Venturing out of My Comfortable Studio
Chocolate Dessert at Tiara
I realized lately that I’ve been getting a lot of requests to shoot food on location for restaurant menus and websites. So I thought I would post a selection of some of the shots and talk a bit about what goes into them. Without all the tools, toys and tricks of the studio I find it’s best to keep the shots very simple and clean and resist the temptation to put too much stuff into them. I also find that restaurants tend to want very straightforward photographs of their menu items so that they can be used for a variety of applications.
Striped Bass at Crush Wine Bar
Beautifully Grilled Fish at Tiara
Crusted Rack of Lamb at Millcroft Inn & Spa
I love to find a bit of natural light to work with, and since most restaurants have big windows, this makes my job easier. I also like to work closely with the chef, making sure that each dish is lovingly prepared for the camera. I always remind them not to apply any sauces until the last minute as I’m ready to take the shot.
Grilled Tenderloin at Crush Wine Bar
Seared Tuna at Crush Wine Bar
Finally, it’s always important to work quickly and efficiently, so as not to tie up space and staff in a busy enterprise! Keeping these points in mind, it’s possible to create appealing food shots that really capture the essence of the restaurant’s menu. And the best part is you get to eat the results!
Trio of Chocolate at Crush Wine Bar
Dessert at Escabèch
Celadon Whistler: a Modern take on Traditional Korean
Linsey and I recently did a shoot for an interesting Korean style restaurant in Whistler BC. Celadon Whistler takes traditional Korean dishes and gives them a sleek, modern twist, and their own unique style.
The owners, Sonny and Maggie Huh, came to my studio with all the ingredients prepared and ready to go for a busy day of shooting. Sonny worked closely with my food stylist, Linsey Bell, to prepare each dish for the camera. He was quite amazed by the difference between cooking for restaurant customer and preparing dishes to be photographed. The detailing, fiddling, and fussing that go into styling a photograph are way beyond what you could ever do during a busy dinner service! Here are the results:
Bulgogi Steak
Kimchi Noodle Soup
Bibimbap salad
Seafood Pancake
Sonny’s gourmet burger
By the way, the food tastes as amazing as it looks! We all really enjoyed sampling and savoring these Korean delicacies. Maggie and Sonny recently hosted an event in Vancouver to launch their new menu, and they got a great review in the Foodists blog, which also features many of the shots. If you have plans for visiting Whistler this winter don’t miss this great restaurant, and say hi to Maggie and Sonny for me!
