This is a ‘Table Top” or still life food shot.

The assignment: an image to accompany a simple recipe for an InFlight magazine. Those are the little monthlies that most of the airlines have in those seat pockets. Some are good, some are not.

This is one of the good ones.

Here are the parameters for the shoot.

The surface should be simple, without a lot of texture.
Acceptable would be cutting boards, a piece of white floor tile, black glass, aluminum, and so forth.
The client has stipulated that a plain surface is to be used, as they want to put some type on the image to call out the ingredients.

Keep that in mind as you shoot it… the type may or may not be added to your image.

The shot should be from above looking down. At least 45 degrees, but full 90 (lay-flat) would be acceptable.
This is a vertical image, not a landscape. The AD has mentioned that it may be used anywhere from a quarter page to a full page… that hasn’t been decided yet. Most magazines are portrait in orientation, your photo must be as well.

Choose a recipe that is very simple with only a few ingredients.
Salsa comes to mind… or Guacamole.
(But then I am always thinking salsa and guacamole, heh.)
Perhaps a fruit salad.
Or some sort of shrimp appetizer.
Just make sure they are easy to get ingredients and you will be able to style them in a competent way.

Ingredients shot means NOT prepared… what foods go into the making of the dish.

Guacamole for instance: Avocado, tomato, tomatillo, onion, peppers, Cilantro, spices.

Recommendation… keep the light simple. Keep it flattering for the foods.
Soft, diffused lighting with plenty of fill is the kind of thing they love, so keep that in mind as well.

We light from the back in almost every case of this kind of work. Exceptions can be found, and if you are doing a layflat or working with multiple hard lights you may use what is appropriate for your vision.

If you go shopping for the ingredients, make sure that they are the best items. Green chilis can look good or be all battered around… choose the most photogenic of the food items. I recommend the higher end stores and be very careful during transport. That tomato can look good until someone drops five pounds of potatoes on it.

Shoot immediately… produce begins to degrade right away.

Only one utensil is allowed to add context… only one. A spatula, mixing tool, knife, peeler… only one. And if you use one, make sure it is cool. Vintage is very cool, but old and crummy is not.

SAMPLES

Review these carefully. What sets them apart in your mind?
What is the light doing?
What is the shadow relationship?
What do you think made the photographer choose the angle they chose?

Ask as many questions as you possibly can when reviewing these images.