Waffles are a food photography favorite. (Based on my unscientific observation…) There’s so much opportunity to make great photos with their texture, infinite topping possibilities and—aaaah!—the gorgeous syrup drips and pours. I’m getting hungry just writing about it.
I’m currently sans studio kitchen and am offering remote and boutique on-location food photography. Luckily, my apartment has a spacious kitchen and high ceilings! Ample opportunity for remote work and to keep sharp trying new techniques.
For this personal project, I planned an editorial style shoot to include a series of waffle-making shots, building to multiple layered toppings.
Lighting and food styling
It’s my job as a food photographer to tell a story with my choices in lighting, lenses, exposure settings and composition. Ultimately, this combination of choices will expertly showcase the texture and color of the food, accentuating its best qualities and making it look irresistible.
These photos show how lighting can also create a mood. Adding fill on the right side changed the tone of the photo to be slightly less dramatic.
Styling can also set the tone and create a sense of time and place. I did all the styling myself, but had this been for a client, I probably would have worked with a food stylist. Food stylists are invaluable when shooting professional food photography. They’re experts at preparing and styling food to create a feast for the eyes.
Food stylists and assistants are sometimes necessary to produce an efficient, successful shoot. I wanted to create a pour shot to add an element of motion to the series. But doing this alone with minimal waffle set ups, I had one shot at getting the pour right. I think it turned out well, but multiple takes would have been ideal.
Also worth noting, I was using constant light for these photos because I wanted the flexibility to do video if I had time. (I didn’t.) If I want a crisp, stop-motion pour shot, I'll use strobes.
After the first pour, my waffle dish deteriorated quickly, and I called it a day! :)
What do you think? What would your waffle shoot look like?
0 Comments