Food photography
So i'm a wedding photographer but I love food. So combining that into food photography is pretty damn easy. Here's a few things i've learned while doing food photography. BTW most times i'm shooting photos of food i'm using my iPhone.
Lately i've been doing a lot of food photography. I really should say I've been going places and eating and taking lots of photos of my food. I've been supplementing my Instagram feed with new exciting places i've found to eat.
That's how I feel about my photography, my work; it doesn't feel like work. I love doing what I do, taking photos and living my life the way I want. So lately it's been taking photos of burgers, pastries or whatever else is beckoning to me. So I wanted to share a little bit more about food photography. I know it's been written about it a more glorious fashion in books, online articles or magazines but I wanted to share my little view of it.
So i'll be perfectly honest, a few months ago I really knew nothing about food photography. I knew the basics, some lighting and what not and adjusting colors after so everything looks great. I didn't realize how much went into it. Often times the location is not well lit and whoever has prepared the food doesn't know about food photography and you're given a little less than perfect presentation of the food. So when you show up and get the food to work with you either get something thats pretty damn good looking or you gotta fix it up a bit.
So the first thing I want to try and get is a clean plate. I bring my own, a few different sizes and colors because sometimes whoever is giving me the food might have a god awful ugly plate that ruins the presentation. I have a huge variety of plates that I collect from Target, Wal-Mart, Savers and any other place that I go. I also am consistently on the lookout for unique glassware and bowls. So the plate is the base, it's where the beautiful food will sit and pose for me. Now the next thing is making sure the plate remains clean throughout, I would rather not do photoshop after the fact to fix it.
The next thing is the food, it's gotta look amazing. I will usually work with the chef and make sure that they understand what i'm looking for. I want a picture perfect piece of food, no flaws and all ingredients showing. Sometimes this may mean adding extra ingredients or putting less of something else on something. I typically only need one side of whatever i'm working with, so it can be built up on one side.
So the next is location. I don't want to take the photo in the back of the kitchen or on a steel table. I don't want a white background that looks like it belongs on Amazon either. So I usually scout around the area where i'm going to take the photo and select a few locations. Depending on the location I will use a flash or strobe. But the best thing that I usually use is a simple reflector.
So someone asked me which is harder, taking pictures of people or food. It's definitely food because it's all on me to get the photo right. I can't blame anyone else on the photo not coming out. The food is just sitting there, looking sexy and I have my camera and tools to get it done. When i'm shooting a person, they could have a bad hair day, a bad attitude or simply just be wearing something horrible. So again, food is hard.
So back to food photography. We left off at starting to take photos of the food. So there's a few different ways you can take photos of food. You can take really close ups of it, if it's a sandwich you might get meat hanging out of it or the crumbs falling off the bread. The next is maybe one of the more recent popular ways, straight down; birds eye view. You take a photo looking down on the plate, highlighting the shape, portions, colors and textures of the meal. The next is simply at an angle, showing where the food is and maybe a few accessories (fork, knife, drink, napkins, table cloth, ketchup bottle, other table wear). The other way I like to get photos is straight on from the side. I think this is one of the best and unique views of the food. So whichever way you decide to shoot you have to make sure everything looks picture perfect before you start. So if you have to lift up a steak and clean the plate or ask for a new vegetable because the one you have looks kinda dumpy then do it. Don't be scared to squeeze, stretch, adjust and move things around so they look perfect.
So the rest is up to you, theres no wrong way to do food photography. It's whatever you make it. My food photography is always developing. I'm always learning more tricks and techniques to get my shots looking better and better. Sometimes i'll shoot wide open, sometimes i'm shooting at f8. It's whatever you do to get the shot and then properly post processing that image. One little thing that I don't always share is I use my Iphone to do some of my food photography sometimes. I usually use a reflector and pose the plate right by a window. I'm still doing a little post processing with apps on my phone.
