Food Photography Help - noobie

robhullfury

robhullfury

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Hi all, really could do with a discussion/advice on a subject.


Fiancee runs a cake decorating business and is looking to enter a few competitions/magazines. She in the past has used a point and shoot and isnt getting great results. I have been slowly learning how to use my 1000D to the point I know what settings do etc.

Reason im posting.... She recently sent a few photos into a wedding cake magazine who knocked the pics back that she'd taken with the point and shoot on the basis they were too dark etc etc. I said I would have a go with future cakes with her to get some better shots.

now the question is.... I have plenty of space on a kitchen table to place the cakes on I dont however have very much light in the room and its a dark painted room. I am looking to buy some flash/lighting for the photography of them in the future. Would I be better off buying a couple of lights on stands plus daylight bulbs or flashes and triggers? please take into consideration I cant afford expensive flashguns etc and would like a budget(ish) way of doing this plus tip or anything like that. Any advice would be great, ive tried to shoot with the pop up but to no avail!

Thanks guys and gals as I say help would be much appreicated by both of us.

Rob
 
Food photograhy is generally considered to be about as tricky as it gets. Looks easy enough but once you get started, the pitfalls increase at an astonishing rate.

If you're looking for improvment though, rather than perfection, there is lots you can do on a small budget.

You've obviously got the idea the key to this is all in the lighting and you don't need lots of fancy gear to get some decent looking shots.

If you have a tripod, then things are a bit easier as you can use long exposures and not worry about having lots of light. A good bright lamp that you can move around to get the shadow/light fall off where you want it and a big bit of white something to use as a reflector to fill in the darker spots.

Heavy paper or light card is always my fave, as you can bend, fold, stick or hold it where you want it quite easily.
 
I think (definately think, no experience here) that iced cakes are easier than say, melting ice cream, to tog.

If you look on here, there are plenty of diy diffusers, light boxes, etc and I am sure you could sort something out.

If you wanted to buy something, then a pop up tent can be had for about £20 (maplin??)
 
Can we see some of the shots you've already taken? It'd help immeasurably when it comes to trying to point you in the right direction.

And as for lighting, all you really need is a large window (or two) some diffusing material, a large selection of reflectors and daylight. You can work wonders if you know what you're doing, even with the most basic of kit.
 
Definitely up the lighting as much as possible. Taking shots during the day will make life much easier - get the cakes to the window and use white card/sheets to reflect light from behind.

A reflector will also help (if you dont want to pay for a pro one then try tin foil / silver paper over some baking sheets ) to help direct light where you want it.

The on camera flash can help as well. Its harsh but (as an alternative to pro diffusers) a wire mesh with muslin over it can help add some extra diffuse lighting.

As dazzajl says lamps are good also - Again if you want to diffuse the light directing it back against the wall or some muslin hung in front of a bright lamp can help.
 
thanks guys, I havent taken any photos worth a look at yet, theyre just too dark etc or too harsh. Ive been sat reading abit on macros etc so might go buy a few cheap lamps with daylight bulbs just to move the light around etc. Im going to make a diffuser and spend a few hours just moving around and taking some more shots to teach myself abit.

the advice so far all makes great sense and reading it I understand were everybody is coming from, just sometimes helps to hear other peoples ideas etc.

As for food photography been a nightmare its true, the slightest movement just changes a shot COMPLETELY!

Any further tips would be fantastic.

Thanks
Rob
 
Well window with a reflector or two may be just some white card. Or why not take them outdoors put up a gazebo with white roof and walls this will be like working inside a big light tent.
Just some easy and cheap ways with out buying lighting.

This was just window light and a reflector

3567398417_cb72cbbc1b_o.jpg
 
I have a lightbox I bought cheap off ebay to have ago with. only problem is cakes are alittle too big for them sometimes. just been sat reading diyphotographer and theres a few projects on there to make diffusers etc.

brill stuff, thanks guys.

rob
 
Might be an idea to use a black background, The cakes will look a lot better against this and the light will be a lot easier to control, which will be a godsend when taking photos with white icing.
Dean:)
 
Taking pictures of iced cakes is a ******* of a job.

Correction, its two *******s, one ******* isn't ******* enough!

The backround needs to be white or the cake looks out of kilter.
The cake is predominately white so now it's going to be under exposed because its a white cat cake on a white background.

