I’ve mentioned before that I’ve really been enjoying photography and that I have a discovered a passion for it. It feels like a door has been opened that was previously closed. Or actually, a door has been opened that I didn’t even know existed. And it’s been so fun exploring!
One of the things I have been wanting to build is my stash of cute tablecloths, linens, placemats and pretty backdrops because I think they enhance pictures so much.
I hadn’t been seeing anything too cute or original at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s, but I ventured into Flashbacks which is a retro, used clothing store.
They have an awesome array of used, vintage scarves that I thought will be perfect for tabletop and countertop photographs.
They are probably from the 1960s or 1970s and Made in Italy. And a couple of them smell just like my Grandma’s linen cabinet.
How could food or things I get in the mail not look better when photographed on pretty scarves?
I would have loved to find something great at TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, or Target for $1 each, but I’ll take 4 for $26.10
Because if I ever get sick of using them for backdrops and blog photo backgrounds, I can always wear them because they are scarves.
I also ordered a couple books about food styling.
I had hoped when I ordered this book that it was going to give me specific tips on where to place forks, knives, and cups, how to use placemats and tablecloths to add depth to shots, and where to stand and at what angles in order to get the “perfect shot” of my food. When the book came and I thumbed through it, I am realizing it’s not that kind of book.
But it has given me a glimpse into professional food styling. The food used in ads is far more doctored up than you’d ever imagine. And some of it’s not even real food. It’s plastic. That’s how they make the food look so perfect. It’s fake food!
Great lengths are taken to make food look the way it does in ads…
Buns are cut with scissors and grill marks applied with a blow torch
Acrylic ice cubes are used and fake bubbles are placed in with eyedroppers for cold beverages
Ice cream is not real. It’s a mix of frosting, food coloring, and corn syrup that’s whipped together. And then great measures are taken to create “ice cream cones”.
Applying the fake ice cream on top of the giant wooden toothpicks that will hold it in place.
Cake is held together with cardboard and the frosting “stripes” are hand-applied
So although the book isn’t exactly what I was looking for for my own personal needs, it has been highly interesting and eye-opening seeing how food is styled professionally.
Don’t get me wrong, there are tons of great tips and if you’re serious about making your food photography better, you will learn something or many things from this book that will help your photos and shots look better. And you don’t even need to use giant wooden toothpicks to hold your desserts together or fake ice cubes to make your drinks look better if that’s not your style.
All that talk of fake food and food styling is making me hungry for real food.
How about a Cheezy Vegetable Bake
One pan, planned leftovers, and you can use up whatever odds and ends veggies you have
And for dessert, try a homemade Vegan “Turtle” (No Bake, GF, easy!)
From my last post about Kitchen Disasters & Shattered Glass, I am glad that I’m not the only one who’s had some serious kitchen mishaps. I loved hearing your tales of woe. We can all laugh now, but in the moment, kitchen calamities are stressful!
And many of you seem to have a potty mouth. Guess we’d get along great!
Questions:
1. If you’re a blogger, do you care what your blog photos look like?
I am trying to hard to make my photos look better.
I invested in Lightroom 3 photo editing software
And of course, getting my DSLR camera helped too.
However, a point about nice cameras that I want to hammer home…
You can have the nicest camera in the world but if you don’t take time to figure out how to present your food beautifully, artistically, and with some creative flair, you will simply have ugly and unappetizing food, except that it will be in very high quality and high resolution. Lack of staging and making things pretty will just be documented at a higher quality.
So an expensive camera will not ensure that you have beautiful pictures. You have to do other things, too. Like read about food styling and staging.
Use a point and shoot camera and when you really think you have exhausted the limits of it, then upgrade to a DSLR. But don’t make that leap thinking all your food is going to turn out like Angela’s just because you have an expensive camera. There is far more to it! And I am not an expert, but am just sharing what I have learned and my observations.
2. As a blog reader, how important are photographs and the quality of them to you?
I think Kath said, “People come for the pictures, but stay for the writing.” So true in my opinion!
I will read blogs that don’t have fabulous pictures, but as I said in this post recently about the wonderful food and recipes I saw in the ‘sphere last week, it makes me more inclined to keep reading and keep going back to their site when the blogger has captivating photos.
That said, you don’t have to be a genius with your camera, because personality, “blog voice”, recipe quality, and other things all matter too. But nice photos definitely help the cause, too. And they don’t even have to be “amazing” but just not dark, grainy, or teeny tiny ones.
3. For everyone, do you pay attention to the quality of the photos you take, in general?
Same as with blog pics, I now care much more what all the photos I take look like. Even if I have no intention of posting something on my blog, I still want to have my pictures look as good as possible so that when I look back at the pictures, they represent how the event or moment really was and in as best quality as possible.
4. Where is your favorite place to buy pretty dishes, tablecloths, kitchen untensils, tools, picture “props”, and so forth?
Usually TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Homegoods, or Target are good bets but sometimes I find things at random dollar stores, the Pier 1 clearance rack, on sale at Anthropologie (must be on sale at that store!) or even Flashbacks like with the scarves being multi-purposed as tablecloths, i.e. picturetakingcloths.