I do have a little bit of an advantage though, I love eating food and I also work part time at a Mexican Restaurant which is part of a restaurant group in Worcester with ten different restaurants in two different states. So i'm usually around food quite often.
You can see some of my food photography on Gerardo's Italian Bakery's website. I've provided all their photography and it's been a real learning experience.
My public service announcements.
So I made myself some promo material and yes it contains bad spelling, sometimes grammar and punctuation flaps. But here it is in all it's glory, my public service announcements.
Bad spelling, grammar included. Enjoy.
Part One - Prep - The four part wedding photographer.
The four part wedding. Don't look at it as a whole, break it into pieces and work on those pieces one at a time. Here's my first part of the blog, prep.
So shooting a wedding sounds like a lot of work, partly because it is. I break my clients wedding day down into four different sections which help me concentrate on the moments and not the entirety of the day at all times. Included in this breakdown are some awesome tips which will help your clients fall in love with you.
First part: Prep
This is where everyone is getting ready, getting prepped for the day. The brides maids are first on the docket, getting hair and make-up done. Mimosas and bagels are usually plenty if not sandwiches and cheese platters. The details are still in the air, who's swinging by this place and picking up that or who has the keys to the hotel room and lots of fun hectic stuff.
I like to use this time to hang out and get to know the bridesmaids better, after all we'll be spending the day together. I typically set up my laptop in a corner or somewhere out of the way (I'll talk about this more soon). I bring in my camera equipment and take a walk around the location. I usually give everyone a heads up that I'll be taking photos. Typically everyone will say to me that they don't have make up on and to wait, I usually shoot them down by telling them about how good the before and after is going to be. The ladies usually look just fine, in the case that they don't it's usually because they've had a wild night.
I like to ask how everyone knows the bride and typically parents are there too and will sometimes have fun and embarrassing stories to keep the mood light and fun. I always accept food offered and you should too. Imagine if you made some awesome sandwiches or cookies and offered it to someone and they looked at it and then back at you and said no. I know we're not always in the mode for certain foods but this is a nice little gesture that they are giving you so run with it. So if there are kids in the wedding which commonly they are then I suggest giving them a little bit of attention. I usually let them use my small mirror less camera for a little bit or hold my big camera if they are sitting down. Once I let them play with my camera they are usually more apt to give me those smiles later in the day.
So I'm shooting candids of the the ladies getting ready and chatting. I'm taking photos of the kids that are running around or the mother who's making phone calls to make sure everyone is on their way or other details. Once I have enough photos I go back to my laptop. I download my current photos and pick through them for a few minutes. Now I get to show the bride and bridesmaids and family some previews. I'm showing them how awesome they look and once that happens everyone starts to relax a bit more because they now have the understanding that I kick ass with a camera.
So all this controlled chaos is happening and there are only so many photos you can take of everyone before it starts to feel invasive. This is a great opportunity to get those wonderful detail shots. The dress is usually near by as well as shoes, flowers and the rings sometimes.
I'll take the shoes and dress somewhere more pleasing to the eye, a tree or more groomed room of the house or location. The rings I take macro shots of and the trick to never losing them is using my pinky finger, I'm not always the prettiest ring model but I've never lost any rings in my care. The flowers I typically place in a tree or on a stone wall or sometimes just a nice table in the backyard. The shoes I will sometimes pair with the dress and can be hung anywhere.
So the bridesmaids should be wrapping up with hair and make-up. The bride is always final when it comes to that stuff, we want her makeup and hair to be nice, fresh and ready for the big moment. So I usually get photos of the hair process which is done first and then make-up. I like close-up photos of lipstick being applied and eye liner being dressed on as well as photos of her hair. The hair dresser usually likes having these photos too as well as the make-up artist. Now is the moment of truth, you need photos of the guys!!!
So I've saved the guys section for last and theres a very good reason for it, it only takes them a few minutes to get ready. I usually save them for last or get to them first. I don't do the whole relaxed thing of sitting around and waiting for them. The guys aren't into the entire photo process sometimes so it's much easier to stage them. I'll have the guys get dressed and then they can always take off the clothes afterwards if time allows.
