Need adivce on shooting food (steak to be exact)

[lmyamen]

OK so i am shooting for a local restaurant this wed. They are making recipe cards and need shots of 3 different steak dishes. Im shooting with my sigma 70-200 f2.8 on my 40D with a 580EXII flash. I am new to food shooting, do you have any advice or tips? I did have someone say i should use a water spray bottle and give the food a quick spray before the pictures... Is that a good idea? I practiced shooting pizza this weekend really quick before we ate, i shot a f/2.8 which i am thinking is to much for these shots and i need more than just a small strip of focus. Any setting tips for shooting food, i am thinking maybe shoot at f/4? Here is my practice shots (no flash, hand held) Im thinking there is to much bokeh in these.

1
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4802690727_bb722d82b8.jpg
2
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4803318830_dfdc30f89d.jpg
3
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4803313032_95f068f714.jpg
4
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4803317078_9f7197702c.jpg

[Art Scott]

In food shots I want the food in good focus or at least enuff of it so the client
(not the restaurant but the restaurants clients) get a very good idea of what
the dish is......I normally set up a shooting box so that I can get even light from 3 lights....
I use a top light and 2 side lights from the frot and slightly to the side.....making for
very even light.........

With a single flash then shoot it as a portrait but have a reflector to the side
opposite the flash for fill and to kill shadows.......my normal aperture range is
from 5.6 to 16 depending on subject and background........if using white or bright
colored paltes for the dishes use a dark or black backdrop......if dark colored
dishes then use a white backdrop.....something you can easily control and that dof
won't matter that much on..................

Good Luck

[divamum]

There's a really good book out there that I leafed through in my local library - I can't remember the name or author (sorry) but have a google around - it's ENTIRELY about preparing food for photos, and the tricks that food stylists use. Very few magazine/cookbook foodshots are of "just" the real food - there are all sorts of props under them to make them the right shape, they use colour enhancers etc etc etc. Don't be afraid to "cheat" - it's the norm, I gather.

One other thing I read elsewhere is that generally food looks more appetizing when it's glistening (so a steak will look juicier if you brush some oil over it so it looks moist) and warm WB's tend to enhance our perception of palatability.

ETA: here's the book in question (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0240810066/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1592008208&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0AP7JZNMP0GS73XDPSVA) It's an enlightening read!

[aktse]

There are a few books out there, and stock photographer + author Nicole Young (http://nicolesyblog.com/) has a details on her food shots on her blog. She just guest wrote a post on photofocus (http://photofocus.com/2010/07/19/food-photography-white-balance/) on this subject. Also, blogs of people who cook is a good place to do research like the cooking section of the pioneer woman (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/), the wonderful smug chef (http://chef.blogs.smugmug.com/), or even photos from the various food p0rn sites.

In general, good food photography (all photography in general) is about quality of light + control of light and use of angles. For food photography, styling is key and the use of props may be helpful to make it more appetizing.

For your sample photos, the white balance and color are off. The food doesn't looking appealing and in the case of the pizza, I didn't even know what it is. I think it's a successful food photo when you want to eat the subject.

Sometimes, DOF works in your favor: -- freshly cut lemon bars on a shortbread crust
http://photos.apriltse.com/photos/368946098_nStZE-L.jpg

Or finding an uncluttered background and simple plating -- i think a black raspberry crumple sitting a place on top of my stove
http://photos.apriltse.com/photos/600644620_WUoYt-XL.jpg

Details sometime work in your favor -- peanut butter cup brownies on a white plate
http://photos.apriltse.com/photos/368946362_p6rKD-L.jpg

Note: those images were quick snapshots from my tiny ugly kitchen and were taken with whatever camera I had close which ranges from a three year old Sony P&S to maybe 1d body. In general, it doesn't really matter as long as you pay attention to the light, background and styling.

[lmyamen]

ok cool, thanks for the info guys. Here are a few more shots i just took from random things in my fridge haha.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4810340012_77a32606d9.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4809716751_e6f0efe1bf.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4809716825_7a117f8902.jpg

[Art Scott]

Food looks kinda dead.....this is where a spray bottle of olive oil, cooking oil or water comes in......
or in a pinch a paint brush with oil to make the food sparkle.......................

[lmyamen]

Ok, i will try that tomorrow. I am doing the shoot for 3 different steaks tomorrow and will make sure i bring along a spray bottle.

[gecko0]

how did the food shoot end up? This thread, especially the desserts is making me hungry!

[rsquared]

how did the food shoot end up? This thread, especially the desserts is making me hungry!

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=1426294