When it comes to the food styling & photography of my own culinary delights I have three main stumbling blocks…
- I'm using only my iPhone with no additional lighting gizmos at my disposal
- I have very limited serveware options & surfaces to enhance my pics
- I have made the meal TO EAT and have a 'get it while it's hot' mentality
So, today I have decided to say, PFFFFT?!!, to these hinderances and have looked to some pro's for some inspiration.
Jamie Kimm brings a dark lit, brooding sexiness to many of his shoots, much like Annie Leibovitz does in fashion editorial. I love the mood this creates… although sadly, I think my iPhone will let me down when it comes to re-creating even an amateur version of this ilk.
What I like about what Roscoe Betsill does, is that his shoots have a contemporary & well-styled, yet nonchalant feel to them. I think my photos will definitely benefit from more staging, by depicting the dining experience and not just the dish itself.
And Donna Hay is a woman after my heart…
With a food-focused empire under her belt, she is more chic than 'sheila' and this Australian stylist knows how to do casual cool, oh-so-well. Whilst opting for clean, minimalist scenes, her thoughtfully prepared ingredients become the hero and the result is simple sophistication. Lighting plays a big role in her photographs, which are white & bright; an aspect of my own pics I could definitely improve.
- Be inspired & admire the pro's, BUT work with what you've got until you're willing to invest in equipment.
- Consider staging BEFORE you start cooking. Can you create a sense of ambiance which reflects the meal? Incorporate different textures, nic-nacs and add personality to your staging, then add your freshly prepared dish to the scene at the last moment, before taking your photographs.
- You can create a mouthwatering & visually beautiful composition with the most simple serveware. When you lack serving variety, allow your ingredients to add the personality and be considered in your preparation to ensure a picture perfect finish no matter what.
Hopefully from here on in, my own photos will convey these learnings… Of course studio shoots with professional equipment will always deliver an enviable result, but for the mean time, I'm happy to keep-on-keeping-on with my iPhone.
If you see an improvement, drop me a line!
Daisy Angela x
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