So here's a list of shots that I like to cover. I sit the groom down and have him get his shoes on, this of course is after he has his pants on. I have the groomsmen help each other with ties, bow ties, shirts and jackets. These allow for some tender moments between everyone. I'll also do some of them joking around and then maybe some photos of them on their front steps if it's at their houses or some photos with mom and dad. This all happens very quick because it's all staged. My main focus is on the bride because it's her big day and her moms big day as well because she's been waiting for this for a long time. This is fairy tale time and we're part of it.
So thats the first part of the photos, make sure to get photos of all the chaos too. Next part is the ceremony and i'll have that posted soon.
The unseen unheard photographer
Are you that photographer who only uses natural light, shoots on P and won't talk to his bride and groom or interact with them at the wedding. You are paid to be awesome, you spend the day with the bride and groom and you're tasked with giving them an awesome experience.
This message is for you photographers who are going to say "I don't do it that way".
These photographers are also the same people who say I only shoot natural light. That's the equivalent of saying "oh.. I only drive automatic cars" or "I only put the camera on auto because of how good it is and I want to just focus on the moment". The photographer you hire is going to rock in soo many ways and one of them is being able to shoot manual and also use lights (that's a blog for a different day). This is for those who decide to not give the bride and groom that full experience. This particular blog is about you and your ability to direct and fix things so that they are in the bride and groom's favor. If you are one of these photographers who doesn't interact then you are lazy. Some of you photographers are awesome and can justify this shooting style, but the majority of you are not that.
So some of the photographers out there are saying in their head "I only shoot candid and I don't move anything and I'm not going to pose you and I only do journalistic style and try not to interact with the bridal party at all". You are dumb. So now that I've insulted you let's continue from there. This is a one shot deal, one go at the photos, one photo to rule them all. Do you want to be boring and take the same old shots or to look at each wedding as a marathon of photos that push you past where you were. Sure, take photos of where everything is if you want, don't touch anything or don't pose people, don't say anything to that person who has their tie crooked or the tag hanging out of the armpit of a dress. But then take those damn photos, be a person and interact with everyone. I assure you that ten, twenty years down the line they will appreciate some really tasteful images from their wedding. No one wants a photo of a pair of shoes in a box or their wedding dress hanging up in your brothers old room because that's where they had the space or the flowers in the fridge.
I shoot candids and that doesn't mean I can't add a little bit of pizaz to that photo "hey can you do that again but this time look that way". Okay so you're still not won over maybe, you're still thinking they hired me to just shoot the one way I do and I should just be quiet and take the easy photos. Are you the one shooting the weddings all the time or them? The bride and groom want amazing photos and they really aren't going to be upset if you adjust a few things to make sure that happens.
If you hire a wedding photographer they should be able to rock your wedding, you should know they're there at some points. I'm not talking about being four feet away during the ceremony, that's a different animal altogether. You want them to be the one getting everyone in line for formals or telling your Uncle Jerry that he needs to get out of the way. Your professional photographer is going to point out the flask of whiskey in the groomsmen's pocket. Your wedding photographer is also your personal cheerleader and that random guy who can and most likely will run an errand for you or do something above and beyond just because they are awesome.
I know some of you out there are saying but I'm out of the way and I do awesome. That may be so but eventually you will have that bride that calls you out and says "why didn't you tell me I had makeup on my teeth" or "Tim's zipper was down the whole time". So interact and earn that sweet wedding paycheck that we make. There's a reason why we do so good at a wedding, it's because it's a lot of work and not hiding in the shadows.
A good wedding photographer will be remembered for his images and his great personality during the wedding, everyone's going to tell the bride and groom how much they loved their experience with you too.
