A couple weeks ago, I saw a tweet encouraging people to sign up for a food photography workshop being held by the Austin Food Blogger Alliance on October 9. Since I just moved here, I thought it would be a good way to meet fellow local bloggers and learn some things about photography. Of course when the day (last Sunday) finally came around, I got nervous and almost didn’t go. Yep, I’m super shy and a room full of strangers is something that I tend to want to avoid. The fact that this would have been my first ever food blogger event added to my uneasiness.
But I went, and guess what? I met fellow local bloggers and learned some things about photography, and had a good time doing so!
The event was held at Aviary Lounge on South Lamar which was a unique cross between wine bar and home decor store. Marco, the owner, had set up stations with platters of interesting meats, cheeses, breads, and fruit for us to photograph. I was one of the first few attendees there and introduced myself to Ginny of Ginny’s Kitchen and Crystal of Kitchen Serendipity, aka the first food bloggers I’ve ever met! (note: I didn’t actually know any of the bloggers online beforehand.) About 20 people total showed up, including the pros leading the workshop: John Knox, Matthew Lemke, Don Mason, Loren Root, Peter Tsai, and Marshall Wright. In small groups, each was to address certain topics like lighting, equipment, editing software, and food styling.
Here are some of the things I learned from Peter along with fellow point-and-shooter Michelle of Foodie is the New Forty!
Lighting: Whenever I can, I take pictures by windows during the day, but often the side not facing the light is darker, of course. If you hold up something white like poster board on the windowless side, it will reflect the light and better illuminate your subject. I was aware of this, but had never actually tried it because, um…I don’t know? It really does make a difference!
Peter also showed us how using flash for photos in daylight can really make an image pop. Here I’ve been shunning my flash, but he’s totally right!
Zoom, Zoom: Both Michelle and I had been mostly “zooming” by getting up close to our subjects. Peter showed us what a difference actually zooming makes: it can get unwanted objects out of the background and also not doing so can distort images due to the curvature of the lens. I’ve been playing with with my zoom a lot lately!
Thrifty Equipment: Michelle had one of those double-headed book lights which seemed to be a handy, cheap, portable light source for low-light situations. Bonus: you can move the heads around for multiple light sources…and if you’re a musician like me, it totally doubles as a stand light!
Peter had a portable tripod that I tried out, which is something I’ve been meaning to get. When you’re mainly taking pictures of food, something small that can sit on the counter is perfect. Searching Amazon, this teeny one is only $2.59!
I’m so glad that I went! There is still so much for me to learn even with my little camera, so I’m not yet lamenting the fact that a DSLR is way out of my budget. Right now I think composition is the most challenging thing for me, and I also need to get better at taking/using fewer photos (*cough*) and learning to tell a story with them.
Thanks to all the pros for their help, to Aviary Decor for hosting, and to Jennie of MisoHungry for organizing this event! I’m looking forward to future blogger functions.
Great post! I love that last shot at the end – so cool. And all your other photos turned out terrific, too. So great to have met you, and hope to see you again soon!
If I hadn’t seen you using a point and shoot I never would have believed it from your photos
BTW the barley risotto was awesome! I am taking some in for lunch today.
What fun? You got some good tips, many of which are easy (white posterboard? Hello simple improvement), and you got to meet LOCAL FOOD BLOGGERS. Awesome.
Hey, good for you for trying something new! That sounds really cool…maybe one day I’ll get a fancy camera of my own and learn to take awesome photos of things.
Glad you brought up that white poster board thing, too…I actually have one sitting in my closet that I totally forgot about, and bought for the express purpose of lighting! >.<
Very fun! Was that nearly bald singing man from karaoke there learning to better compose his photographs? I peg him for an instant film kind of guy.
And I also peg Austin for a much smaller city than I know it is:) I have never met up with any sort of blogger folk (are they even here in Maine??), but I bet I would chicken out. I’m le shy to the max:/
I always here not to use flash, but I do all the time. The lighting in my kitchen isn’t the best. Glad you learned a lot.
Helpful information and I am glad you shared this with us! I definitely will need to invest in a light reflector, but the white board will do until then. Learning photography is a never ending process.
Great tips Jessica! I love learning about food photography tips – have done a post on styling too (here ) and am enrolled in another class in a week. So excited!
Michelle – Thanks! It was nice meeting you, two!
Ginny – Maybe I should have hidden it?
So glad you tried and liked the risotto!
Victoria – Yes! I hadn’t met any bloggers before because San Antonio doesn’t seem to have much of a blogger community (that I’ve heard of) and I haven’t been to a conference…yet.
Mary – Glad I’m not the only one who’s been lazy about that trick! I guess I didn’t really believe it would make a difference, but dur.
Emma – I’m not sure how big you think Austin is, but there are apparently about 800k people here (between SF and Columbus, OH for comparison). And you know what? I have a hunch most bloggers in general are on the shy side.
Greg – That is good to know because you take awesome photos!
Tina – You are right about it being a never ending learning experience! Keeps it fun, I guess.
Martyna – I should check that out because styling is definitely another weak area of mine. I would definitely benefit from many more classes!
That looks like such a fun event! I’m going to try daylight pictures with the flash on. Good job on being brave and going.. I totally get the same “eek room full of strangers ” jitters too
Great job on the pics! Can’t wait to see future ones you take!
Sounds like so much fun! I’d love to go to a food photography workshop!
Man, I have to play ketchup (hardeehar. har.) on your blog! Nice post!
Stephanie – Sometimes it works for me, and other times not so much. Since I’m new to this town, I’m trying to push myself out of my comfort zone to meet new people!
Uncle Mark – Thanks!
Michelle – I hope you signed up for one of the ones at Foodbuzz!
Jill – Lucky for you, not too much to catsup on. I was a slacker last week!
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