So, four flashes are needed and the nice thing is that you can use manual falshes that can be picked up for not a lot of money.

Position one on your camera
position 2 and 3 at 45 degrees to the cake
Position number 4 directly above the cake

now either mess about with your flash meter untill you get the exposure right or mess about with your camera until you get it nearly right and then mess about with the output of the flashes until you perfect it.

it's only a game of recipriocity, take a picture, look at the shadows and adjust until you like it. Don't take it too seriously!
 
oooh .... I invoked the swear censor .... sorry about that!
 
robhullfury said:
thanks guys, I havent taken any photos worth a look at yet, theyre just too dark etc or too harsh.
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Well, that's exactly why I asked. Seeing what you've done so far will really help with suggestions rather than simply throwing random ideas around. Although, having said that...

robhullfury said:
Any further tips would be fantastic.
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...haven't we been here before? Didn't your good lady make that amazing cake with the individual cubes?

sheddy said:
So, four flashes are needed and the nice thing is that you can use manual falshes that can be picked up for not a lot of money.
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Honestly, zero flashes are needed. None, nada, zilch, zip. Natural light and a load of white foam-core card would see most amateur food photographers right.

sheddy said:
it's only a game of recipriocity, take a picture, look at the shadows and adjust until you like it. Don't take it too seriously!
Click to expand...
Four flashes? Four?! If that's not serious I'd hate to see what is!
 
Do you need to get the whole cake in? I suppose you do...I shoot a lot of cakes (weddings) and I tend to crop tight and focus on detail. I start at +1 EV and may end up dialing in a little more.

If you have a conservatory they're good for soft light (obviously not in direct sunlight) and you can bounce extra light on certain spots with card as other have said.

I certainly wouldn't be splashing out on 4 flashguns.
 
Can we see some of your food shots, DDP? Going on what's on your website I'd love to see more of your work.
 
I've done quite a bit of food photography, but purely for personal practice more than anything.

I have no off camera flash, but I bought 3 standard desk lamps and then got 3 x 100 watt daylight bulbs from ebay. Cost me a tenner for lamps and bulbs. I position them as best I can to light the food at various heights if necessary(or point two at the background for a white background.

Use a plain background. I tend to go for black because it makes the food stand out better, but for white cakes you could always go for a paler colour to compliment the colour on the cake.

This is one of my shots using the method above. Set up was the three lamps, no flash, no reflector, just set up on my dining room table with very little daylight.

2457771722_3b0b1d70bf.jpg


It doesn't have to be expensive to set it up and get lighting right. No one would know that I use deskl amps for lighting unless I said so LOL.

Good luck with your results.
 
mmmm ... cheesecake ..... gggggglllllrrr :-)

is that all thats left?

ROB, send us some shots, even if they are c**p. It may just be a case of a simple thig that will improve your shots.

Dont be shy, we all take bad pics .... i still am :-)
 
Tokkelossi said:
mmmm ... cheesecake ..... gggggglllllrrr :-)

is that all thats left?
Click to expand...

My other half was stood behind me telling me to hurry up and get the shot as he had drool running down his chin waiting for me to finish LOL
 
You know what, Annie? That's pretty damn good. Can we see some more?
 
Annie said:
My other half was stood behind me telling me to hurry up and get the shot as he had drool running down his chin waiting for me to finish LOL
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LOl I'm glad I've just finished my lunch...otherwise I'd be much the same....good photo
perfect DOF to show the reflection in the plate and dull the edge/curve in the background


My advice for much cheapness, 3-4 lamps, A1 card background from an art shop and some sticky tape to make it into a curve
daylight from a window but not too harsh
some crepe paper over your on camera flash.

less cheapness? a flash you can bounce off the ceiling, a nice sharp lens like the nifty fifty and a tripod
 
Very, very nice work, Annie. Hopefully we'll get a food photography thread that runs and runs this time - the others all seem to tail off after the initial rush of activity.

All we need now is for Rob to come back and we can get this one back on track and try and sort him and his good lady out.
 
hi all sorry been at work.

glitch your right I was the one who posted last time but I just wanted to have a play around with my camera now she said I can spend alittle bit of cash and help her out so im jumping at the opportunity, thats the reason I thought I better ask again. unfortunately im on my pc at work and it blocks flickr and photobucket so I cant see pics currently been hosted.

im going to have a go over the weekend with everybodies advice so ill post some pics after the weekend hopefully for people to have a look at.

