A Year of Ice Cream Photography with Rockwell Ice Cream

From Simple Product Photos to Full Creative Sessions

Over the past year, I’ve had the sweetest job ever. I’ve been working with Rockwell Ice Cream to create delicious, eye catching food photography for their monthly ice cream specials. What started as a need for more professional photos for their website and social media. Has turned into one of my favorite ongoing collaborations. Month after month, we’ve turned their incredibly creative monthly specials into art.

As a Utah food photographer, I’ve worked with all kinds of brands, from local bakeries to restaurants and home chefs. But there’s something uniquely fun about photographing ice cream. It’s playful, colorful, and full of personality. And Rockwell Ice Cream, with their creative monthly flavors and handcrafted aesthetic, has given me endless opportunities to explore food photography styling and push creative boundaries while keeping their brand consistent.

From Simple Product Photos to Full Creative Sessions

When Rockwell first reached out, their goal was simple: they needed high-quality photos for their food blog and social media. Their ice cream is already some of the best in Utah, and they wanted visuals that reflected the same level of quality. Professional food photography can make all the difference when it comes to showing off texture, color, and flavor, especially for something as visually tempting as ice cream.

After our first few shoots, something amazing happened. What began as straightforward product photography evolved into recurring creative sessions every month. Each new flavor gets its own photoshoot filled with personality and fun. Whether it’s bold and colorful or soft and creamy, we tailor each setup to match the mood of the flavor and the food photography aesthetic Rockwell has become known for.

Collaborating with Rockwell’s Social Media Team

One of the best parts of these sessions is the collaboration. Rockwell’s social media manager is always onsite during our shoots to make sure everything we create stays perfectly on brand. She knows their audience inside and out, which helps guide our visual direction.

As a food photographer, I appreciate when brands are intentional about their visuals. Rockwell’s brand is bright, clean, and playful, just like their ice cream flavors. Every image needs to feel fresh, happy, and true to their identity.

That consistent collaboration is what makes this partnership so successful. Whether we’re shooting a flat lay photography setup full of ingrediants or a food photography dessert shot that captures creamy texture and shine, we’re always thinking about how the final image will fit into their social media feed, website, or printed materials.

Now, Rockwell has a consistent collection of images they can use across every platform. From Instagram to billboards, everything ties together visually.

Building a Consistent Food Photography Aesthetic

Every brand has its own visual language, and for Rockwell, that means creating a food photography aesthetic that feels bright, inviting, and full of joy.

Before each session, we plan out the creative direction: the month’s flavor, the mood we’re going for, and what food photography props will help tell the story. I bring a curated selection of props like ceramic bowls, waffle cones, and textured backgrounds that complement each flavor’s color palette.

When we photographed their “Ghost in the Graveyard” flavor we brought in dry ice, a dark ice cream cup holder and black backdrops to create the best spooky vibe for October’s specials.

Even though every shoot feels unique, we keep Rockwell’s core aesthetic in mind so the photos stay consistent across their brand.

The Challenges (and Fun) of Ice Cream Food Photography

Ice cream food photography is tricky. Ice cream melts fast under studio lights, which means timing is everything. I always plan my lighting and angles before the first scoop leaves the freezer. Once it’s out, we work fast and capture the perfect drips and swirls before it’s gone.

This kind of photography is equal parts preparation and improvisation. Sometimes the slightly melted moments end up being the most beautiful. Photographing for an ice cream business means showing the product in a way that feels real and delicious, not overly styled or fake. Rockwell’s ice cream is the real deal, and I want that authenticity to shine through.

Turning Images into Marketing Content

After a year of working together, Rockwell now has an entire library of content that helps them market effectively. These aren’t just pretty pictures; they’re tools for storytelling and connection.

Each shoot gives them a mix of product close-ups, lifestyle-inspired images, and creative flat lay photography compositions. This variety gives their team flexibility for social media posts, web design, print materials, and advertisements.

That’s what professional food photography does: it elevates the brand and communicates quality at a glance. When someone scrolls past a Rockwell post, they instantly recognize it.

Why Long-Term Brand Partnerships Matter

As a Utah food photographer, I love building lasting relationships with local brands. When we work together regularly, we develop a rhythm and shared vision. I understand the brand’s tone, color palette, and visual goals, which helps each session feel seamless and productive.

With Rockwell, every shoot feels like a creative playdate that’s also strategic. We experiment, laugh, and taste-test along the way, but we never lose sight of the brand consistency that makes their visuals stand out.

Now, Rockwell has a strong visual archive that perfectly represents who they are: high-quality, creative, and a little bit nostalgic. Check out my Food Photography Page HERE to view more of my food photography work.

Final Scoop – (see what I did there…)

Therefore, looking back on this year of food photography with Rockwell, it’s amazing to see how much the visuals have evolved. What started as a simple request for better photos has turned into a collaboration that helps their brand shine every single month.

From brainstorming food photography ideas to styling creative dessert shots and working alongside their social media team, every session has been a blend of creativity, teamwork, and consistency.

If you’d like to take a look at more of Rockwell’s website head HERE to see my work in action.

If you’re a local restaurant, dessert shop, or ice cream business in Utah, professional food photography can help you stand out. Let’s create something beautiful that makes your audience crave what you’re serving.