Summary
Food Styling and Photography
The profession of a food stylist consist of creating pictures and images with foods that are on display. The array of food could be used for a buffet, an official function or for photography in a published resource.
The food stylist may be a trained chef or a person who has worked with food and has a lot of creative ability. The stylist does not usually make the food to be displayed, but decorates or arranges it so that it looks appealing.When presenting foods, food stylists employ the basic design principles of variety in colour, texture and flavour. In food advertisements, food stylists usually repeat the colours of the food package being promoted in the background to help reenforce the product.
The food stylist works with a theme in mind. For example a display for The Heart Foundation would consider a low fat approach when selecting and arranging food for such a client. The food stylist must take into account all aspects of the setting to reflect the intended theme such as:
• Tablecloths
• Napkins
• Placemats
• Table decorations
• Plates, bowls, serving dishes
• Serving utensils such as spoons and tongs
• Cutlery
• Glassware
Photography
A food stylist often works in conjunction with a photographer in order to get a perfect shot to meet the clients brief. Food styling is time consuming but it creates and atmosphere that stimulates the appetite to encourage consumers to try the food. You see examples of food styling and photography in:
• Recipe books and magazines
• newspaper articles
• advertisements for television, billboards and magazines
• brochures and leaflets
• posters and framed pictures
• webpages
• food labels and packages
• menu boards
• television shows
Getting the perfect shot when photographing food can be difficult. Lighting causes foods to dry out, shrink, sag and discolour, so food stylists employ some interesting techniques.
The profession of a food stylist consist of creating pictures and images with foods that are on display. The array of food could be used for a buffet, an official function or for photography in a published resource.
The food stylist may be a trained chef or a person who has worked with food and has a lot of creative ability. The stylist does not usually make the food to be displayed, but decorates or arranges it so that it looks appealing.When presenting foods, food stylists employ the basic design principles of variety in colour, texture and flavour. In food advertisements, food stylists usually repeat the colours of the food package being promoted in the background to help reenforce the product.
The food stylist works with a theme in mind. For example a display for The Heart Foundation would consider a low fat approach when selecting and arranging food for such a client. The food stylist must take into account all aspects of the setting to reflect the intended theme such as:
• Tablecloths
• Napkins
• Placemats
• Table decorations
• Plates, bowls, serving dishes
• Serving utensils such as spoons and tongs
• Cutlery
• Glassware
Photography
A food stylist often works in conjunction with a photographer in order to get a perfect shot to meet the clients brief. Food styling is time consuming but it creates and atmosphere that stimulates the appetite to encourage consumers to try the food. You see examples of food styling and photography in:
• Recipe books and magazines
• newspaper articles
• advertisements for television, billboards and magazines
• brochures and leaflets
• posters and framed pictures
• webpages
• food labels and packages
• menu boards
• television shows
Getting the perfect shot when photographing food can be difficult. Lighting causes foods to dry out, shrink, sag and discolour, so food stylists employ some interesting techniques.
Task 12: Food Styling and Photography
1. What is the role of a food stylist?
The role of the food stylist is to make the food look attractive in the finished photograph, so it appeals to a certain consumer group.
2. What are some of the food stylist tricks of the trade?
Some food stylist tricks of the trade include knowing how to:- Use a camera with a macro lens
- Set digital cameras to an indoor setting to achieve natural color in the food
- Make the food the hero – not the props
- Take lots of pictures from every angle to see what looks best
- Try for a good balance of colors in the food
- know what the market is after
3. Name 3 tools which would be used by a food stylist and state what it is used for.
- Tongs are used to carefully place food object and substances to be able to create the best food pile possible
- Knives can help create visual appeal, following compositional principles of Line and Shape.
- Whisk's are a good tool to use when talking about food styling. The whisk can lighten and make certain products more fluffy, making it look more presentable in a photograph.
4. Do you think it is misleading the consumer to use photography tricks in food product advertising?
Post your opinion on the Class Blog: Discussion 5
My response:
I think that the food styling of a product can be extremely misleading, especially in the burger visual shown above. In the above picture there is what society considered as ‘perfect’ girl with flawless features consuming a burger. Both the girl and burger have being airbrushed an edited to make you believe what you are seeing is what you will get, and maybe even look like. This picture is actually giving the consumer as a false idea of what they are receiving. In reality when you purchase a burger from franchises such as McDonalds, hungry jacks etc. You are not going to receive the fresh, big, colourful item that is projected above; thus making consumers disappointed with that they are getting. Food styling is a very misleading market tool that projects a false product to the public.
1. What is the role of a food stylist?
The role of the food stylist is to make the food look attractive in the finished photograph, so it appeals to a certain consumer group.
2. What are some of the food stylist tricks of the trade?
Some food stylist tricks of the trade include knowing how to:- Use a camera with a macro lens
- Set digital cameras to an indoor setting to achieve natural color in the food
- Make the food the hero – not the props
- Take lots of pictures from every angle to see what looks best
- Try for a good balance of colors in the food
- know what the market is after
3. Name 3 tools which would be used by a food stylist and state what it is used for.
- Tongs are used to carefully place food object and substances to be able to create the best food pile possible
- Knives can help create visual appeal, following compositional principles of Line and Shape.
- Whisk's are a good tool to use when talking about food styling. The whisk can lighten and make certain products more fluffy, making it look more presentable in a photograph.
4. Do you think it is misleading the consumer to use photography tricks in food product advertising?
Post your opinion on the Class Blog: Discussion 5
My response:
I think that the food styling of a product can be extremely misleading, especially in the burger visual shown above. In the above picture there is what society considered as ‘perfect’ girl with flawless features consuming a burger. Both the girl and burger have being airbrushed an edited to make you believe what you are seeing is what you will get, and maybe even look like. This picture is actually giving the consumer as a false idea of what they are receiving. In reality when you purchase a burger from franchises such as McDonalds, hungry jacks etc. You are not going to receive the fresh, big, colourful item that is projected above; thus making consumers disappointed with that they are getting. Food styling is a very misleading market tool that projects a false product to the public.