Restaurant Photography magazines and books

[lyubov_strauss]

<p>I have several accounts restaurants. I started doing more advertising photography for the restaurant which required more skills and lighting techniques. I have next photo assignment next week. It is French upscale restaurant. I would like to find magazines with the best restaurant photography and food photography. I have found only few book on food photography, and I am surprise how books we have on portrait photography and only few on food and restaurant photography. Do you know restaurant photography book which you could recommended. I will use my photography in my design advertisement, menu, brochure and etc. The restaurant will provide food styling, but I have to come put with the concept, composition, and layout, lighting. Restaurant and food photography is so different. If you use to many items, and blur background , it is still crowd photo. When you shoot portrait on the busy blur background it is looks different. How to find the balance between usage enough and not a little images in food and restaurant photography. I need to learn about restaurant photography as much as I could. I never will be happy with the present result, but to know from masters is always privilage to have this knowledge. Have anyone master restaurant and food photography and could share with us their wisdom, or publish a book?</p>

[mcpoljak2003]

<p>Read and study some of the publications below and how they handle the editorial shots - lighting, composition, style. They use lots of different styles, depending on the article or situation. They won't tell you how to do it. But they will show you the end results. The how is up to you and your experience/know-how. You won't learn it in a day or a week or a year. 10 - 15 years experience ought to prepare you for any situation. Best of luck.<br /> <strong>Consumer Publications - </strong> with excellent photography <br /> <a href="http://www.gourmet.com">Gourmet</a> <br /> <a href="http://www.saveur.com">Saveur</a> <br /> <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com">Food & Wine</a> <br /> <strong>Trade Publications</strong> - with excellent photography<br /> <a href="http://www.plateonline.com">Plate Magazine</a> <br /> <a href="http://www.flavor-online.com">Flavor & The Menu</a> <br /> <a href="http://www.rimag.com">Restaurants & Institutions</a> <br /> Or do a google search for "Foodservice Publications" there are HUNDREDS<br /> Also check out <a href="http://www.foodportfolio.com">www.foodportfolio.com</a> and <a href="http://www.professionalphotography101.com">www.professionalphotography101.com.</a> There are lots of articles,tips,tutorials on how to shoot food in various scenarios.</p>

[lyubov_strauss]

<p>Marc,<br>

Thank you so much to share your info with me. I have done editorial photography for 20 years,and move on to advertising, commercial photography this year. I learned a lot from the master of the photography Joe McNally. Joe's videos, books are great source for understanding the light and photography. I have learned about Nikon Creative Lighting system which gave me opportunity to do restaurant, food photography using Nikon flashes, and don't carry heavy moonlights with me at the location. I will look through each magazine, website you recommended. Thank you once again. I never think that I am going to do restaurant and food photography , but I want to take this challenge. I like food presentation because it is part of art and creativity which we capture with the camera.</p>

[devon_mccarroll]

<p>Lyubov, I just finished the Art Of Food Photography course at <a href="http://www.ppsop.com">www.ppsop.com</a>, and I highly recommend it! I learned a great deal, and have started on a really nice portfolio. After shooting people portraits for so long, it was a real learning experience! Also, Lou Manna's book Digital Food Photography is a great resource. Lighting food is very different from lighting people! You'll find that to do it properly, especially if you're lighting more than one small dish, you will need to use your monolights or have some good natural light and reflectors to work with. One other thing I suggest is to really study some food photographers websites.</p>

[enrique_cubillo1]

<p>I just launched a restaurant photography website and I'd be happy to speak regarding the images.<br>

www.newyorkrestaurantphotography.com</p>

<p>Stop by and shoot me some feed back.</p>

<p> </p>

[don_francis]

<p>This may be my first post here (other than to buy something). I used to do a fair amount of this, and all of the assignments were done either before the restaurants opened for the day or after they closed for the night. It is almost impossible to work otherwise in such a business.<br>

<br />There are many food photo-styling tricks (some of which render it inedible), but you may have to do it yourself or bring a stylist, because the restaurant staff generally will not know them. Beyond that, I suggest trying to avoid the "menu" photo, which tends to be tightly framed and unimaginatively lit. Think about placing the food in an environment and lighting that give a feel for what the restaurant itself is about.<br>

<br />Finally, unless the food is adulterated for styling purposes, don't forget to ask for a doggie bag!</p>

[lyubov_strauss]

<p>Thank you all for all your comments. Thank you for your help.I have done a lot of research, and found great tutorial and great books to use. I haven't find magazine which imaze me with food photography, and I have looked through few.<br>

I would like to share with you my info<br />http://www.kelbytraining.com/instructors/joe-glyda.html <br>

 

<h2>Joe Glyda</h2>

<p>http://www.jglyda.com/<br>

Joe Glyda was the Digital Imaging Advisor for Kraft Foods in Glenview, Illinois for over 25 years. He initiated their digital capabilities back in 1993, and now the Creative Services Photography Studio completes 100% of all their photography digitally using Photoshop CS. Joe is a member of PPA, MIPA, and ASMP. <br>

 

<h1 >Digital Food Photography</h1>

<br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lou-Manna/e/B002BLLA6O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1">Lou Manna</a><br>

http://www.loumanna.com/<br>

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Food-Photography-Lou-Manna/dp/1592008208/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267654340&sr=8-1<br>

The book is excellent. I used this book in my restaurant and food photoshoot, and the result was great. The images become restaurant identity and it was used for number publication. I design full page ad using my photography, and artwork was duplicate by national publication in 30,00 copies. It is a long story. My client and I had copyright <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19614.htm"><strong>Impingement</strong></a> case, but the president of the company who allowed this happened died in Dec 2009. The artwork was dupblicated in Aug 2009. I sent all my important images in US copyright office learning from this experience.<br>

I never think about that my first FOOD photography could be the subject for copyright case.<br />We never get our money back. It is another story.<br>

I love food and restaurant photography and I hope I could learn as much as I could to make better photos. <br>

I spoke to both Joe and Lou, and they great teachers. I am glad I use their knowledge to create my artwork.</p>

 

</p>

[whitney_gray]

<p>I've been asked to give a quote to an upscale restaurant for architectural, food, and lifestyle (people interacting inside the restaurant) photography... The usage would be website and all marketing collateral, including magazine ads, so they want a buy out. I would really like to get this one- it sounds like it would be great for my portfolio. I am planning to charge 1/2, full day rates and then buy-out. <br>

How much should I charge for the buyout? A lump sum? By the image? Do I sell RAW images? <br>

This situation is very different from other business/commercial jobs I've done and I want to make sure I'm not over/under pricing. This economy has really made things complicated! Everyone wants something great for next to NOTHING but a photo credit and I'm very frustrated.<br>

Any advice is appreciated!</p>

[whitney_gray]

<p>I should have said that this is an upscale national restaurant- not just local. </p>

 

[john_slaytor]

<p>I do a fair amount of food photography for restaurants and am finding composite images are the way to go when doing diner shots - too many restaurant photos have no people in them - maybe the photographer is scared of model releases, maybe the restaurant hates photographers working with people around, I don't know the answer but I do know my images are used a lot.<br>

Below is a link to a blog I have written on one popular composite image<br>

http://sydneyrestaurantphotography.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/sangria-shots/</p>