Refining the recipe: A father-son partnership

In 2021, we introduced you to Nei Ramos, a CGI artist with a passion for photoreal food visuals, and his son, João, then just starting to explore lighting. Fast forward to today: they're full creative partners in a thriving, family-run studio where donuts gleam and caramel drips with delicious realism. Here's how HDR Light Studio became essential to their creative process, and their partnership.

Evolving Roles, Sharper Results

One of the most rewarding aspects of their collaboration has been watching João grow into a full-fledged creative partner. Initially, focused on technical tasks, observing workflows and learning tools, João rapidly developed strong skills in areas like texturing and lighting.

"Today, our roles are clearly defined and complementary," says Nei. "I handle modeling, conceptual work, and finishing. João leads look development and lighting in Cinema 4D. It’s brought a real clarity and smoothness to our workflow."

João's journey began early. “I was just 10 when I began exploring Cinema 4D, making YouTube intros," he recalls. "Later, I took a motion graphics course and discovered a love for visuals. At first, lighting felt too technical, but when I realized that lighting could tell a story, everything fell into place.”

Nei leads the foundation and visual direction. João refines and lights. Together, they've found their lane, built on trust and shared strengths.

HDR Light Studio: A Creative Turning Point

Lighting was once the most difficult aspect of João's work. Even working within Cinema 4D, where he felt he lacked the precise control he needed.

"HDR Light Studio changed that," João explains. "It gave me intuitive control, I could test and adjust lighting in real time, and understanding how light behaves became a lot clearer." 

Why HDR Light Studio?

“Speed and precision,” they agree. “With Light Looks, we can test and compare lighting setups in real time. The software communicates cleanly with the renderer. The new Lumi-Curve tool is a creative game-changer, we’re still exploring it, but it’s already essential to how we work.”

Lighting as a Family, Influence, and Collaboration

It’s not just father and son in the studio. Nei’s wife, affectionately known as Mama, has a photographer’s eye that adds the final polish. “Even when we think it looks great, she’ll catch something subtle we missed," João says. "Her eye has become a key checkpoint in our refinement process.”

Much of João's lighting intuition came from Nei’s traditional knowledge. “Watching him build lighting setups with key lights, fills, and shadows with balance taught me the fundamentals." João explains. Those principles still guide me, even with HDR Light Studio. Now it’s a two-way exchange. We know when to step in, and when to trust.”

Their collaboration is especially important when tackling complex visual challenges, like liquid splashes or chocolate coatings.

“With those surfaces, drawing the light becomes an art form." Nei adds. Getting the right reflection in the perfect spot is everything, and HDR Light Studio gives us that level of precision.”

Food Visualization and Lighting Challenges

Food in CGI demands extreme attention to detail. One recent image combined donuts, syrups, caramel, and strawberry - all in a single scene. Nei modeled and shaped the forms. João handled lookdev and lighting. 

"Syrups needed lighting with depth, but still had to look creamy," João says. "Caramel needed to pop without overpowering the donut. HDR Light Studio helped us fine-tune each element, light by light, until the whole image worked in harmony."

Why Make the Jump to HDR Light Studio?

João encourages fellow artists to try it:

“Native lighting systems can feel limiting, especially if you don’t realize what you’re missing. HDR Light Studio changes your mindset. You stop placing lights and start building them. The instant feedback is everything.”

For their work, especially in food CGI, HDR Light Studio has become essential.

“Liquids, creams, glossy textures, these need precision. Realism lives in the reflections, and HDR Light Studio gives you full creative control.”

Working as Family: The Honest Truth

Of course, they're still father and son. "Sometimes we clash, over pace, focus, or point of view. But it never blocks the exchange. What matters is the trust and real commitment we both bring."

They’re planning to keep creating together, with more focus on creative CGI. We want to build on our foundation while exploring new techniques, and yes, a new studio might be on the horizon, giving us more space to push visual identity in our own way.

Want the full story behind the Ramos family lighting process? Catch the original interview: Lighting the Delicious.

Conclusion: A tool for tasteful precision.

HDR Light Studio is a powerful tool for artists working in food and product visualization, where lighting precision makes all the difference. For reflective surfaces like syrups, creams, and glossy coatings, subtle control over reflections and highlights is essential. With intuitive tools like LightPaint and real-time feedback, artists can fine-tune every detail and bring mouth-watering realism to life, all while speeding up the creative process.

We’d like to thank Nei and João Ramos for sharing their creative journey and showing how HDR Light Studio supports their unique family workflow. To see more of their stunning CGI, visit their website,  follow on Instagram, or check out their portfolios on Behance.