Understanding & Elevating Composition
You already have a good eye.
So why doesn't it show up in your photos?
You know a great image when you see one. You can spot it instantly in someone else's work — that effortless, magnetic pull, the way it makes you stop scrolling and just look.
But when you shoot? Something's missing. You're not sure what to do with props. The shot feels stiff instead of alive. Nothing seems to flow. You know your settings. You know your light. And your images still feel... just not quite THERE.
Here's the thing: no amount of editing can fix a weak composition. Perfect light can't fix it and neither can a fancy camera. Composition is the invisible framework holding your whole image together and when it's off, everything else you did right just doesn't matter.
get instant access for $37
In this one-hour class, I'm sharing the thought process behind my photography: the 5 components of strong composition, and exactly how they work together, not in isolation.
This isn't a list of rules you'll forget by your next shoot (I don't believe in rules anyway!) It's a lens you'll start seeing through automatically.
Here's what's covered:
➡️ The 5 building blocks of composition and how they interact with each other
➡️ A repeatable system you can apply to any subject — food, product, doesn't matter
➡️ How to choose props that strengthen and enhance your image, rather than distract from your subject
➡️ How to visually edit a scene — what to remove, what to simplify, what's working against your shot
By the end, you won't just have "learned composition." You'll look at your own photos differently — and more importantly, you'll know exactly what to change before you even pick up the camera.
"Feeling like one of those people with no natural artistic ability, composition seemed like an impossible hurdle to starting food photography. Clare’s mini course in composition gave me a framework (and confidence) to consider how to make a photo look more appealing, and how to use composition to make a photo tell a story."
-Wes A.
@whaphotos
what's inside
• A focused video lesson, in just under an hour
• 5 real shoot demonstrations
• Summary slides to reference any time
• Practice prompts to apply what you've learned
• Lifetime access
"The composition lessons were insightful and inspiring, helping me see how framing, balance, and perspective can transform a photograph. I especially appreciated the practical guidance and thoughtful examples, which made the concepts easy to understand and apply."
-Christine
@sflfoodandwine
IMAGINE IF...
Instead of sharing an image people just skim over, your photo actually stopped people in their tracks?
That's the difference a strong composition makes. It's not louder colors or a filter that makes everything pop. It's way more powerful than that because your image itself did the work — the props, the light, the story, all of it clicking into place so naturally that no one can quite say why it's beautiful. They just know it is.
That's not magic. That's composition, done with intention instead of guesswork. And it's NOT talent-- it's completely learnable.
your instructor
Hi, I’m Clare Barboza—professional photographer for over 25 years, with the last 15 focused on food.
I’m also the co-owner of Poppy Bee Surfaces (and yep, every single photo on this site? I took it).
Over the years, I’ve shot more than three dozen cookbooks and collaborated with brands, chefs, farms, and restaurants across the country.
Since 2008, I’ve been leading photography workshops, and they’ve become one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
Helping others uncover their creative voice—and actually trust it—isn’t just something I love; it feels like a big part of why I do what I do.
