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Topic: How does a food photographer fail?
| Author | Message |
| jennie.nash | Posted – 9/26/2007 7:31:28 PM | show profile I'm working on a novel and I would like to portray a food photographer who is having a crisis of faith. She's full of doubt. She can't "see." She starts to slip. I would like some details on how, exactly, her world would go awry. How would a photo editor deliver the news that they were killing her story? Who would get most angry if she were to cancel a shoot -- the client? The crew? How would she know that she was no longer getting jobs? I would appreciate any insights. |
| aj | Posted – 9/26/2007 8:16:44 PM | show profile Maybe she eats her subjects... so in the end there's nothing left to shoot. She winds up being demoted to the girl who has to spray the food with olive oil as punishment. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/26/2007 10:07:55 PM | show profile Actually, the food in food photography is usually inedibe. Food stylists paint on glycerine to make the food shine, cotton balls are soaked in water and microwaved and then inserted in the food so they steam, turkeys are used uncooked except for a blowtorching to make them look brown. --so in the end there's nothing left to shoot. -- |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/26/2007 10:07:59 PM | show profile Actually, the food in food photography is usually inedibe. Food stylists paint on glycerine to make the food shine, cotton balls are soaked in water and microwaved and then inserted in the food so they steam, turkeys are used uncooked except for a blowtorching to make them look brown. --so in the end there's nothing left to shoot. -- |
| aj | Posted – 9/26/2007 10:26:48 PM | show profile - Actually, the food in food photography is usually inedibe. ...unless you're the girl in the story who can't "see" so she eats it anyway. |
| Marie | Posted – 9/26/2007 11:38:35 PM | show profile Get in touch with a food stylist, of which there are many. |
| bjoconnorfla | Posted – 9/27/2007 9:27:34 AM | show profile I'd say the above messages might inspire you. The photog has a crisis of faith about the phoniness of the work and the unrealistic standards it sets for (mostly) women, and/or some kind of problem with the unhealthy, wasteful and polluting nature of the modern food chain. Or she becomes sensitive to animals, visits a factory farm, and can't bear the thought of shooting soe ad for Butterball. I'd say the pix just start to represent that. They are flat, no sparkle, she tries to shoot without the tricks, substitutes an organic chicken sted of some frankenfoul, etc. Dunno if that helps, but I like the idea. Good luck. |
| lo17 | Posted – 9/27/2007 11:28:58 AM | show profile the food starts walking around and the photographer can't handle it since they only shoot "still life". now they are trying to shoot action and travel or fashion (the food is talking back now) and it isn't working.... oh my! that sounds like a horror novel, but i like it. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/27/2007 12:06:17 PM | show profile This might help: "gain, this info is for those of you who want to know more about the profession of food photography. I?ll get around to actually giving you real tangible advice a little later. In the world of Professional food photography, the picture is created, not by an individual, but by a team. This team consists of the following personnel: Food photographer ? The food photographer?s job is to make sure that the Client and the rest of the team are happy campers. Sometimes the experience of the shoot is as important as the actual photos that you end up producing. Theoretically, you are in charge! In reality, you are about fourth or fifth down on the chain of command. Basically, my main job as photographer, other that client relations (schmoozing), is to make the initial lens selection, determine depth of field, and to artistically apply the lighting. As the shoot goes on, the photographer?s job is to work with the team to refine the shot in such a way that as many team members as possible, end up happy with the final results. Of course there are members of the team whose opinions are more important than others, like the guy with the checkbook, for example. ; http://www.foodportfolio.com/blog/food_photography/food_photgraphy.html |
| aj | Posted – 9/27/2007 12:21:03 PM | show profile And then Tom Robbins picks it up as a sequel to Skinny Legs and All. This is brilliant! |
| reporterwriter | Posted – 9/27/2007 3:16:43 PM | show profile Since it's mostly studio work, maybe something happens with her studio. |
| jennie.nash | Posted – 9/27/2007 10:02:43 PM | show profile Thanks! Some informative -- and funny! -- stuff here. Thanks. |
