Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Kathy's Canned Goods/ Food Styling

I recently added a few more pieces to the project Kathy's Canned Goods, which involved some food photography and styling. One thing I learned from the experience is the following. For some photography you can get by with just the camera; for product photography you are in deep trouble without the proper set-up and equipment (I am currently accepting donations).
Balancing light back-in when you are standing on a table quickly escalates into acrobatics while you are attempting to move a wilting sprig of parsley out of your shot, and trying not to spill a bowl of soup. I now understand why the Food Stylist and Photographer are never one and the same (cudos if you are, and I'll take some tips on that!).

I've assisted in a product shoot in the past, with a brilliant photographer at Rat Race Studios, where the set-up and process where so flawless that Ken made it look easy (not that I believed for a second that it was). Let me assure you it is anything but. It is a separate skill from portrait photography, and from capturing a moment since you are creating one much more than anything else. My compositions went from elaborate set-up scenes, to something more simple, where I could actually manage and be in control of the shot. Product photography sure is a beast.

Below are some of the shots, and the full project on my website.