I am trying to get better at taking pictures and think I am getting there. I am really interested in photography and want to learn more. I agree with Kath too, people will always stay for great content :)
Wow, that actually sounds like an interesting read! I might have to check that out, thanks for the tip! :D
Okay, that was fascinating! I mean I knew on some level that those food photos in mags and whatnot are really staged but all the details… wow. It’s kind of a work of art really. And I love your new scarves!!
I must say that is the best photo you’ve posted yet of the cheesy vegetable bake. ;)
Anthropologie sells the best bowls…and they are about the only thing I can afford in that store!
No way. I cannot believe you commented today…and I had a cheezy veggie bake up. I have not posted it in…like weeks!!! Probably since the last time you commented. You have cheezy veggie bake radar, I swear!
Those scarves are cool. Sometimes I use scarves, tablecloths, or even aprons as backdrops.
That’s really interesting! They put so much work into making the fake food look appetizing! lol
I try to make my food photos look good, but I have to admit there’s so much more I could do. I have a DSLR, but I only know how to operate the some of the functions. I haven’t played with lighting much at all aside from my detachable flash.
I loved spending the time reading everyone’s comments! There are some great suggestions in there. I spend a lot of time thinking about how I’m going to stage a recipe, what colors go best, what props I can use… next to baking, photography is pretty awesome! I never in a million years would have thought I would like photography, but I look forward to coming home every night and spending time in my kitchen cooking + running around with my camera.
I still have loads to learn and improve on, but practice makes perfect!
I’ve setup a creativity room off our kitchen with all my blog props. I go to Pier 1 and Home Sense once a month and grab a couple of things that are on sale. I’ve never thought of using scrapbook paper, I’ll have to check that out!
A creativity room… I am jealz!!!!
“an expensive camera will not ensure that you have beautiful pictures. You have to do other things, too. Like read about food styling and staging.”
I LOVE YOU. Seriously. I am like, bowing down to you forever for saying this! I can’t tell you how many people say “Your pictures are great! What camera do you have?” or “Wow! Your camera takes great pictures!” or come into work thinking that now that they have a dSLR they are a pro photographer. I can’t help but feel a little offended even though I know it’s probably not intended to be a diss, people just don’t realize it. I just want to say “well, my camera’s nice enough, and yes, it certainly helps me to take a decent photo, but I also like to think I’m the one who saw the shot, decided the composition and what settings to use, and clicked the button…” I know I still have SO much to learn, and I am always working to better myself and learn as much as I can, so sometimes it’s frustrating when other people can pick up a dSLR and immediately make $$ on it without wanting to learn a thing. (AND undercut everyone else in the process.)
Ohhh, well. Such is life.
Whoa. Rant. Seems like I always rant about that subject to you, haha. Are you sick of me yet?! Anywho. That all said, I wish I put more thought into my foodstyling! I always imagine these fun “shoots” with a recipe I’ve made and then…get lazy and just wind up doing the same old thing. I really need to invest in some fun props to inspire me! Just haven’t made it out to TJMaxx or Bed & Bath in a while :P I definitely put more thought into recipes that I’ve created, whereas simple meals or whatever might just get a quick snap or two :]
Rant away girl and I agree 100% w/ everything you said!
i feel like all my adorations as a child have been crushed! although it kind of boosts my self esteem. i worked at a TCBY for a while and could never make an ice cream cone look as good as the picture! it drove me nuts ha
No offense, but there is something sort of unappetizing about the thought of a scarf that was wrapped around someone’s neck being near the food later. Some people have some sweaty necks. Maybe just me.
I actually really dislike all the behinds the scenes stuff of blogging, at least for photos and such. I just want to see the end result. It takes away all the magic for me, sort of like seeing the bloopers of a movie that was pretty serious. And all that hollywood fake food stuff, gross! But glad you are finding the time to read at least, I know you’ve always said that’s been a struggle.
What a neat insight into the food photography world. It’s amazing how much of what they photograph is completely fake. However, I think when it comes to blogging, the realistic aspect of the photos is what makes them special… of course they should look like effort and care were taken to photograph the food, but the food should be what’s truly on the plate!
Great scarves!!! Branching out for food prop pictures is always fun…I have a drawer full of linens and placemats that I’m constantly digging into!
how funny, averie – i JUST had a post this morning on a similar topic!!!
I am SO with you. After getting my dslr, I realized that I have a huge passion for photography. I also realized that I really enjoy styling my food. It’s fun for me to make it look as pretty as possible. What a FUN book you found.
1) I totally care ! I always try to make them look the best I can… only wishing I had a window or two in my kitchen so that my indoor pictures always leave something to be desired.
2) Important, but not the most important thing… The content is obv why I go back and lovely pictures don’t hurt !
3) I have always loved taking pictures and these days I care a lot more about lighting and compisition… so fun.
4) TJ Max Home Store, Target , World Market are my top 3
PS I am so excited I can be a regular commenter again… bc I certainly didn’t stop reading that whole time :D
HEY my beautiful hearted friend! I have missed you soooo much! I am so happy to be back though! I hope you are doing wonderful. i loveeee your eats as always! i really need to improve my photography! haha. love you friend!
Haha! I love the food staging!!The cardboard cake and fake ice cream crack me up!
I used to work in a bakery and decorating the Styrofoam dummy cakes for show always made me laugh, too. I guess something about people salivating over cardboard and styrofoam tickles me. :P