Have you ever considered how much time and effort goes into styling food you see on menus and in commercials? Probably not high on your list of things you wonder about. I know the time involved before, during, and after the shoot. There are people who are full-time food stylists, food photographers, and I even know that a big city has a professional food "dolloper" who travels to get the perfect dollop on top of items. Food brings us together. We eat when we're emotional. We eat when we're stressed. We eat when we're hungry. Restaurants hope to entice you to come into their place when you are ready to bite down on something delicious, so they don't hire just anybody to work with their prized foods.
What is a food stylist? You might ask. They are the behind the scenes person who knows that these images have got to be top-notch for the business they're working with. Ther time involved requires them to get the job done right the first time. Before a menu item is even prepared the stylist needs to discuss what the image needs to convey. Is their client wanting to have a bright well-lit image to cut out and place anywhere? If so, the stylist needs to get clean, simple dishes to go with that item. Is their vibe more rustic? That would probably require wooden cutting boards and rustic details. What about a menu where a romantic ambiance is the key? They will definitely need mood lighting for the food and some classy looking tablescapes.
The photographer and food stylist will work together the day of the shoot. It's important that they communicate before, during, and after to make sure the client is getting what they expect. Some restaurant owners would prefer natural light, while others require studio lighting. When they come together, the cook should have items ready to prepare, but shouldn't plate the items until the photographer or food stylist gives the green light. The reason for this is that as food sits, it changes temperatures causing the meal to look less appetizing; especially when it's being photographed. Melted cheese tends to harden. Sauces thicken and lose luster. Meats will dry out and start to look dull. (I'm telling you, there's so much involved.)
The stylist will take the time to gather all the ingredients needed to build the photograph. From tablecloths to plates, silverware, glasses, and even items to compliment the dish are all considered. They'll be very particular about things. If they have to dig through an entire bag of buns to get the perfect one, remember that this is crucial to how good this one image will look. We all know that the food you're served at fast-food restaurants hardly ever looks as good as the images on the commercials, am I right? I recommend informing the cook that this could take hours if you're needing several images. They'll need to be on board with following the lead of the food stylist.
A good food stylist will have an arsenal of utensils, brushes, oils, and even stick pins for use during the shoot. Items that are small, like a crumb, will be removed with tweezers before the stylist will allow the photographer to take their shots.
Once the photographer has the lighting complimentary, the table will be set with the menu item. One thing I like to be able to do is to show the client their images on my camera or tethered to my computer if there's a safe place to put it. What our eyes see isn't always what the photograph will look like. This is especially true when a photographer brings studio lighting on set. The lights cast a yellow hue, but photographers will do their own consultation to find out if the restaurant's brand image leans to cool or warm tones and will adjust for that in camera. Another thing the photographer will do is choose the proper aperture for the image. In the first image you see of the pecans, you'll notice that the pecans in the jar are in focus while most of the pecans in their shell are out of focus. That was an intentional choice I made before taking the shot. I could have photographed them all in focus, but I wanted your eye to look directly at the jar. Another way I did that was to put it in the center of the image.
The right photographer will take the time to work with the owner, cook, and food stylist to ensure everything gets done right. While I don't personally know any food stylists, I can tell you that one of the things I've educated myself on is food styling just for this reason. I've got my own arsenal of plates, cups, silverware, napkins, styling boards and props to put under and behind items I photograph.
It's a very time-consuming process, but I enjoy doing it so much! The first image is my favorite. It was the last image I took before I decided that I would stop rearranging everything. As soon as I took it, I knew it was "the one". The other images are a progression of the morning.
Know someone needing food styling and/or photography? Let me know. I'm happy to see if I'm available when they need me.
For now, which of these images is your favorite?
#foodstyling #foodphotographer #easttxphotographer #commercialphotographer #naturallightphotographer #yourfoodisunique #zoemartinphotography
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