Something’s fishy…. Food Photography – Cedar Plank Salmon

Here’s a fun food photo of a steak we did recently. When looking at a commercial food photo, before you judge the photo itself, you have to take into account the use of the photo. I usually prefer to shoot horizontally for food photos, but when the client needs a vertical, that’s what we shoot. All in all, I’m very pleased with this shot and had a great time shooting it. Thanks J.Love! )

Food Photography - Steak

Here’s a photo from today’s food photography shoot, guacamole.

Food Photography - guacamole

Most of my post here on my food photography blog are just a “show and tell” about recent projects, showing off my work, but here I wanted to make a point about the subject of focus. Sure, I understand that clients like and need to have options, but I wanted to show you a shot I did today, illustrating to you the difference between minimum and maximum focus. I sure like one more than the other… guess which one I prefer.

I guess there is a place for both types of focus in food photography, if I get a choice, I prefer the minimum. )

When you’re a food photographer, you also get asked to shoot drinks. Here’s a recent shot we did of a drink.

We’re on a roll! I had the pleasure of working with Pittsburgh’s three food stylists all in the same week, and we put out some really nice work. Here’s a shot we did for Mitchell’s Fish Market.

Had a great shoot today with some really great clients. We kicked out six awesome shots! Here’s just on of the food photos we did today.

Food Photo - Pulled Pork Sandwich

Food Photography - Salad

Here’s a recent food photo of a salad. Nice and simple, with a lot of back lighting and translucency. That’s what makes a salad shot…

Here is one of the shots from the second day of fish photography. I’m really happy with this shoot. We got some Really nice stuff. Thanks Matt!

Had a great shoot today. We did four really nice fish shots, Here’s one…

Here’s a beautiful food shot, if I do say so myself, of a real fire grill shot. Our wonderful client, JLOVE, did the composite work and she did a fantastic job! )

Had yet another fun shoot with one of my favorite clients, shooting pies and muffins. I ended up giving my daughter and her college apartment full of girls a bunch of the leftover product. I get a text after I leave asking if the muffins were supposed to be green. (not the ones in the photo) Yes, I said, they’re pistachio flavored. Well, can’t blame her for asking what comes out of a food photography studio… )

food photography - muffins

Here’s a salad food photography from yesterday’s shoot. I strong vertical format is the result of the layout for the photo. I think it worked out pretty well…

Food Photography - Salad

Yet another fun food photography shoot with some portfolio potential… But you can be the judge.

The big challenge in shooting something like ham is dealing with the shiny surface. You want to make it look moist, but you don’t want big nasty highlights. Photoshop really helps, but good lighting is the key.

The real challenge in food photography is the lighting. Of course, the stylist might have a different opinion on that ), but as far as the photographer is concerned, it’s all about the lighting. The client often dictates the the composition, or at least the team does, but the lighting is usually up to the food photographer.

To me, food photography lighting is all about shape, texture, and sometimes mood. “Moody” lighting isn’t always a good thing either. The appropriate mood is the important thing. For example, dark moody photographic lighting and breakfast usually don’t go together too well, and the same with “fun foods” like hot dogs or ice cream.

Anyway… Here’s on of today’s shots that I really like:

food photgraphy - muffins

We just finished early, shooting our second day of seafood, food photography. We got some great stuff, and had a good time too. And what’s even more important, I now get to take home some lobster!!! ) Life is good.

It’s the first of a two day food photography shoot today and we kicked out three nice shots. Three shots a day is a really nice pace because you get to take your time and make all the adjustments you want to. Actually, that’s not correct either. You can’t make all the changes and improvements you’d like to because it
‘s still a team effort and the client makes the final decisions. But having said that, it’s still a good. thing… )

Here are two of the shots. We’re actually not finished with the third shot yet, but still, I know it will be good…

Yet another fun of shooting food photography! Got a bunch of great shots and had fun too. ) I still have to watch getting too moody with my food photography lighting though. Sometimes moody isn’t the way to go. Live and learn.

food photography - Stuffed Peppers

food photography - Fondue

food photography - Cheesecake

Had another fun day doing food photography of a dessert and three different paninis. I LOVE what I do… Sure beats working for a living! )