Post Your Food Photography

^^ A few things (in my opinion), wish there was less sauce on the steak, like just in the center. The salad on the left could use some more fill. And what I learned recently after shooting glass of red wine is that it looks much darker in the images. So maybe dilute it. I am just a total rookie, you guys/gals all have much better pictures and I am always learning from you all.

bobbyz wrote in post #19019924
^^ A few things (in my opinion), wish there was less sauce on the steak, like just in the center. The salad on the left could use some more fill. And what I learned recently after shooting glass of red wine is that it looks much darker in the images. So maybe dilute it. I am just a total rookie, you guys/gals all have much better pictures and I am always learning from you all.

So when shooting at a restaurant, for pay, sometimes you have no control on how things are prepared or sauced. (read the post at the top of page 400 and the discussion that follows this was for the same client) I feel my job is to push them in a better direction when possible but also do what they want, they are the customer. Just like when a restaurant customer asks for a well done stake, the chef can't freak out and refuse to cook it. In this case the plates were the plates, I did a few little things but Chef was there the whole time making sure I did not ruin his food.

The wine was a merlot diluted 50% with water. In this was I put it opposite the light and I also darkened everything except for the food on the plate in this shot. The food is dark so I did not want more distractions. I have a different issue in that the water is too sparkly.

piQturesQue wrote in post #19019184
Now they asked me to take pictures on a regular basis (every two weeks or so) and I am not really sure how to proceed... On the one hand I like the owner and doing this every now and then just for the fun was nice. But as soon as regularity enters the equation I feel like I should charge at least something, because I will be giving up free time on a regular basis. Is there any reference on when to start charging for work and if how much? I am not depending on this and this will never be my main career, so I am unsure about the rates that other guides on the internet propose.

So you're in a bit of a situation now, do you feel fully competent in lighting etc and everything? I used to do it for a restaurant here in Vegas until I had 8 really nice portfolio images that were strong and different from each other so that a random viewer wouldn't know they're from the same restaurant.

I do feel fully confident, with plates of food. There are some shortcomings on these but speed and volume of shots is important to theses small clients. I have two non solicited letters of recommendation and this last client, this and previous post, told me to watermark the images for my promotion.

I cook relatively well so my port is a bit diverse. 3 of the last 4 restaurants I shot look the same. Tables and food are all very similar, not a lot of diversity around here.

I expect to do some higher end shots soon. I am talking with a couple of places that have answered my marketing emails that produce better food.

K Soze wrote in post #19020136
I do feel fully confident, with plates of food. There are some shortcomings on these but speed and volume of shots is important to theses small clients. I have two non solicited letters of recommendation and this last client, this and previous post, told me to watermark the images for my promotion.

I cook relatively well so my port is a bit diverse. 3 of the last 4 restaurants I shot look the same. Tables and food are all very similar, not a lot of diversity around here.

I expect to do some higher end shots soon. I am talking with a couple of places that have answered my marketing emails that produce better food.

Nice! you sound set, i would just sit down with him and explain. Its not like he didnt get anything out of it in the beginning but it feels like youre breaking up the band im sure ha. Maybe offer him a discounted rate for future shoots?

K Soze wrote in post #19019812
Steak Frits form my last restaurant shoot.

Hosted photo: posted by K Soze in
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forum: Food Photography & Visual Recipes

And yeah lighting is great here. Just watch the dust in the drink. Photoshops 'Dust and scratches' filter is a blessing!

amairphoto wrote in post #19020060
So you're in a bit of a situation now, do you feel fully competent in lighting etc and everything? I used to do it for a restaurant here in Vegas until I had 8 really nice portfolio images that were strong and different from each other so that a random viewer wouldn't know they're from the same restaurant.

Did you mean to respond to me or K Soze?

In case you were asking me, I do feel confident. I am far from being pro and got much to learn, but that didn't stop me from creating mobile apps either. Also the client has already seen my work and apparently likes it enough to ask for more.

Had some pick-up business at the lab so we often talk about brews and eats. He suggested this brewery smoke house for our lunch. I wanted to style it more but when the Mrs. is hungry I get "the look"...snap it and give me my food! LOL My pastrami sandwich set-up didn't do so well, oh well.

ra40 wrote in post #19021290
Had some pick-up business at the lab so we often talk about brews and eats. He suggested this brewery smoke house for our lunch. I wanted to style it more but when the Mrs. is hungry I get "the look"...snap it and give me my food! LOL My pastrami sandwich set-up didn't do so well, oh well.

Hosted photo: posted by ra40 in
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forum: Food Photography & Visual Recipes

As long as the pastrami was tasty, everything turned out OK. I need to drive three hours to get a good pastrami around here.

I understand the dangers of shooting food at home. For the shot below I was fighting off the kids, my wife and the dog. I left the room for a minute the kids stole sausage and the wife grabbed the warm beer bottle covered on glycerin for a swig. The dog was the only one who listened to me.

I'm hooked with pastrami sandwiches as well. This one was ok and I was suggested by the lab owner to get either the tri-tip or the smoked brisket. She chose the tri-tip, wasn't quite in the mood for brisket but we'll eat our way through the menu on following trips in.

All those tasty looking treats are irresistible. Nice set there, I'm hungry too.

K Soze wrote in post #19021370
As long as the pastrami was tasty, everything turned out OK. I need to drive three hours to get a good pastrami around here.

I understand the dangers of shooting food at home. For the shot below I was fighting off the kids, my wife and the dog. I left the room for a minute the kids stole sausage and the wife grabbed the warm beer bottle covered on glycerin for a swig. The dog was the only one who listened to me.

Hosted photo: posted by K Soze in
./showthread.php?p=190​21370&i=i185956405
forum: Food Photography & Visual Recipes

How do you guys do overhead shots? I got bunch of doo daas and it seems in the end this little adapter was enough
https://www.amazon.com …tle_o01_s00?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

What about leveling when doing the shot? Finally had the LV work on my Sony A7rIV.

bobbyz wrote in post #19021535
How do you guys do overhead shots? I got bunch of doo daas and it seems in the end this little adapter was enough
https://www.amazon.com …tle_o01_s00?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

What about leveling when doing the shot? Finally had the LV work on my Sony A7rIV.

Here's how Joanie Simon of "The Bite Shot" does it. She uses a Manfrotto adaper and this Manfrotto Monopod head

Here's how Skyler of "We Eat Together" does his overhead shots.

Yes I have watched those videos. I am trying to remove the little crookedness that comes based on the different sized pins. Also wanted to see where one can use the safety cables. Maybe I am worrying too much.

I use a c stand with a ball head also. I use the internal level for set up. You know it is level when you are shooting and all the shots show up in different orientations because the camera does not know which way is up.