Question of the Day: Food photographers
A couple days ago, the blog LAist.com ran an item titled The Politics of Restaurant Photography. It got us thinking here: Do you take pictures of your food, be it for a food blog, a photo site like Flickr, or a review site like Yelp? Do you have a friend or family member who does? Are you in the industry, witnessing customers snapping away? What do you think of food photography in restaurants?
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12 Comments:
As long as the photographer doesn't use a flash, then click away. With a flash, one shot only. Any more is disruptive.
DaveFaris at 8:51AM on 05/17/07
Personally, I would like to take pictures of some of my dishes in a restaurant. However, I know that the practice bothers some people. Therefore, it makes me uncomfortable taking photos, and I rarely do it.
Frankly, I don't think it's a problem to fellow diners if the picture taking is done in moderation. But some people get carried away, and obviously can become annoying.
DocChuck
DocChuck at 8:51AM on 05/17/07
i try my best to take only one picture with or without flash- because it disrupts my meal, too, to stop and take a photo. but i also know that taking pictures of the food you're writing about is crucial- those pictures are what get people to your blog- people eat with their eyes. so when the people im eating with groan i say- would you read my blog if i didnt have pictures? and they all say no- so i keep snapping.
Stacy at 9:03AM on 05/17/07
I'm a food photographer but never take shots of my own food in a restaurant. But I don't mind if someone else does, flash or no flash. It's not as if a bright burst of light is going to make my food taste any better or worse :)
mattbites at 9:07AM on 05/17/07
I take photos for both my food blog and my Michigan Cuisine web site. I also shoot local food video when asked, and am currently editing the widescreen HD documentary of Taste of the Nation: Toledo, which my wife and I shot at the event a couple weeks ago.
What I think of food photography in restaurants, and food events for that matter, depends on why it's being done, whether or not the result is any good and definitely whether or not any people involved are behaving. Oh, and if you're doing shots for the restaurant's menu or web site, please don't do this when there's a line at the door.
One food server I shot at Taste of the Nation gave me completely unusable tape. I mean, geez, if you're going to wear a tube top, don't get self-conscious about it and constantly tug at the top of the thing when someone points a camera at you!
There's a time and place for food photography, and I love the images folks like Jaden of Steamy Kitchen post on their blogs.
LunaPierCook at 9:20AM on 05/17/07
I take pictures in restaurants all the time, not to mention other public food areas like markets, pastry shops, etc. I wrote about it quite extensively last year (touching on social aspects as well as technical): self-link
maki at 9:36AM on 05/17/07
I love to take pictures of food, but since I don't write about restaurants on my blog, I generally don't take pictures of my restaurant meals. Unless I'm traveling, and then I try and document everything. But after a nasty episode in Alabama last summer, I always ask if it's OK before shooting.
homesicktexan at 9:40AM on 05/17/07
For a really good laugh, take a look at these fast food photos. Absolutey hilarious! http://www.thewvsr.com/adsvsreality.htm
1stmakearoux at 10:38AM on 05/17/07
Oh this is good. On my blog, I occasionally post photos of food I have made. I do this SOLELY for my friends who either want to see the things I have made or want to see what the recipes I have given them will turn out looking like. I had posted pictures of some cakes I had made and someone from this blog decided to anonymously rip on my baking skills (I know it was someone from here based on the referring website feature on my tracker). How pathetic!
My point is that food photography need not be taken so seriously or professionally. I mean, we all take photos on our vacations, and many people aren't good photographers. So why can't we also take and post bad photos of our food, especially when we have made NO claims to being professionals?!?!?
charm city cupcake at 12:29PM on 05/17/07
Off The Broiler would not be what it is without food photography. I wouldn't even consider a post without some picture or photograph to go along with it.
I carry my camera everywhere I go, so that I have to potential to document every restaurant meal if possible. Because of the need for portability, I use inexpensive consumer point-and shoot cameras rather than large bulky SLRs, which tend to scare the hell out of restaurant owners and other diners because they attract too much attention. My current camera is a Canon PowerShot G7, which has excellent low-light capability, has great macro mode, image stabilization and is relatively small to carry around including its hard leather protective case. While I cannot get the level of detail that you can from an SLR, for blog type posts it does an effective job and its a good compromise considering that I can take nice photos without scaring the hell out of people in a restaurant environment, and I can use it without flash, which allows me to take more candid shots of restaurant crowds and does not attract attention.
jperlow at 12:48PM on 05/17/07
I photograph food for my website, but it's mainly food that I make or friends make. Sometimes I take photos in restaurants, but only if I can do it discreetly and without the flash. I just feel uncomfortable about making a scene - and photos don't come out too well without flash.
rockchick at 2:03PM on 05/17/07
Clearly, I take a bunch of photos for our blog . Yet, I just have never felt comfortable taking photos at the dinner table over a meal out. While part of that is we don't do restaurant reviews, but the biggest concern is that making the food look good . The people work hard in many places to make it look good, and if I can't give that same care to the photo I do my own food then I don't want theirs to look lesser for it. Actually forget that reasoned answer, I'm just too embarassed and hungry to wait for photos.
Husband at 11:32PM on 05/17/07