Photographer San Diego-Ambience Photo-Food Portfolio

Food Photography - Preparing for the shoot

Food is a fascinating and challenging subject to photograph, and done properly can evoke both an appealing
and emotional response. The art of photographing food requires a vision of how the item should be depicted
in an appetizing and appealing manner. Lighting, surrounding props, and background all add to the success
of a winning image. Most importantly, however, is the display of the food item itself. How fresh does
the product appear, does it look juicy, is it hot or chilled, does it seem as if it just came from the kitchen?
All of these considerations should be thought-out and planned to make the item look as appealing as possible
and go into making the shot a success.

The first step is planning the food shoot. The client should have a list of items they want photographed,
and an idea of how and where the photographs are going to be used. For instance, if an item is going
to be used on a horizontal menu board and a vertical print ad, then the photographer
needs to make two versions of the shot to accommodated both uses.

One of the most important things to consider is who is going to prepare the food for the photos.
If the client is a food establishment such as a restaurant and has chefs, and has a set presentation
for serving an item, then they need to be involved in the efforts. However, the chef may not be
the best person to prepare the food for the photo session. You may need to add valuable member
to the project called a food stylist. The stylist can do several things, like prepare the food for the shot,
or guide the chef as to how to prepare the item, and then put the finishing touches on
the item to make it look as appealing as possible. Usually an item is not prepared the same way
for photography as it is for consumption. This is because many times a less heated food item
just looks better than a fully cooked one. A stylist , in addition to preparing the food, also helps to
construct the photograph by helping to prop the shot. Items surrounding the food, such
as a colored napkin or a fork, can greatly enhance the scene. The stylist can also be responsible for
buying the food and props. Props, such as forks, knives, glasses, ingredients, etc. should also be
discussed. Decide what props should be brought to the shoot and who is going to be responsible
for supplying them. Oftentimes the client, photographer, and food stylist will all contribute props to the effort.

The location of the photography is very important to a successful food shoot. If the client has a restaurant
or kitchen then many time its more convenient for the client to do the photography at their facility.
Ideally there needs to be an area cleared of tables, chairs, and free of customers if the photographer
is going to do his best “on location”. When shooting packaged items or produce, its often necessary
to do the shoot at the studio. Generally a photographer has more control over lighting, more room,
and a greater access to equipment and props in the studio. A studio with a kitchen is ideal, or at least
there needs to be is a decent sink and prep area to work in.

Food Photography - A professional photographer's tips on photographing food -Part 2

After the planning phase for the photo shoot is complete (see Part 1 -Preparing for the Shoot), you are now ready for the photo session. The working area, lighting, stylist, and elements necessary for a successful shoot are discussed.

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.