[Hooky]

Hi,

I have been offered the opportunity to photograph (paid) a restaurant and some of the dishes, for use by the owner for menus, website and promotions. This gig follows successfully shooting the owners nieces wedding back along....

Does anyone have any experience of shooting food, and any suggestions for lenses/lighting/settings etc. This is an area I have tried to capture at home (with some success) however any advice greatfully received. I appreciate that there is a whole industry dedicated to food shots, however we are in Cornwall, not one of the big cities, and I want to provide the highest quality shots I am capable of. the restaurant is successful by local standards and seats 30+ covers.

TIA,

Alan.

[Dabhand16]

From what little I know and have seen/read on this sort of photography, it seems common to construct the meals to be photographed from materials that will photograph well rather than the actual ingredients.

I'm thinking of cream that can deteriorate fairly quickly, and sauces that won't stay over the food and will drain to the bottom of the plate.

It is a specialist niche for sure.

[LJR69]

I once read an interesting article on this and the tricks photographers use. Things like padding out pies with cotton wool to ensure all the filling is at the front so that it makes a better photo. There were a whole host of things they did. I would agree that it's incredibly niche, however I did find some tips on the Net which you may find useful and interesting: Photojojo The Ten Tastiest Food Photography Tips

[AQ]

I have a nephew in Holland who does this professionally and makes a good living from it. I do not know much about the details but I do know, as the other posters have said, what he photographs is definitely not edible.

[jaimej]

I agree with everyone, we had to do some food shots at college (soup!) and although I used real soup the majority of people used fake ingredients.

[Hooky]

Thanks for the replies,

that link was helpful LJR69

mashed potato for ice cream and motor oil for chocolate sauce

[LJR69]

Actually I could swear I've eaten in joints in my time where that was actually the case

[Charlotte]

That would explain why McDonalds' (+ others) food never looks, on the plate, the same as it does in their pic's + adverts

[stevegreen]

Taking food shots to a whole new level!!!

Food Art (powerpoint slideshow)

[mistersensible]

I've heard of a few really gross tricks. Here is a link that shares a few.

Food Photography - Tricks of the trade

[Hooky]

Having trawled the internet over the last two days, it would appear that food photography is one of the most technically difficult specialities there is. I didn't realise that the pro togs have a whole team of people to get those shots we see in magazines and cookery books!

One site identified a food preparation specialist, whose job on one particular shoot was to make sure every individual kernal of sweetcorn was turned so that the bottom (cut) side was not showing..... Also learnt about the use of a cappucino maker, some sticky tape and a tube... to make...........
















Steam