LB Wheaton, Sigma 150-500
So if you're thinking about buying a lens or want to check out some cool equipment then head down to LB Wheaton. I stopped in and had no idea that I would be walking out with a super telephoto lens. Being able to hold it in my hands and experience it was enough to put me over the edge. Great experience at LB Wheaton.
So i've been eyeing the Sigma 150-500 lens for quite some time. I always talk myself out of buying it. I have to wait a few days and buyers remorse and not being able to test it prior to buying it, easy to talk myself out of it.
Two weeks ago I wandered into LB Wheaton just killing some time before a wedding meeting (I landed it.) I saw the gigantic lens sitting on the shelf and asked if I could check it out. I was quickly handed this heavy lens and a Canon T5i. I paired them together and set it to manual and f/10 at 1/30th of a second and shot a few shots out the window. I wanted to see what this lens was made out of. 2 out of 3 photos were crispy and clear and the stabilization held true. I changed the settings to something a bit more relaxed and shot thru the windows a bit more at local shops and urban landscapes to see how invasive I could be with this new zoom. The answer is, very invasive; this lens is friggin awesome! I found out from the gentlemen behind the counter that this lens had an instant rebate, I didn't need much more twisting of my arm. I told LB Wheaton that I was heading to a meeting and if I did good at the meeting I would be back to purchase the lens. One hour later I came back and pulled out my money and now I can't put this very heavy lens down.
If not for LB Wheaton, I don't think I would have such a cool toy. Two weeks prior I stopped in and also bought a small collapsable tripod. This is such a great place to try out equipment and ask questions. You can also buy backdrop paper rolls here as well as lenses, bags, lighting and anything in-between. Very happy to have such a great store a few miles away.
Here's a few photos that I've taken over the past week or two. I also have some wedding photos that I shot with this lens which came out amazing. Being able to zoom in instead of cropping in post would be so amazing.
Make sure to LIKE LB Wheaton Camera Shop Facebook page.
How to own that Maid of Honor speech.
The Maid of Honor has a very important role, to pour out all the nice things they could ever say in a 3-4 minute speech as well as tease the bride a bit. This is a companion blog to my Best Man Speech blog that i've posted previously. I hope you read and enjoy this. These are just a few pointers from the dozen or so weddings that I attend a year.
So I previously wrote about the Best Mans speech. The advice from that still stands.
Please read what I wrote in that blog.
So a few different points of advice for the ladies
1. Pull on those heart strings. Okay, you are posed to make us teary eyed. You're most likely going to tear up and get the bride to tear up. You happen to feel emotions sometimes a bit more deeply then our Call of duty, beer drinking, what are feelings type of guys that we can be. So with that being said we know you're going to say something very heartfelt and deep. My advice here is to keep it at the beginning of the speech or at the end, for god sakes I don't want to cry during your entire speech because of how sweet you are on each other. :)
2. Keep it funny. You're going to be pulling on those heart strings so make us laugh to, nothing is better than that akward laugh/tearing up. Tell us what you really thought about the groom and his friends. Tell us about when you knew he was the right one, did you do the cliche "you better not break my friends heart" speech to him?
3. Remind everyone. Remind everyone why we're all here, these two people, this beautiful wedding, how much fun you've had today. The bride knows everything that went wrong today, misorders, mistakes and small mishaps that took part throughout the day. Remind her that this is one kick ass day.
4. Take advantage. You have the floor, ask that single guy out that you've been checking out all day. (This goes for the guys too, ask her out. Mention all the pretty ladies that are in the room). You have the floor and everyones attention, be bold. Take advantage of the day and the fact that you're all at one big giant party and meet that special someone.
5. Always end up with a hug. Theres no better way then to end a heartfelt speech then with a hug. This doesn't really need to apply to the guys. The best mans speech is literally a verbal hug from the best man to the groom. This is also an awesome time to snap a great couple photos for the photographer.
I hope that this has made you smile, laugh and I hope to see you at a wedding soon.
The infamous Best Man's speech.
