The art of making food product shots appear mouth-watering and appealing on camera is certainly a well-honed skill. This gift, referred to as food styling, is commonplace on film sets, cooking shows, and food photography. This video by RocketJump Film School explores just how you can improve your own food photography in five simple steps.
Food stylists are trained in making even the most unappetising food appear aesthetically exciting. Through the use of creative problem solving and manipulation, they are able to use everything from super glue through to shaving foam, to create the perfect shot. Jimmy Wong and Lauren Haroutunian, effortlessly guide viewers through the funny and amazing tricks which can instantly turn a potential meal, into a surprisingly inedible photography subject.
Presenters urge budding food photographers to know five simple concepts which will guide them on their journey to mastering the knack of arranging food. The importance of knowing exactly what the food is meant to represent, is said to be paramount. The video also highlights the importance of understanding audience and understanding the creative story-telling process. As the presentation and styling of food directly correlates with how the audience feels about it, this can in turn, affect the story being told. Food stylists also must truly know their subject matter and research the different ways in which the dishes can be prepared.
Lastly, the video shines light onto the potential problems which can develop when working with food for photography or broadcast purposes. These five basic concepts will ensure that no one will ever look at food photography, in quite the same way again.
For video i can understand this to a certain level... But when it comes to real cooking shows (like chef's table) i cannot believe they'd use this..
I've been an assistant photographer on several shoots at michelin starred restaurants including a 3 star one. If we'd even bring up putting hairspray on their products i think they would kick us out in an instant.. It's insulting to the chef and a terrible waste to a little piece of edible art the chef has prepared for us.
I'f a shoot would not be centered around food and it would be more of a prop sitting there for hours then i can absolutely understand this kind of styling.. So in that sense it is quite interesting and if needed it would use it on a set.
I think that depends on the client, still some big ice cream brands use colored mashed potatoes for shoots :)
Well, I can't really tell that it's a secret. For high end food shoots (big clients) where food stylists are around. Most "food" are inedible. It's usually styled to look yummy but never prepared to be eaten at all. Like steaks being cooked lighter than rare and just painted with soy sauce. Even McDonald's burgers are prepared and cooked differently (even stacked unevenly) whenever being shot for their ads.
I get that this works for video where the food isn't going to be looked at and analysed too much but for still food photography I just don't think allot of these shortcuts are going to get passed clients. I've done plenty of shots with a food stylist and as a food photographer the key to most of the shots is to create an authentic feeling to the shot and these short cuts just don't always work. That turkey looks like something from an 80s cookbook and not appetising at all – it may be the difference between cultures as well, here in Australia we'd never serve a bird like that on a bed of greens for example.
I think there is a time and place for this kind of thing but it's certainly not the way I shoot for my clients, clients I've photographed for always want their products front and centre and if it meant we had to alter the fundamental components of their products they wouldn't let us get away with it in the slightest. I really don't like videos like this as it gives allot of food photographers a bad name and people think we don't replicate their dishes or their food authentically and don't want this kind of thing for their products.
I think people expect photoshopping and are sceptical about images in general and what is authentic and what is fake. The more authentic and realistic I can make the experience the better I feel about what I do and the better the result for my clients.
It's about transparency to a degree and not treating clients or their target audience like fools and trying to trick them into something that is unrealistic. I think that there has been a bit of a shift in advertising and how food is portrayed in the last few years. With social media and the rise of 'home cook celebrities' I just don't feel people are able to get away with creating that unrealistic expectation with 'perfect looking food' all the time. I think it alienates people too much by showing them food that looks to good to be true. There a real trend and expectation from audiences seeing something real and something authentic to give them the motivation to go out and experience the product or the dish for themselves.