How to find and hire a good food photographer?



It's not easy to try and find a good food photographer. Over the last couple years, I've had several calls from people who had found me on the Internet while they were searching for food photographers in their local area. They were interested in possibly hiring me as their food photographer though very few of them had ever worked with or hired a food photographer before. Most of them had several questions and were excited to learn about the process food photography. So I decided to write a little about what someone should look for when considering the hiring of a food photographer.

The majority of people who contacted me were restaurant owners or managers, catering companies, or individuals from marketing firms who were representing a client. I've had calls from coffee shops to steak houses. Small take-out to one company who makes thousands of elementary school lunches everyday!

There was a common theme with all of these calls. Everyone wanted great shots of their food though they had no idea how they wanted the food photography to look, or feel. Very few had any real concept of what was involved in preparing and executing a successful food photography shoot. The most important factor was usually, "what will it cost?" Food photography is not cheap. Though some food photographers charge much more than others. And paying more doesn't necessarily mean you are going to get better shots. I've seen the work of several food photographers who charge twice as much as me and don't have the slightest clue how to properly light food for mood and texture. That is why it is so important to hire a food photographer who is experience and can demonstrate quality work through a portfolio.

Why hire a food photographer and not a regular "commercial" photographer?

Pictures speak louder than words, right? If you can find a "regular" photographer who shoots food on the side and won't charge you too much, then go for it. But I assume since you are reading this blog, you can discern the difference between mediocre food photography and the good stuff. But you would be surprised how many people can't.

The truth is that food photography, at its highest level, takes many specialty photographic techniques along with very specialized photography equipment that most photographers don't have. I have several types of lenses that are used to get specific shots along with lots of specialized lighting equipment to help create a certain look or mood. I use several different types of mirrors and reflectors to shape the light in order to bring out the colors, textures and sparkle in the food. You can't do this with basic wedding photography or portrait gear. That's why most of the food photography you see from your typical commercial photographer, is usually only lit with one light. A lot of them simply just stick the plate of food next to the window and shoot away; not even taking the time to set up the lighting structure. Most of the time these shots come out dark and lifeless. There is no texture, no sparkle and no depth. It's bland one-dimensional food photography. Not exciting stuff to look at if you are considering your lunch or dinner choice based off the restaurant's web site photos.

Here are the things necessary to have a successful food photo shoot

The first thing a food photography client needs to do is to look over several food photographer's web sites and portfolios. This will give you a good sense of the different types of photography skills and experience. This will also give you an opportunity to find photos you like. Once you find a few web site you like, then the logical next step is to make a phone call and speak directly with the photographer. You can to ask him or her about their experience and how they approach the shoot. Tell them about your ideas and the type of shots you are looking for. The food photographer at that point should be able to give you some good ideas and direction which will help them determine how many shots could possibly be done in one day. A full day for me is usually between 6-12 different set-ups. Of course this depends on how complex the lighting situations are and how many people will be involved in the photo process. It's best to negotiate a flat rate for either a half day or full day rather than an hourly rate. This way if the shoot goes 8 hours in stead of 6, you don't pay anything additional. I always like to set up flat rates so everyone knows what to expect.

Once you have chosen a great food photographer who can work with your budget, then the next step will be to either find a good food stylist or have the photographer refer one to you. Every good food photographer will have a list of a few food stylists they have worked with and can highly recommend. And it's a good idea to work with a photographer who has a stylist they prefer to work with. With experience already working together, they will most likely be more efficient and have a stronger working relationship than with someone they've just met.  I like to work with stylists whom I have experience with. It just makes for a much smoother process when the photographer and stylist can not only see eye to eye, but also when they can have a good understanding of what the other wants, needs and is thinking. Make sense?

The last thing I want to go over is probably the most important. This is where you, the client, must get involved. It's so important for you to take the time and think about the shots you want and need prior to the shoot. You will be spending good money on getting these shots so it makes sense to plan things out. Not only should you be thinking about what shots you need for the immediate future, but also how these shots can be used for future marketing purposes. Ask yourself, "where will I be using these photos..? Will there be graphics involved later and if so, do the shots need to be horizontal, vertical or even square? Do I need full shots of the table and props or perhaps, more tight selective focus?" It's very important to figure these things out in advance of the food photographer and stylist coming out. You don't want to spend half your day and money, talking about how you want the shots to look; on the day of the shoot. Getting great food photography shots requires much planning and hard work. But if you do your homework and execute a great plan between your team, then you will be rewarded with fantastic mouth-watering shots that will have people oohing and awing!

To learn more about the whole process of a food photography shoot from start to finish, log on to my food photo shoot page at http://www.restaurantsbyrio.com


Alan De Herrera
Food Photographer serving Orange County and Los Angeles
714 335-3252
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