Sure, you're going to roast your best friend, he deserves it after all. Thats the best part of a friend's wedding is the chance to throw him under the bus, to give payback for all those years of your friendship. Here's a few pointers on how to make your best man's wedding speech shine a bit. You want to make your speech a mix of comedy, heart and entertainment.
Enjoy and feel free to comment, what was the best speech you've ever heard at a wedding?
One of my favorite things about a wedding would be the best man speech. It's always the shining moment to throw your friend under the bus in front of all his friends and family.
I didn't realize this till this past year how much fun it was to watch the best man get up and roast his best friend. Often I would get to watch the groom sink in his chair, the bride bury her face in her hands and the parents give awkward smiles. One of the big things that I never realize is how much emotion is poured into these speeches (the bridesmaids speech is equally potent). I will say that the majority of the times I am glad I have a camera in front of my face, I often get teary eyed at weddings, either the vows or the speeches.
So a few words of advice for the best man during his 3 minutes of fame.
1. Whatever you say can't be unheard. While it might be funny to throw your friend under the bus, don't screw him over royally. No mentioning of ex's, drug usage or how much porn he has on his computer. While you are trying to embarrass him a bit you don't want to make his family cringe. You also don't know if he's told his wife about the time he.... (you get the drift).
2. Keep it short. If you have a mind blowing story that takes 4 minutes, sure. If you're just talking to hear your self talk, don't. Think SNL monologue, they get out the information that needs to be heard; they usually avoid rambling. Try to keep it around 2-3 minutes and try to keep it funny or heartfelt.
3. Bonus points. A good speech at a wedding is usually because it's heartfelt, something we didn't know about the person and maybe incredibly insightful. It's also great when you get some serious laughter out of that wedding crowd. Make sure to thank the ramies for coming and also do some name dropping of people in the crowd. (Seinfeld is funny because he involves us in his stories, things and people we can relate to) If your story just involves random people that no ones met from college or his work then it might seem a bit boring to everyone.
4. Format is everything. Don't ramble, whatever you do don't ramble. So i'm going to list a simple writing format for your speech. (Excuse the words) The crap sandwich, okay very simple format this way.
You start off with the bread (something easy).
Congrats to Mr. ******. I never thought I would see the day.. ect
(keep it at a minute or so). Now you can roast him a bit. (the crap)
So not a lot of people know about this but ******* once thought that... (story begins).
(keep that 1 to 2 minutes)
But you know, I couldn't believe that ******** met someone so perfect for him.
(The last piece of bread, now you pepper the
conclusion with lots of compliments about the bride and groom).
So here's another way to do it. Start off with the roast right away, throw the friend off the bridge, destroy! But then at the end you say twice the amount of nice things or at least try to.
A big smile and long pause at the beginning of your speech while looking at the groom goes a long way. I know I have a few good friends who's secrets I'm holding onto for such a day. You want to make that groom sweat.
5. Talking points. The main things to concentrate on would be the story, your speech. If you've never heard of this, it's simple. When you see David Letterman interviewing someone and he looks at cards every once and awhile, those are his talking points. While i'm sure he would love to have a mini wikipedia page printed out for every single guest that would be a little tiresome. Talking points are a few words or a sentence to help jog your memory.
Your talking points for best and speech would look something like this.
a. Congratulations
b. How we became friends
c. Getting in trouble together
d. When you met your future bride
e. How happy he's been since meeting the wifey
f. When he got in trouble with the wifey
g. Thank the families for raising two lovely people
h. What a beautiful wedding.. so far, we still haven't seen ****** and ****** dance
i. You've never seen two people so happy
(BTW, totally getting teary eyed even writing this. I've sat through a lot of speeches the past couple years and they've all been pretty awesome.)
6. Silver linings. The silver lining would be for the groom, no matter how bad you've embarrassed him or tormented him in the past few minutes you have to remember one thing. He's going to get you back someday. He will have the same opportunity at his wedding or april foods or a random Tuesday,
Give him hell but also don't forget to make him shine, this is his day after all.