Terrible Experience! (Page 10): I forgot to tell you, this Summer I'm signing up for a Photography class in Chicago. We'll be taking pictures of the sites while the instructor helps us...

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I forgot to tell you, this Summer I'm signing up for a Photography class in Chicago. We'll be taking pictures of the sites while the instructor helps us with our issues. I hope we don't stop at a restaurant to takes photos. Lol! But, at least I can say I've done it before.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Los-Angeles-Shooter wrote:

BTW, for everyone's edification: br br A full-blo... (show quote)

Don't forget the "gopher" who goes for anything the others forgot to bring!

I remember using hypodermic needles to put bubbles in coffee, glycerin diluted slightly and kept in a spray bottle to put "cold water beads" on beer bottles or add sheen to turkeys, and a huge soldering iron for burning "grill marks" on steaks. We used all sorts of doodads and gewgaws to hold things up, and every lighting trick in the book to make the food look delicious. Lighting wine glasses was often a 30 minute chore, and it is very different for reds and whites.

Lazy Old Coot Loc: Gainesville, Florida

Capture48, You are so right!! I was is sales for about forty years and my rule was much the same as yours. "Never try to make customers out of your friends, but always do your best to make friends out of your customers. I know it seems strange, but doing business with a friend almost always puts a strain on the friendship, however when your customer becomes your friend the business relationship almost always runs much smoother. ........ Coot

Capture48 wrote:

LOL, sorry don't mean to laugh at you, but the dreaded friends, thats yet another mistake many have made including me.

here is my rule; Never work for friends! This is the best way to destroy a friendship. I will offer to help vet a photographer for them, but I will never work for them. Friends expect more, and want to pay less or nothing. I use to get offers to come to this event or this party, oh and by the way can you bring your camera? This NEVER works out.

noel Loc: Virginia

Tracy B. wrote:

Well, here it is, one from my dreaded food shoot:
Also two of my Granddaughter:

For a first timer, your food photograph is great ,so is your granddaughter!!

butterflychaser Loc: Fountain Hills, Arizona

Tracy B. wrote:

What a great way to look at it. Your right I did finish. Thanks for that, I feel better....but I hate food. (Lol)

Tracy B., I totally agree with the value of your experience as expressed by Gitchigumi. Luckily you survived the ordeal and now know that food photography isn't for you. I once shot a wedding for an acquaintance (no payment; just helping the bride to keep costs down). She was happy with the pictures, but I hated the experience. It wasn't my cup of tea and I'll never do another one. Too much stress. Life is too short to spend time with something that makes you uncomfortable.

One of my favorite quotes is "Don't be afraid to go on a wild goose chase. That's what wild geese are for." Sometimes you have to go down a path to find out you're on the wrong path.

tradergeorge Loc: Newport, Kentucky

Tracy B. wrote:

My first paid photography job. I was told I would be taking some interior pictures of a bar/restaurant. Well, I walk in and am told I will be doing pictures of their menu items. The Chef will be prepairing each dish and I'm to take pictures of each item. Let me set the sceen. DARK bar! Food Photography, I've read is the hardest to photograph. I have no practice at food photography. I haven't even tried. I'm not interested it that at all. OMG! I will never do anything like that again.

I would be surprised if you got any good shots. And that is NOT your fault. Food photography is seldom actual shots of the real food. It is usually doctored up to withstand the extra heat and light required for setups. Instead of cheese, you have plastic sheets. Ice cream?...Nope, play-doh and paint...You get the idea....Food seldom photographs well. I hope you at least got some acceptable shots before the food turned to mush...

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it.

noel wrote:

For a first timer, your food photograph is great ,so is your granddaughter!!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

tradergeorge wrote:

I would be surprised if you got any good shots. And that is NOT your fault. Food photography is seldom actual shots of the real food. It is usually doctored up to withstand the extra heat and light required for setups. Instead of cheese, you have plastic sheets. Ice cream?...Nope, play-doh and paint...You get the idea....Food seldom photographs well. I hope you at least got some acceptable shots before the food turned to mush...

George, no disrespect intended, but I'll assume you have actually been involved with these food shoots where plastic sheets were used for cheese and play-doh and paint for ice cream?! I have been involved in a couple of high-end food shoots and I've never heard of that. I was NOT the photographer. By high-end I mean $15,000 per day shoots with a crew of ten!
There is enough misconception about food shooting as it is. All the food I have seen is very real! Maybe completely undercooked, but very real. Acrylic ice cubes and Crisco, sure. A pinch of salt to bubble Champaign, of course. Heat guns to stretch the skin out on a turkey, how else? There are a thousand little tricks to make it look scrumptious, that's why a stylist makes $1000 a day!
I hear the craziest things about shooting food. These aren't Japanese restaurants with food presentations in the windows. It's pretty hard to fake food!! ;-)
SS

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I love that quote. I'm glad your experience turned out well.

butterflychaser wrote:

Tracy B., I totally agree with the value of your e... (show quote)

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Well, I am a little nervous. I don't know exactly what they expected. Hopefully, the pictures will be acceptable.

tradergeorge wrote:

I would be surprised if you got any good shots. And that is NOT your fault. Food photography is seldom actual shots of the real food. It is usually doctored up to withstand the extra heat and light required for setups. Instead of cheese, you have plastic sheets. Ice cream?...Nope, play-doh and paint...You get the idea....Food seldom photographs well. I hope you at least got some acceptable shots before the food turned to mush...

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Thanks. I hope so also.

dat2ra wrote:

I'm with you and the Hoggers on this. Of any kind of shooting I've done, food was the hardest (and I don't care to do it again). To make food look appetizing, lighting has to be multiple and spot on. So much of what you shoot is prop (plastic ice, mashed potatoes for ice cream, etc.). Maybe it doesn't matter for simple menu items, but I hope your first field experience strengthens you and makes you a better photographer.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Tracy B. wrote:

My first paid photography job. I was told I would be taking some interior pictures of a bar/restaurant. Well, I walk in and am told I will be doing pictures of their menu items. The Chef will be prepairing each dish and I'm to take pictures of each item. Let me set the sceen. DARK bar! Food Photography, I've read is the hardest to photograph. I have no practice at food photography. I haven't even tried. I'm not interested it that at all. OMG! I will never do anything like that again.

Why didn't you walk back out when you realized that what you had contracted for what not happening?

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

You know , I never thought about just leaving. I was a deer in headlights, all system's down.

rpavich wrote:

Why didn't you walk back out when you realized that what you had contracted for what not happening?

Racin17 Loc: Western Pa

I think its really neat all the support the OP has gotten from some of the more Experienced shooters here.

tradergeorge Loc: Newport, Kentucky

SharpShooter wrote:

George, no disrespect intended, but I'll assume yo... (show quote)

No, I do not shoot food...However, I wrote a research paper for my degree on the subject. So yes, if all the references and material I was able to find on the subject was inaccurate, then so was I... Your experience is real, but anecdotal. Mine is from other research papers, encyclopedias, videos and other reference material that got me a A- from a relatively difficult professor at Purdue University. I submit mine as accurate from my point of view and education, as I am sure you also do. Admittedly, most of my research was geared toward photos done for advertising and food set up for long video shoots. That may count for some of the discrepancy. Plus, I was trying to be encouraging to a new photographer who probably does not need any more harsh criticism. Cheers!!