fidelity.

Background

For the background I used lots of different textures, vibrant oranges and deep purples. Lines in the purple napkins, wood texture, and the skull designs represent the colors and patterns typically used for Dia de los Muertos.

Dishes

I wanted to feature traditional dishes you will often find on ofrendas such as mole chicken, tamales and flan. Pan Dulce is a sweet bread that you can enjoy as a breakfast, or as a dessert. You can dip chunks of pan dulce in Mexican Hot Chocolate or spread Nutella or honey.

Takeaway

These images were fun to make and special as I got to honor my Mexican culture. I enjoyed creating these images that reflect the beauty of this holiday.

Contact me for a consultation. Let’s bring your food to life!