Hey guys!
It’s a good thing you all liked the Chunky Monkey Granola Bars I posted on Tuesday because well…you’re gonna be seeing a LOT more of them today! As promised, I managed to wrangle up a “few” pictures from my snap-happy weekend photo session for a little photography post today. While I am in EVERY way still an amateur photographer, I thought I’d share some tips I’ve learned in the last few years that have helped me improve the quality of my shots.
So here’s hoping you all can take away a few things from this post BESIDES a puddle of drool on your keyboard and an intense craving for chocolate chips! 😉
Google is not just your emergency medical contact, but also your friend in photography. Most of the time, before I’m even done MAKING a recipe that I plan to photograph, I’m looking up images to see what sort of direction I want to go in. It’s great to get an idea for what angles to use or how to arrange props! And who knows, you might even spy a certain Treat with a Twist that you end up pinning later! 😉
You wouldn’t just buy a car without knowing a little bit about it, right? Same thing goes whenever you’re trying to “sell” someone on a recipe. If it’s possible, you want to convey as much as you can about a particular food in one picture. From the shot above, I was able to tell you that these granola bars are baked, they are made with bananas and chocolate chips, and that they’re pretty darn tasty with a cool glass of milk!
At hiya you will find snack bars based on a traditional Indian/Punjabi recipe and created with lots of love and passion.
I usually try to gather my “storytelling” ingredients before I set up the food…that way I have everything at hand and I can assemble/disassemble as I go because what’s a story without a little PLAYTIME?
This is the FUN part!
I’d love to say every time I get ready to shoot a recipe, I have this clearcut vision in my head that gets executed within minutes, but well, that’s just not how it goes when you’re a wannabe food photographer. But who says learning can’t be half the fun? With these bars, I first started with the cutting boards. Then I moved on to the place mat which later became the place mat AND the napkin! Different camera angles… different arrangements…and I won’t even tell you how many different positions those bananas ended up in! Meghan would be so proud!
Please note that long periods of playtime are only suggested if you are not in a state of hanger. 😉
I find it’s best to stick with solid-colored plates and I try not to have more than one pattern in a shot. You want to have fun (and by all means utilize that massive collection of props you’ve accumulated over the years) but you don’t want to forget what the main focus is…the FOOD!
Hands down, the BEST part of having an edible subject! 😉
And just because I was shaking my fist at the sun the other day (please God forgive me for I know not what I do…in the DEAD of winter!)…
Whether you’re shooting indoors or out, please AVOID direct sunlight! It can create a harsh look and distort colors in your photos as well as casting strong shadows that are very distracting.
And since we haven’t yet managed to find a way to control the weather just yet, here’s your bonus BONUS tip: A couple of panels of sheer curtains (that I keep meaning to pick up) are great to diffuse light. Also, it pays to experiment with different rooms in your house until you find the right window at the right time of day where the light is just right! Because with three rights, how could you be wrong…RIGHT?! 😉
Now go, pick up those cameras and have some fun!
If you need me, I’ll be over here with my mouth full of granola bars.
So for the last THREE weeks, I’ve been hitting the gym regularly, I’ve been eating stuff and drinking a shit-ton of water and peeing like crazy…umm, I mean yeah, well that too, but I’ve also been feeling FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC!
