Blog | 26 - Food Photography
| bokeh photographic (Alistair Grant): Food & Drink Photographer; Commercial Photographer, Product Photographer & Packshot Photographer; Event Photographer; Portrait Photographer; Corporate Photographer & PR Photographer; Engagement Photographer & Wedding Photographer and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Bedford, St Neots, St Ives and London. Freelance Photographer & Freelance Photography Services in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and across the UK. | |||
 
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Alistair Grant Freelance Photographer Cambridge & London |
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bokeh photographic: Blog No: 26 → TIP: Click any image to view in LightBox |
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Food Photography Although I make every attempt to make the Blog different (i.e. I don’t trot out week-after-week supposed ‘sneak peek’ images from whatever was my last shoot) it’s no bad idea to occasionally remind everyone of what photography services I offer. My main speciality is Food (& Drink) Photography. I am slightly unusual in that unlike most ‘food’ photographers I work across the entire industry. Therefore, here’s a quick primer on what food photography services I offer written especially for those of you who may be considering commissioning a shoot but who have no or little experience of professional photography. In short, I photograph anything and everything to do with food. The vast majority of my commercial food shoots involve product photography and/or packshot photography i.e. shooting products and/or products in packaging against a white background. ‘High-key’ images are the e-commerce and trade industry standard. Photographing against a white background allows fine detail to be demonstrated without distraction. Although product and/or packshot photography is standard it can be difficult to get right particularly where there are highly reflective surfaces such as glass jars or bottles, foil packets or plastic windows in cardboard packaging. Needless to say good legibility and accurate colour reproduction is paramount. As an established commercial photographer I am experienced in dealing with such tricky lighting scenarios. Whilst I personally dislike the term most assignments also include ‘lifestyle’ photography i.e. showing food in a carefully scripted, usually aspirational, context to convey to potential customers how consuming ‘product X’ will change their life for the better. In addition to lifestyle shots of plated dishes of prepared food I also regularly photograph ingredients, cooking processes and the consumption of food. These types of action shots are increasingly important in food photography and so I will return to ‘protein-in-motion’ images in a future blog. Another future post will cover how I ensure food appears highly desirable. It is one thing to shoot a technically perfect exposure. It is quite another to shoot a technically perfect exposure that makes food look mouthwatering! In addition to food-related product, packshot and lifestyle photography I regularly photograph people (e.g. staff headshots), places (e.g. bakeries) and a wide range of food events including PR, product launches, festivals, conferences & award ceremonies. If you have little experience of professional food photography you might not realise the importance of a photography brief. In addition to detailing exactly what is to be photographed and styling preferences a brief helps ensure nothing is overlooked during a busy shoot schedule. Nevertheless, writing a brief can be difficult, especially first time around, which is why I am always on hand to help clients develop one. Whilst I offer studio photography most clients opt for a location shoot as this tends to be the most convenient especially for perishable food that might not travel well. I have a fully portable professional studio that I can set up virtually anywhere. Finally, my policy is to only shoot edible food. If that sounds strange I’m referring to practice of adding inedible substances like motor oil or hair lacquer to artificially impart a sheen. Apart from being completely unnecessary - such additions are a photography shortcut but are absolutely not essential - my take is that artificial additions for the purposes of photography hardly demonstrates confidence in the food being photographed. Most importantly, it would also prevent me from tasting the food that I photograph! |
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Call Alistair Grant on 07775 365507, Email [email protected] or click Booking Enquiries if you have any questions or would like to make a booking. |
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bokeh: "the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens" Freelance Photographer offering Food & Drink Photography Cambridge; Commercial Photography Cambridge, Product Photography Cambridge & Packshot Photography Cambridge; Event Photography Cambridge; Portrait Photography Cambridge; Corporate Photography Cambridge & PR Photography Cambridge; Engagement Photography Cambridge & Wedding Photography Cambridge and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge. Also covering: Huntingdon, St. Ives, Ramsey, St. Neots, Peterborough, Bedford, Stamford, Newmarket, Sawtry, Alconbury Weston, Brampton, Hartford, Warboys, Houghton, Wyton, Godmanchester, Hilton, Hemingford Grey, Hemingford Abbots, Fenstanton, Whittesley, Yaxley, Needingworth, Somersham, Chatteris, Ely, Bar Hill, Grafham and Buckden. |
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bokeh photographic - Alistair Grant | Freelance Photographer | Cambridge, London, UK Food & Drink Photography | Commercial Photography & Product Photography | Corporate Photography & PR Photography | Portrait Photography (inc. 'Active Portraiture', 'Naturally You' & 'Poptraits') | Event Photography | Engagement & Wedding Photography | Photography Training Courses & Camera Tuition | Videography & Film Production Tel: 07775 365507 | Email: [email protected] |
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