Thanks for all the advise so far and sorry its abit of a repost (ish) ;)

just trying to get head round stuff

Rob
:)
 
This may seem like a rather stupid question and rest assured I have no intentions of burgling your house, but can you describe the rooms with the largest windows and roomiest interiors and what direction they face? I honestly think we can sort all your problems out with natural light and some cheap-ish accessories.
 
Just another thought. I do most of my indoor photography in front of my patio doors. I do ALL my flower photography there. It gives me great natural light. I'm a cheapskate and a hubby with a motorbike obsession, so there's never any spare cash for flashes or studio lighting.. the patio door light works really well for me.
 
hi, ive just looked at anne's photos on the other thread look great!

glitch - I have a darkish east facing kitchen with a medium window and a backdoor doesnt put much light through. The walls are also a dark purple colour which seems to absorb more light lol.

living room wouldnt be a bad place, fairly large window with laminate flooring which adds to the brightness of the room again a dark red on the walls ***. Im hoping to have a go at making a cheap reflector see if I can bounce some light about abit and going to nip to local art place tomorrow to get some white and black card to use as a backdrop.

This thread has been really busy and useful, seems people shy away from food photography but hopefully as previously posted a good food photo thread would be great to keep going. Ill be having a go this weekend hopefully providing the list of other jobs I have to do get finished lol


Thanks Again

Rob
 
Hmmm. What you're sorely lacking is a south-facing room with a large-ish window and some light-coloured walls. Or at the very least a room with reasonably neutral paint on the walls and a decent amount of light coming into it. Wishful thinking, eh?!

If you've got an isolated garden (or even a suitable room with darker walls) you could always try and build yourself a suitably large light tent and work inside that. It'll be a fair construction job but it's cheaper than splashing out £700* on Lastolite's biggest Cubelite. Or you could try building yourself some form of collapsible studio-cum-box out of MDF** or something lightweight yet sturdy and erect that in the lounge and shoot in there.

I've done a fair bit of food photography in my back garden with a smaller Lastolite Cubelite but with the size of cake you'll be shooting I can't see any mileage in that option. Fine for smaller portions but anything like the amazing thing your good lady made for the last thread and you'd be well and truly stuffed.

I think the lounge is your best bet here but your biggest problem (apart from the lighting) is the sheer size of the cakes you'll be working with. I can visualise the sort of set-up you'd need to create but I can't quite convey that in text, as you've probably already figured out.

*NB. Price might not be accurate.

**NB. I'm no carpenter so this might be a load of old rubbish
 
hi all im back, had a cake to take a few shots of this weekend so after taking the above advice onboard and making full use of the sunny weather for a change I set about it. Bought some white card and set on the table outside. what do you think am I on the right track? im open to any c+c. One question hows best to make the background completely white at the top of the image.

Thanks all

3581765134_5d536e98cb.jpg
 
I think you should be really pleased with that one.

The more you work the setup and the more you shoot, the more you'll learn what you can achieve and open up the different looks you can get.
 
robhullfury said:
One question hows best to make the background completely white at the top of the image.
Click to expand...

The proper way: Find another light source or two to direct at the background to over expose it so it comes out white.

The hard way: loads of ways in PP, but this will prolly work....: make a mask around the cake and decoration, refine the edge to make it quite soft. Select the dodge tool set to highlight and a lowish percentage exposure then paint with a large soft brush around your background.

The easy way: Get a copy of Nik Viveza, quite pricey but it'll do the job in seconds!
 
I think I might go for the second light source lol, rest sound like hard work haha

hopefully shes gonna do aload more soon with orders she has already so I can get some more practice.

rob
 
very good But it looks like you had a wide lens the bottom tier you are looking down on it but the top tier you are looking across it I think a little longer lens from a little high point of view would makes this a hot pic.
Noticed a little shading on the background on the right hand side easy to correct in PS But Very good and little reflection just about right in the ribbon
 
not quite sure what you mean by the wide angle lens chaz? sorry im not up on techniques etc yet just learning but would appreciate if you could elaborate abit? I get what you mean about the shadowing never noticed until you pointed it out :)

Thanks
Rob
 
Looks good. Don't know whether you have already, (I couldn't see the advice above), but using a white-balance card might help as well. Especially where you don't have the white background and icing to focus on!
 
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