More than a year ago I photographed the new menu for The Spoon in Provo, Utah. Just recently I was brought in to photograph their new 2015 menu!
Here are all the new images. They range from healthy breakfast sandwiches, vegan lasagna, vegan tofu sandwiches, pasta primavera, and more! We were under a time crunch so the chefs prepared the food and I brought my lights, cameras, and an assortment of napkins, placemats, and some tablecloths to add some color and contrast. I photographed the food with and without the placemats so the restaurant had the option for their menus. Who doesn’t like options.
Buffalo Chicken Flatbread
Chicken Salad
If we had unlimited time and resources it would have been awesome to try my hand at food styling. I recently took a small class on food styling and learned a few tips and tricks. However, we photographed these 26 menu items in about 3 hours. If we did the nice food styling it would have taken use 3-4 days at least to photograph the menu. Food stylists are worth their weight in gold. Hopefully, I can keep developing my skills in food styling so I can be a double threat food photographer and food stylist.
Sundried tomato Chicken Sandwich
Aside from food styling and prop styling the secret to food photography is great light. These photos needed to match the look and feel of the previous menu. And it is important to have a consistent look for a particular restaurant and as a photographer is it important to be able to replicate existing photographs so it looks like it was taken by the same photographer over and over. This doesn’t mean that a photographer should have just one look. I would hate photography if I had to keep the same look day in and day out. It is important to match a style but it is also important to be creative enough to make a new style to fit different clients. If someone wants a bright and airy look and the next client was a more moody and somber look… the photographer should be able to satisfy both clients.
Cobb Salad
And it would get boring to photograph the same look day in and day out. One reason I got into photography was to be creative and try new things. That is why my website has a little bit of everything… I want to make everything look amazing.
Coconut Crusted Tilapia Sandwich
And looking a these food photos is making me hungry… which is the point of food photography.
Hawaiian Flatbread
And if you are an restaurant creating your own photographs with a pocket camera or worst… a cellphone? Contact me, we can overhaul your menu’s food photography and make everything look succulent and tasty.
Hawaiian Burger
And I do know of one food stylist and her basic rate for Utah. I need to find a few more as well. In the meantime I will be practicing my own food stylists. I have a figurative library of food styling books that I have invested in. Now the important part of practice, practice, and practice.
Healthy Omlette
Garden Fresh Pasta Primavera
Pesto Crusted Salmon
Southwest Chicken Wrap
Spaghetti Marinara
Vegan Lasagna
Korean Beef Rice Bowl
Thin Breakfast Sandwich
Thinner Breakfast Sandwich
Sprouted Vegan Tofu Sandwich
Tuna Melt
Curry Turkey Soup
Turkey Sandwich
Turkey Sandwich
Veggie Flatbread
Almond Crusted French Toast
Chile con Queso
Beef BBQ Flatbread
Canadian BLT
