Photographing "Quanto Basta" and "Mangia" for Oliver Ingrosso
Over the past two years, I had the privilege of working on an incredible project with Mondial Publishing Company, capturing the essence of Italian cooking for two cookbooks: "Quanto Basta" and "Mangia". These books were the brainchild of Swedish DJ and restaurant owner Oliver Ingrosso, whose restaurant OLLI Ristorante in Stockholm is a testament to his passion for food and family traditions. Collaborating with the talented team from Cortado Visual, who filmed episodes for Oliver’s YouTube channel simultaneously, I focused on creating authentic and captivating stills that reflected Oliver’s unique cooking philosophy.
Italian cuisine rooted in family recipes
The nature of the food in these cookbooks is deeply personal and steeped in tradition. With recipes passed down through generations, "Quanto Basta" and "Mangia" showcase Italian cuisine at its finest—hearty, flavorful, and full of love. What makes Oliver’s cooking so special is his natural style, which thrives without strict measurements. Instead, he relies on intuition and a deep understanding of his ingredients, embracing the concept of cooking "quanto basta," or "just enough."
The shoot: studio and restaurant locations
Photographing these cookbooks took us to two inspiring locations: a food photography studio in Stockholm and Oliver’s restaurant, OLLI Ristorante (I also made his website). In the studio, we had complete control over lighting and composition, which allowed us to focus on the intricate details of the dishes. At OLLI, we captured the vibrant atmosphere of the restaurant and Oliver in his element—cooking, plating, and bringing his recipes to life.
The production team from Cortado Visual worked alongside me, filming content for Oliver’s YouTube channel while I photographed. You can catch some glimses of me in the videos as well :) This collaborative energy added a dynamic layer to the shoot, blending motion and still imagery seamlessly.
The vision: authentic, unstyled photography
Oliver’s vision for the cookbooks was clear: he wanted the images to feel natural and unstyled, with a focus on the food and his cooking process. This approach aligned perfectly with my own style, emphasizing authenticity and storytelling. Every image aimed to capture the raw beauty of the dishes and the joy of creating them.
To achieve this, I used my Nikon Z6ii paired with a 60mm macro lens for intricate food details and an 85mm prime f/1.8 lens for portraits and wider compositions. These lenses allowed me to highlight textures, colors, and the overall essence of the dishes.
Lighting and editing
Lighting played a crucial role in bringing Oliver’s vision to life. I used Profoto B10 flashes with various softboxes to create a soft and natural light. In some shots, I incorporated natural light to add warmth and an organic feel to the images.
For editing, I relied on Capture One, my go-to software for tethered shooting and post-production. Its intuitive interface and powerful tools make it ideal for projects like this, where precision and efficiency are key. Editing in Capture One allowed me to maintain the rich, natural colors and textures that were essential to the cookbook’s aesthetic.
The Result: Celebrating Italian Food
"Quanto Basta" was published in November 2023 and quickly became a bestseller in Sweden’s cookbook market. The images, paired with Oliver’s heartfelt recipes, resonated deeply with readers. "Mangia", was released in November 2024.
Working on these projects has been a rewarding experience, combining my love for photography with the rich traditions of Italian cuisine. Collaborating with Oliver, Mondial Publishing, and the team from Cortado Visual has been a creative journey I’ll always cherish.
Keep an eye on my Instagram (@aliaserban) for behind-the-scenes looks at my photography projects. You can also purchase "Quanto Basta" and "Mangia" to experience the magic of Oliver Ingrosso’s cooking for yourself. Don’t forget to check out the accompanying YouTube episodes, beautifully filmed by Cortado Visual.
