La Jolla Lifestyles: How to host in Orange and White.

[C Withers Media]

Was fortunate enough to be invited to shoot for a lifestyle magazine and local Southern California blog this weekend. Very cool as it was my first shoot of this magnitude. Three set designers and thousands of dollars worth of display preparation.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5164/5363152119_4e14d867c9_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5363762036_94d4af2b93_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5363255210_ce33b0f484_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5362400980_5c0da5236b_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5361236337_32b2386b10_b.jpg

[danewilson77]

Congrats Casey.

[kayger12]

Beautiful, Casey.

Did all of that white/light colors make getting the proper exposure way more of a pita? Seems like a challenging scene lighting/color wise--

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Beautiful, Casey.

Did all of that white/light colors make getting the proper exposure way more of a pita? Seems like a challenging scene lighting/color wise--

That's what I was wondering.

[az3579]

Movin' up in the world, C. :)

[Nomar06]

Congrats man!

[Maximus57]

I hope you don't mind criticism. I shot professionally for 6 years. Your people shots are great. Your food/booze shots, need some serious work. Lighting and props are key. You want to use fake items sometimes vs real food. Example, I used shaving cream instead of whipped cream. Holds up better in the long run. I cooked steak with a torch and used a coat hanger for grill marks. That steak was so raw on the inside. Good job none the less.

[C Withers Media]

Thanks Maximus, yeah I am always open to criticism and use the tips to improve. The food shots were mostly taken in natural light and I had absolutely nothing to do with the setup..... The difference in what you are describing and the situation I was in is that the food was prepared by a high end catering company who did the entire design of everything, I was given 30 minutes to get them shots before guests showed up to eat the food and have drinks. My guess is that shaving cream would have pissed off a bunch of rich people.

[Maximus57]

Food shots in a natural setting suck. I've had to shoot like that. Shooting items people actually need to eat are nearly impossible to photograph and make them look good. You did do a good job on what they gave you. I miss shooting. I would imagine the competition in CA is outrageous. It was bad enough in cow town Denver. I would bid $1000 for a shoot and someone would under cut me. They would shoot for $200. Of course I would tell the client, you get what you pay for. They would come back after the $200 job looked like crap and ask me to shoot the same thing for $500. I would just say NO.

[C Withers Media]

It was definitely a run n gun. They had to get the photographer from the wrong side of the freeway out of there before guests showed up. It was cool though, all things given, the food looks edible, the clients are happy, and its getting published either way...I fully understand what you are saying though about shooting prop food covered in vaseline to look deliciously moist with controlled lighting.

[az3579]

I personally do not see anything wrong with the way those are shot. The food looks a lot better in the pictures than I think it would taste.
I'm just not seeing what you two are seeing, because all I see is pure awesomeness. Can someone please explain?

[C Withers Media]

There in all honesty is nothing technically wrong at all with the shots, they are very true and accurate and as a viewer that is the goal I try to accomplish. From a photographer to photographer level, we hold each other, especially as professionals to a higher standard of creativity. Kind of the unwritten rule book of criticism, and the same reason I didnt get butt hurt about his suggestions. In our world, we get better by sharing ideas and tips and sometimes even a secret or two, so when he says that they are not up to par, he is referring to the highest level of cuisine photography out there, he is not comparing me to average joe.

http://media.rd.com/rd/images/rdc/slideshows/10-funny-quotes-about-food/quotes-about-food-pizza-af.jpg

Look at how shiny the food is as if its fresh out of the oven and creates a mouth watering must order pizza nao desire.

That is studio food photography, that pizza has a lot of lighting and oil sprayed on it to may it look like that.

Subtleties in this next shot include 2 lights, a black sheet held directly overhead to give a dark defining edge on the liquid and seperation from the glass. A glowing effect.

http://www.picturescolourlibrary.co.uk/loreswithlogo/2185266.jpg

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Pizza. Yum.

[az3579]

Ah, I get it what aspects you're talking about now.
That food sure does look good though. The effect on those liquids is stunning.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I'd like some pizza right now.