HELP! - First Restaurant Food Plate Shoot

[jnksherman]

I have been approached to shoot some restaurant food plates for a menu design. I've agreed to do it for a very small fee just to get the experience. I am shooting with an EOS 20D, w/ Tamron 28-75 2.8. My only lighting right now is the onboard flash. I am considering purchasing the 420ex speedlight so I can bounce some light and not have such a harsh flash. I also thought of using some shop lights I have and trying to diffuse them but I don't want to look to hoaky when I show up with these lights. It's not a high end menu that's being created but I still want to produce some good results. Any suggestions for lighting, backgrounds, anything? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Jeff

[jnksherman]

Thanks for the tips! I should have more info about the restaurant and what I am shooting by next week so I can go scope out where to set up and what I might need to bring. Keep the tips coming for anyone else that has any! Thanks again.

[cricket]

I found this link for you: http://www.livingroom.org.au/photolog/tips/food_photography_how_to_take_mouth_watering_photos _of_food.php

I deal more with people, but I have always wanted to take food photos. I have lots of cook books that have beautiful food photos in them.

Good luck/skill!

[aam1234]

Good advice Bloo Dog. And good link cricket.

A colleague is opening his restaurant in the next few days so I might take some food pics for him.

[aam1234]

Found this good (and rather long) article. You can see it here (http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2004/09/15/food_photos.html) .

There is something interesting in that article, most of the shots were taken with a 75-300 lens. I would've expected that one needs a macro lens for this type of photos.

[aam1234]

Forget to add, all the articles said the same thing as Bloo Dog...use natural light!