Tina Hossfeld | Caramel Crafter

My new friend, Tina Hossfeld, is the owner and master caramel maker at Crafted Caramel. Small batch candy making is a lost art and something Tina takes pride in preserving as she hand cuts and wraps each yummy caramel.

I briefly met Tina at a luncheon where she had a table set up with samples of her caramels and items for sale. Now, I have to admit, I’ve never been a huge caramel fan, but my inner Emily Post told me to try a sample as to not be rude. Which flavor should I choose? Eeny, meeny, miny, moe; salted caramel, here we go. And that was the beginning of my sweet obsession with Tina’s salted caramels. 

Soon, tina and I began collaborating on ways to elevate her online presence, starting with her website. At our initial planning meeting we talked about her ideal customers, and how she wanted to represent herself and her products online. We created a plan that included dates and locations for new headshots and product photos. We also decided it would be fun to photograph the entire caramel-making process from start to finish. Now, we had three sessions planned. One for Tina’s lifestyle portraits and headshots, another for the caramel-making process, and a final shoot incorporating detail shots of each caramel flavor and ingredients.

One of Tina’s favorite places is the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. The beauty of the area in the fall and it’s location on the Yellow Breeches Creek were the perfect backdrop for Tina’s lifestyle portraits. We had so much fun walking the property and capturing images that represent her personality and she now has beautiful images to use on her website and social media platforms.

At our next meeting, I spent a morning photographing Tina as she worked to create a batch of caramel from start to finish. After gathering all the utensils, ingredients, and props we needed, the cooking and stirring began. The sweet smell of sugar and vanilla made it hard to focus at times, but the resulting images show just how amazing the process of crafting these sweet confections can be. 

Our last session was dedicated to creating images of each type of caramel available for purchase at Crafted Caramel. We spent time in Tina’s home styling the caramels and corresponding ingredients to capture the distinct flavor of each variety. Locally, Tina is lovingly known as The Caramel Lady and you’ll find her products all over town as people offer to share theirs or give them as gifts. 

If you need a last minute gift or stocking stuffer, head on over to craftedcaramel.com! Follow Tina’s journey on Instagram and Facebook!

Getting to see behind the scenes of each small business I work with is just one of the many reasons I love brand photography. Creating a personal brand is vital for your business to help attract your ideal clients and show your followers more about who you are as an individual. What makes you stand out from others in your market? Let’s show them with images that showcase your uniqueness. You are the face of your business and you want to make a memorable first impression with consistent images across all marketing platforms. Whether you're just getting your business off the ground or your current brand needs updating, contact me and let’s make your vision come to life.