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PHOTOGRAPHING MEAT: WHY WE USE UNCOOKED CHICKEN
See how a real, well-cooked chicken looks in comparison.
SMALL MOVES MAKE BIG CHANGES
PHOTOSHOP TIPS
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING
GEAR FOR FOOD SHOOTERS: LIGHTING
INEXPENSIVE STROBES:
I have a couple of these inexpensive strobes and they are super good little lighting kits. They are not rugged, but for a studio food shooter, you will appreciate what they can do versus speedlights.
PROFESSIONAL LOCATION STROBES:
These are simply amazing lights. Charge the battery and you can shoot food all day without power cords, in any location. The amount of accessories offered is simply amazing.
PROFESSIONAL POWERFUL STROBES:
There are times when you are going to need a lot more power. These Godox units deliver, and you can dial them down to almost a wink. Powerful battery power keeps you working no matter the location.
CONTINUOUS LIGHTING ON A BUDGET
These are really great lights if you are interested in shooting with continuous lighting. If you are shooting video or motion, these lights are a great introduction to the world of continuous lighting. They even come with a boom!
INEXPENSIVE DIFFUSION MATERIAL
This may even be better than my favorite Target Shower Curtain, and at a lower price as well. Use it to build a diffuser or just hang it from a boom for a quick, super soft light.
TABLETOP REFLECTORS
You will never have too many of these. Sure, you can make them yourself, but these are very durable and will provide years of service. On the other hand, fome-core works well and can be purchased at any art supply store.
GET SIX… HEH
Having the ability to firmly fly a scrim, flag, or cuki makes shooting so much less stressful. These clamps can be used for about a million things and they will always come in handy for a tabletop shoot.
YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE A BOOM
And because the boom is such an important part of your work, this is one place you must NOT scrimp. You are going to have heavy lights hanging over you, your assistant, and the food you are shooting. This type of stand is called a “C-Stand”, and they are popular for a reason. Heavy duty workhorses.
GOOD SPEEDLIGHTS CAN BE SUPER EFFECTIVE
I choose these Godox flashes because the same triggers that fire the pro-line of Godox flashes (see above) will fire these speedlights. So you do not have to do work-arounds for your lighting gear to operate together.
CHEAP SPEEDLIGHTS
Light is light, folks. These are darn near throwaways, but they are actually very good lights and function great on a tabletop. Using them in “slave” mode in such a small space means you have a lot of flexibility… for under $30! Seriously!
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE ‘TOO MANY’ LIGHT STANDS
Ever. These are very good and sturdy stands. I use them all the time. Priced pretty good too. I always say you will forever need one more stand than you currently have. Get four… you’ll thank me later.
I STRONGLY SUGGEST A LIGHT METER
Sure you can chimp it in. What a waste of time. This Sekonic is a jewel for just over $200 and it will give you absolutely accurate readings of the light. You can use it to measure ratios, make repeatable images, and learn to understand light like you have never known.
