Food Photography – a Professional Photographer’s Tips on Photographing Food – Part 2
The photography area should be large enough to accommodate the lighting, the main table that the food items and accessories will be placed on, and possibly a background. A second table or surface will be handy for prepping and assembling the food items. Cooking, if needed, can be done on the second table, with a portable burner, but a separate kitchen area for cooking and washing is ideal.
Having the proper tools to prepare the food is essential, and everything that would be found in a working professional kitchen should be available. A food stylist normally brings most utensils needed to prepare the items. It’s also important to have ample foodstuffs and supplies to complete the assignment. For instance, if the image requires fresh tomatoes, then a good selection is needed to find the best-looking ones. This also applies to a product that is prepared off-site, such as bread, pies or any ready-to-eat items. Photograph the one that represents the product at its best.
The goal should be to make the food look as fresh and appealing as possible. To begin with, the best method is to use a “stand-in” sample that is an approximation of the item to be photographed. This is because many foods, after being served and sitting a while, will drip, settle, or just stop looking as fresh as it could. With the stand-in on the set, decisions can be made as to the best camera angle and height, which props add or detract from the shot, and if the lighting is enhancing the subject properly. The test shots can be scrutinized, discussed, and modified as needed. Then the “hero” food item – the one that will actually be photographed — is brought in. The photographer can now concentrate on taking the pictures quickly, and possibly with variations of angles or lighting effects.
The lighting will contribute greatly to the overall mood, and therefore appeal, of the food. Shooting in the studio will give a polished, professional look because it offers the most control over the environment, from a lighting standpoint. That’s not to say that you can’t get great results on-location, but it does involve more work to control the surroundings. Most professional photographers will use multiple off-camera flash units, sometimes with diffusion between the flash head and the subject.
Proper lighting can place shadows to give the image dimension. Some foods benefit from glistening highlights, which make it look fresh and juicy, and this is achieved with precise light placement. A bright background can give a “sunny morning” feel, while dim lighting may best portray an intimate dining experience.
After the first shot, the rest of the food shoot usually becomes the most productive portion, as everyone settles into the workflow. Having a variety of products or food items to choose from, a lighting style matching the use of the image, and an efficient team to keep the photos moving forward is the key to a successful food photography assignment.
You can view a sample of some of the techniques mentioned in this article here : www.ambiencephoto.com
About the Author
Robert Bruni is a professional San Diego Photographer with over 20 years experience in commercial photography. You can see his online food portfolio at www.ambiencephoto.com.
Easyrig 2,5 (Ergonomic Camera Support)
|
|
Petzl E49P TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp, Black $38.99 While this headlamp is designed specifically for night fishing, it could just as easily be used for other purposes, such as night hiking, camping, climbing, or even hunting.The TacTikka Plus is lightweight (78 g with batteries) and comfortable to wear, which is a good thing, since you’re likely to be using it over longer stretches of time. Another great feature of the LED bulbs is that they are mu… |
|
|
Understanding the Nikon Speedlight: SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 $11.68 Understanding the Nikon Flash SB800 and SB600 – A thorough overview of the the Nikon flash system featuring these two excellent flash units. Covers details on all functions and how to use them. Owners of Nikon flashes are often bewildered about how to use the flash unit effectively to produce the type of shots they want. Although the supplied manual does provide some technical assistance, flashes… |
|
|
Introduction to the Canon XSI/450D and XS/1000D $10.99 Take great pictures with your Canon XSi 450D or XS 1000D!’All you need is this training DVD and about two hours, and you’ll have the knowledge and the confidence to create the images you want.’The topics are arranged in chapters, so you can move at your own pace, and return later to individual subjects.’Topics include: Be Prepared (To Get the Shot),’Shutter priority, Aperture priority/Depth of fie… |
|
|
Imedion AA 2400mAh NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, 4-Pack $11.89 Powerex’ new IMEDION line of NiMH rechargeable AA batteries feature a unique extremely low discharge design. Unlike ordinary NiMH rechargeables, which will loose a significant amount of their charge within just weeks, the unique chemistry of Powerex’ IMEDION batteries allows them to retain up to 85% of their charge after a whole year of storage. Powerex rechargeble AA batteries are a favorite amon… |
|
|
Canon CPE3 Compact Battery Pack for Speedlite 420EZ/540EZ/550EX/580EX $219.99 Developed with working professional photographers in mind, the new external compact battery pack CP?E3 improves flash recycle times significantly and increases to approximately 432 the number of firings before batteries need to be replaced. The pack takes optional rapid-change magazines that can be loaded with 8 AA-size batteries prior to a shoot to ensure fast, smooth transitions from one battery… |
|
|
Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Inkjet Photo Printer (3295B002) $449.00 Canon… |
|
|
Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet $229.99 Professional photographers, designers and artists agree: Intuos4 pen tablet speeds up production time for photo editing, design and art creation. When working with digital assets, there isn’t a more natural tool than a pen for increased comfort and control. With 48.5 square inches of working area, this tablet provides ample workspace. Built with eight ExpressKeys and illuminated ExpressKey display… |
|
|
Sony DPP-EX5 Digital Photo Printer $299.99 … |
|
|
The Digital Photography Book $13.28 In this book, author Scott Kelby tackles the most important side of of digital photography–how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today s top digital pros use (and it s easier than you d think). This isn t a book of theory – full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts. This is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the mos… |
|
|
Adobe Photoshop CS5 Classroom in a Book $30.00 Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Photoshop CS5 choose Adobe Photoshop CS5 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 14 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Photoshop CS5. In addition to learning the key elements of the Photoshop interface, this completely r… |