So I’ve been taking some food shots myself, and I never know if a “God’s Eye View” is best, or an angle shot is best. How do you decide? Also, do you use perimeter lighting as well as overhead or vary it to suit the dish?
I will check out Photosheller - not familiar.. Smugmug is - https://notcheckingbags.smugmug.com (not everything is public there), but the hunting ones are - and a few of the travel galleries...
I've always really enjoyed your photography Holly! I take a very different approach in my day to day food photography, choosing to present the look of "just about to take a bite", which is actually true as we tend to eat 5 seconds after the photoshoot. I have put thought into what I'd do if I were to photograph my own food for a cookbook rather than social media posts though; I'd need to set the scene in several different ways. I've begun haunting thrift stores and bringing home junk that we have no room for that I can use in my photos, so I love the wardrobe idea! Now if I could just find a spot to put a wardrobe...
This is a beyond fabulous post! I love, love, love it! Thank you so much for taking time to share it with us. I totally relate to all you wrote. Your photography is so special because of all the love and thought and or course talent that goes into each shoot! Thank YOU!
Thank you Holly. I try to do justice to my travel and vacation photos and I love getting your insights. I’m on the Alaska Ferry this morning headed to a summer of fishing with friends in Petersburg. Food is always a big part of the camaraderie at the end of each day. Please keep doing this. I always look forward to reading your work. Chuck
You have become a master. I love all the details you give about how it's done. I love your collections. Is it luck or just basic knowledge that the color of the food will be the star of the picture? What if Hank's preparation turned out to be a different color than what was expected?
I have been a "container" freak most of my adult life. All containers interest me and I must avoid certain aisles of stores so I won't get stuck dreaming of which container to buy and what I can put in it. It's usually bowls and baskets. I could spend hours looking through your props and dreaming of scenarios.
I so relate to this! Having left a career in the travel business in 2005, I got rid of the dresses, suits, hose, cocktail dresses (oh, OK I kept a couple of those LBDs, and have actually worn one for a 1920s themed arts gala) and stocked up on shorts and tank tops for foothills summer weather.
I, too, have collected one-of-a-kind serving plates and platters…but you have got me beat all to *ell, Holly! Wish I lived close enough to to raid your collection for food photos!
Bravo to you both for showing us how to prepare and enjoy great food, and photos to make us drool!
This is one of the most interesting and informative pieces you have put out. I had no idea how much work went into doing a shoot like this, or how large a collection of props one might need to do it right.
Oh, my, oh, my. An essay as beautifully done as the photographs. What a lovely way to begin my day. Satisfying on many levels. Thank you.
Having for a long time dressed only to avoid frostbite and arrest, I salute your new focus.
So I’ve been taking some food shots myself, and I never know if a “God’s Eye View” is best, or an angle shot is best. How do you decide? Also, do you use perimeter lighting as well as overhead or vary it to suit the dish?
So much for a matching set of china
I will check out Photosheller - not familiar.. Smugmug is - https://notcheckingbags.smugmug.com (not everything is public there), but the hunting ones are - and a few of the travel galleries...
"and zshushed it around until it pleased me."
With one divinely simple statement, you seem to have perhaps captured the essence of daily life!
And I somehow misplaced my dinner invitation. LOL.
Seeing the shift from those first garish food shots to your gorgeous photos today is wonderful -- what a good reminder of how art grows with practice.
Also, I had no idea how much joy it would give me to imagine a collection of sand organized by color...
Also also am immediately adding "zhush" as a verb to my vocabulary.
I've always really enjoyed your photography Holly! I take a very different approach in my day to day food photography, choosing to present the look of "just about to take a bite", which is actually true as we tend to eat 5 seconds after the photoshoot. I have put thought into what I'd do if I were to photograph my own food for a cookbook rather than social media posts though; I'd need to set the scene in several different ways. I've begun haunting thrift stores and bringing home junk that we have no room for that I can use in my photos, so I love the wardrobe idea! Now if I could just find a spot to put a wardrobe...
Hi Holly!
This is a beyond fabulous post! I love, love, love it! Thank you so much for taking time to share it with us. I totally relate to all you wrote. Your photography is so special because of all the love and thought and or course talent that goes into each shoot! Thank YOU!
Love
Nancy
Thank you Holly. I try to do justice to my travel and vacation photos and I love getting your insights. I’m on the Alaska Ferry this morning headed to a summer of fishing with friends in Petersburg. Food is always a big part of the camaraderie at the end of each day. Please keep doing this. I always look forward to reading your work. Chuck
You have become a master. I love all the details you give about how it's done. I love your collections. Is it luck or just basic knowledge that the color of the food will be the star of the picture? What if Hank's preparation turned out to be a different color than what was expected?
I have been a "container" freak most of my adult life. All containers interest me and I must avoid certain aisles of stores so I won't get stuck dreaming of which container to buy and what I can put in it. It's usually bowls and baskets. I could spend hours looking through your props and dreaming of scenarios.
--Blanche West
I so relate to this! Having left a career in the travel business in 2005, I got rid of the dresses, suits, hose, cocktail dresses (oh, OK I kept a couple of those LBDs, and have actually worn one for a 1920s themed arts gala) and stocked up on shorts and tank tops for foothills summer weather.
I, too, have collected one-of-a-kind serving plates and platters…but you have got me beat all to *ell, Holly! Wish I lived close enough to to raid your collection for food photos!
Bravo to you both for showing us how to prepare and enjoy great food, and photos to make us drool!
Thank you. I only have eight plates (And I really mean eight. In total.). They are all white, french porcelain.
This is one of the most interesting and informative pieces you have put out. I had no idea how much work went into doing a shoot like this, or how large a collection of props one might need to do it right.